All Roll Calls
Yes: 0 • No: 0
ConnecticutHB 055322026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF STATE ETHICS FOR REVISIONS TO THE STATE CODES OF ETHICS, REDEFINING "GIFT" FOR PURPOSES OF SAID CODES AND INCREASING VARIOUS MONETARY THRESHOLDS IN SAID CODES.
Sponsored By: Government Administration and Elections Committee
Signed by Governor
Summary
To (1) amend the quorum requirements of the Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board, (2) prohibit nepotism by public officials or state employees, (3) permit the filing of the name of certain tax-sheltered annuity retirement plans in lieu of naming specific securities within such statements, (4) apply substantial conflict of interest provisions in the state code of ethics for public officials and state employees to conflicts involving the public official's or state employee's nonstate employer or spouse's nonstate employer, and (5) increase various monetary thresholds in the state codes of ethics.
government administration and elections
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Fewer small-expense records for registered lobbyists
Beginning October 1, 2026, registered lobbyists face higher thresholds for keeping records that support required financial reports. The threshold rises from $10 to $20 for spending benefiting a public official, and from $50 to $100 for other spending. Covered records must still be kept for three years after the report is filed. Payments or reimbursements for an official's or state employee's legally defined necessary expenses require a statement at $20, up from $10. That statement must name the person and amount and reach the Office of State Ethics within 45 days.
Higher contract threshold for state officials
Beginning October 1, 2026, the state contract ethics threshold rises from $100 to $250. Covered officials, candidates, and immediate family members need an open public process or a listed exception for contracts of $250 or more. The separate ban on agency heads, their immediate families, and associated businesses contracting with their own agency remains.
Higher gift allowances for state officials
Beginning October 1, 2026, Connecticut raises several limits for items excluded from state ethics gift rules. Ceremonial awards and qualifying interstate-association hospitality-suite gifts rise from $100 to $250, with the suite limit applying in total. Qualifying food and drinks rise from $50 to $100 per recipient per calendar year. Publicly noticed receptions inviting all legislators have a $100 per-person yearly limit; regional receptions have a $100 per-person, per-reception limit. Existing attendance, invitation, and public-notice rules still apply. Major-life-event gifts from nonfamily members rise from $1,000 to $1,500. Small nonfamily gifts rise from $10 to $20 each, with a yearly donor-to-recipient cap rising from $50 to $100. A Connecticut public higher-education unit can also invite an official or state employee and one guest to its in-state intercollegiate sporting event once per calendar year without admission counting as a gift.
Higher reporting thresholds for lobbyist spending
Beginning October 1, 2026, client lobbyists seeking legislative action can skip interim monthly reports during regular-session months below a higher threshold. They must neither spend nor agree to spend $250 or more that month, up from $150. Financial reports must itemize covered spending benefiting officials, staff, or immediate family at $20 per person per occasion, up from $10. Exceptions for receptions inviting all legislators or a region's legislators, and official-capacity charity or civic events, remain below $60 per person, up from $30. For six months after registration ends, former lobbyists must report covered spending benefiting officials, staff, or immediate family at $20 per person per occasion, up from $10.
Higher spending triggers for lobbying rules
Beginning October 1, 2026, the lobbying expenditure threshold for paid communications about pending government action rises from $50 to $100 yearly. This also covers requests for others to contact officials to influence legislative or administrative action. For qualifying unpaid lobbyists, spending benefiting an official, staff member, or immediate family member triggers registration at $100, up from $50. That exclusion requires no lobbying pay or reimbursement and no more than five hours spent furthering lobbying. The person must also remain outside the separate $3,000 lobbying compensation or spending threshold.
Less small-gift reporting for state vendors
Beginning October 1, 2026, the written gift-report threshold rises from more than $10 to more than $20. It applies when donors do business with, seek business with, or are directly regulated by the recipient's state agency. Covered gifts go to public officials or state employees. The report identifies the donor, describes and values the items, and gives their total value for the calendar year.
Financial disclosure changes for state officials
Beginning October 1, 2026, additional Connecticut Executive Department members must file annual financial statements electronically when the Governor requires it. Filers can name a section 403 tax-sheltered retirement plan instead of listing its individual securities worth more than $5,000. This adds filing duties for selected officials while reducing retirement investment details that filers must disclose.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Eric C. Berthel
Republican • Senate
Jason Perillo
Republican • Senate
Kenneth Gucker
Democratic • House
Rob Sampson
Republican • Senate
Stephen G. Harding
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/23/2026
House Roll Call Vote 115 AS AMENDED
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/23/2026
Senate Roll Call Vote 349
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/23/2026
GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
5/19/2026legislatureTransmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
5/15/2026legislatureTransmitted to the Secretary of State
5/15/2026legislaturePublic Act 26-66
5/14/2026legislatureOn Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
5/5/2026legislatureSenate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
5/5/2026SenateSenate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A
5/5/2026SenateFile Number 738
4/28/2026legislatureSenate Calendar Number 471
4/28/2026SenateFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
4/28/2026SenateImmediate Transmittal to the Senate
4/27/2026SenateHouse Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
4/27/2026HouseHouse Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 4951
4/27/2026HouseFile Number 547
4/9/2026legislatureHouse Calendar Number 367
4/9/2026HouseFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
4/9/2026HouseReported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
4/9/2026legislatureReferred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/08/26 5:00 PM
4/2/2026legislatureFiled with Legislative Commissioners' Office
3/23/2026legislatureJoint Favorable
3/23/2026legislaturePublic Hearing 03/13
3/9/2026legislatureReferred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections
3/6/2026legislature
Bill Text
Public Act No. 26-66
5/14/2026
File No. 738
4/28/2026
File No. 547
4/9/2026
GAE Joint Favorable
3/23/2026
Raised Bill
3/6/2026
Bill Analysis For File Copy 547
Bill Analysis For File Copy 738
Bill Analysis for HB-5532, as amended by House "A"
Fiscal Note For File Copy 547
Fiscal Note For File Copy 738
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4830 (No Fiscal Impact)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4951 (No Fiscal Impact)
Fiscal Note for HB-5532, As Amended by House "A" (LCO 4951)
GAE Joint Fav. Rpt
GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)
House LCO Amendment #4830 (D)
House Roll Call Vote 115 AS AMENDED
House Schedule A LCO# 4951 (D)
Senate Roll Call Vote 349
Summary for Public Act No. 26-66
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