HB05311 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NONISSUANCE OF A STANDING CRIMINAL PROTECTIVE ORDER IN THE CASE OF A FAMILY VIOLENCE CRIME.

Crime

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Judiciary Committee
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text specifies the effective date is October 1, 2026, but does not list an 'Effective Date' field in the metadata provided.

Requiring Courts to Explain Why They Do Not Issue Protective Orders

This law requires judges to write down their reasons if they choose not to issue a standing criminal protective order in cases involving family violence crimes.

What This Bill Does

Requires courts to state on the record why they did not issue a standing criminal protective order when declining to do so for certain family violence crimes.
Applies this requirement specifically when a person is convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, a crime defined as a family violence crime under section 46b-38a.

Who It Names or Affects

Judges who decide whether to issue standing criminal protective orders in qualifying cases.
People convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect for crimes defined as family violence crimes under section 46b-38a.

Terms To Know

Standing criminal protective order: A court order that remains in effect until the judge changes or cancels it for good cause, issued when a judge believes it serves the victim and public interest.
Family violence crime: Crimes defined by state law under section 46b-38a as acts of violence committed within specific family or household relationships.

Limits and Unknowns

The requirement to explain reasons applies only when the court declines to issue an order for crimes specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (a), not necessarily all listed offenses.
The law does not specify what happens if a judge fails to provide these required reasons.

Bill History

2026-05-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-15 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-15 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-14 LCO
Public Act 26-32
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
2026-04-24 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-24 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 454
2026-04-22 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed
2026-04-08 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-08 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-08 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 333
2026-04-08 LCO
File Number 513
2026-04-01 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-25 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-24 JUD
Joint Favorable
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/02
2026-02-25 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

To require that in the case of a court declining to issue a standing criminal protective order in the case of a family violence crime, the court shall enter into the record the reasons for not issuing such order.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House Bill No. 5311

Public Act No. 26-32

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NONISSUANCE OF A STANDING
CRIMINAL PROTECTIVE ORDER IN THE CASE OF A FAMILY
VIOLENCE CRIME.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 53a -40e of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October
1, 2026):
(a) If any person is convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of
mental disease or defect of, (1) a violation of section 53a -70b of the
general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or
subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of sectio n 53-21, section 53a -59,
53a-59a, 53a-60, 53a-60a, 53a-60b, 53a-60c, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70c, 53a-
71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-73a, 53a-181c, 53a-181d, 53a-181e, 53a-182b or
53a-183, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-192a, section 53a-
223, 53a-223a or 53a-223b or attempt or conspiracy to violate any of said
sections or section 53a -54a, or (2) any crime that the court determines
constitutes a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b -38a, or
attempt or conspiracy to commit any such crime, the court may, in
addition to imposing the sentence authorized for the crime under
section 53a-35a or 53a -36, if the court is of the opinion that the history
and character and the nature and circumstances of the criminal conduct
House Bill No. 5311

Public Act No. 26-32 2 of 2

of such offender indicate that a standing criminal protective order will
best serve the interest of the victim and the public, issue a standing
criminal protective order which shall remain in effect for a duration
specified by the court until modified or r evoked by the court for good
cause shown. If any person is convicted of, or found not guilty by reason
of mental disease or defect of, any crime not specified in subdivision (1)
or (2) of this subsection, the court may, for good cause shown, issue a
standing criminal protective order pursuant to this subsection. In any
case that the court does not issue a standing criminal protective order
against a person convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of mental
disease or defect of a crime specified in subdivision (2) of this
subsection, the court shall state on the record its reasons for not issuing
such order.