Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee 20 D cosponsors

SB 91 — AN ACT ENHANCING THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ESTABLISHING PROTECTED AREAS.

Last action — FILE NO. 491

  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 February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 20 sponsors

    20 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (20 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

580 added · 263 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 91 modifies the definition of "peace officer," expanding it to include various law enforcement and correctional professionals, such as adult probation officers and certain officials in correctional institutions. This change is significant because it clarifies the roles of these individuals in the legal system, enhancing understanding of who is empowered to enforce laws and make arrests. By explicitly defining these roles, the bill aims to ensure proper implementation of law enforcement procedures and improve public safety.

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General Assembly Governor's Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
91 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
491 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
534 Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY Introduced by:
91 Senate, April 8, 2026 The Committee on Judiciary reportedthrough SEN.
Request of the Governor Pursuant to Joint Rule 9 AN ACT ENHANCING THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ESTABLISHING PROTECTED AREAS.
WINFIELD of the 10th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT ENHANCING THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ESTABLISHING PROTECTED AREAS.
Section 53a-3 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Section 51-277a of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Except where different meanings are expressly specified, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this title:
(a) (1) As used in this section:
(1) "Person" means a human being, and, where appropriate, a public or private corporation, a limited liability company, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government or a governmental instrumentality;
(A) "Peace officer" means a member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or an organized local police department, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a state marshal while exercising authority granted under any provision of the general statutes, a judicial marshal in the performance of the duties of a judicial marshal, a conservation officer or special conservation officer, as defined in section 26-5, a constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a special policeman appointed under section 29-18, 29-18a, 29-18b or 29- sSB91 / File No.
(2) "Possess" means to have physical possession or otherwise to exercise dominion or control over tangible property;
491 1 sSB91 File No.
(3) "Physical injury" means impairment of physical condition or pain;
491 19,anadultprobationofficer,anofficialoftheDepartmentofCorrection authorized by the Commissioner of Correction to make arrests in a correctional institution or facility, any investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State Treasurer, an inspector of motor vehicles in the Department of Motor Vehicles, who is certified under the provisions of sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive, any federal law enforcement officer as defined under 18 USC 115(c)(1) and 34 USC 50301(5), or a member of a law enforcement unit of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut created and governed by a memorandum of agreement under section 47-65c who is certified as a police officer by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council pursuant to sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive;
LCO No.
(B) "Deadly physical force" has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3;
534 1 of 9 Governor's Bill No.91 (4) "Serious physical injury" means physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health or serious loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ;
and (C) "Electronic defense weapon" has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3.
(5) "Deadly physical force" means physical force which can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious physical injury;
[(a) (1)] (2) Whenever a peace officer, in the performance of such officer's duties, uses physical force upon another person and such person dies as a result thereof or uses deadly physical force [, as defined in section 53a-3,] upon another person, the Division of Criminal Justice shall cause an investigation to be made and the Inspector General shall have the responsibility of determining whether the use of physical force by the peace officer was justifiable under section 53a-22, as amended by this act.
(6) "Deadly weapon" means any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a switchblade knife, gravity knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, or metal knuckles.
The use of an electronic defense weapon [, as defined in section 53a-3,] by a peace officer shall not be considered deadly physical force for purposes of this section.
The definition of "deadly weapon" in this subdivision shall be deemed not to apply to section 29-38 or 53-206 and does not include an electronic defense weapon when used by a peace officer;
[(2)] (3) (A) Except as provided under subdivision [(1)] (2) of this subsection, whenever a person dies in the custody of a peace officer or law enforcement agency, the Inspector General shall investigate and determine whether physical force was used by a peace officer upon the deceased person, and if so, whether the use of physical force by the peace officer was justifiable under section 53a-22, as amended by this act.
(7) "Dangerous instrument" means any instrument, article or substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used or attempted or threatened to be used, is capable of causing death or serious physical injury, and includes a "vehicle" as that term is defined in this section and includes a dog that has been commanded to attack, except a dog owned by a law enforcement agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof or of the federal government when such dog is in the performance of its duties under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned law enforcement officer;
If the Inspector General determines the deceased person may have sSB91 / File No.
(8) "Vehicle" means a "motor vehicle" as defined in section 14-1, a snowmobile, any aircraft, or any vessel equipped for propulsion by mechanical means or sail;
491 2 sSB91 File No.
(9) "Peace officer" means a member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or an organized local police department, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a state marshal while exercising authority granted under any provision of the general statutes, a judicial marshal in the performance of the duties of a judicial marshal, a conservation officer or special conservation officer, as defined in section LCO No.
491 died as a result of criminal action not involving the use of force by a peace officer, the Inspector General shall refer such case to the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney for potential prosecution.
534 2 of 9 Governor's Bill No.91 26-5, a constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a special policeman appointed under section 29-18, 29-18a, 29-18b or 29- 19,anadultprobationofficer,anofficialoftheDepartmentofCorrection authorized by the Commissioner of Correction to make arrests in a correctional institution or facility, any investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State Treasurer, an inspector of motor vehicles in the Department of Motor Vehicles, who is certified under the provisions of sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive, [a United States marshal or deputy marshal, any specialagent ofthefederalgovernment authorized to enforce the provisions of Title 21 of the United States Code] any federallawenforcementofficer,asdefinedin18USC115(c)(1)or34USC 50301(5), or a member of a law enforcement unit of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut created and governed by a memorandum of agreement under section 47-65c who is certified as a police officer by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council pursuant to sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive;
(B) Except as provided under subdivision [(1)] (2) of this subsection or subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, [(2) of this subsection,] whenever a person dies in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, the Inspector General shall investigate and determine whether the deceased person may have died as a result of criminal action, and, if so, refer such case to the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney for potential prosecution.
(10) "Firefighter" means any agent of a municipality whose duty it is to protect life and property therein as a member of a duly constituted fire department whether professional or volunteer;
[(3)] (4) Whenever a person who (A) is a next of kin of a deceased person, (B) is not notified of such deceased person's death as required pursuant to section 7-294mm and no other person who is a next of kin of the deceased person was so notified, and (C) requests of the Office of the Inspector General an investigation of the lack of notification or timely notification of such death, the Inspector General shall investigate anddeterminewhethertherewasanymalfeasanceonthepartofapeace officer, except for a federal law enforcement officer, or a supervisor of the peace officer, except for a federal law enforcement officer, in the failure to provide such notification or timely notification, and if so, may make recommendations to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b concerning censure, suspension, renewal, cancelation or revocation of the peace officer's or supervisor's certification, provided any such recommendation may be made to said council only in a case where such failure is found to be intentional or made with reckless indifference.
(11)Apersonacts"intentionally"withrespect toaresultortoconduct described by a statute defining an offense when his conscious objective is to cause such result or to engage in such conduct;
If there is no finding that such failure was intentional or made with reckless indifference, a recommendationmaybemadetotheofficer'sorsupervisor'semploying agency for any further disciplinary action as so determined by such employing agency.
(12) A person acts "knowingly" with respect to conduct or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware that hisconduct isofsuchnature or that such circumstance exists;
[(4)] (5) The Inspector General shall request the appropriate law enforcement agency to provide such assistance as is necessary to investigate and make a determination under subdivision [(1), (2) or (3)] sSB91 / File No.
(13) A person acts "recklessly" with respect to a result or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists.
491 3 sSB91 File No.
The risk must be of such nature and degree that disregarding it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person LCO No.
491 (2), (3) or (4) of this subsection.
534 3 of 9 Governor's Bill No91 would observe in the situation;
[(5)] (6) Whenever a peace officer, in the performance of such officer's duties, uses physical force or deadly physical force upon another person and such person dies as a result thereof, the Inspector General shall complete a preliminary status report that shall include, but need not be limited to, (A) the name of the deceased person, (B) the gender, race, ethnicity and age of the deceased person, (C) the date, time and location of the injury causing such death, (D) the law enforcement agency involved, (E) the status on the toxicology report, if available, and (F) the death certificate, if available.
(14) A person acts with "criminal negligence" with respect to a result or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists.
The Inspector General shall complete the report and submit a copy of such report not later than five business days after the cause of the death is available to theChief State's Attorney and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and public safety.
The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation;
(b) Upon the conclusion of the investigation of an incident described in subdivision [(1) or] (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section, the Inspector General shall file a report with the Chief State's Attorney which shall contain the following:
(15) "Machine gun" means a weapon of any description, irrespective of size, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, from which a number of shots or bullets may be rapidly or automatically discharged from a magazine with one continuous pull of the trigger and includes a submachine gun;
(1) The circumstances of the incident, (2) a determination of whether the use of physical force by the peace officer was justifiable under section 53a-22, as amended by this act, and (3) any recommended future action to be taken by the Office of the Inspector General as a result of the incident.
(16) "Rifle" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger;
The Chief State's Attorney shall provide a copy of the report to the chief executive officer of the municipality in which the incident occurred and to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the chief of police of such municipality, as the case may be, and shall make such report available to the public on the Division of Criminal Justice's Internet web site not later than forty-eight hours after the copies are provided to the chief executive officer and the commissioner or chief of police.
(17) "Shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger;
(c) The Office of the Inspector General shall prosecute any case in which the Inspector General determines that (1) the use of force by a peace officer was not justifiable under section 53a-22, as amended by sSB91 / File No.
(18) "Pistol" or "revolver" means any firearm having a barrel less than twelve inches;
491 4 sSB91 File No.
(19) "Firearm" means any sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver or other weapon, whether loaded or unloaded from which a shot may be discharged;
491 this act, or (2) there was a failure to intervene in such incident or to report any such incident, as required under subsection (a) of section 7- 282e or section 18-81nn.
(20) "Electronic defense weapon" means a weapon which by LCO No.
534 4 of 9 Governor's Bill No91 electronic impulse or current is capable of immobilizing a person temporarily, including a stun gun or other conductive energy device;
(21) "Martial arts weapon" means a nunchaku, kama, kasari-fundo, octagon sai, tonfa or chinese star;
(22)"Employee ofanemergency medicalservice organization"means an ambulance driver, emergency medical technician or paramedic as defined in section 19a-175;
(23) "Railroad property" means all tangible property owned, leased or operated by a railroad carrier including, but not limited to, a right-of- way, track, roadbed, bridge, yard, shop, station, tunnel, viaduct, trestle, depot, warehouse, terminal or any other structure or appurtenance or equipment owned, leased or used in the operation of a railroad carrier including a train, locomotive, engine, railroad car, signals or safety device or work equipment or rolling stock;
(24) "Serious firearm offense" means a violation of section 29-36, 29- 36a or 53-202w, possession of a stolen firearm or a firearm that is altered in a manner that renders the firearm unlawful, or any crime of which an essential element is that the person discharged, used or was armed with and threatened the use of a firearm;
and (25) "Serious firearm offender" means a person who has (A) two convictions for a serious firearm offense, (B) a conviction for a serious firearm offense and was previously convicted of a violation of section 29-36, 29-36a, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-217 or subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-217c, or (C) a conviction for a serious firearm offense and was previously convicted of two or more additional felony offenses.
Section 53a-22 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
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(a) (1) For purposes of this section:
[, a] (A) A reasonable belief that a person has committed an offense means a reasonable belief in facts or circumstances which if true would in law constitute an offense.
If the believed facts or circumstances would not in law constitute an offense, an erroneous though not unreasonable belief that the law is otherwise does not render justifiable the use of physical force to make an arrest or to prevent an escape from custody;
and (B) notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, "peace officer" has the same meaning as provided in section 51-277a, as amended by this act.
(2) A peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles who is effecting an arrest pursuant to a warrant or preventing an escape from custody is justified in using the physical force prescribed in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section unless such warrant is invalid and is known by such officer to be invalid.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a) or (d) of this section, a peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles is justified in using physical force upon anotherpersonwhenandtotheextentthatheorshereasonablybelieves such use to be necessary to:
(1) Effect an arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he or she reasonably believes to have committed an offense, unless he or she knows that the arrest or custody is unauthorized;
or (2) defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of physical force while effecting or attempting to effect an arrest or while preventing or attempting to prevent an escape.
sSB91 / File No.
491 5 sSB91 File No.
491 (c) (1) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this sectiononly whenhisor her actionsare objectively reasonableunderthe given circumstances at that time, and:
(A) He or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force;
or (B)Heor she(i)hasreasonably determinedthat there are no available reasonable alternatives to the use of deadly physical force, (ii) reasonably believes that the force employed creates no unreasonable risk of injury to a third party, and (iii) reasonably believes such use of force to be necessary to (I) effect an arrest of a person whom he or she reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony which involved the infliction of serious physical injury, and if, where feasible, he or she has given warning of his or her intent to use deadly physicalforce, or (II)prevent theescapefromcustody ofapersonwhom he or she reasonably believes has committed a felony which involved the infliction of serious physical injury and who poses a significant threatofdeathorseriousphysicalinjurytoothers,andif,wherefeasible, he or she has given warning of his or her intent to use deadly physical force.
(2) For purposes of evaluating whether actions of a peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles are reasonable under subdivision (1) of this subsection, factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, whether (A) the person upon whom deadly physical force was used possessed or appeared to possess a deadly weapon, (B) the peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles engaged in reasonable deescalation measures prior to using deadly physical force, and (C) any unreasonable conduct of the peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of sSB91 / File No.
491 6 sSB91 File No.
491 Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles led to an increased risk of an occurrence of the situation that precipitated the use of such force.
(d) A peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles is justified in using a chokehold or other method of restraint applied to the neck area or that otherwise impedes the ability to breathe or restricts blood circulation to the brain of another person for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this section only when he or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.
(e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a person who has been directed by a peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles to assist such peace officer or official to effect an arrest or to prevent an escape from custody is justified in using reasonable physical force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to carry out such peace officer's or official's direction.
(f) A person who has been directed to assist a peace officer or an authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles under circumstances specified in subsection (e) of this section may use deadly physical force to effect an arrest or to prevent an escape from custody only when:
(1) He or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force;
or (2) he or she is directed or authorized by such peace officer or official to use deadly physical force, unless heor sheknows that thepeace officer or officialhimself or herself is not authorized to use deadly physical force under the circumstances.
(g) A private person acting on his or her own account is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to effect an arrest or to prevent the escape from custody of an arrested person whom he or she reasonably believes to have committed an sSB91 / File No.
491 7 sSB91 File No.
491 offense and who in fact has committed such offense;
but he or she is not justified in using deadly physical force in such circumstances, except in defense of person as prescribed in section 53a-19.
(h) In determining whether use of force by a peace officer who is a police officer, as defined in subsection (a) of section 29-6d, is justified pursuant to this section, the trier of fact may draw an unfavorable inference from a police officer's deliberate failure in violation of section 29-6d to record such use of physical force.
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3.
(1)"Protectedarea"meansanyofthefollowingbuildingsorlocations, including the grounds of such buildings or locations and any garages or LCO No.
(1)"Protectedarea"meansanyofthefollowingbuildingsorlocations, including the grounds of such buildings or locations and any garages or parking lots utilized in the operation of such buildings or locations, irrespective of whether such garages or parking lots are contiguous to the buildings or locations:
534 5 of 9 Governor's Bill No.91 parking lots utilized in the operation of such buildings or locations, irrespective of whether such garages or parking lots are contiguous to the buildings or locations:
(B) A medical or mental health facility, including, but not limited to, a hospital, doctor'soffice, healthclinic,vaccinationortesting site,urgent care center, site that serves pregnant individuals or community health center;
(B) A medical or mental health facility, including, but not limited to, a hospital,doctor'soffice, healthclinic,vaccinationortesting site,urgent care center, site that serves pregnant individuals or community health center;
(E) A social services establishment, including, but not limited to, a crisis center, domestic violence shelter, victims services center, child advocacy center, supervised visitation center, family justice center, community-based organization, facility that serves disabled persons, homeless shelter, drug or alcohol counseling and treatment facility or food bank or pantry or other establishment distributing food or other essentials of life to people in need;
(E) A social services establishment, including, but not limited to, a crisis center, domestic violence shelter, victims services center, child advocacy center, supervised visitation center, family justice center, sSB91 / File No.
491 8 sSB91 File No.
491 community-based organization, facility that serves disabled persons, homeless shelter, drug or alcohol counseling and treatment facility or food bank, pantry or other establishment distributing food or other essentials of life to people in need;
(G) A place where a funeral, graveside ceremony, rosary, wedding or LCO No.
(G) A place where a funeral, graveside ceremony, rosary, wedding or other religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur;
534 6 of 9 Governor's Bill No.91 other religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur;
(B) An imminent risk of death, violence or physical harm to a person;
sSB91 / File No.
491 9 sSB91 File No.
491 (B) An imminent risk of death, violence or physical harm to a person;
LCO No.
(5) "Designated individual" means any individual assigned by persons responsible for operating a protected area, state facility or municipal facility to review documentation provided by federal law enforcement authorities.
534 7 of 9 Governor's Bill No91 (5) "Designated individual" means any individual assigned by persons responsible for operating a protected area, state facility or municipal facility to review documentation provided by local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.
(b) No representative of a federal law enforcement authority shall detain, arrest or otherwise take an individual in a protected area, state facility or municipal facility into custody on the basis of a civil offense, unless such representative (1) is acting in the representative's official capacity, and (2) has documentation demonstrating that the individual tobedetained,arrestedorotherwisetakenintocustody(A)isthesubject of a judicial warrant, (B) has been convicted of (i) a violation of section 53-21 of the general statutes, 53a-56a of the general statutes, 53a-64aa of thegeneralstatutes,53a-71ofthegeneralstatutes,53a-72aof thegeneral statutes, 53a-72b of the general statutes, 53a-90a of the general statutes, 53a-102a of the general statutes, 53a-196e of the general statutes, 53a- 196f of the general statutes, 53a-196i of the general statutes, 53a-222 of the general statutes or 53a-223 of the general statutes, or (ii) any class A or B felony offense, or (C) is identified as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database or similar database.
(b) No representative of a local, state or federal law enforcement authority shall detain, arrest or otherwise take an individual in a protected area, state facility or municipal facility into custody on the basis of a civil offense, unless such representative (1) is acting in the representative's official capacity, and (2) has documentation demonstrating that the individual to be detained, arrested or otherwise taken into custody (A) is the subject of a judicial warrant, (B) has been convicted of (i) a violation of section 53-21 of the general statutes, 53a- 56a of the general statutes, 53a-64aa of the general statutes, 53a-71 of the general statutes, 53a-72a of the general statutes, 53a-72b of the general statutes, 53a-90a of the general statutes, 53a-102a of the general statutes, 53a-196e ofthegeneralstatutes,53a-196fofthegeneralstatutes,53a-196i of the general statutes, 53a-222 of the general statutes or 53a-223 of the generalstatutes,or (ii)any classA or Bfelonyoffense, or (C)isidentified asapossiblematchinthefederalTerroristScreeningDatabaseorsimilar database.
No representative of a local, state or federal law enforcement authority shall detain, arrest or otherwise take an individual in a protected area, state facility or municipal facility into custody on the basis of a civil offense who is the subject of such documentation, unless the designated individual determines, based upon such review, that such individual (1) is the subject of a judicial warrant, (2) has been convicted of (A) a violation of section 53-21 of the general statutes, 53a-56a of the general statutes, 53a-64aa of the general statutes, 53a-71 of the general statutes, 53a-72a of the general statutes, 53a-72b of the general statutes, 53a-90a of the general statutes, 53a-102a of the general statutes, 53a-196e of the general statutes, 53a-196f of the LCO No.
No representative of a federal law enforcement authority shall detain, arrest or otherwise take an individual in a protected area, state facility or municipal facility into custody on the sSB91 / File No.
534 8 of 9 Governor's Bill No.
491 10 sSB91 File No.
91 general statutes, 53a-196i of the general statutes, 53a-222 of the general statutes or 53a-223 of the general statutes, or (B) any class A or B felony offense, or (3) is identified as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database or similar database.
491 basis of a civil offense who is the subject of such documentation, unless the designated individual determines, based upon such review, that such individual (1) is the subject of a judicial warrant, (2) has been convicted of (A) a violation of section 53-21 of the general statutes, 53a- 56a of the general statutes, 53a-64aa of the general statutes, 53a-71 of the general statutes, 53a-72a of the general statutes, 53a-72b of the general statutes, 53a-90a of the general statutes, 53a-102a of the general statutes, 53a-196e ofthegeneralstatutes,53a-196fofthegeneralstatutes,53a-196i of the general statutes, 53a-222 of the general statutes or 53a-223 of the general statutes, or (B) any class A or B felony offense, or (3) is identified asapossiblematchinthefederalTerroristScreeningDatabaseorsimilar database.
(d) A local, state or federal law enforcement authority may perform an enforcement action at a protected area, state facility or municipal facility if an exigent circumstance exists.
(d)Afederallawenforcementauthoritymayperformanenforcement action at a protected area, state facility or municipal facility if an exigent circumstance exists.
If no such exigent circumstance exists, the local, state or federal law enforcement authority shall comply with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.
If no such exigent circumstance exists, the federal law enforcement authority shall comply with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.
Section 1 from passage 53a-3 Sec.
Section 1 from passage 51-277a Sec.
2 July 1, 2026 New section Statement of Purpose:
2 from passage 53a-22 Sec.
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
3 July 1, 2026 New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
In Section 1, "deadly force" was changed to "deadly physical force" for accuracy.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except underlined.]e entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not LCO No.
JUD Joint Favorable Subst.
534 9 of 9
sSB91 / File No.
491 11 sSB91 File No.
491 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:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Judicial Dept.
(Probation) GF - Potential Minimal Minimal Cost Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential Minimal Minimal Revenue Gain Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill, which expands a class B misdemeanor for breaching the peace, resultsina potentialcost tothe JudicialDepartment for probation and a potential revenue gain to the General Fund from fines.
On 1 average, the marginal cost for supervision in the community is less than $600 each year for adults.
The bill also expands the circumstances under which there is an investigation into a peace officer's use of physical force and is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact as the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) has the capacity and expertise to conduct these investigations.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would In 2025, 13,523 offenses were recorded and $10,840 in fine revenue was collected under 53a-181.
2Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and only includes costs that increase with each additional participant.
This does not include a cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense is anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation officers.
sSB91 / File No.
491 12 sSB91 File No.
491 continue into the future subject to inflation, the actual number of offenses, and actual fines collected.
sSB91 / File No.
491 13 sSB91 File No.
491 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 91 AN ACT ENHANCING THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ESTABLISHING PROTECTED AREAS.
SUMMARY This bill expands the circumstances under which there is an investigation into a peace officer’s use of physical force on someone resulting in the person’s death or the death of a person in a peace officer’s custody.
It does this by including when the use of force is done by, or the person is in custody of, any federal law enforcement officer.
Existing law requires the inspector general to prosecute any case in which he finds the use of force was not justifiable.
Absent any exigent circumstances, thebillalso prohibitsafederallaw enforcement authority’s representative from taking someone into custody on the basis of a civil offense in a state or municipal facility or in certain other locations such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship (“protected areas”) without documentation that the person is subject to a judicial warrant, was convicted of certain crimes, or is a possible match in a terrorist database.
It makes a violation of this prohibition 2nd degree breach of peace, which is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage, except the prohibition on taking someone into custody in certain locations is effective July 1, 2026.
USE OF FORCE INVESTIGATIONS By law, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) must investigate whenever a peace officer, while performing his or her duties, uses physical force on someone that causes the person’s death or uses deadly sSB91 / File No.
491 14 sSB91 File No.
491 physical force on another person.
The inspector general must decide if the use of force was justifiable.
Similarly, the law requires the inspector general to investigate any death that happens while someone was in the custody of peace officers or law enforcement agencies to determine whether physical force was used on the deceased person and if it was justifiable.
The law requires the inspector general to prosecute cases involving unjustifiable use of force by peace officers.
The bill expands this investigatory and prosecutorial authority by applying it to the actions of any federal law enforcement officer.
It does this by including a broader definition of “peace officer” within this investigatory statute than what currently applies (see BACKGROUND).
Under current law, this investigatory authority over federal officers is limited to marshals and deputy marshals and narcotics agents.
The bill instead applies it to “federal law enforcement officers,” as defined under two federal laws.
Specifically, they include any:
1.
officer, agent, or employee who the law or a government agency authorizes to prevent, detect, investigate, or prosecute a federal crime (or supervise these actions) (18 U.S.C.
§ 115(c)(1)) or 2.
employee, including an Amtrak or Federal Reserve law enforcement officer, authorized by law to make arrests or apprehensions and by the employing agency to carry firearms, who mainly (a) prevents, detects, investigates, prosecutes, or assists in the incarceration of someone who violates the law (or supervises these actions) or (b) protects government officials against personal safety threats (34 U.S.C.
§ 50301(5)) Correspondingly, the bill applies this broader definition of “peace officer” to the existing law that sets the standards for determining if use of physical force is justifiable.
TAKING INTO CUSTODY IN STATE OR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES OR PROTECTED AREAS The bill generally prohibits federal law enforcement authority sSB91 / File No.
491 15 sSB91 File No.
491 representatives from detaining, arresting, or taking someone into custody based on a civil offense in a state or municipal facility or in a “protected area” unless the representative (1) is acting in his or her official capacity and (2) has documentation showing that the person is exempt from the state’s civil detainer law protections.
Specifically, the documentation must show that the person to be detained, arrested, or takenintocustodyisthesubjectofajudicialwarrant,has beenconvicted of specified crimes, or is a possible match in a terrorist database (see BACKGROUND).
Under the bill, the federal law enforcement authority representative must give documentation showing the warrant, crime, or database identification to a person assigned to review these documents by the operating authority for the facility or protected area.
The bill requires this designated person to then review the documentation promptly,and only if the information in the documentation is determined to be true may the detention, arrest, or custodial action proceed.
Exempt fromthe custody-related prohibitionare enforcement actions that occur under exigent circumstances, which the bill designates as the following:
1.
an enforcement action involving a national security threat or that involves immediate pursuit (“hot pursuit”) of someone who is a public safety threat;
2.
imminent risk of (a) death, violence, or physical harm or (b) the destruction of evidence that is material to a criminal case;
or 3.
a situation enforcement action where there is no safe alternative location.
Locations Where Custody is Generally Prohibited State or Municipal Facility.
State or municipal facilities are buildings owned, leased, occupied, controlled, or used for business by an executive department office or agency or municipal government and entities that provide direct services on their behalf.
This includes the sSB91 / File No.
491 16 sSB91 File No.
491 groundsandgaragesorparkinglotsthatareusedaspartofthefacilities’ operation, regardless of whether they are contiguous (in contact with one another), but not state-owned property leased to a federal entity.
Protected Areas.
The bill’s protection from being taken into custody incertainareasapplies inthefollowing buildingsor locations,including their grounds and garages or parking lots that are used as part of their operation, regardless of whether they are contiguous:
1.
schools, ranging from preschools to colleges or universities;
2.
medical or mental health facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, vaccination or testing sites, or community health centers;
3.
places of worship or religious study, either in a structure dedicated to faith activities or a temporary facility or other place where the activities happen;
4.
social services establishments, such as crisis centers, shelters, supervised visitation or family justice centers, victim services centers, food banks or pantries, or substance counseling and treatment facilities;
5.
places for disaster or emergency response and relief, including supply distribution sites, or places to register for disaster-related assistance or reunite with family;
6.
places where religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur, such as for funerals, graveside services, or weddings;
7.
places where children gather, such as playgrounds, recreation or child care centers, bus stops, or group homes for children;
and 8.
places of ongoing parades, demonstrations, or rallies.
BACKGROUND Civil Detainer Law Exemptions Among other things, the state’s civil immigration detainer law sSB91 / File No.
491 17 sSB91 File No.
491 generally prohibits law enforcement officers and certain other professionals from (1) arresting or detaining a person under a civil immigration detainer or (2) giving a federal immigration authority access to interview a person in law enforcement agency custody (CGS § 54-192h, as amended by PA 25-29).
But this protection does not apply to those (1) subject to a judicial warrant or specified order;
(2) identified as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database or a similar database;
or (3) convicted of a class A or B felony or one of the following 13 crimes, regardless of the felony classification involved:
1.
injury or risk of injury to, impairing morals of, or selling children under age 16;
2.
2nd degree manslaughter with a firearm;
3.
1st degree strangulation or suffocation;
4.
2ndor3rddegreesexualassaultor3rddegreesexualassaultwith a firearm;
5.
enticing a minor;
6.
2nd degree burglary with a firearm;
7.
2nd or 3rd degree possessing child sexual abuse material;
8.
commercial sexual exploitation of a minor;
9.
1st degree violation of conditions of release;
or 10.
criminal violation of a protective order.
Peace Officer Current law designates the following individuals as peace officers for purposes of the state’s Penal Code and associated statutes:
state and local police, DCJ inspectors, state marshals exercising statutory powers, judicial marshals performing their duties, conservation or special sSB91 / File No.
491 18 sSB91 File No.
491 conservation officers, constables who have criminal law enforcement duties, appointed special police officers, adult probation officers, Department of Correction officials authorized to make arrests in a correctional institution or facility, investigators in the State Treasurer’s Office, certified Department of Motor Vehicles inspectors, U.S.
marshals and deputy marshals, U.S.
special agents authorized to enforce federal food and drug laws, and certified police officers of a law enforcement unit created and governed under a state-tribal memorandum (CGS § 53a-3(9)).
Related Bills sSB 397, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, also (1) broadens the investigatory authority over peace officers’ use of force incidents by extending it to more federal law enforcement officers and (2) restricts taking people into custody for a civil offense in state or municipal facilities or protected areas.
sSB463,§1,andsHB5533,§1,favorablyreportedbytheGovernment Administration and Elections Committee, generally prohibit state and federal officers and agents from searching, detaining, or arresting people within 250 feet of an election site.
HB 5428, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, among other things, limits the inspector general’s investigations of in-custody deaths to those that occur in a peace officer’s or law enforcement agency’s physical custody.
COMMITTEE ACTION Judiciary Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 30 Nay 11 (03/23/2026) sSB91 / File No.
491 19
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 491

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 303

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

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0309

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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20 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 167 not signed on

Sponsors (20)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (167)

167 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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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 91?
SB 91 is sponsored by Michael "MJ" Shannon (Democratic), Anthony L. Nolan (Democratic), Aundre Bumgardner (Democratic), Kenneth Gucker (Democratic), Joshua M. Hall (Democratic), Laurie Sweet (Democratic), Farley Santos (Democratic), Julie Kushner (Democratic), Saud Anwar (Democratic), Gary A. Winfield (Democratic), Hubert D. Delany (Democratic), Patricia A. Dillon (Democratic), Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (Democratic), Kadeem Roberts (Democratic), Jason Doucette (Democratic), Steven Winter (Democratic), Travis Simms (Democratic), Josh Elliott (Democratic), Nick Gauthier (Democratic), and Matt Blumenthal (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 91?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
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