Back to Connecticut

HB05256 • 2026

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

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
2026-06-04
Official status
Signed by the Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is explicitly stated as October 1, 2026, but no other dates regarding implementation details are provided.

Removing Filing Requirements for Local Legislation Requests

This law removes the rule that required town clerks to send copies of resolutions or petitions asking for state laws to the Secretary of State.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes a requirement in Section 2-14 of the general statutes.
  • Stops town clerks from having to file certified copies of resolutions with the Secretary of State.
  • Stops town clerks from having to file signed petitions for local legislation with the Secretary of State.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Towns, cities, boroughs, and districts that request special legislation from the General Assembly
  • Town clerks who handle resolutions and petitions

Limits and Unknowns

  • The change takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-04 Connecticut General Assembly

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-05-28 Connecticut General Assembly

    Transmitted to the Secretary of State

  3. 2026-05-28 Connecticut General Assembly

    Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor

  4. 2026-05-20 LCO

    Public Act 26-132

  5. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Passed

  6. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    In Concurrence

  7. 2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  8. 2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 496

  9. 2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Passed

  10. 2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly

    Immediate Transmittal to the Senate

  11. 2026-04-01 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  12. 2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  13. 2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 241

  14. 2026-04-01 LCO

    File Number 322

  15. 2026-03-26 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26 5:00 PM

  16. 2026-03-17 GOS

    Joint Favorable

  17. 2026-03-17 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  18. 2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/24

  19. 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.]