SB00434 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE LAWS IN THE STATE.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Judiciary Committee
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: File Number 618
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the working group terminates on the date it submits its report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later. This means if no report is submitted by that date, the group continues until a report is filed.

Act to Study Civil Procedure Laws

This law creates a six-member working group of experts to study the state's civil procedure laws and recommend changes.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a working group to study the state's civil procedure laws.
Requires the group to review Titles 51 and 52 of the general statutes.
Directs the group to recommend legislative changes based on their findings.
Sets a deadline for the group to submit its report by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

The six members appointed to serve on the working group who must have expertise in civil procedure laws.
Leaders of both political parties in the House and Senate who appoint the members.
The joint standing committee that handles judiciary matters when it receives the report.

Terms To Know

Civil procedure: The laws regarding how civil lawsuits are handled in court, as opposed to criminal cases.
Working group: A temporary team created by law to study a specific topic and make recommendations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say what the final report will recommend.
The text does not specify how much time members must spend on this work.
The effective date is listed as 'from passage' but no specific calendar date for enactment is provided in the source.

Bill History

2026-04-14 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-14 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-14 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 396
2026-04-14 LCO
File Number 618
2026-04-08 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-30 JUD
Joint Favorable
2026-03-30 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/16
2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

To establish a working group to study the civil procedure laws in this state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Senate
SB434 / File No. 618 1

General Assembly File No. 618
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 434

Senate, April 14, 2026

The Committee on Judiciary reported through SEN. WINFIELD
of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of
the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE LAWS
IN THE STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) There is established a working group 1
to study the laws of civil procedure in this state. Such study shall 2
include, at a minimum, a review of titles 51 and 52 of the general statutes 3
for the purpose of recommending legislative changes to said titles. The 4
working group shall consist of the following members who have 5
expertise in laws of civil procedure: (1) One appointed by the speaker of 6
the House of Representatives; (2) one appointed by the president pro 7
tempore of the Senate; (3) one appointed by the majority leader of the 8
House of Representatives; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of 9
the Senate; (5) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of 10
Representatives; and (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the 11
Senate. Not later than January 1, 2027, the working group shall submit 12
a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 13
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 14
SB434 File No. 618

SB434 / File No. 618 2

relating to the judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-15
4a of the general statutes. The working group shall terminate on the date 16
it submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later. 17
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

JUD Joint Favorable

SB434 File No. 618

SB434 / File No. 618 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 creates a working group to study civil procedure laws
resulting in no fiscal impact to the state because the working group has
the expertise needed to meet the requirements of the bill.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

SB434 File No. 618

SB434 / File No. 618 4

OLR Bill Analysis
SB 434

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE
LAWS IN THE STATE.

SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 36 Nay 5 (03/30/2026)