AN ACT CONCERNING INTERNET GAMING DISORDER.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as 'from passage' but no specific calendar date for final enactment or governor signature is provided in the source material.

A Plan to Address Internet Gaming Disorder

This law requires state health officials to create a plan that studies and reduces the risks of internet gaming disorder.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to write a public health plan.
• Directs the plan to find ways to identify, prevent, or lower risks from internet gaming disorder.
• Asks officials to study if there is a connection between online gaming problems and gambling habits.
• Includes steps like tracking data, teaching the public, screening for issues early, training doctors, creating treatment paths, and working with groups that stop gambling harm.
• Focuses on reducing harm to youth and other vulnerable populations.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Youth and other vulnerable populations at risk from gaming or gambling
• Health care providers who treat these conditions

Terms To Know

Internet Gaming Disorder

A condition mentioned in the law where risks are associated with online video game playing.

Public Health Plan

An official strategy created by government officials to protect health, including steps like data monitoring and education.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not say exactly how much money will be used for this plan.
• It is not clear yet if a link between gaming and gambling exists until the study finishes.
• The bill text does not list specific penalties or punishments related to internet gaming.

Official Summary Text

To require the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a comprehensive public health plan to identify, prevent and reduce the risks associated with Internet gaming disorder and identify any link between Internet gaming and gambling behaviors.

Current Bill Text

LCO No. 1585 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 240
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1585

Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH

Introduced by:
(PH)

AN ACT CONCERNING INTERNET GAMING DISORDER.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Mental Health 1
and Addiction services shall develop a comprehensive public health 2
plan to (1) identify, prevent and reduce the risks associated with Internet 3
gaming disorder , and (2) identify any link between Internet gaming 4
disorder and gambling behaviors. The plan shall include data 5
monitoring, public education, early screening, health care provider 6
training, evidence -based treatment pathways and coordination with 7
existing gambling harm prevention efforts with particular attention to 8
reducing harm to youth and other vulnerable populations. Not later 9
than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall report on such plan, in 10
accordance with section 11 -4a of the general statutes, to the joint 11
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 12
matters relating to public health. 13
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Raised Bill No. 240

LCO No. 1585 2 of 2

Section 1 from passage New section

Statement of Purpose:
To require the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services
to develop a comprehensive public health plan to identify, prevent and
reduce the risks associated with Internet gaming disorder and identify
any link between Internet gaming and gambling behaviors.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]