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SB00504 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAWS OF THIS STATE.

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 source material does not provide specific details about the administrative support for the working group, only that it is to be provided by the joint standing committee's administrative staff.

A Study on Criminal Laws

This bill establishes a working group to study the criminal procedure laws of the state and submit recommendations for changes by January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a working group to review the current criminal procedure laws in the state.
  • Includes members with expertise in criminal law appointed by leaders from both chambers of the legislature.
  • Requires the working group to submit a report on their findings and suggestions for improvements by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved in criminal law and procedure
  • Legislators who make laws about criminal procedures

Terms To Know

Working Group
A team of people with special knowledge, chosen to study a topic and give advice.
Criminal Procedure Laws
Rules that govern how the justice system handles criminal cases.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what changes might be made to the laws.
  • It is unclear if or when any new laws will actually change based on this study.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-04-13 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  3. 2026-04-13 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 387

  4. 2026-04-13 LCO

    File Number 594

  5. 2026-04-06 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26 12:00 PM

  6. 2026-03-30 JUD

    Joint Favorable

  7. 2026-03-30 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  8. 2026-03-13 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/18

  9. 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)