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sHB5258 / File No. 107 1
General Assembly File No. 107
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5258
House of Representatives, March 23, 2026
The Committee on Housing reported through REP. FELIPE of
the 130th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the
House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 47a-1 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 1
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 2
October 1, 2026): 3
As used in this chapter, sections 47a -21, 47a-23 to 47a-23c, inclusive, 4
47a-26a to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a-5
43 and 47a-46 and section 2 of this act: 6
(1) "Action" includes recoupment, counterclaim, set -off, cause of 7
action and any other proceeding in which rights are determined, 8
including an action for possession. 9
(2) "Building and housing codes" include any law, ordinance or 10
governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation or the 11
construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use or appearance of 12
any premises or dwelling unit. 13
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(3) "Dwelling unit" means any house or building, or portion thereof, 14
which is occupied, is designed to be occupied, or is rented, leased or 15
hired out to be occupied, as a home or residence of one or more persons. 16
(4) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling 17
unit, the building of which it is a part or the premises. 18
(5) "Owner" means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom 19
is vested (A) all or part of the legal title to property, or (B) all or part of 20
the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the 21
premises and includes a mortgagee in possession. 22
(6) "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability 23
company, the state or any political subdivision thereof, or agency, 24
business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two or more 25
persons having a joint or common interest, and any other legal or 26
commercial entity. 27
(7) "Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is 28
a part and facilities and appurtenances therein and grounds, areas and 29
facilities held out for the use of tenants generally or whose use is 30
promised to the tenant. 31
(8) "Rent" means all periodic payments to be made to the landlord 32
under the rental agreement. 33
(9) "Rental agreement" means all agreements, written or oral, and 34
valid rules and regulations adopted under section 47a -9 or subsection 35
(d) of section 21-70 embodying the terms and conditions concerning the 36
use and occupancy of a dwelling unit or premises. 37
(10) "Roomer" means a person occupying a dwelling unit, which unit 38
does not include a refrigerator, stove, kitchen sink, toilet and shower or 39
bathtub and one or more of these facilities are used in common by other 40
occupants in the structure. 41
(11) "Single-family residence" means a structure maintained and used 42
as a single dwelling unit. Notwithstanding that a dwelling unit shares 43
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one or more walls with another dwelling unit or has a common parking 44
facility, it is a single-family residence if it has direct access to a street or 45
thoroughfare and does not share heating facilities, hot water equipment 46
or any other essential facility or service with any other dwelling unit. 47
(12) "Tenant" means the lessee, sublessee or person entitled under a 48
rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit or premises to the exclusion 49
of others or as is otherwise defined by law. 50
(13) "Tenement house" means any house or building, or portion 51
thereof, which is rented, leased or hired out to be occupied, or is 52
arranged or designed to be occupied, or is occupied, as the home or 53
residence of three or more families, living independently of each other, 54
and doing their cooking upon the premises, and having a common right 55
in the halls, stairways or yards. 56
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: 57
(1) "Tenant organizer" means an individual who (A) assists tenants in 58
establishing and operating a tenant organization or in organizing 59
tenants to address the affairs of such dwelling unit or other dwelling 60
units owned or managed by the owner of the dwelling unit or the 61
owner's agents, and (B) is not an employee or agent of such dwelling 62
unit's current or prospective owners, managers or agents. 63
(2) "Tenant organization" means an organization that (A) is 64
established by tenants of a dwelling unit or of multiple dwelling units 65
owned or managed by the same owner or owner's agent; (B) is 66
established for the purpose of addressing issues related to the tenants' 67
living environment, including the terms and conditions of their tenancy 68
as well as activities related to housing and community development; (C) 69
meets regularly; and (D) operates independently from the authority of 70
the owner of such dwelling units and the owner's agents. 71
(b) An owner of any dwelling unit, except those exempted from the 72
application of title 47a of the general statutes pursuant to section 47a -2 73
of the general statutes, and any agents of such owner, shall permit 74
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tenants, tenants' authorized agents and tenant organizers who are 75
accompanied by tenants to conduct the following activities related to the 76
establishment or operation of a tenant organization, provided such 77
activities are conducted in a reasonable manner and in compliance with 78
all applicable law: 79
(1) Distributing leaflets in common areas, including lobby areas; 80
(2) Placing leaflets at or under tenants' doors; 81
(3) Initiating contact with tenants; 82
(4) Conducting door -to-door surveys of tenants to ascertain interest 83
in establishing a tenant organization, to offer information about existing 84
tenant organizations or to offer information about the legal rights of 85
tenants; 86
(5) Posting information on bulletin boards, provided such postings 87
comply with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section; 88
(6) Assisting tenants in participating in tenant organization activities; 89
(7) Holding meetings, including political caucuses or forums for 90
speeches of public officials or candidates for public office, without the 91
presence of the dwelling unit's owner or such owner's agent, conducted 92
at reasonable times and in an orderly manner on the premises, held in 93
any community room or recreation room, if such rooms are open for the 94
use of tenants, or in common areas, including, but not limited to, 95
laundry rooms, hallways and lobbies, if a community or recreation room 96
is not available; and 97
(8) Performing other reasonable and lawful activities related to the 98
establishment or operation of a tenant organization. 99
(c) The owner of a dwelling unit or the agent of such owner shall not 100
require tenants, tenants' authorized agents or tenant organizers to 101
obtain prior permission before engaging in activities described in 102
subsection (b) of this section, except that the owner may apply such 103
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owner's generally applicable rules governing advance reservation of 104
community or recreation rooms. 105
(d) Any owner who issues generally applicable rules governing the 106
use of bulletin boards by tenants or other displays of information in 107
common areas may not specifically exclude the posting of information 108
related to tenant organizing activities if the rules permit posting of other 109
types of information by tenants. 110
Sec. 3. Section 47a -20 of the general statutes is repealed and the 111
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 112
(a) A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a 113
tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in 114
rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has 115
been entitled within six months after: (1) The tenant has in good faith 116
attempted to remedy by any lawful means, including contacting 117
officials of the state or of any town, city or borough or public agency or 118
filing a complaint with a fair rent commission, any condition 119
constituting a violation of any provisions of chapter 368o, or of chapter 120
412, or of any other state statute or regulation, or of the housing and 121
health ordinances of the municipality wherein the premises which are 122
the subject of the complaint lie; (2) any municipal agency or official has 123
filed a notice, complaint or order regarding such a violation; (3) the 124
tenant has in good faith requested the landlord to make repairs; (4) the 125
tenant has in good faith instituted an action under subsections (a) to (i), 126
inclusive, of section 47a-14h; or (5) the tenant has organized or become 127
a member of a tenants' union , other than the activities specified in 128
section 2 of this act. 129
(b) A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a 130
tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit or decrease the services 131
to which the tenant has been entitled within four months after the tenant 132
has participated in any of the activities described in section 2 of this act. 133
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2026 47a-1
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 47a-20
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 2(c), "community space" was changed to "community or
recreation rooms" for consistency.
HSG Joint Favorable Subst.
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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
All Municipalities Potential
Savings
Minimal Minimal
Explanation
The bill adds circumstances under which eviction is prohibited. This
may result in a potential minimal savings to municipalities beginning in
FY 27 associated with storing less possessions of evicted tenants to the
extent the bill results in fewer evictions.
The court system disposes of over 20,000 housing summary process
cases annually, and the number of cases is not anticipated to be great
enough to need additional resources.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to actual number of evictions.
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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5258
AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
SUMMARY
The bill requires residential rental property owners to allow certain
on-site tenant organization and tenant organizing activities . The bill
extends, with limitations, current law’s protections against certain
retaliatory actions by landlords to cover tenants engaging in these
protected activities.
The bill applies to property owners subject to the state’s landlord
tenant laws and their agents . (Under existing law and the bill , certain
rental arrangements are not covered by these laws, including
dormitories, transient lodgings, and nursing homes.) The bill generally
requires these covered owners and agents (“landlords”) to let tenant
organizers and tenants and their agents engage in on-site activities
related to establishing or operating a tenant organization, if they are
done in a reasonable manner and conform with any applicable law.
Under the bill, these activities include helping tenants participate in
tenant organization activities, distributing leaflets, contacting tenants to
share information on their legal rights, and holding meetings in
common areas (see below).
Under the bill, a “tenant organization” is established by tenants that
share the same landlord to address issues related to their living
environment (including terms and conditions of tenancy and activities
related to housing and community development). A tenant organization
must meet regularly and operate independently from the landlord and
their agents. (While some local ordinances specify a process for
recognizing duly organized tenant organizations , state law does not
require tenants to follow a specific process.)
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Under federal regulations, similar but more comprehensive
requirements apply to owners of certain federally supported
multifamily properties, including certain properties supported by
project-based Section 8 and the Section 202 supportive housing
programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
PROTECTED TENANT ACTIVITIES
The bill identifie s activities that landlords must allow tenant
organizers and tenants and their agents to conduct related to
establishing or operating a tenant organization. Under the bill, a “tenant
organizer” is someone who (1) helps tenants establish and operat e a
tenant organization and (2) is not an employee or agent of a current or
prospective landlord or their managers.
The covered protected activities are:
1. distributing leaflets in lobby and common areas, at or under
tenants’ doors, and posting information on bulletin boards;
2. initiating contact with tenants, conducting door-to-door surveys
to determine interest in establishing a tenant organization and
offer information about tenant organizations or the legal rights of
tenants;
3. helping tenants participate in tenant organization activities;
4. convening meetings and certain other events on-site, as described
below; and
5. performing other reasonable and lawful activities related to
establishing or operating a tenant organization.
The bill prohibits landlords from requiring prior permission before
these activities, although a generally applicable rule on reserv ing
community or recreation rooms in advance may still apply. If a landlord
has generally applicable rules allowing tenants to post information on
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bulletin boards or other displays in common areas, these rules cannot
specifically prohibit posting information related to tenant organizing
activities.
Under the bill, a tenant organizer must be accompanied by a tenant
while conducting the above activities on a landlord’s property.
On-Site Meetings
Regarding on-site meetings and events, the bill specifies that if they
relate to establishing or operating a tenant organization and are
conducted in a reasonable and orderly manner, at a reasonable time, and
without violating any laws (like those on fire safety), these events:
1. must be allowed without the landlord’s presence;
2. may include meetings, political caucuses , and forums for
speeches of public officials or candidates for public office; and
3. may occur in (a) any community room or recreation room, if
these rooms are generally open to tenants, or (b) in common areas
like laundry rooms, hallways , and lobbies, if a community or
recreation room is not available.
PROHIBITION ON RETALIATORY EVICTION OR DECREASE IN
SERVICES
Current law prohibits landlords from taking certain retaliatory
actions against tenants (see BACKGROUND). Under this law, among
other things and with some exceptions, a landlord cannot maintain an
eviction proceeding, increase rent, or decrease services for six months
after a “tenant has organized ” or “become of member of a tenants’
union.” The bill modifies this prohibition and adds additional
protections related to the tenant activities described above.
The bill retains current law’s prohibition on retaliation for having
organized or joining a tenants’ union. But it specifies that the organizing
activities it newly protects (e.g., distributing leaflets or holding meetings
about forming a tenants’ organization) are subject to a narrower
prohibition on retaliation. Under the bill, landlords cannot maintain an
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eviction proceeding or decrease services for four months after the tenant
participates in an activity the bill newly protects. This prohibition is (1)
enforceable in the same way as the existing landlord retaliation law and
(2) subject to the same exceptions.
BACKGROUND
Prohibited Retaliatory Actions
A landlord cannot maintain an eviction proceeding, increase rent, or
decrease services for six months after a tenant takes certain actions,
including (1) joining a tenants’ union or (2) making a good faith attempt
to bring the dwelling into compliance with state or local laws and
regulations (CGS § 47a-20). The law establishes certain exceptions, such
as cases where the tenant does not pay rent or is using the dwelling unit
for an illegal purpose (CGS § 47a-20a).
Among other means of enforcement, fair rent commissions may
enforce these provisions by imposing fines (CGS §§ 7-148b & 7-148f).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Housing Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 12 Nay 6 (03/05/2026)