AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIGENOUS TRIBES AND SECURITY FOR CANDIDATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR CAMPAIGN STAFFS.

House of Representatives
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General Assembly File No. 551
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5546

House of Representatives, April 9, 2026

The Committee on Government Administration and Elections
reported through REP. BLUMENTHAL of the 147th Dist.,
Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the
substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, STATUTORILY
RECOGNIZED INDIGENOUS TRIBES AND SECURITY FOR
CANDIDATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR CAMPAIGN STAFFS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (f) of section 9 -612 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(f) (1) As used in this subsection and subsections (g) and (h) of this 4
section: 5
(A) "Quasi-public agency" has the same meaning as provided in 6
section 1-120. 7
(B) "State agency" means any office, department, board, council, 8
commission, institution or other agency in the executive or legislative 9
branch of state government. 10
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(C) "State contract" means an agreement or contract with the state or 11
any state agency or any quasi-public agency, let through a procurement 12
process or otherwise, having a value of fifty thousand dollars or more, 13
or a combination or series of such agreements or contracts having a 14
value of one hundred thousand dollars or more in a calendar year, for 15
(i) the rendition of services, (ii) the furnishing of any goods, material, 16
supplies, equipment or any items of any kind, (iii) the construction, 17
alteration or repair of any public building or public work, (iv) the 18
acquisition, sale or lease of any land or building, (v) a licensing 19
arrangement, or (vi) a grant, loan or loan guarantee. "State contract" 20
does not include any agreement or contract with the state, any state 21
agency or any quasi-public agency that is exclusively federally funded, 22
an education loan, a loan to an individual for other than commercial 23
purposes or any agreement or contract between the state or any state 24
agency and the United States Department of the Navy or the United 25
States Department of Defense. 26
(D) "State contractor" means a person, business entity or nonprofit 27
organization that enters into a state contract. Such person, business 28
entity or nonprofit organization shall be deemed to be a state contractor 29
until December thirty-first of the year in which such contract terminates. 30
"State contractor" does not include a municipality , [or] any other 31
political subdivision of the state or any indigenous tribe of the state 32
recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities 33
or associations duly created by the municipality , [or] political 34
subdivision or indigenous tribe exclusively amongst themselves to 35
further any purpose authorized by statute , [or] charter or tribal law, or 36
an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government 37
or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service 38
and full or part -time, and only in such person's capacity as a state or 39
quasi-public agency employee. 40
(E) "Prospective state contractor" means a person, business entity or 41
nonprofit organization that (i) submits a response to a state contract 42
solicitation by the state, a state agency or a quasi -public agency, or a 43
proposal in response to a request for proposals by the state, a state 44
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agency or a quasi-public agency, until the contract has been entered into, 45
or (ii) holds a valid prequalification certificate issued by the 46
Commissioner of Administrative Services under section 4a -100. 47
"Prospective state contractor" does not include a municipality , [or] any 48
other political subdivision of the state or any indigenous tribe of the 49
state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47 -59a, including any 50
entities or associations duly created by the municipality , [or] political 51
subdivision or indigenous tribe exclusively amongst themselves to 52
further any purpose authorized by statute , [or] charter or tribal law, or 53
an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government 54
or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service 55
and full or part -time, and only in such person's capacity as a state or 56
quasi-public agency employee. 57
(F) "Principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor" 58
means (i) any individual who is a member of the board of directors of, 59
or has an ownership interest of five per cent or more in, a state contractor 60
or prospective state contractor, which is a business entity, except for an 61
individual who is a member of the board of directors of a nonprofit 62
organization, (ii) an individual who is employed by a state contractor or 63
prospective state contractor, which is a business entity, as president, 64
treasurer or executive vice president, (iii) an individual who is the chief 65
executive officer of a state contractor or prospective state contractor, 66
which is not a business entity, or if a state contractor or prospective state 67
contractor has no such officer, then the officer who duly possesses 68
comparable powers and duties, (iv) an officer or an employee of any 69
state contractor or prospective state contractor who has managerial or 70
discretionary responsibilities with respect to a state contract, (v ) the 71
spouse or a dependent child who is eighteen years of age or older of an 72
individual described in this subparagraph, or (vi) a political committee 73
established or controlled by an individual described in this 74
subparagraph or the business entity or nonprofit organization that is the 75
state contractor or prospective state contractor. 76
(G) "Dependent child" means a child residing in an individual's 77
household who may legally be claimed as a dependent on the federal 78
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income tax return of such individual. 79
(H) "Managerial or discretionary responsibilities with respect to a 80
state contract" means having direct, extensive and substantive 81
responsibilities with respect to the negotiation of the state contract and 82
not peripheral, clerical or ministerial responsibilities. 83
(I) "Rendition of services" means the provision of any service to a state 84
agency or quasi -public agency in exchange for a fee, remuneration or 85
compensation of any kind from the state or through an arrangement 86
with the state. 87
(J) "State contract solicitation" means a request by a state agency or 88
quasi-public agency, in whatever form issued, including, but not limited 89
to, an invitation to bid, request for proposals, request for information or 90
request for quotes, inviting bids, quotes or other types of submittals, 91
through a competitive procurement process or another process 92
authorized by law waiving competitive procurement. 93
(K) "Subcontractor" means any person, business entity or nonprofit 94
organization that contracts to perform part or all of the obligations of a 95
state contractor's state contract. Such person, business entity or 96
nonprofit organization shall be deemed to be a subcontractor until 97
December thirty-first of the year in which the subcontract terminates. 98
"Subcontractor" does not include (i) a municipality , [or] any other 99
political subdivision of the state or any indigenous tribe of the state 100
recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities 101
or associations duly created by the municipality , [or] political 102
subdivision or indigenous tribe exclusively amongst themselves to 103
further any purpose authorized by statute , [or] charter or tribal law, or 104
(ii) an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state 105
government or a quasi -public agency, whether in the classified or 106
unclassified service and full or part -time, and only in such person's 107
capacity as a state or quasi-public agency employee. 108
(L) "Principal of a subcontractor" means (i) any individual who is a 109
member of the board of directors of, or has an ownership interest of five 110
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per cent or more in, a subcontractor, which is a business entity, except 111
for an individual who is a member of the board of directors of a 112
nonprofit organization, (ii) an individual who is employed by a 113
subcontractor, which is a business entity, as president, treasurer or 114
executive vice president, (iii) an individual who is the chief executive 115
officer of a subcontractor, which is not a business entity, or if a 116
subcontractor has no such officer, then the officer who duly possesses 117
comparable powers and duties, (iv) an officer or an employee of any 118
subcontractor who has managerial or discretionary responsibilities with 119
respect to a subcontract with a state contractor, (v ) the spouse or a 120
dependent child who is eighteen years of age or older of an individual 121
described in this subparagraph, or (vi) a political committee established 122
or controlled by an individual described in this subparagraph or the 123
business entity or nonprofit organization that is the subcontractor. 124
(2) (A) No state contractor, prospective state contractor, principal of 125
a state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor, with 126
regard to a state contract or a state contract solicitation with or from a 127
state agency in the executive branch or a quasi -public agency or a 128
holder, or principal of a holder, of a valid prequalification certificate, 129
shall make a contribution to, or, on and after January 1, 2011, knowingly 130
solicit contributions from the state contractor's or prospective state 131
contractor's employees or from a subcontractor or principals of the 132
subcontractor on behalf of (i) an exploratory committee or candidate 133
committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to the 134
office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State 135
Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, (ii) a political 136
committee authorized to make contributions or expenditures to or for 137
the benefit of such candidates, or (iii) a party committee; 138
(B) No state contractor, prospective state contractor, principal of a 139
state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor, with 140
regard to a state contract or a state contract solicitation with or from the 141
General Assembly or a holder, or principal of a holder, of a valid 142
prequalification certificate, shall make a contribution to, or, on and after 143
January 1, 2011, knowingly solicit contributions from the state 144
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contractor's or prospective state contractor's employees or from a 145
subcontractor or principals of the subcontractor on behalf of (i) an 146
exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a 147
candidate for nomination or election to the office of state senator or state 148
representative, (ii) a political committee authorized to make 149
contributions or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates, or 150
(iii) a party committee; 151
(C) If a state contractor or principal of a state contractor makes or 152
solicits a contribution as prohibited under subparagraph (A) or (B) of 153
this subdivision, as determined by the State Elections Enforcement 154
Commission, the contracting state agency or quasi -public agency may, 155
in the case of a state contract executed on or after February 8, 2007, void 156
the existing contract with such contractor, and no state agency or quasi-157
public agency shall award the state contractor a state contract or an 158
extension or an amendment to a state contract for one year after the 159
election for which such contribution is made or solicited unless the 160
commission determines that mitigating circumstances exist concerning 161
such violation. No violation of the prohibitions contained in 162
subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision shall be deemed to have 163
occurred if, and only if, the improper contribution is returned to the 164
principal by the later of thirty days after receipt of such contribution by 165
the recipient committee treasurer or the filing date that corresponds 166
with the reporting period in which such contribution was made; 167
(D) If a prospective state contractor or principal of a prospective state 168
contractor makes or solicits a contribution as prohibited under 169
subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, as determined by the State 170
Elections Enforcement Commission, no state agency or quasi -public 171
agency shall award the prospective state contractor the contract 172
described in the state contract solicitation or any other state contract for 173
one year after the election for which such contribution is made or 174
solicited unless the commission determines that mitigating 175
circumstances exist concerning such violation. The Commissioner of 176
Administrative Services shall notify applicants of the provisions of this 177
subparagraph and subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision during 178
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the prequalification application process; 179
(E) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall make 180
available to each state agency and quasi -public agency a written notice 181
advising state contractors and prospective state contractors of the 182
contribution and solicitation prohibitions contained in subparagraphs 183
(A) and (B) of this subdivision. Such notice shall: (i) Direct each state 184
contractor and prospective state contractor to inform each individual 185
described in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, with 186
regard to such state contractor or prospective state contractor, about the 187
provisions of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, whichever is 188
applicable, and this subparagraph; (ii) inform each state contractor and 189
prospective state contractor of the civil and criminal penalties that could 190
be imposed for violations of such prohibitions if any such contribution 191
is made or solicited; (iii) inform each state contractor and prospective 192
state contractor that, in the case of a state contractor, if any such 193
contribution is made or solicited, the contract may be voided; (iv) inform 194
each state contractor and prospective state contractor that, in the case of 195
a prospective state contractor, if any such contribution is made or 196
solicited, the contract described in the state contract solicitation shall not 197
be awarded, unless the commission determines that mitigating 198
circumstances exist concerning such violation; and (v) inform each state 199
contractor and prospective state contractor that the state will not award 200
any other state contract to anyone found in violation of such 201
prohibitions for a period of one year after the election for which such 202
contribution is made or solicited, unless the commission determines that 203
mitigating circumstances exist concerning such violation. Each state 204
agency and quasi -public agency shall include in the bid specifications 205
or request for proposals for a state contract, a copy of or Internet link to 206
such notice. No state agency or quasi-public agency shall execute a state 207
contract unless such contract contains a representation that the chief 208
executive officer or authorized signatory of the contract has received 209
such notice; and 210
(F) (i) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state 211
contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall certify 212
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that neither the contractor or prospective state contractor, nor any of its 213
principals, have made any contributions to, or solicited any 214
contributions on behalf of, any party committee, exploratory committee, 215
candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political 216
committee authorized to make contributions to or expenditures to or for, 217
the benefit of such candidates, in the previous four years, that were 218
determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to be in 219
violation of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, without 220
mitigating circumstances having been found to exist concerning such 221
violation. Each such certification shall be sworn as true to the best 222
knowledge and belief of the person signing the certification, subject to 223
the penalties of false statement. If there is any change in the information 224
contained in the most recently filed certification, such person shall 225
submit an updated certification not later than thirty days after the 226
effective date of any such change or upon the submittal of any new bid 227
or proposal for a state contract, whichever is earlier. 228
(ii) Each state agency and quasi-public agency shall include in the bid 229
specifications or request for proposals for a state contract a notice of the 230
certification requirements of this subparagraph. No state agency or 231
quasi-public agency shall execute a state contract unless the state agency 232
or quasi-public agency obtains the written certification described in this 233
subparagraph. 234
(iii) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state 235
contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall disclose 236
on the certification all contributions made by any of its principals to any 237
party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office 238
or for the General Assembly, or political committee authorized to make 239
contributions to or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates 240
for a period of four years prior to the signing of the contract or date of 241
the response to the bid, whichever is longer, and certify that all such 242
contributions have been disclosed. 243
(3) (A) On and after December 31, 2006, neither the Governor, 244
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of 245
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the State or State Treasurer, any candidate for any such office nor any 246
agent of any such official or candidate shall knowingly, wilfully or 247
intentionally solicit contributions on behalf of an exploratory committee 248
or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or 249
election to any public office, a political committee or a party committee, 250
from a person who he or she knows is prohibited from making 251
contributions, including a principal of a state contractor or prospective 252
state contractor with regard to a state contract solicitation with or from 253
a state agency in the executive branch or a quasi -public agency or a 254
holder of a valid prequalification certificate. 255
(B) On and after December 31, 2006, neither a member of the General 256
Assembly, any candidate for any such office nor any agent of any such 257
official or candidate shall knowingly, wilfully or intentionally solicit 258
contributions on behalf of an exploratory committee or candidate 259
committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to any 260
public office, a political committee or a party committee, from a person 261
who he or she knows is prohibited from making contributions, 262
including a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor 263
with regard to a state contract solicitation with or from the General 264
Assembly or a holder of a valid prequalification certificate. 265
(4) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the campaign 266
of a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor or to a 267
principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor who is an 268
elected public official. 269
(5) Each state contractor and prospective state contractor shall make 270
reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of this subsection. If 271
the State Elections Enforcement Commission determines that a state 272
contractor or prospective state contractor has failed to make reasonable 273
efforts to comply with this subsection, the commission may impose civil 274
penalties against such state contractor or prospective state contractor in 275
accordance with subsection (a) of section 9-7b. 276
Sec. 2. Section 9-601 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 277
amended by adding subdivision (39) as follows (Effective July 1, 2026): 278
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(NEW) (39) "Personal security services" means services rendered to a 279
candidate by one or more individuals, other than on -duty law 280
enforcement personnel, for the personal security of such candidate, such 281
candidate's family or such candidate's campaign staff, which services 282
are necessary as a direct result of campaign activity that would not exist 283
but for such candidate's campaign. 284
Sec. 3. Subsection (e) of section 9 -706 of the 2026 supplement to the 285
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 286
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 287
(e) (1) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall (A) adopt 288
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, on 289
permissible expenditures under subsection (g) of section 9 -607, as 290
amended by this act, for qualified candidate committees receiving 291
grants from the fund under sections 9 -700 to 9-716, inclusive, [and] (B) 292
on or after July 1, 2021, amend such regulations to permit expenditures 293
for child care services , and (C) on or after July 1, 2026, amend such 294
regulations to permit expenditures for personal security services, which 295
regulations so amended pursuant to this subparagraph shall allow 296
payment for the rendering of such services until the certification of the 297
results of the applicable primary or election. 298
(2) After the amendment of regulations pursuant to [subparagraph 299
(B)] subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, 300
expenditures for child care services and personal security services made 301
by the qualified candidate committee of a participating candidate shall 302
be deemed permissible if such expenditures (A) are, in the aggregate, 303
not more than the amount of qualifying contributions permitted under 304
section 9-704, and (B) comply with all regulations adopted or amended, 305
as applicable, pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 306
Sec. 4. Subsection (c) of section 9 -710 of the general statutes is 307
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 308
2026): 309
(c) A candidate who intends to participate in the Citizens' Election 310
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Program may provide personal funds for such candidate's campaign for 311
nomination or election in an amount not exceeding: (1) For a candidate 312
for the office of Governor, twenty thousand dollars; (2) for a candidate 313
for the office of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State 314
Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State, ten thousand 315
dollars; (3) for a candidate for the office of state senator, two thousand 316
dollars; or (4) for a candidate for the office of state representative, one 317
thousand dollars. Such personal funds shall not constitute a qualifying 318
contribution under section 9 -704. For the purposes of this section, and 319
after the amendment of regulations pursuant to [subparagraph (B) ] 320
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 321
9-706, as amended by this act , expenditures for child care services or 322
personal security services made directly from any such candidate's 323
personal funds and for which such candidate does not seek 324
reimbursement from his or her candidate committee, as provided in 325
subsection (k) of section 9 -607, shall not count toward the amounts 326
provided in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, as applicable, of this 327
subsection. 328
Sec. 5. Subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of section 9-607 of the general 329
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 330
(Effective July 1, 2026): 331
(2) Unless otherwise provided by this chapter, any treasurer, in 332
accomplishing the lawful purposes of the committee, may pay the 333
expenses of: (A) Advertising in electronic and print media; (B) any other 334
form of printed advertising or communications including "thank you" 335
advertising after the election; (C) campaign items, including, but not 336
limited to, brochures, leaflets, flyers, invitations, stationery, envelopes, 337
reply cards, return envelopes, campaign business cards, direct mailings, 338
postcards, palm cards, "thank you" notes, sample ballots and other 339
similar items; (D) political banners and billboards; (E) political 340
paraphernalia, which is customarily given or sold to supporters 341
including, but not limited to, campaign buttons, stickers, pins, pencils, 342
pens, matchbooks, balloons, pads, calendars, magnets, key chains, hats, 343
tee shirts, sweatshirts, frisbees, pot holders, jar openers and other 344
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similar items; (F) purchasing office supplies for campaign or political 345
purposes, campaign photographs, raffle or other fund -raising permits 346
required by law, fund -raiser prizes, postage, express mail delivery 347
services, bulk mail permits, and computer supplies and services; (G) 348
banking service charges to maintain campaign and political accounts; 349
(H) subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals which enhance the 350
candidacy of the candidate or party; (I) lease or rental of office space for 351
campaign or political purposes and expenses in connection therewith 352
including, but not limited to, furniture, parking, storage space, utilities 353
and maintenance, provided a party committee or political committee 354
organized for ongoing political activities may purchase such office 355
space; (J) lease or rental of vehicles for campaign use only; (K) lease, 356
rental or use charges of any ordinary and necessary campaign office 357
equipment including, but not limited to, copy machines, telephones, 358
postage meters, facsimile machines, computer hardware, software and 359
printers, provided a party committee or political committee organized 360
for ongoing political activities may purchase office equipment, and 361
provided further that a candidate committee or a political committee, 362
other than a political committee formed for ongoing political activities 363
or an exploratory committee, may purchase computer equipment; (L) 364
compensation for campaign or committee staff, fringe benefits [,] and 365
payroll taxes , [and child care services, provided (i) ] provided the 366
candidate and any member of his immediate family shall not receive 367
compensation; [, and (ii) compensation for child care services is 368
reasonable and customary for the services rendered; ] (M) travel, meals 369
and lodging expenses of speakers, campaign or committee workers, the 370
candidate and the candidate's spouse for political and campaign 371
purposes; (N) fund raising; (O) reimbursements to candidates and 372
campaign or committee workers made in accordance with the 373
provisions of this section for campaign -related expenses for which a 374
receipt is received by the treasurer; (P) campaign or committee services 375
of attorneys, accountants, consultants or other professional persons for 376
campaign activities, obtaining or contesting ballot status, nomination, 377
or election, and compliance with this chapter; (Q) purchasing campaign 378
finance reports; (R) repaying permissible campaign loans made to the 379
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committee that are properly reported and refunding contributions 380
received from an impermissible source or in excess of the limitations set 381
forth in this chapter; (S) conducting polls concerning any political party, 382
issue, candidate or individual; (T) gifts to campaign or committee 383
workers or purchasing flowers or other commemorative items for 384
political purposes not to exceed one hundred dollars to any one 385
recipient in a calendar year or for the campaign, as the case may be; (U) 386
purchasing tickets or advertising from charities, inaugural committees, 387
or other civic organizations if for a political purpose, for any candidate, 388
a candidate's spouse, a member of a candidate's campaign staff, or 389
members of committees; (V) the inauguration of an elected candidate by 390
that candidate's candidate committee; (W) hiring of halls, rooms, music 391
and other entertainment for political meetings and events; (X) 392
reasonable compensation for public speakers hired by the committee; 393
(Y) transporting electors to the polls and other get-out-the-vote activities 394
on election day; [and] (Z) child care services and personal security 395
services, provided the amount paid for such services is reasonable and 396
customary for the services rendered; and (AA) any other necessary 397
campaign or political expense. 398
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 9-612(f)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 9-601(39)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 9-706(e)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 9-710(c)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 9-607(g)(2)

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 5(2)(Z), "or" was changed to " and" and "the amount for such
services" was changed to "the amount paid for such services" for clarity.

GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO

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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: None
Explanation
The bill expands existing exemptions from certain definitions under
state campaign finance law to statutorily recognized indigenous tribes
and designates security as an allowable expenditure under the Citizens'
Election Program (CEP), resulting in no fiscal impact to the state or
municipalities. There is no impact because most CEP grants are fully
spent1.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

1 The Citizens' Election Fund received $79,712 in refunds from CEP candidates in 2024.
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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5546

AN ACT CONCERNING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS,
STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIGENOUS TRIBES AND
SECURITY FOR CANDIDATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR
CAMPAIGN STAFFS.

SUMMARY
The state’s campaign finance laws establish permissible expenditures
that candidate committees and exploratory committees may make to
accomplish their lawful purposes (for example, staff compensation). The
law applies broadly to candidates participating in the Citizens’ Election
Program ( CEP), as well as to those who are privately funded and
running in a state or municipal election. However, the law also requires
the State Elections Enforcement Commission ( SEEC) to adopt
regulations on permissible expenditures specifically for participatin g
CEP candidates who qualify for a grant.
This bill requires SEEC, on or after July 1, 202 6, to amend the CEP
regulations on permissible expenditures to allow for personal security
services. After the regulations are amended, the bill authorizes
participating candidates who qualify for a grant to spend grant funds
for personal security services and child care ( which the law already
allows) until the results of the related election or primary are certified.
The bill also allows privately funded candidates to pay for personal
security services using campaign funds.
Relatedly, the bill removes a provision that prohibits candidates and
their immediate family members from receiving compensation for
providing child care services to a candidate’s campaign.
The bill also exempts statutorily recognized Indian tribes in the state,
as well as any entities or associations created by a tribe and its political
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subdivisions under tribal law, from certain definitions under a state
campaign finance law (§ 1).
Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2026, except the changes to the campaign
finance definitions are effective on October 1, 2026.
PERSONAL SECURITY SERVICES
Under the bill, “personal security services” are services rendered to a
candidate from individuals, other than on -duty law enforcement, to
protect the candidate or the candidate’s family members or campaign
staff and that are needed as a direct result of campaign activity that
would not exist but for the candidate’s campaign.
The bill subjects these expenditures to the following conditions and
limits:
1. aggregate personal security services expenditures may not
exceed the amount of qualifying contributions (QCs) required to
qualify for a CE P grant ( for example, in 202 6, $ 20,100 for
candidates for state senator and $ 6,700 for candidates for state
representative) and
2. any compensation for personal security services must be
reasonable and customary for the services rendered.
By law, participating CEP candidates may give their campaign a
limited amount of personal funds (for example, $2,000 for a state senator
candidate and $1,000 for a state representative candidate). The bill
exempts personal security services expenditures made directly from a
candidate’s personal funds from these limits, as long as the candidate
does not seek reimbursement from his or her candidate committee. The
exemption applies once SEEC amends the CEP regulations as required
by the bill.
CONTRACTOR DEFINITION
The bill exempts statutorily recognized indigenous tribes in the state,
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sHB5546 / File No. 551 17

as well as any entities or associations created by a tribe and its political
subdivisions under tribal law , from being considered a “state
contractor,” “prospective state contractor,” or “subcontractor” under
the state campaign finance law that generally (1) prohibits these
contractors from making contributions to statewide and legislative
candidates for public office and (2) restricts these candidates from
knowingly, willfully, or intentionally accepting contributions from
these contractors (see BACKGROUND). Existing law also generally
exempts (1) municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state, (2)
executive or le gislative branch employees, and (3) quasi -public
employees.
State law statutorily recognizes the Schaghticoke, the Paucatuck
Eastern Pequot, the Mashantucket Pequot, the Mohegan , and the
Golden Hill Paugussett tribes.
BACKGROUND
Campaign Finance Prohibitions Regarding Contractors
State law generally bans state contractors, prospective state
contractors, pre -qualified contractors, subcontractors, and their
principals from making contributions to or on behalf of the following
recipients: (1) exploratory or candidate committees for statewide or
legislative candidates, (2) political committees authorized to make
contributions to or spend on behalf of candidates for statewide or
legislative office, or (3) party committees.
It also prohibits c ontractors from soliciting contributions for these
committees from their employees, subcontractors, or subcontractors’
principals. The prohibitions are branch -specific ( for example , a state
contractor contracted with the General Assembly may not engage in
these prohibited activities for legislative contests).
Relatedly, constitutional officers, legislators, candidates for these
offices, and their agents generally may not knowingly, willfully, or
intentionally solicit contributions from a prohibited entity for any
exploratory, candidate, political, or party committee.
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Related Bill
SB 492, reported favorably by the Government Administration and
Elections Committee, among other things, contains identical provisions
about allowable personal security expenditures.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 15 Nay 3 (03/20/2026)