ConnecticutHB 072552025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES AND THE DUTIES OF JUDICIAL BRANCH PERSONNEL.

Summary

To: (1) Establish the Office of Information Privacy within the Judicial Branch, (2) revise statutes addressing the sharing of information between the Department of Children and Families and the Court Support Services Division, (3) eliminate obsolete statutory references to "STA-FED, ADR, Inc.", (4) revise venue provisions for certain municipalities, (5) make statutory changes needed to conform with the passage of prior public acts, (6) require the Judicial Branch to review and report on habeas corpus proceedings in other states, and (7) make statutory changes concerning the duties of certain Judicial Branch personnel.

judiciary

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

14 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 7 mixed.

Rent payments during eviction appeals

Effective from passage, existing payment orders continue during eviction appeals, and compliance meets the appeal bond requirement. After notice of an occupying tenant’s appeal, the Superior Court must hold a payment hearing within 14 days. The court may require deposits based on the tenant’s last-agreed rent share or, without a lease, reasonable use-and-occupancy value. Deposits may be paid in monthly installments. After the hearing, the court must order monthly payments for fair rental value accruing from the order. When the landlord appeals, monthly payments require the landlord’s motion and a hearing. Tenants with publicly paid rent satisfy the payment requirement by depositing only their own share.

Higher daily pay for trial referees

Eligible judge trial referees receive daily pay in addition to retirement salary. Rates apply retroactively: $285 from July 1, 2022; $294 from July 1, 2023; and $302 from July 1, 2024. They also receive expenses, including mileage. Eligibility covers service as a court’s single auditor or committee, or duties assigned by the Chief Court Administrator with Chief Justice approval. The referring court treats compensation and expenses as court expenses.

Privacy protection for judges and families

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Judicial Branch’s Office of Information Privacy certifies covered judicial officials and qualifying household members. Certified people can ask the office to direct public agencies to stop publishing or remove covered personal details. These include home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, vehicle identifiers, and children’s names. Agencies must promptly acknowledge requests by email and take reasonable steps to prevent or remove publication as quickly as practicable. The law excludes information displayed publicly without a removal request and speech on matters of public concern. It does not require removal of records that freedom-of-information law requires to be published.

Review available after late appeal denials

Beginning July 1, 2025, an aggrieved party can seek Supreme Court review after the Appellate Court denies a late-appeal request. Three Connecticut Supreme Court judges must vote to accept the case. Only two votes are needed when fewer than six judges are available. Review is not guaranteed.

Victims gain voice and email notices

Beginning October 1, 2025, compensation applicants’ written rights list must cover statements before courts accept plea agreements. Victims can present losses, injuries, and wishes to prosecutors and courts before guilty or no-contest pleas are accepted. This right is no longer limited to lesser-charge deals, but remains subject to section 54-91c. People registered for covered victim notices can choose email or first-class mail. Covered notices include release applications, sentence-reduction or review requests, certain sex-offender registration proceedings, and scheduled prison releases.

Court challenges to false lien filings

Beginning July 1, 2025, people named in false Uniform Commercial Code financing records can ask a court to invalidate them. Petitions go to the Superior Court’s Tax and Administrative Appeals Session, with no filing fee. Petitioners must include a certified record copy and serve all named parties. After finding cause to doubt a record’s validity, the court may hold a hearing within 60 days. Without oral testimony from the secured party, the court may decide using the petition and responses. Petitioners must give the record custodian copies of an invalidation order so the invalidity can be noted.

Protective orders cover another arrest offense

Beginning October 1, 2025, courts can issue protective orders after an arrest for violating section 53a-181f. An order can protect the victim and an animal the victim owns or keeps. Following the order becomes a condition of the defendant’s bail or release.

Senior judges lose specific mediation authorization

The law removes senior judges’ authorization to participate in the specified STA-FED alternative dispute resolution program. It also removes the statement that this participation is not private practice. Retired justices and judges assigned judicial duties remain barred from private practice.

Court locations change for six towns

Beginning October 1, 2025, Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury move from Hartford to Litchfield for court-district venue. Burlington moves from New Britain to Litchfield. Covered civil cases involving an Avon or Simsbury resident allow plaintiffs to choose Hartford or Litchfield instead of New Britain. Related options apply to covered property cases with land and a party in those towns, and business cases with a plaintiff’s office there. Housing cases involving Avon or Simsbury premises can use Hartford or Litchfield. The special Hartford-or-New Britain housing option ends for Avon, Simsbury, Canton, and Farmington.

Remote signatures expand, with estate limits

Beginning June 24, 2025, Connecticut Superior Court commissioners can acknowledge eligible records through live video and sound. Identity checks require personal knowledge, qualifying government identification, at least two identity-proofing processes, or a qualifying credible witness. People outside Connecticut must use records intended for Connecticut matters or otherwise legally eligible for acknowledgment outside the state. Signers must deliver the signed original record to the commissioner afterward. Estate-division agreements under section 45a-434 cannot use remote acknowledgment; doing so has no legal effect and violates section 51-88.

Broader youth records access for services

Beginning July 1, 2025, specified juvenile records can be disclosed when a child receives Department of Children and Families services. The child no longer needs to be committed to the department, but only legally authorized information can be shared. The department can also receive youth records when providing direct services, beyond the former oversight and custody-status limits. Records received under that youth-record rule cannot be shared further. The Court Support Services Division can use department records for supervision and treatment and share common case records to track repeat juvenile offenses.

Child welfare staff gain safety information

The Chief Court Administrator can grant child welfare staff access to the protective-order registry under adopted rules. Staff may use or share that information only while performing their duties. The Court Support Services Division must establish approved written procedures for sharing information with the Department of Children and Families. This sharing applies when a person’s release conditions already require cooperation with the department; it creates no new personal duty.

Juvenile records available before criminal conviction

Beginning July 1, 2025, correction and parole officials can access relevant juvenile records after adult criminal charges, not just convictions. This applies to cases in the Superior Court’s regular criminal docket. Access must support listed risk or needs assessments, release or pardon decisions, supervision, or treatment planning.

Courts manage larger projects within limits

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Chief Court Administrator’s office gains authority to plan and carry out consultant-services contracts. Consultant contracts estimated above $300,000 remain subject to section 4b-58. The office can supervise construction, repair, and alteration contracts up to $3 million, increased from $1.25 million. That authority stops at the $3 million ceiling. The law provides no new funding or guaranteed business awards.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Judiciary Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 263 • No: 9

House vote • 5/5/2025

APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable)

Yes: 42 • No: 8

House vote • 4/4/2025

House Roll Call Vote 156 AS AMENDED

Yes: 145 • No: 0