# Connecticut SB 00475: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS. Connecticut SB 00475, AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Judiciary Committee; status signed, last action 2026-06-04 (Signed by the Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00475-2026 - 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 00475 - State: Connecticut - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-09 - Last action: 2026-06-04, Signed by the Governor - Sponsor: Judiciary Committee - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: judiciary - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (0 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 19 ## Summary To make various changes to the general statutes (1) governing Judicial Branch operations, processes and procedures, and (2) affecting civil and criminal proceedings. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Children get juvenile court safeguards: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, children can face the regular criminal court docket only through specified legal exceptions. Beginning October 1, 2026, judges may order a risk and needs assessment when probable cause supports the allegations. An ordered assessment must happen within two weeks after arraign… - More relatives can help raise children: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, relatives by law join relatives by blood or marriage as options for foster placement and temporary custody. They may seek to join covered child welfare cases, subject to assessments, deadlines, and court approval. Courts may also choose suitable relatives by law as legal or… - More emotional harm qualifies for compensation: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, Connecticut broadens emotional harm covered by crime-victim compensation provisions. It includes mental or emotional impairment caused by another person’s intentional or knowing actions. Those actions must make a reasonable person fear for their safety. This expands quali… - Federal judges gain online privacy protections: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Connecticut’s online personal-information protections cover federal judges who live in the state. Covered judges include district, appeals, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges. Their spouses, children, and dependents are also covered if they live in the same household. - People can challenge falsely filed records: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, people named in filings under chapters 821–822 may petition the court over false filings or amendments. If the court finds cause to doubt validity, it may hold a hearing within 60 days after that finding. The court may invalidate the filing or grant other relief. It may d… - Released people get account balances fee-free: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Correction must return remaining Inmate Trust Fund balances upon release. Payment can be cash, check, or a prepaid device, but a prepaid option must include a cash or check alternative. Neither the department nor the device issuer may charge the person a fe… - Lake authorities receive their fine revenue: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Connecticut must send qualifying lake authorities all money collected from fines they issued for chapter 268 violations. Court officials must certify the amount owed every three months. The law states no total amount and does not change the fine amounts. - Prosecutors get simpler transcript request rules: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, prosecutors must request sentencing transcripts for definite, nonsuspended prison sentences longer than two years. They no longer have to make the request on the record. The transcript requirement remains in place. - Judicial Branch can approve smaller repairs: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Judicial Branch can undertake covered repairs, alterations, additions, and capital projects costing up to $3 million without prior Administrative Services approval. The authority covers qualifying buildings under court administration or rented or occupied by the Judicial… - Marshal applicants face court suitability reviews: cost, low. Beginning June 4, 2026, the Connecticut Judicial Branch must decide whether judicial marshal applicants are suitable for employment. Applicants still must undergo the required criminal-record background investigation and pay its processing fees. The law states no fee amount. - Judicial seal use needs official approval: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, making or using the Connecticut Judicial Branch seal requires direction and approval from court administrators. This covers copies, imprints, and imitations for authorized government or Judicial Branch business. The Chief Court Administrator may also approve copies for educa… - Arbitrators face lawyer and objection rules: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, arbitrators in covered Connecticut proceedings must remain Connecticut lawyers in good standing unless all parties waive this in writing. A party has 14 days after appointment, or written notice of lost good standing, to object. Parties in cases pending July 1 may also objec… - Clearer steps and evidence for parents: mixed, low. In covered child welfare cases, courts must list steps for parents to help bring children home or keep them home under supervision. Parents remain subject to those court-ordered steps. The Department of Children and Families must identify the sources of information in its court papers and when it o… - Court records get new sharing limits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, court family relations staff must share defendants’ service progress when family violence and child welfare cases are both open. The child welfare agency may use it only for child protection, not other court cases unless another law allows. Authorized Court Support Services… - First responder peer support limits lawsuits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, peer support team members receive protection from damages claims for covered work helping first responders. Team members remain liable for wanton, reckless, or malicious conduct. Employers are protected from damages arising from establishing or maintaining these programs. Th… - Marriage ends couples’ existing support orders: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, an existing support order ends when the parties named in it marry each other. Both spouses then share legal responsibility for ongoing support. Ending the order does not end their support duties. - Unclaimed detainee property can be sold: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Chief Court Administrator must set procedures for selling or disposing of detainees’ unclaimed property. The Judicial Branch must first make reasonable efforts to return clothing, jewelry, and other belongings. Sale proceeds go to the General Fund and are credited to the… - Treatment participants get support and requirements: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, covered mental health treatment participants receive supervision from specially trained probation officers with smaller caseloads. Participants must also receive a classification that sets supervision and monitoring standards. Those living outside Connecticut must return… - Five state agency rules are repealed: mixed, low. Beginning June 4, 2026, the law repeals state agency regulation sections 11-10b-1 through 11-10b-5. The supplied text does not explain what those five rules covered or who they affected. It does not establish whether households gain relief or lose protections. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Judiciary Committee - Cosponsor: John A. Kissel (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Steven J. Stafstrom (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tom Delnicki (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-30 | Senate | Senate Roll Call Vote 231 | pass | | | | | 2026-03-30 | Senate | JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass | | | | | 2026-03-30 | House | House Roll Call Vote 235 AS AMENDED | pass | | | | ## Actions (21) - 2026-06-04: Signed by the Governor (legislature) - 2026-05-26: Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor (legislature) - 2026-05-26: Transmitted to the Secretary of State (legislature) - 2026-05-19: Public Act 26-92 (legislature) - 2026-05-05: In Concurrence (legislature) - 2026-05-05: House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A (House) - 2026-05-05: House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A (House) - 2026-05-01: House Calendar Number 560 (House) - 2026-05-01: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House (House) - 2026-05-01: Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House (House) - 2026-05-01: Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A (Senate) - 2026-05-01: Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 5719 (Senate) - 2026-04-16: File Number 653 (legislature) - 2026-04-16: Senate Calendar Number 416 (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature) - 2026-04-10: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/15/26 5:00 PM (legislature) - 2026-03-30: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature) - 2026-03-30: Joint Favorable Substitute (legislature) - 2026-03-16: Public Hearing 03/20 (legislature) - 2026-03-09: Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary (legislature) ## Bill text - Public Act No. 26-92, 2026-05-01: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/ACT/PA/PDF/2026PA-00092-R00SB-00475-PA.PDF) - File No. 653, 2026-04-16: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-FC.PDF) - JUD Joint Favorable Substitute, 2026-03-30: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-SB.PDF) - Raised Bill, 2026-03-09: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00-SB.PDF) - Bill Analysis For File Copy 653: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-BA.PDF) - Bill Analysis for SB-475, as amended by Senate "A": [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-BA.PDF) - Fiscal Note For File Copy 653: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-FN.PDF) - Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5684 (See Fiscal Note Details): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/fna/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00LCO05684-FNA.PDF) - Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5719 (See Fiscal Note Details): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/fna/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00LCO05719-FNA.PDF) - Fiscal Note for SB-475, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 5719): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-FN.PDF) - House Roll Call Vote 235 AS AMENDED: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/H/PDF/2026HV-00235-R00SB00475-HV.PDF) - JUD Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00JUD-JFR.PDF) - JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00JUD-CV113-TS.PDF) - Senate LCO Amendment #5684 (J): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/lcoamd/pdf/2026LCO05684-R00-AMD.pdf) - Senate Roll Call Vote 231: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/S/PDF/2026SV-00231-R00SB00475-SV.PDF) - Senate Schedule A LCO# 5719 (J): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/amd/S/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00SA-AMD.pdf) - Summary for Public Act No. 26-92: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/SUM/PDF/2026SUM00092-R02SB-00475-SUM.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM AND SECOND INJURY FUND. (signed) - SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE. (signed) - SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF FINANCE. (signed) - SB 00391: AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR WOMEN COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECT… (signed) - SB 00400: AN ACT CONCERNING PROBATE COURT OPERATIONS. (signed) - SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS. (signed) ## Sources - [Public Act No. 26-92 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/ACT/PA/PDF/2026PA-00092-R00SB-00475-PA.PDF) - [File No. 653 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-FC.PDF) - [JUD Joint Favorable Substitute (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-SB.PDF) - [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00-SB.PDF) - [Bill Analysis For File Copy 653 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-BA.PDF) - [Bill Analysis for SB-475, as amended by Senate "A" (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-BA.PDF) - [Fiscal Note For File Copy 653 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00475-R000653-FN.PDF) - [Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5684 (See Fiscal Note Details) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/fna/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00LCO05684-FNA.PDF) - [Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5719 (See Fiscal Note Details) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/fna/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00LCO05719-FNA.PDF) - [Fiscal Note for SB-475, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 5719) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00475-R01-FN.PDF) - [House Roll Call Vote 235 AS AMENDED (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/H/PDF/2026HV-00235-R00SB00475-HV.PDF) - [JUD Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00JUD-JFR.PDF) - [JUD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00475-R00JUD-CV113-TS.PDF) - [Senate LCO Amendment #5684 (J) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/lcoamd/pdf/2026LCO05684-R00-AMD.pdf) - [Senate Roll Call Vote 231 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/VOTE/S/PDF/2026SV-00231-R00SB00475-SV.PDF) - [Senate Schedule A LCO# 5719 (J) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/amd/S/pdf/2026SB-00475-R00SA-AMD.pdf) - [Summary for Public Act No. 26-92 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/SUM/PDF/2026SUM00092-R02SB-00475-SUM.PDF) ## Related - [SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00488-2026) - [SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00484-2026) - [SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00444-2026) - [SB 00391: AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TR…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00391-2026) - [SB 00400: AN ACT CONCERNING PROBATE COURT OPERATIONS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00400-2026) - [SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00370-2026) - [Connecticut bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/connecticut/bills) - [Connecticut state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/connecticut) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00475-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).