Connecticut HB 5256: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR INITIATING LOCAL LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Bill Text

House Bill No. 5256 
 
Public Act No. 26-132 
 
 
AN  ACT  CONCERNING  THE  PROCESS  FOR  INITIATING  LOCAL 
LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section  1. Section  2-14  of  the  general  statutes  is  repealed  and  the 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 
The General Assembly shall enact no special legislation relative to the 
powers,  organization  and  form  of  government  of  any  town,  city, 
borough or other unit of local government unless requested by a town, 
city,   borough   or   other   unit   of   local   government,   in the   manner 
hereinafter  prescribed,  to  enact  such  special  legislation.  A  resolution 
requesting   the   General   Assembly   to   enact   special   legislation   and 
specifying the purpose of such legislation shall be adopted: (1) By a two-
thirds vote of the council or board of directors in any town having such 
a body; of the board of aldermen, council or body charged with the duty 
of making annual appropriations in any city or consolidated town and 
city; of the board of burgesses in any borough or consolidated town and 
borough; or of the board of directors or district committee in any district; 
or  (2)  by  the  board  of  selectmen  or  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  town 
meeting  or  representative  town  meeting  in  any  town  not  having  a 
council  or  board  of  directors.  A  request  for  the  enactment  of  special 
legislation by the General Assembly may also be initiated by a petition 

House Bill No. 5256 
 
Public Act No. 26-132 2 of 2 
 
specifying  the  purpose  of  such  legislation  and  signed  by  not  less than 
ten  per  cent  of  the  electors  of  the  town,  city,  borough  or  other  unit  of 
local government as determined by the last-completed registry list and 
filed  with  the  clerk  of  such  town,  city, borough  or  other  unit  of  local 
government. Upon the filing of such petition, such clerk shall proceed 
forthwith to determine its sufficiency by comparing the names thereon 
with those contained in such registry list and shall certify its sufficiency 
or insufficiency. [Such clerk shall file with the Secretary of the State, not 
later than ten days prior to the convening of any session of the General 
Assembly  in  which  such  proposed  legislation  is  to  be  introduced,  a 
certified copy of the resolution as adopted or the text of the petition as 
signed.] 
 
 
 
Governor's Action: 
Approved June 4, 2026