Connecticut HB 5294: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SERVICE IN THE MILITIA.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5294
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SERVICE IN THE MILITIA.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 27-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
All [male citizens and all male residents of the state who have 3
declared their intention to become citizens of the United States,] persons 4
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years [,] who are citizens, or 5
who are residents of the state and have declared their intention to 6
become citizens of the United States, and who are not exempt by law, 7
shall be subject to military duty and designated as the militia. [All 8
female citizens and all female residents of the state who have declared 9
their intention to become citizens of the United States, between the ages 10
of eighteen and forty-five years, may enlist voluntarily in any women's 11
unit of the armed forces of the state.] 12
Sec. 2. Section 27-2 of the general statutes is repealed and the 13
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 14
The militia shall be divided into four classes as follows: The 15
unorganized militia, the organized militia, the National Guard and the 16
naval militia. The National Guard for the purposes of this chapter shall 17

Substitute Bill No. 5294

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consist of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. The 18
unorganized militia shall consist of all [male citizens and all male 19
residents of the state who have declared their intention to become 20
citizens of the United States, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five 21
years, not exempt from military duty by federal or state laws or by such 22
reasons of physical or mental disabilities as shall be prescribed in 23
general orders or regulations published by the Adjutant General and 24
approved by the Governor and who are not members of the organized 25
militia or of the National Guard or of the naval militia, and all female 26
citizens and all female residents of the state who have declared their 27
intention to become citizens of the United States, between the ages of 28
eighteen and forty-five years, who may voluntarily offer their services 29
to the state] persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years 30
who are citizens, or who are residents of the state and have declared 31
their intention to become citizens of the United States, who are not 32
exempt from military duty by law and who are not members of any 33
other of such classes. The organized militia shall consist of the 34
Governor's Guards, the State Guard and such other military forces as 35
may be designated by the Governor as commander-in-chief, which may 36
hereafter be organized under the provisions of the laws of this state. The 37
National Guard shall consist of such forces as may be organized and 38
maintained by this state pursuant to the laws and regulations of the 39
United States relating to the National Guard. The naval militia shall 40
consist of such persons as may enlist or be appointed or commissioned 41
therein as a special force for coast protection and as a naval reserve and 42
shall be organized and maintained by this state pursuant to the laws and 43
regulations of the United States relating to the naval militia and may 44
include a marine corps branch of the naval militia subordinate thereto 45
in all matters pertaining to command, discipline or administration. The 46
organized militia, the National Guard, the naval militia and marine 47
corps branch of the naval militia, whenever organized, shall be, for all 48
purposes under the general statutes, the armed forces of the state. 49
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Substitute Bill No. 5294

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Section 1 October 1, 2026 27-1
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 27-2

VA Joint Favorable Subst.