KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Connecticut

SB00505 • 2026

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

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

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 595
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Act to Study State Criminal Justice Laws

This law creates a working group with experts in criminal law to study specific state laws and recommend changes.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a working group made up of members who have expertise in criminal law, procedure, and the justice system.
  • Requires the group to review Titles 18, 53, 53a, and 54 of the general statutes.
  • Directs the group to recommend legislative changes based on their study.
  • Sets a deadline for the group to submit its report by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The working group members appointed by House and Senate leaders
  • The joint standing committee with responsibility for judiciary matters

Terms To Know

Working Group
A temporary team created to study a specific topic and make recommendations.
General Statutes
The official collection of written laws for the state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only creates a group to study laws; it does not change any current criminal justice rules.
  • The specific recommendations in the final report are unknown until January 1, 2027.

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 388

  4. 2026-04-13 LCO

    File Number 595

  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 laws of this state concerning issues of criminal justice.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Senate
SB505 / File No. 595 1

General Assembly File No. 595
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 505

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 LAWS OF THIS STATE
CONCERNING ISSUES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
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 this state concerning issues of criminal justice. Such 2
study shall include, at a minimum, a review of titles 18, 53, 53a and 54 3
of the general statutes for the purpose of recommending legislative 4
changes to said titles. The working group shall consist of the following 5
members who have expertise in criminal law and procedure and the 6
criminal justice system: (1) One appointed by the speaker of the House 7
of Representatives; (2) one appointed by the president pro tempore of 8
the Senate; (3) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of 9
Representatives; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; 10
(5) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of 11
Representatives; and (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the 12
Senate. The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 13
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary 14
SB505 File No. 595

SB505 / File No. 595 2

shall serve as the administrative staff for the working group. Not later 15
than January 1, 2027, the working group shall submit a report on its 16
findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the 17
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 18
judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11 -4a of the 19
general statutes. The working group shall terminate on the date that it 20
submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later. 21
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

JUD Joint Favorable

SB505 File No. 595

SB505 / File No. 595 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 laws related to criminal
justice 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

SB505 File No. 595

SB505 / File No. 595 4

OLR Bill Analysis
SB 505

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

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