Connecticut HB 5260: AN ACT PROHIBITING A MUNICIPALITY FROM IMPOSING A PENALTY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5260
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1679

Referred to Committee on HOUSING

Introduced by:
(HSG)

AN ACT PROHIBITING A MUNICIPALITY FROM IMPOSING A
PENALTY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF
DAILY LIVING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: 1
(1) "Homeless person" has the same meaning as provided in 42 USC 2
11302, as amended from time to time; 3
(2) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in section 14-1 4
of the general statutes; 5
(3) "Public place" means publicly accessible land owned or managed 6
by a municipality. "Public place" does not include the interior area of a 7
structure located on publicly accessible land, any real property owned 8
by the state and in the custody of the Department of Transportation, 9
commercial airports or parcels of land containing a school; 10
(4) "Recreational vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in 11
section 14-1 of the general statutes; 12

Raised Bill No. 5260

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(5) "School" means nursery schools, kindergarten and grades one to 13
twelve, inclusive; and 14
(6) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-148 15
of the general statutes. 16
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-148 of the general 17
statutes, no municipality may enact or enforce any ordinance that 18
prohibits a homeless person's ability to: 19
(1) Use or move freely in public places in the same manner as other 20
persons; 21
(2) Occupy or sleep in a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle that is 22
legally parked in a public place; 23
(3) Use any publicly accessible hygiene facility in the same manner as 24
other persons; or 25
(4) Perform the following activities in a public place: (A) Sleep or rest; 26
(B) eat or drink; (C) protect himself or herself from the elements; (D) 27
access medical care; or (E) solicit food, water, money or other donations. 28
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a 29
municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance to prohibit 30
activities that endanger or are likely to endanger the health, welfare or 31
safety of the public. 32
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

HSG Joint Favorable
PD Joint Favorable