HB05256 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR INITIATING LOCAL LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Government Oversight Committee
Last action: 2026-05-28
Official status: Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on what happens if the Secretary of State no longer receives copies of these requests, nor does it specify that other rules about requesting special legislation remain unchanged beyond removing the filing requirement.

Changing How Local Governments Ask for Special Laws

This act removes the requirement that local governments must file copies of their requests and petitions with the Secretary of the State when asking the General Assembly to make special laws.

What This Bill Does

Removes the need for a copy of a resolution or petition from towns, cities, boroughs, or other local units to be filed with the Secretary of the State.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments such as towns, cities, boroughs, and other units that want to ask for special laws from the General Assembly.
The Secretary of the State who no longer needs to receive copies of these requests or petitions.

Terms To Know

General Assembly: The state legislature responsible for making laws in Connecticut.
Special legislation: Laws that apply to a specific town, city, borough, or other local unit of government.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the Secretary of the State does not receive copies of these requests anymore.
The act only changes how local governments file their requests but keeps all other rules about requesting special legislation intact.

Bill History

2026-05-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-20 LCO
Public Act 26-132
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
In Concurrence
2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 496
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Immediate Transmittal to the Senate
2026-04-01 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 241
2026-04-01 LCO
File Number 322
2026-03-26 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-17 GOS
Joint Favorable
2026-03-17 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 02/24
2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Government Oversight

Official Summary Text

To remove the requirement that a copy of the resolution or petition of a town, city, borough or other local government to initiate local legislation in the General Assembly be filed with the Secretary of the State.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House Bill No. 5256

Public Act No. 26-132

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR INITIATING LOCAL
LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 2 -14 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026):
The General Assembly shall enact no special legislation relative to the
powers, organization and form of government of any town, city,
borough or other unit of local government unless requested by a town,
city, borough or other unit of local government, in the manner
hereinafter prescribed, to enact such special legislation. A resolution
requesting the General Assembly to enact special legislation and
specifying the purpose of such legislation shall be adopted: (1) By a two-
thirds vote of the council or board of directors in any town having such
a body; of the board of aldermen, council or body charged with the duty
of making annual appropriations in any city or consolidated town and
city; of the board of burgesses in any borough or consolidated town and
borough; or of the board of directors or district committee in any district;
or (2) by the board of selectmen or by a majority vote of the town
meeting or representative town meeting in any town not having a
council or board of directors. A request for the en actment of special
legislation by the General Assembly may also be initiated by a petition
House Bill No. 5256

Public Act No. 26-132 2 of 2

specifying the purpose of such legislation and signed by not less than
ten per cent of the electors of the town, city, borough or other unit of
local government as determined by the last -completed registry list and
filed with the clerk of such town, city, borough or other unit of local
government. Upon the filing of such petition, such clerk shall proceed
forthwith to determine its sufficiency by comparing the names thereon
with those contained in such registry list and shall certify its sufficiency
or insufficiency. [Such clerk shall file with the Secretary of the State, not
later than ten days prior to the convening of any session of the General
Assembly in which such proposed legislation is to be introduced, a
certified copy of the resolution as adopted or the text of the petition as
signed.]