ConnecticutLocal governments must request special laws before lawmakers enact them
Starting October 1, 2026, local officials or voters would have to use specified procedures to ask the General Assembly for special local laws.
What it does
Local governments would need to request special laws about their own powers or structure before the General Assembly could enact them. Requests could come from local officials or a petition signed by at least 10% of local electors.
Argument forA defined request process could give local officials and voters a clearer way to ask lawmakers for changes affecting their government.
Argument againstThe 10% signature requirement could make it difficult for residents to bring a proposed local law forward through a petition.
More detail
The General Assembly would not enact special laws about a local government's powers, organization, or structure unless that local government requests them. The rule covers towns, cities, boroughs, districts, and other local government units. A local legislative body generally must approve the request by a two-thirds vote. In towns without a council or board of directors, the board of selectmen, town meeting, or representative town meeting may approve the request. At least 10% of the local government's electors may instead sign a petition stating the purpose of the requested legislation. The local clerk must compare petition signatures with the latest registry list and certify whether the petition is sufficient. The replacement section is effective October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 4SIGNED BY Governor Ned LamontBecame Law
- May 28TRANSMITTED BY SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO GOVERNORTo Governor
- May 28TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE STATE
- May 20PUBLIC ACT 26-132
- May 6IN CONCURRENCE
- Vote recorded Senate Roll Call Vote 395. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6SENATE PASSEDPassed Senate
- Apr 30SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 496
- Apr 30FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.Minor
- Apr 29IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded House Roll Call Vote 141. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29HOUSE PASSEDPassed House
- Apr 1FILE NO. 322
- Apr 1HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 241
- Apr 1FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDARMinor
- Apr 1RPTD. OUT OF LCO
- Mar 26REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26Minor
- Mar 17FILED WITH LCOMinor
- Mar 17Joint FavorableMinor
- Feb 20PUBLIC HEARING 0224
- Feb 19REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government OversightIntroduced
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