SB00504 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAWS OF THIS 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: 2026-04-13
Official status: File Number 594
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the group terminates on the date it submits the report OR January 1, 2027, whichever is later. The candidate explanation phrased this as 'or immediately after,' which was adjusted to match the source's specific condition.

Creating a Group to Study Criminal Procedure Laws

This law creates a working group of six experts with criminal procedure knowledge to review state laws and submit recommendations by January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a new working group to study the state's criminal procedure laws.
Requires the group to review Title 54 of the general statutes for possible updates.
Sets a deadline of January 1, 2027, for the group to submit its report and recommendations.
Assigns existing administrative staff from the judiciary committee to support the working group.

Who It Names or Affects

Six appointed members with expertise in criminal procedure laws
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
The President Pro Tempore of the Senate
The Majority and Minority Leaders of both legislative chambers

Terms To Know

Working group: A temporary team created to study a specific topic and make recommendations.
Criminal procedure laws: The rules that govern how the legal system handles crimes, arrests, trials, and punishments.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill only creates a study group; it does not change any criminal laws itself.
The specific recommendations for law changes are unknown until the report is submitted in 2027.
The working group ends on January 1, 2027, or immediately after submitting its report.

Bill History

2026-04-13 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-13 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-13 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 387
2026-04-13 LCO
File Number 594
2026-04-06 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26 12:00 PM
2026-03-30 JUD
Joint Favorable
2026-03-30 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-13 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/18
2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

To study the criminal procedure laws of this state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Senate
SB504 / File No. 594 1

General Assembly File No. 594
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 504

Senate, April 13, 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 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
LAWS OF THIS 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 criminal procedure of this state. Such study shall 2
include, at a minimum, a review of title 54 of the general statutes for the 3
purpose of recommending legislative changes to said title. The working 4
group shall consist of the following members who have expertise in 5
laws of criminal procedure: (1) One appointed by the speaker of the 6
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. The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 12
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary 13
shall serve as the administrative staff for the working group. Not later 14
SB504 File No. 594

SB504 / File No. 594 2

than January 1, 2027, the working group shall submit a report on its 15
findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the 16
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 17
judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11 -4a of the 18
general statutes. The working group shall terminate on the date that it 19
submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later. 20
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

JUD Joint Favorable

SB504 File No. 594

SB504 / File No. 594 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 working group to study criminal 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

SB504 File No. 594

SB504 / File No. 594 4

OLR Bill Analysis
SB 504

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
LAWS OF THIS 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)