SB00472 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF EMPLOYEES.

Elections Labor Privacy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Government Administration and Elections Committee
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date other than October 1, 2026 for Section 31-48d; no specific 'effective date' field was provided in metadata.

Rules for Watching Employees with Electronic Devices

This law requires employers to tell workers where they are being watched electronically and which bad actions might lead to surprise monitoring.

What This Bill Does

Requires employers to give written notice about the types of electronic monitoring used and the specific locations where it happens, unless an exception applies.
Mandates that employers post a visible sign in areas with cameras or other monitors so employees can see it easily.
Asks new hires starting on or after October 1, 2026, to receive a written list of prohibited activities that may be monitored without warning.
Allows employers to monitor workers without prior notice if they have good reason to believe illegal acts, rights violations, or hostile behavior are happening and monitoring could produce evidence.
Exempts airports from the rule requiring disclosure of specific camera locations.
Sets fines for breaking these rules starting at $500 for a first offense, rising to $1,000 for a second offense, and up to $3,000 for third or later offenses.

Who It Names or Affects

Employers who use computers, phones, cameras, or other electronic systems to watch workers.
Employees whose activities are recorded by these electronic devices on company property.
The Labor Commissioner, who can hold hearings and issue fines for violations.

Terms To Know

Electronic monitoring: Collecting information about workers using computers, cameras, or phones instead of watching them directly with eyes. This does not include security cameras in public areas like lobbies open to the general public.
Prior written notice: A message given to employees before they start working that explains how and where they will be watched electronically, often posted visibly on the premises.

Limits and Unknowns

This law does not apply if the monitoring is part of a criminal investigation.
The rules take effect on October 1, 2026.
Employers do not need to disclose specific camera locations at airports or when monitoring for security and employee safety purposes.

Bill History

2026-06-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-22 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-22 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-19 LCO
Public Act 26-73
2026-05-05 Connecticut General Assembly
House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule B
2026-05-05 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule B
2026-05-05 Connecticut General Assembly
In Concurrence
2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-30 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 542
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Amendment Withdrawn, Senate Amendment Schedule A 5217
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule B 5273
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule B
2026-04-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
2026-04-09 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 342
2026-04-09 LCO
File Number 576
2026-04-02 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/08/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-23 GAE
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-03-23 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-09 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/13
2026-03-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections

Official Summary Text

To require employers to notify employees of where electronic surveillance is occurring and which prohibited activities may give rise to surveillance without prior notice.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Substitute Senate Bill No. 472

Public Act No. 26-73

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF
EMPLOYEES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 31 -48d of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026):
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Employer" means any person, firm or corporation, including the
state and any political subdivision of the state which has employees;
(2) "Employee" means any person who performs services for an
employer in a business of the employer, if the employer has the right to
control and direct the person as to (A) the result to be accomplished by
the services, and (B) the details and means by which such result is
accomplished; and
(3) "Electronic monitoring" means the collection of information on an
employer's premises concerning employees' activities or
communications by any means other than direct observation, including
the use of a computer, telephone, wire, radio, camera, electromag netic,
photoelectronic or photo -optical systems, but not including the
collection of information (A) for security purposes in common areas of
Substitute Senate Bill No. 472

Public Act No. 26-73 2 of 3

the employer's premises which are held out for use by the public, or (B)
which is prohibited under state or federal law.
(b) (1) Except as provided in [subdivision] subdivisions (2) and (3) of
this subsection, each employer who engages in any type of electronic
monitoring shall give prior written notice to all employees who may be
affected, informing them of the types of monitoring which may occur
and the specific locations on the employer's premises where such
monitoring may occur. Each employer shall post, in a conspicuous place
which is readily available for viewing by its employees , including, but
not limited to, in the specific location on the employer's premises where
such monitoring may occur, a notice concerning the types of electronic
monitoring which the employer may engage in and the specific
locations on the employer's premises where such monitoring may occur.
Such posting shall constitute such prior written notice. Each employer
who engages in any type of electronic monitoring shall also provide
each employee hired on or after October 1, 2026, with a plain language
statement in writing advising which activities are prohibited and may
be monitored without giving prior written notice , as described in
subdivision (2) of this subsection, prior to the employee commencing
employment.
(2) When (A) an employer has reasonable grounds to believe that
employees are engaged in conduct which (i) violates the law, (ii) violates
the legal rights of the employer or the employer's employees, or (iii)
creates a hostile workplace environment, and (B) electronic monitoring
may produce evidence of this misconduct, the employer may conduct
monitoring without giving prior written notice.
(3) The provisions of this subsection requiring an employer to
disclose the specific location of the employer's premises where
electronic monitoring may occur shall not apply (A) if such premises are
an airport, or (B) when an employer has reasonable grounds to conduct
such monitoring for security and employee safety purposes.
Substitute Senate Bill No. 472

Public Act No. 26-73 3 of 3

(c) The Labor Commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any
person that the commissioner finds to be in violation of subsection (b)
of this section, after a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4 -
176e to 4 -184, inclusive. The maximum civil penalty shall be five
hundred dollars for the first offense, one thousand dollars for the second
offense and three thousand dollars for the third and each subsequent
offense.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a criminal
investigation. Any information obtained in the course of a criminal
investigation through the use of electronic monitoring may be used in a
disciplinary proceeding against an employee.