Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 502 — AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.

Last action — FILE NO. 592

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

122 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of SB 502 has removed references to its earlier designation as "Raised Bill No. 502" and the Legislative Committee number (LCO No. 3143) that were previously included. Instead, it now focuses on the title and provides a clearer statement on the committee's endorsement, showing that it has progressed through the legislative process. This change matters because it streamlines the document, making it easier for lawmakers and the public to understand the bill's current status and support.

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Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
502 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
592 February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No.
3143 Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY Introduced by:
502 Senate, April 13, 2026 The Committee on Judiciary reportedthrough SEN.
(JUD) AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.
WINFIELD of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.
The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held prior to the finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be LCO 3143 1 of 6 Raised Bill No.
The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held SB502 / File No.
502 conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building in which the court is located that are separate and apart from the other parts of the court which are then being used for proceedings pertaining to adults charged with crimes.
592 1 SB502 File No.
592 prior to the finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building in which the court is located that are separate and apart from the other parts of the court which are then being used for proceedings pertaining to adults charged with crimes.
Any motion under this subdivision shall be made, and any hearing under this subdivision shall be held, not later than thirty days after the child is arraigned in the superior court for juvenile matters.
Any motion under this subdivision shall be made, and any hearing under this subdivision shall be held, not later than thirty days after the child is arraigned in the SB502 / File No.
LCO 3143 2 of 6 Raised Bill No.
592 2 SB502 File No.
502 (b) Upon motion of a prosecutorial official, the superior court for juvenile matters shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the case of any child charged with the commission of a class C, D or E felony or an unclassified felony or any other offense not subject to the provisions ofsubdivision(1)ofsubsection(a)ofthissectionthat isaseriousfirearm offense, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be transferred from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court.
592 superior court for juvenile matters.
(b) Upon motion of a prosecutorial official, the superior court for juvenile matters shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the case of any child charged with the commission of a class C, D or E felony or an unclassified felony or any other offense not subject to the provisions ofsubdivision(1)ofsubsection(a)ofthissectionthat isaseriousfirearm offense, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be transferred from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court.
(c) If a case is transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, or if a case is transferred to theregular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and the charge in such case is subsequently reduced to that of the commission of an offense for which a case may be transferred pursuant to subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, the court sitting for the regular criminal docket may return the case to the docket for juvenile matters at any time prior to the court or jury rendering a verdict or the entry of a guilty plea for good cause shown for LCO 3143 3 of 6 Raised Bill No.
(c) If a case is transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, or if a case is transferred to theregular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and the charge in such case is subsequently reduced to that of the commission of an offense for which a case may be transferred pursuant to subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, the court sitting for the regular criminal docket may return the case to the docket for juvenile matters at any time prior to the court or jury rendering a SB502 / File No.
502 proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
592 3 SB502 File No.
592 verdict or the entry of a guilty plea for good cause shown for proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
LCO 3143 4 of 6 Raised Bill No.
SB502 / File No.
502 (g) Upon the motion ofany party or upon the court's own motion, the case of any youth age sixteen or seventeen, except a case that has been transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, which is pending on the youthful offender docket, regular criminal docket of the Superior Court or any docket for the presentment of defendants in motor vehicle matters, where the youth is charged with committing any offense or violation for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed, other than a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, may, before trial or before the entry of a guilty plea, be transferred to the docket for juvenile matters if (1) the youth is alleged to have committed such offense or violation on or after January 1, 2010, while sixteen years of age, or is alleged to have committed such offense or violation on or after July 1, 2012, while seventeen years of age, and (2) after a hearing considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the prior history of the youth, the court determines that the programs and services available pursuant to a proceeding in the superior court for juvenile matters would more appropriately address the needs of the youth and that the youth and the community would be better served by treating the youth as a delinquent.
592 4 SB502 File No.
592 (g) Upon the motion ofany party or upon the court's own motion, the case of any youth age sixteen or seventeen, except a case that has been transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, which is pending on the youthful offender docket, regular criminal docket of the Superior Court or any docket for the presentment of defendants in motor vehicle matters, where the youth is charged with committing any offense or violation for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed, other than a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, may, before trial or before the entry of a guilty plea, be transferred to the docket for juvenile matters if (1) the youth is alleged to have committed such offense or violation on or after January 1, 2010, while sixteen years of age, or is alleged to have committed such offense or violation on or after July 1, 2012, while seventeen years of age, and (2) after a hearing considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the prior history of the youth, the court determines that the programs and services available pursuant to a proceeding in the superior court for juvenile matters would more appropriately address the needs of the youth and that the youth and the community would be better served by treating the youth as a delinquent.
(h) Not later than January 15, 2027, and each January fifteenth thereafter, the chief administrative judge for the Juvenile Division of the Superior Court,or thechiefadministrative judge'sdesignee,shallreport the number of motions by a prosecutor to transfer a case to the regular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this LCO 3143 5 of 6 Raised Bill No.
(h) Not later than January 15, 2027, and each January fifteenth thereafter, the chief administrative judge for the Juvenile Division of the Superior Court,or thechiefadministrative judge'sdesignee,shallreport the number of motions by a prosecutor to transfer a case to the regular criminal docket pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, the offenses charged in the cases SB502 / File No.
502 section or subsection (b) of this section, the offenses charged in the cases for which the transfers were sought and the disposition of such motions during the previous calendar year in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary.
592 5 SB502 File No.
592 for which the transfers were sought and the disposition of such motions during the previous calendar year in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary.
Section 1 October 1, 2026 46b-127 JUD Joint Favorable LCO 3143 6 of 6
Section 1 October 1, 2026 46b-127 JUD Joint Favorable SB502 / File No.
592 6 SB502 File No.
592 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill makes various changes to laws on the discretionary transfer of certain cases from juvenile court to adult criminal court and requires the Judicial Department to annually report on the number of motions courts receive to transfer a juvenile case to the regular adult criminal court, resulting in no fiscal impact because the Judicial Department has the capacity and expertise to meet the bill's requirements.
The Out Years State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None SB502 / File No.
592 7 SB502 File No.
592 OLR Bill Analysis SB 502 AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.
SUMMARY This bill makes various changes to laws on the discretionary transfer of cases from juvenile court to adult criminal court for children aged 15 and over at the time of the alleged offense.
It:
1.
includes all serious firearm offenses, including misdemeanors (see below), in the list of offenses that make a case eligible for discretionary transfer,at aprosecutor’srequest, fromthejuvenile court to the adult court after a hearing (except for those offenses that are already subject to automatic transfer);
2.
requires the prosecutor’s motion and the transfer hearing on a case involving serious firearm offenses that are not subject to automatic transfer to be within 15 days of the child’s arraignment, rather than 30 days as is the case for other offenses under current law;
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and 3.
requires the juvenile court’s chief administrative judge, or her designee, to annually report to the Judiciary Committee on the number of transfer motions sought, the offenses charged in each case, and the motions’ disposition for the previous year.
It also makes minor and technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER TO ADULT COURT By law, the juvenile court must automatically transfer a delinquency case to the adult criminal court docket if the child is at least age 15 at the SB502 / File No.
592 8 SB502 File No.
592 time of the offense and charged with a class A felony, certain class B felonies, or arson murder.
Otherwise, transferring a case where a juvenile (at least age 15) is charged with a felony is at the court’s discretion and may occur only if the prosecutor makes a motion and the court makes certain findings at the transfer hearing (discretionary transfer).
The bill adds to the list of crimes that are subject to a discretionary transfer upon the prosecutor’s request, any serious firearm offense (see below) that is not subject to an automatic transfer.
In doing so, it includes certain misdemeanors that would not otherwise be subject to discretionary transfer.
Serious Firearm Offense Under the law, a “serious firearm offense” is a violation involving (1) the alteration of a firearm identification mark, serial number, or name;
(2) the manufacture of a firearm or possession of one without a unique serial number or other identification (including ghost guns);
(3) the prohibited sale, transfer, or possession of a large capacity magazine;
(4) the possession of a stolen firearm or a firearm that is altered in a way that makes it unlawful;
or (5) any crime of which an essential element is that the person discharged, used, or was armed with, and threatened the use of, a firearm (CGS § 53a-3(24)).
A “firearm” is any sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or other weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged (CGS § 53a-3(19)).
In most cases, these are felonies and are already subject to discretionary transfer (or automatic transfer in certain cases).
But some serious firearm offenses are misdemeanors that are not subject to transfer to adult court under current law.
This includes the following, if committed by someone who is not ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law:
(1) violation of the “ghost gun” law and related provisions or (2) possession of a large capacity magazine.
Date of the Transfer Hearing SB502 / File No.
592 9 SB502 File No.
592 Under existing law, the prosecutor’s motion to transfer the case must be made, and the hearing held, within 30 days after the child’s arraignment in juvenile court.
The bill makes an exception when a child is arraigned for a serious firearm offense.
In that case, the motion must be made, and the hearing held within 15 days after the child is arraigned.
Juvenile Court Report on Prosecutors’ Motions for Case Transfer Starting by January 15,2027, thebillrequires thejuvenile court’s chief administrative judge or her designee, to annually report to the Judiciary Committee on the number of motions the court received from prosecutorstotransferajuvenilecasetotheregular adultcriminalcourt.
This applies to the discretionary transfer of class C, D, E, or unclassified felonies, certainclassBfelonies, andseriousfirearmoffensesthat arenot subject to automatic transfer.
The report must also include the offenses charged in these cases and the disposition of the motions during the previous calendar year.
COMMITTEE ACTION Judiciary Committee Joint Favorable Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/24/2026) SB502 / File No.
592 10
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 592

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 385

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/13/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0320

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 502?
SB 502 is sponsored by John A. Kissel (Republican), Antonio Felipe (Democratic), Travis Simms (Democratic), and Paul Cicarella (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 502?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 502?
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