Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee 9 D cosponsors

HB 5258 — AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Last action — FILE NO. 107

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 19, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

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.

  • 9 sponsors

    9 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 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

227 added · 80 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 5258, a specific definition for "owner" has been streamlined and clarified. This change matters because by clearly defining who qualifies as an owner, the bill can eliminate confusion and ensure that its regulations are applied consistently, making it easier for both the public and enforcement agencies to understand their rights and responsibilities under this legislation.

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Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
5258 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
107 February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
1405 Referred to Committee on HOUSING Introduced by:
5258 House of Representatives, March 23, 2026 The Committee on Housing reported through REP.
(HSG) AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
FELIPE of the 130th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
As used in this chapter, sections 47a-21, 47a-23 to 47a-23c, inclusive, 47a-26a to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a- 43, [and] 47a-46 and section 2 of this act:
As used in this chapter, sections 47a-21, 47a-23 to 47a-23c, inclusive, 47a-26a to 47a-26g, inclusive, 47a-35 to 47a-35b, inclusive, 47a-41a, 47a- 43 and 47a-46 and section 2 of this act:
(3) "Dwelling unit" means any house or building, or portion thereof, which is occupied, is designed to be occupied, or is rented, leased or hired out to be occupied, as a home or residence of one or more persons.
sHB5258 / File No.
LCO No.
107 1 sHB5258 File No.
1405 1 of 6 Raised Bill No.
107 (3) "Dwelling unit" means any house or building, or portion thereof, which is occupied, is designed to be occupied, or is rented, leased or hired out to be occupied, as a home or residence of one or more persons.
5258 (4) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit, the building of which it is a part or the premises.
(4) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit, the building of which it is a part or the premises.
(5)"Owner"meansoneor more persons,jointly orseverally, inwhom is vested (A) all or part of the legal title to property, or (B) all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises and includes a mortgagee in possession.
(5)"Owner"meansoneor more persons,jointly or severally,inwhom is vested (A) all or part of the legal title to property, or (B) all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises and includes a mortgagee in possession.
Notwithstanding that a dwelling unit shares one or more walls with another dwelling unit or has a common parking facility, it is a single-family residence if it has direct access to a street or LCO No.
Notwithstanding that a dwelling unit shares sHB5258 / File No.
1405 2 of 6 Raised Bill No.5258 thoroughfare and does not share heating facilities, hot water equipment or any other essential facility or service with any other dwelling unit.
107 2 sHB5258 File No.
107 one or more walls with another dwelling unit or has a common parking facility, it is a single-family residence if it has direct access to a street or thoroughfare and does not share heating facilities, hot water equipment or any other essential facility or service with any other dwelling unit.
(B) is established for the purpose of addressing issues related to the tenants' living environment, including the terms and conditions of their tenancy aswellas activitiesrelatedto housing andcommunity development;
(B) is established for the purpose of addressing issues related to the tenants' living environment, including the terms and conditions of their tenancy aswellas activitiesrelatedto housing andcommunity development;(C) meets regularly;
(C) meets regularly;
(b) An owner of a dwelling unit and any agents of such owner shall permit tenants, tenants' authorized agents and tenant organizers to conduct the following activities related to the establishment or operation of a tenant organization, provided such activities are LCO No.
(b) An owner of any dwelling unit, except those exempted from the application of title 47a of the general statutes pursuant to section 47a-2 of the general statutes, and any agents of such owner, shall permit sHB5258 / File No.
1405 3 of 6 Raised Bill No.5258 conducted in a reasonable manner and in compliance with applicable law:
107 3 sHB5258 File No.
107 tenants, tenants' authorized agents and tenant organizers who are accompaniedbytenantstoconductthefollowingactivitiesrelatedtothe establishment or operation of a tenant organization, provided such activities are conducted in a reasonable manner and in compliance with all applicable law:
(5)Postinginformationonbulletinboards,provided postingscomply with subsection (d) of this section;
(5) Posting information on bulletin boards, provided such postings comply with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section;
(6) Assisting tenants to participate in tenant organization activities;
(6) Assisting tenants in participating in tenant organization activities;
(7) Holding meetings , including political caucuses or forums for speeches of public officials or candidates for public office, with or without the presence of the dwelling unit's owner or such owner's agent, conducted at reasonable times and in an orderly manner on the premises, held in any community room or recreation room, if these rooms are open for the use of tenants, or in common areas, including, but not limited to, laundry rooms, hallways and lobbies, if a community or recreation room is not available;
(7) Holding meetings, including political caucuses or forums for speeches of public officials or candidates for public office, without the presence of the dwelling unit's owner or such owner's agent, conducted at reasonable times and in an orderly manner on the premises, held in any community room or recreation room, if such rooms are open for the use of tenants, or in common areas, including, but not limited to, laundryrooms,hallwaysandlobbies,ifacommunityorrecreationroom is not available;
(c) The owner of a dwelling unit or the agent of such owner shall not require tenants, tenants' authorized agents or tenant organizers to obtain prior permission beforeengaging in activities described in subsection (b)of this section, except that the owner may apply such owner's generally applicable rules governing advance reservation of community space.
(c) The owner of a dwelling unit or the agent of such owner shall not require tenants, tenants' authorized agents or tenant organizers to obtain prior permission before engaging in activities described in subsection (b) of this section, except that the owner may apply such sHB5258 / File No.
(d) Any owner who issues generally applicable rules governing the use LCO No.
107 4 sHB5258 File No.
1405 4 of 6 Raised Bill No.
107 owner's generally applicable rules governing advance reservation of community or recreation rooms.
5258 of bulletin boards by tenants or other displays of information in common areas may not specifically exclude the posting of information related to tenant organizing activities if the rules permit posting of other types of information by tenants.
(d) Any owner who issues generally applicable rules governing the use of bulletin boards by tenants or other displays of information in common areas may not specifically exclude the posting of information related to tenant organizing activities if the rules permit posting of other types of information by tenants.
A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after:
(a) A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit, demand an increase in rent from the tenant, or decrease the services to which the tenant has been entitled within six months after:
[or] (5) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union;
or (5) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union, other than the activities specified in section 2 of this act.
or (6) the tenant has participated in any of the activities described in section 1 of this act.
(b) A landlord shall not maintain an action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of a dwelling unit or decrease the services to whichthetenant hasbeenentitledwithinfour monthsafter thetenant has participated in any of the activities described in section 2 of this act.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
sHB5258 / File No.
107 5 sHB5258 File No.
107 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
3 October 1, 2026 47a-20 Statement of Purpose:
3 October 1, 2026 47a-20 Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
To require landlords to permit certain tenant organizational activities in residential property.
In Section 2(c), "community space" was changed to "community or recreation rooms" for consistency.
LCO No.
HSG Joint Favorable Subst.
1405 5 of 6 Raised Bill No.
sHB5258 / File No.
5258 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
107 6 sHB5258 File No.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
107 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.
1405 6 of 6
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.
Show all 97 changed rows (57 more)
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Latest
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ All Municipalities Potential Minimal Minimal Savings Explanation The bill adds circumstances under which eviction is prohibited.
This may result in a potential minimal savings to municipalities beginning in FY 27 associated with storing less possessions of evicted tenants to the extent the bill results in fewer evictions.
The court system disposes of over 20,000 housing summary process cases annually, and the number of cases is not anticipated to be great enough to need additional resources.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to actual number of evictions.
sHB5258 / File No.
107 7 sHB5258 File No.
107 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5258 AN ACT CONCERNING TENANT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
SUMMARY The bill requires residential rental property owners to allow certain on-site tenant organization and tenant organizing activities.
The bill extends, with limitations, current law’s protections against certain retaliatory actions by landlords to cover tenants engaging in these protected activities.
The bill applies to property owners subject to the state’s landlord tenant laws and their agents.
(Under existing law and the bill, certain rental arrangements are not covered by these laws, including dormitories, transient lodgings, and nursing homes.) The bill generally requires these covered owners and agents (“landlords”) to let tenant organizers and tenants and their agents engage in on-site activities related to establishing or operating a tenant organization, if they are done in a reasonable manner and conform with any applicable law.
Under the bill, these activities include helping tenants participate in tenant organization activities, distributing leaflets, contacting tenants to share information on their legal rights, and holding meetings in common areas (see below).
Under the bill, a “tenant organization” is established by tenants that share the same landlord to address issues related to their living environment (including terms and conditions of tenancy and activities relatedtohousingandcommunitydevelopment).Atenantorganization must meet regularly and operate independently from the landlord and their agents.
(While some local ordinances specify a process for recognizing duly organized tenant organizations, state law does not require tenants to follow a specific process.) sHB5258 / File No.
107 8 sHB5258 File No.
107 Under federal regulations, similar but more comprehensive requirements apply to owners of certain federally supported multifamily properties, including certain properties supported by project-based Section 8 and the Section 202 supportive housing programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 PROTECTED TENANT ACTIVITIES The bill identifies activities that landlords must allow tenant organizers and tenants and their agents to conduct related to establishing or operating a tenant organization.
Under the bill, a “tenant organizer” is someone who (1) helps tenants establish and operate a tenant organization and (2) is not an employee or agent of a current or prospective landlord or their managers.
The covered protected activities are:
1.
distributing leaflets in lobby and common areas, at or under tenants’ doors, and posting information on bulletin boards;
2.
initiating contact with tenants, conducting door-to-door surveys to determine interest in establishing a tenant organization and offer information about tenant organizations or the legal rights of tenants;
3.
helping tenants participate in tenant organization activities;
4.
conveningmeetingsandcertainothereventson-site,asdescribed below;
and 5.
performing other reasonable and lawful activities related to establishing or operating a tenant organization.
The bill prohibits landlords from requiring prior permission before these activities, although a generally applicable rule on reserving community or recreation rooms in advance may still apply.
If a landlord has generally applicable rules allowing tenants to post information on sHB5258 / File No.
107 9 sHB5258 File No.
107 bulletin boards or other displays in common areas, these rules cannot specifically prohibit posting information related to tenant organizing activities.
Under the bill, a tenant organizer must be accompanied by a tenant while conducting the above activities on a landlord’s property.
On-Site Meetings Regarding on-site meetings and events, the bill specifies that if they relate to establishing or operating a tenant organization and are conductedinareasonableandorderlymanner,atareasonabletime,and without violating any laws (like those on fire safety), these events:
1.
must be allowed without the landlord’s presence;
2.
may include meetings, political caucuses, and forums for speeches of public officials or candidates for public office;
and 3.
may occur in (a) any community room or recreation room, if these roomsaregenerally opentotenants,or (b)incommonareas like laundry rooms, hallways, and lobbies, if a community or recreation room is not available.
PROHIBITION ON RETALIATORY EVICTION OR DECREASE IN SERVICES Current law prohibits landlords from taking certain retaliatory actions against tenants (see BACKGROUND).
Under this law, among other things and with some exceptions, a landlord cannot maintain an eviction proceeding, increase rent, or decrease services for six months after a “tenant has organized” or “become of member of a tenants’ union.” The bill modifies this prohibition and adds additional protections related to the tenant activities described above.
The bill retains current law’s prohibition on retaliation for having organized or joining a tenants’ union.
But it specifies that the organizing activitiesitnewlyprotects(e.g.,distributingleafletsorholdingmeetings about forming a tenants’ organization) are subject to a narrower prohibition on retaliation.
Under the bill, landlords cannot maintain an sHB5258 / File No.
107 10 sHB5258 File No.
107 evictionproceeding ordecrease servicesfor four monthsafter thetenant participates in an activity the bill newly protects.
This prohibition is (1) enforceable in the same way as the existing landlord retaliation law and (2) subject to the same exceptions.
BACKGROUND Prohibited Retaliatory Actions A landlord cannot maintain an eviction proceeding, increase rent, or decrease services for six months after a tenant takes certain actions, including (1) joining a tenants’ union or (2) making a good faith attempt to bring the dwelling into compliance with state or local laws and regulations (CGS § 47a-20).
The law establishes certain exceptions, such as cases where the tenant does not pay rent or is using the dwelling unit for an illegal purpose (CGS § 47a-20a).
Among other means of enforcement, fair rent commissions may enforce these provisions by imposing fines (CGS §§ 7-148b & 7-148f).
COMMITTEE ACTION Housing Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 12 Nay 6 (03/05/2026) sHB5258 / File No.
107 11
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 107

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 101

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/23/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0224

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Housing

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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9 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 178 not signed on

Sponsors (9)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (178)

178 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

housing
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5258?
HB 5258 is sponsored by Josh Elliott (Democratic), Antonio Felipe (Democratic), Martin M. Looney (Democratic), Herron Gaston (Democratic), Laurie Sweet (Democratic), Gary A. Turco (Democratic), Nick Gauthier (Democratic), Gary A. Winfield (Democratic), and Patricia A. Dillon (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5258?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 19, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5258?
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