# Connecticut SB 00259: AN ACT CONCERNING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

Connecticut SB 00259, AN ACT CONCERNING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee; status signed, last action 2026-05-07 (Signed by the Governor) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00259-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Connecticut SB 00259
- State: Connecticut
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT CONCERNING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-19
- Last action: 2026-05-07, Signed by the Governor
- Sponsor: Judiciary Committee
- Cosponsors: 35
- Subjects: judiciary
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

To (1) establish the crime of female genital mutilation, (2) allow for testimony outside of the courtroom for victims twelve years of age or younger, (3) prohibit a witness who is a victim of female genital mutilation from being automatically adjudged incompetent due to age, (4) authorize a civil action by a victim, (5) abrogate immunity between a parent and child if the action is brought by the child against the parent, and (6) allow such actions within thirty years from the victim attaining the age of eighteen years.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More legal options for genital mutilation survivors: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, people harmed by a violation can sue the perpetrator in Superior Court where they live. Courts can award money for losses, punitive damages, or other appropriate relief; no award amount is guaranteed. Parent-child immunity cannot block these claims, including cases brough…
- New protections against child genital mutilation: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Connecticut makes knowingly performing female genital mutilation on anyone under 18 a class D felony. This covers cutting, removing, or closing all or part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris. Exceptions cover operations needed for health or a medical purpose,…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Judiciary Committee
- Cosponsor: Aimee Berger-Girvalo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy Morrin Bello (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aundre Bumgardner (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Craig C. Fishbein (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Devin R. Carney (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dominique Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Donna Veach (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Eleni Kavros DeGraw (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gary A. Turco (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Heather S. Somers (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Hector Arzeno (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Iris N Sanchez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Leeper (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: John A. Kissel (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Josh Elliott (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julie Kushner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kate Farrar (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kathy Kennedy (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kenneth Gucker (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kurt Vail (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Larry Pemberton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Laurie Sweet (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Martha Marx (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary M. Mushinsky (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael D. Quinn (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicholas Menapace (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Patricia Billie Miller (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Paul Cicarella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sarah Keitt (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Steven J. Stafstrom (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Steven Winter (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tammy Nuccio (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Courpas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Tony Hwang (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | Senate Roll Call Vote 130 | pass |   |   |   |
| 2026-03-24 | House | House Roll Call Vote 121 | pass |   |   |   |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass |   |   |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-05-07: Signed by the Governor (legislature)
- 2026-05-04: Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor (legislature)
- 2026-05-04: Transmitted to the Secretary of State (legislature)
- 2026-04-30: Public Act 26-5 (legislature)
- 2026-04-28: In Concurrence (legislature)
- 2026-04-28: House Passed (House)
- 2026-04-22: House Calendar Number 482 (House)
- 2026-04-22: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House (House)
- 2026-04-21: Senate Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: File Number 586 (legislature)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Calendar Number 379 (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-04-06: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26 12:00 PM (legislature)
- 2026-03-25: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-03-24: Joint Favorable Substitute (legislature)
- 2026-02-26: Public Hearing 03/02 (legislature)
- 2026-02-19: Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary (legislature)

## Bill text

- Public Act No. 26-5, 2026-04-30: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/ACT/PA/PDF/2026PA-00005-R00SB-00259-PA.PDF)
- File No. 586, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-FC.PDF)
- Raised Bill, 2026-02-19: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00-SB.PDF)
- Bill Analysis For File Copy 586: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-BA.PDF)
- Fiscal Note For File Copy 586: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-FN.PDF)
- House Roll Call Vote 121: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/H/PDF/2026HV-00121-R00SB00259-HV.PDF)
- JUD Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00JUD-JFR.PDF)
- JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00JUD-CV85-TS.PDF)
- Senate Roll Call Vote 130: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/S/PDF/2026SV-00130-R00SB00259-SV.PDF)
- Summary for Public Act No. 26-5: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/SUM/PDF/2026SUM00005-R01SB-00259-SUM.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 00247: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. (signed)
- SB 00220: AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT LITERACY, ASPIRING EDUCATORS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE WORLD LANGUAGES CURRICULUM AND THE PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH BENEFIT PL… (signed)
- SB 00191: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY PILOT PROGRAM. (signed)
- SB 00137: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD. (signed)
- HB 05563: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROPOSALS, CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL FOR AIRPORTS, HELIPORTS, VERTIPORTS, RESTRICTED LANDING AREAS A… (signed)
- HB 05509: AN ACT CONCERNING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Public Act No. 26-5 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/ACT/PA/PDF/2026PA-00005-R00SB-00259-PA.PDF)
- [File No. 586 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-FC.PDF)
- [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00-SB.PDF)
- [Bill Analysis For File Copy 586 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-BA.PDF)
- [Fiscal Note For File Copy 586 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00259-R000586-FN.PDF)
- [House Roll Call Vote 121 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/H/PDF/2026HV-00121-R00SB00259-HV.PDF)
- [JUD Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00JUD-JFR.PDF)
- [JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00259-R00JUD-CV85-TS.PDF)
- [Senate Roll Call Vote 130 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/S/PDF/2026SV-00130-R00SB00259-SV.PDF)
- [Summary for Public Act No. 26-5 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/SUM/PDF/2026SUM00005-R01SB-00259-SUM.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 00247: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00247-2026)
- [SB 00220: AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT LITERACY, ASPIRING EDUCATORS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00220-2026)
- [SB 00191: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY PILOT PROGRAM.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00191-2026)
- [SB 00137: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00137-2026)
- [HB 05563: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROPOSALS, CERTIFIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05563-2026)
- [HB 05509: AN ACT CONCERNING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05509-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00259-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).