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HB05259 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

Children Education Healthcare Housing Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Housing Committee
Last action
2026-06-04
Official status
Signed by the Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Education Rights for Homeless Students

This law updates state rules to ensure homeless children and youths can attend school, get transportation, access their records, and appeal residency-based denials.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires local and regional boards of education to provide services to homeless students following federal laws revised as of December 23, 2022.
  • Guarantees a hearing for any homeless child or youth denied school placement because they do not live in the district.
  • Allows unaccompanied youths to see and get copies of their educational, medical, and other records kept by schools.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeless children and youths
  • Unaccompanied youths without a guardian present
  • Local and regional boards of education

Terms To Know

unaccompanied youth
A young person who is homeless but not living with a parent or legal guardian, as described in federal law.
cumulative record
The complete file of school and other documents kept by the board of education for a student.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law takes effect on October 1, 2026.
  • The text references federal laws but does not list specific details about how transportation will be provided or paid for beyond that reference.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-04 Connecticut General Assembly

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly

    Transmitted to the Secretary of State

  3. 2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly

    Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor

  4. 2026-05-20 LCO

    Public Act 26-125

  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 376

  9. 2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Passed

  10. 2026-03-16 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  11. 2026-03-16 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  12. 2026-03-16 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 49

  13. 2026-03-16 LCO

    File Number 25

  14. 2026-03-09 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/16/26 12:00 PM

  15. 2026-03-06 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  16. 2026-03-05 HSG

    Joint Favorable

  17. 2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/24

  18. 2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Housing

Official Summary Text

To codify rights pertaining to school district choice, transportation, notice and appeal for students experiencing homelessness and their guardians.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
House Bill No. 5259

Public Act No. 26-125

AN ACT CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS
CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (f) of section 10-253 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October
1, 2026):
(f) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes,
educational services shall be provided by each local and regional board
of education to homeless children and youths in accordance with the
provisions of 42 USC 11431, et seq., [as amended from time to time ]
revised to December 23, 2022 . If a homeless child or youth is denied
school accommodations by a local or regional board of education on the
basis of residency, such homeless child or youth shall be entitled to a
hearing conducted pursuant to sec tion 10 -186. An unaccompanied
youth, as described in 42 USC 11434a, as amended from time to time,
shall be entitled to knowledge of and have access to all educational,
medical or similar records in the cumulative record of such
unaccompanied youth maintain ed by a local or regional board of
education.