HB05451 AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS…

Plain English Breakdown

The official text distinguishes between 'peace officers' (who can carry while on duty) and 'police officers certified pursuant to section 7-294d' (who can carry at any time). The summary must reflect this distinction clearly.

Allowing Certified Police Officers to Carry Firearms on School Grounds

This law allows police officers certified under Section 7-294d to carry firearms on school property at any time, even when they are not performing official duties.

What This Bill Does

Replaces the current rule about weapons in schools with new text effective October 1, 2026.
Adds a specific exception allowing police officers certified pursuant to Section 7-294d to possess firearms on school grounds regardless of whether they are performing official duties.
Keeps the penalty for unauthorized possession as a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Maintains existing exceptions for people with approved programs or agreements with schools.

Who It Names or Affects

Police officers certified pursuant to Section 7-294d of the general statutes.
Public and private elementary or secondary school property owners and administrators.
People who possess firearms on school grounds without authorization.

Terms To Know

Peace officer: A broad group of law enforcement officials including state police, local police, marshals, constables, and other designated officers defined in Section 53a-3(9).
Police officer certified pursuant to section 7-294d: A specific type of sworn law enforcement member who meets the certification standards set by that statute.
Class D felony: The legal classification for possessing a weapon on school grounds without permission, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies starting October 1, 2026.
The text does not specify if school officials can override this permission for specific officers on their property.
A fiscal note states no financial impact is expected and notes that between FY 22 and FY 25, 56 offenses were recorded under the old rule with no fines collected.

Official Summary Text

To allow a peace officer to possess a firearm on school grounds regardless of whether such officer is engaged in the performance of the officer's official duties.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House of Representatives
sHB5451 / File No. 326 1

General Assembly File No. 326
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5451

House of Representatives, April 1, 2026

The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through
REP. BOYD of the 50th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS BY A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53a-217b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds 3
when, knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, 4
such person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 5
53a-3, (1) in or on the real property comprising a public or private 6
elementary or secondary school, or (2) at a school-sponsored activity as 7
defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a. 8
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to 9
the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a 10
program approved by school officials in or on such school property or 11
at such school-sponsored activity, (2) by a person in accordance with an 12
agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such 13
sHB5451 File No. 326

sHB5451 / File No. 326 2

person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of 14
section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's 15
official duties, [or] (4) by a person while traversing such school property 16
for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to 17
hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not 18
loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local 19
or regional board of education , or (5) by a police officer certified 20
pursuant to section 7-294d. 21
(c) Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony. 22
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 53a-217b

PS Joint Favorable Subst.

sHB5451 File No. 326

sHB5451 / File No. 326 3

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: None
Explanation
The bill, which permits certain police officers to carry a firearm on
school grounds at any time, results in no fiscal impact to the state. This
bill is not anticipated to affect the number of individuals sentenced
under CGS § 53a-217b.1
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

1 Between FY 22 and FY 25, 56 offenses were recorded under CGS § 53a -217b and no
fines were collected.
sHB5451 File No. 326

sHB5451 / File No. 326 4

OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5451

AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS BY A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER.

SUMMARY
By law, peace officers ( including state and local police officers) may
lawfully carry a firearm on school grounds while carrying out their
official duties. This bill permits Police Officer Standards and Training
Council-certified police officers to lawfully carry a firearm on school
grounds at any time.
As under existing law , a person possessing a firearm or deadly
weapon in or on public or private elementary or secondary school
property, or at a school -sponsored activity, knowing they are not
authorized to do so is guilty of a class D felony (punishable by up to five
years in prison and a $5,000 fine).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
BACKGROUND
Peace Officers
By law, the following individuals are designated peace officers: state
and local police, Division of Criminal Justice inspectors, state marshals
exercising statutory powers, judicial marshals performing their duties,
conservation or special conservation of ficers, constables who perform
criminal law enforcement duties, appointed special police officers, adult
probation officers, Department of Correction officials authorized to
make arrests in a correctional institution or facility, investigators in the
State Treasurer’s Office, certified Department of Motor Vehicles
inspectors, U.S. marshals and deputy marshals, U.S. special agents
authorized to enforce federal food and drug laws, and certified police
officers of a law enforcement unit created and governed un der a state-
sHB5451 File No. 326

sHB5451 / File No. 326 5

tribal memorandum (CGS § 53a-3(9)).
Police Officer
By law, a police officer is a sworn member of an organized local police
department or the State Police, an appointed constable who performs
criminal law enforcement duties, certain special policem en, or any
member of a law enforcement unit who performs police duties (CGS §
7-294a).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 20 Nay 9 (03/17/2026)