HB05538 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF STATE FINANCE POLICIES.

Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: File Number 670
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about potential fiscal impacts or specific changes that might result from the recommendations in the report.

A Study on State Finance Policies

This bill requires certain state officials to study the finance policies of Connecticut and nearby states.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Revenue Services to conduct a study on state finance policies.
The study must look at both Connecticut's policies and those of neighboring states.
Commissioners can talk to anyone they think is helpful for the study, like businesses or other government agencies.
By January 1, 2027, commissioners need to write a report about their findings and send it to specific committees in the General Assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

The Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Revenue Services
Businesses and individuals who might be asked for information by the commissioners

Terms To Know

Commissioners: Top officials in charge of certain government departments.
General Assembly: The main law-making body of Connecticut, made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be spent on this study.
It is unclear what specific changes might come from the recommendations in the report.

Bill History

2026-04-16 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-16 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-16 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 444
2026-04-16 LCO
File Number 670
2026-04-10 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/15/26 5:00 PM
2026-04-01 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-30 FIN
Joint Favorable
2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/16
2026-03-11 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding

Official Summary Text

To require the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Revenue Services to study the finance policies of this state and surrounding states.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

House of Representatives
HB5538 / File No. 670 1

General Assembly File No. 670
February Session, 2026 House Bill No. 5538

House of Representatives, April 16, 2026

The Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding reported
through REP. HORN of the 64th Dist., Chairperson of the
Committee on the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF STATE FINANCE POLICIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioners of Economic and 1
Community Development and Revenue Services shall study the finance 2
policies of this state and surrounding states to identify programmatic 3
and legislative changes that may be made to develop the economic 4
competitiveness of the state. The commissioners may consult with any 5
individuals, businesses and state agencies the commissioners deem 6
necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the study. Not 7
later than January 1, 2027, the commissioners shall submit a report, in 8
accordance with the provisions of section 11 -4a of the general statutes, 9
on the commissioners' findings and recommendations to the joint 10
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 11
matters relating to commerce and finance, revenue and bonding. 12
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

HB5538 File No. 670

HB5538 / File No. 670 2

Section 1 from passage New section

FIN Joint Favorable

HB5538 File No. 670

HB5538 / File No. 670 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 has no fiscal impact by requiring the Departments of
Economic and Community Development (DECD) and Revenue Services
(DRS) to study the finance policies of this state and surrounding states
to identify programmatic and legislative changes that may be made to
develop the economic competitiveness of the state. It is anticipated that
DECD and DRS can produce the study within existing resources.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

HB5538 File No. 670

HB5538 / File No. 670 4

OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5538

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF STATE FINANCE POLICIES.

SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 37 Nay 17 (03/30/2026)