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sSB384 / File No. 131 1
General Assembly File No. 131
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 384
Senate, March 23, 2026
The Committee on Government Administration and Elections
reported through SEN. FLEXER of the 29th Dist., Chairperson
of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute
bill ought to pass.
AN ACT REDEFINING "EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCY" FOR
PURPOSES OF DATA GOVERNANCE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 4 -67o of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 2
As used in this section and sections 2-79e, 4-67p and 4-67z: 3
(1) "Data" means the final version of statistical or factual information 4
that: (A) Is reflected in a list, table, graph, chart or other non -narrative 5
form that can be digitally or nondigitally transmitted or processed; (B) 6
is regularly created or maintained by, or on behalf of, an executive 7
branch agency; and (C) records a measurement, transaction or 8
determination related to the mission of the agency or is provided to the 9
agency by third parties pursuant to law. 10
(2) "Executive branch agency" means any state agency, [listed in 11
section 4 -38c, except the Board of Regents for Higher Education ] as 12
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defined in section 4d-1, except the constituent units of the state system 13
of higher education and the offices of the Secretary of the State, 14
Comptroller, Attorney General and Treasurer. 15
(3) "High value data" means any data that the department head 16
determines (A) is critical to the operation of an executive branch agency; 17
(B) can increase executive branch agency accountability and 18
responsiveness; (C) can improve public knowledge of the executive 19
branch agency and its operations; (D) can further the core mission of the 20
executive branch agency; (E) can create economic opportunity; (F) is 21
frequently requested by the public; (G) responds to a need and demand 22
as identified by the agency through public consultation; or (H) is used 23
to satisfy any legislative or other reporting requirements. 24
(4) "Open data" means any data that (A) is freely available in 25
convenient and modifiable format and can be retrieved, downloaded, 26
indexed and searched; (B) is formatted in a manner that allows for 27
automated machine processing; (C) does not have restrictions 28
governing use; (D) is published with the finest possible level of detail 29
that is practicable and permitted by law; and (E) is described in enough 30
detail so users of the data have sufficient information to understand (i) 31
the strengths, weaknesses, analytical limitations and security 32
requirements of the data, and (ii) how to process such data. 33
(5) "Public data" means any data collected by an executive branch 34
agency that is permitted to be made available to the public, consistent 35
with any and all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, 36
resolutions, policies or other restrictions, requirements or rights 37
associated with the data, including, but not limited to, contractual or 38
other legal restrictions, orders or requirements. 39
(6) "Protected data" means any data the public disclosure of which 40
would (A) violate federal or state laws or regulations; (B) endanger the 41
public health, safety or welfare; (C) hinder the operation of the federal, 42
state or municipal government, including criminal and civil 43
investigations; or (D) impose an undue financial, operational or 44
administrative burden on the executive branch agency. "Protected data" 45
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includes any records not required to be disclosed pursuant to subsection 46
(b) of section 1-210. 47
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 4-67o
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
The title was changed.
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 makes various changes to the law governing executive
branch data sharing and management. These changes have no fiscal
impact as it is not anticipated that any additional resources will be
required to implement these changes.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 384
AN ACT REDEFINING "EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCY" FOR
PURPOSES OF DATA GOVERNANCE.
SUMMARY
This bill broadens the definition of “executive branch agency” and
clarifies carve-outs within the definition, which impact executive branch
data sharing and management. The law generally authorizes the state’s
chief data officer (CDO) to direct executive branch agencies on data use,
management, sharing, coordination, and formulation of the state data
plan, and requires them to meet certain related requirements.
Under current law, the “executive branch agencies” subject to these
provisions are 24 of the 25 statutorily defined executive branch
departments (excluding the Board of Regents for Higher Education).
The bill extends these provisions to cover (1) each department, board,
council, commission, institution, or other Executive Department agency
(with any entity included by law within a given department deemed a
division of that department); (2) two of the s ix offices of the
constitutional officers (the offices of governor and lieutenant governor);
and (3) all executive department agency operations funded by the
General Fund or a special fund. It excludes constituent units of the state
higher education system (UConn and the Connecticut State Colleges
and Universities, which includes the Connecticut State University
System, Connecticut State Community College, and Charter Oak State
College).
The bill generally requires a newly covered agency to:
1. designate an employee as its agency data officer,
2. consult with the CDO on the state data plan,
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3. take information technology -related actions and initiatives
consistent with the state data plan,
4. conduct an annual inventory of its high value data, and
5. develop an open data access plan.
The bill also subjects the newly covered agencies to a CDO review, in
consultation with the attorney general and their own legal counsel, on
the legal obstacles to sharing their high value data. By law, “high value
data” is data that the department head determines:
1. is critical to an executive branch agency’s operation;
2. can (a) increase executive branch agency accountability and
responsiveness, (b) improve public knowledge about the agency
and its operations, (c) further the agency’s core mission, or (d)
create economic opportunity;
3. is frequently requested by the public;
4. responds to a need and demand as identified by the agency
through public consultation; or
5. is used to satisfy any legislative or other reporting requirements.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/11/2026)