Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 12 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 351 — AN ACT ESTABLISHING STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.

Last action — FILE NO. 353

  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 26, 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.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    16 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (12 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

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

301 added · 162 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 351 involve updates to its title and the wording around the termination of tenure. Specifically, some language was added to clarify that tenure could be ended at any time for specified reasons. These changes matter because they provide clearer guidance on how and when tenure can be terminated, which is important for both employees and employers in understanding their rights and responsibilities.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
351 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
353 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1933 Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES Introduced by:
351 Senate, April 2, 2026 The Committee on Labor and Public Employees reported through SEN.
(LAB) AN ACT ESTABLISHING A JUST CAUSE STANDARD FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.
KUSHNER of the 24th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.
otherwise] The standard of review for all such reasons shall be just cause.
otherwise] The standard of review for all such reasons shall be the same standard applied in other disciplinary actions under the terms of such teacher's collective bargaining agreement.
Upon the teacher's written request, not later than three calendar days after such teacher receives such notice of nonrenewal or termination, a notice of nonrenewal or termination shall be supplemented not later than four calendar days after receipt of the LCO No.
Upon the teacher's sSB351 / File No.
1933 1 of 6 Raised Bill No.
353 1 sSB351 File No.
351 request by a statement of the reason or reasons for such nonrenewal or termination.
353 written request, not later than three calendar days after such teacher receives such notice of nonrenewal or termination, a notice of nonrenewal or termination shall be supplemented not later than four calendar days after receipt of the request by a statement of the reason or reasons for such nonrenewal or termination.
[The board of education shallrescinda nonrenewaldecisiononly ifthe boardfindssuchdecision to be arbitrary and capricious.] Any such teacher whose contract is terminated for the reasons enumerated in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (d) of this section shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section.
[The board of education shall rescind a nonrenewal decision only if the board finds such decision to be arbitrary and capricious.] Any such teacher whose contract is terminated for the reasons enumerated in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (d) of this section shall have the right to appealinaccordance withtheprovisionsofsubsection(e)of this section.
(1) Inefficiency, incompetence or ineffectiveness, provided [, if a teacher is notified on or after July 1, 2014, that termination is under consideration due to incompetence or ineffectiveness, the] any determination of incompetence or ineffectiveness is based on evaluation of the teacher using teacher evaluation guidelines established pursuant to section 10- 151b;
(1) Inefficiency, incompetence or ineffectiveness, provided [, if a teacher is notified on or after July 1, 2014, that termination is under consideration due to incompetence or ineffectiveness, the] any determination of incompetence or ineffectiveness is based on evaluation of the teacher sSB351 / File No.
(2) insubordination against reasonable rules of the board of LCO No.
353 2 sSB351 File No.
1933 2 of 6 Raised Bill No.351 education;
353 using teacher evaluation guidelines established pursuant to section 10- 151b;
(2) insubordination against reasonable rules of the board of education;
The standard of review for all such reasons shall be just cause.
The standard of review for all such reasons shall be the same standard applied in other disciplinary actions under the terms of such teacher's collective bargaining agreement.
Nothing in this section or in any other sectionofthegeneralstatutesor ofany specialact shallprecludeaboard of education from making an agreement with an exclusive bargaining representative which contains a recall provision.
Nothing in this section or in any other section of the general statutes or of any special act shall preclude a board of education from making an agreement with an exclusive bargaining representative which contains a recall provision.
[A board of education may designate a subcommittee of three or more board members to conduct hearings and submit written findings and recommendations to the board for final disposition in the case of teachers whose contracts are terminated.] Such hearing shall commence not later than fifteen calendar days after receipt of such request, unless the parties mutually agree to an extension [,] not to exceed fifteen calendar days, [(A) before theboardofeducationorasubcommitteeoftheboard,or(B)ifindicated in such request or if designated by the board] before an impartial hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent.
[A board of education may designate a subcommittee of three or more board members to conduct hearings and submit written findings and recommendations to the board for final disposition in the case of teachers whose contracts are terminated.] Such hearing shall commence not later than fifteen calendar days after receipt of such request, unless the parties mutually agree to an extension [,] not to exceed fifteen calendar days, [(A) before theboardofeducationorasubcommitteeoftheboard,or(B)ifindicated in such request or if designated by the board] before an impartial sSB351 / File No.
If the parties are unable to agree upon the choice of a hearing officer not later than five calendar days after the decision to use a hearing officer, the LCO No.
353 3 sSB351 File No.
1933 3 of 6 Raised Bill No.351 hearing officer shall be selected with the assistance of the American Arbitration Association using its expedited selection process and in accordance withitsrulesfor selectionofaneutralarbitrator ingrievance arbitration.
353 hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent.
If the parties are unable to agree upon the choice of a hearing officer not later than five calendar days after the decision to use a hearing officer, the hearing officer shall be selected with the assistance of the American Arbitration Association using its expedited selection process and in accordance withitsrulesfor selectionofaneutralarbitrator ingrievance arbitration.
[or the board, subcommittee or hearingofficersodesignates.]Theteacherconcernedshallhavetheright to appear with counsel at the hearing, whether public or private.
[or the board, subcommittee or sSB351 / File No.
[A LCO No.
353 4 sSB351 File No.
1933 4 of 6 Raised Bill No.351 copy of a transcript of the proceedings of the hearing shall be furnished by the board of education, upon written request by the teacher within fifteendaysaftertheboard'sdecision,providedtheteachershallassume the cost of any such copy.] Either party shall have the right to request a copy of the transcript and shall bear the cost of any such copy.
353 hearingofficersodesignates.]Theteacherconcernedshallhavetheright to appear with counsel at the hearing, whether public or private.
[A copy of a transcript of the proceedings of the hearing shall be furnished by the board of education, upon written request by the teacher within fifteendaysaftertheboard'sdecision,providedtheteachershallassume the cost of any such copy.] Either party shall have the right to request a copy of the transcript and shall bear the cost of any such copy.
Costs shall not be allowed against the board of education unless it appears to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from.] This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Costs shall not be allowed against the board of education unless it appears to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from.] sSB351 / File No.
LCO No.
353 5 sSB351 File No.
1933 5 of 6 Raised Bill No.
353 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
351 Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-151(c) to (e) Statement of Purpose:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-151(c) to (e) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
To (1) establish a just cause standard for teacher termination decisions, (2) require teacher termination hearings be before a neutral arbitrator, and (3) make the decisions of such neutral arbitrator binding.
In Subsec.
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.
(d), "the terms of" was added before "such teacher's" for consistency.
1933 6 of 6
LAB Joint Favorable Subst.
sSB351 / File No.
353 6 sSB351 File No.
353 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:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Local and Regional School STATE Potential Potential Districts MANDATE 1 Minimal Minimal - Potential Cost Explanation The bill results in a potential, minimal cost to local and regional school districts annually beginning in FY 27.
The bill requires local and regional school districts to hire third party hearing officers for all hearings regarding the termination of a tenured teacher and allows districts to request a copy of the transcript so long as they bear the cost of the copy.
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Currently, either a hearing officer or a board of education subcommittee may conduct the hearing.
The cost of the hearings will be shared by all involved parties as under current law.
The cost of the bill to a district will vary based on the number of hearings conducted, the rate charged by such officers, whether in the absence of the bill the district would have chosen to instead use a subcommittee, and the cost of any requested transcripts.
Any cost is expected to be minimal, as such hearings are rare.
State mandate is defined in Sec.
2-32b(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes, "state mandate" means any state initiated constitutional, statutory or executive action that requires a local government to establish, expand or modify its activities in such a way as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.
sSB351 / File No.
353 7 sSB351 File No.
353 The bill also:
(1) sets a standard of review for when a nontenured or tenured public school teacher is terminated, which is the same standard applied to other disciplinary actions under the teacher's collective bargaining unit;
(2) makes the hearing officer's decision final;
and (3) allows teachers or districts to appeal to the Superior Court when 2 aggrievedbyahearingofficer'sdecision.Theseprovisionshavenofiscal impact, as they are not expected to change any costs to school districts associated with personnel decisions.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
2The court system disposes of over 250,000 cases annually and the number of cases is not anticipated to be great enough to need additional resources.
sSB351 / File No.
353 8 sSB351 File No.
353 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 351 AN ACT ESTABLISHING STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.
SUMMARY This bill makes changes to the process for terminating public school teachers.
It sets a standard of review for when a nontenured or tenured public school teacher is terminated for the reasons allowed by existing law (inefficiency, incompetence, insubordination, moral misconduct, disability, elimination of a position to another teacher, or other due and sufficient reasons).
Current law does not specify a standard of review for these terminations.
The bill requires the standard of review to be the same standard applied in other disciplinary actions under the teacher’s collective bargaining agreement.
This permits the standard to be determined through the collective bargaining process.
The bill also changes who makes the final decision when a tenured teacher is under consideration for termination and requests a hearing.
Current law generally allows such a teacher to request a hearing before either a board of education (BOE) subcommittee or an impartial hearing officer.
The bill eliminates the option for the hearing before a BOE subcommittee.
Under current law, the subcommittee or hearing officer must submit its findings and a recommendation to the BOE, which then makes a final decision on the termination.
The bill instead requires the hearing officer to make the final disposition and makes it binding on the parties.
Existing law, unchanged by the bill, similarly allows a nontenured teacher whose contract is not being renewed to request a hearing before either a BOE subcommittee or an impartial hearing officer, which must then submit findings and recommendations to the BOE for final sSB351 / File No.
353 9 sSB351 File No.
353 disposition.
Current law only allows a BOE to rescind a nonrenewal decision if it finds that it was arbitrary and capricious.
The bill removes this limitation, giving the BOE greater discretion over when to rescind a nonrenewal decision.
Current law allows teachers aggrieved by a BOE’s termination decision to appeal to the Superior Court, and it requires the court to review the proceedings under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act’s (UAPA) standards for reviewing appeals of agency decisions.
The bill instead allows teachers or BOEs aggrieved by a hearing officer’s decision to apply to the court to confirm, vacate, or modify the decision under the laws for court consideration of arbitration awards.
It also makes various minor and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2026 COURT REVIEW STANDARDS FOR APPEALS Current law generally requires a court considering an appeal of a teacher’s termination under UAPA standards to affirm the decision unless it finds that substantial rights of the teacher have been prejudiced because the findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions (1) violate constitutional or statutory provisions;
(2) exceed statutory authority;
or (3) were (a) made using an unlawful procedure, (b) affected by other error of law, (c) clearly erroneous, or (d) arbitrary or capricious.
The bill instead requires a court to consider an appeal from either a teacher or the BOE under the law for appeals of arbitration awards.
Under this law, a court must confirm an award unless it vacates or modifies it (CGS § 52-417).
The court generally must vacate an award if (1) it was made through corruption, fraud, or undue means;
(2) it was evident thearbitrator was partialor corrupt;(3)thearbitrator wasguilty of misconduct by refusing to postpone the hearing or in refusing to hear pertinent and material evidence;
or (4) the arbitrator exceeded his or her powers, or so imperfectly executed them, that a mutual, final, and definite award was not made (CGS § 52-418).
A court must modify an award if (1) there was an evident material sSB351 / File No.
353 10 sSB351 File No.
353 miscalculation of figures or an evident material mistake in the description of something referred to in the award;
(2) the arbitrator awarded for a matter not submitted for arbitration, unless it does not affect the merits of the decision;
or (3) the award is imperfect in matter of form not affecting the merits of the controversy (CGS § 52-419).
Current law prohibits a court from awarding costs to a teacher appealing his or her termination unless it finds that the BOE acted with gross negligence, in bad faith, or with malice in its original decision.
The bill removes this limitation, and the arbitration standards used under the bill do not explicitly allow costs to be awarded to either party.
BACKGROUND Related Bill sHB 5003, § 9, reported favorably by the Labor and Public Employees Committee, is substantially similar to this bill.
COMMITTEE ACTION Labor and Public Employees Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 9 Nay 4 (03/17/2026) sSB351 / File No.
353 11
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a just cause standard for teacher terminations and mandates that termination hearings be conducted by a neutral arbitrator.

  • Section 10-151

    The standard of review for all such reasons shall be just cause. Otherwise the contract of such teacher shall be continued into the next school year unless such teacher receives written notice by May first in one school year that such contract will not be renewed for the following year. → The standard of review for all such reasons shall be just cause.

    This change establishes just cause as the required standard for terminating teachers without tenure.

  • Section 10-151

    before the board, or (2) if indicated in such request and if designated by the board, before an impartial hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section. → before an impartial hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent.

    This modification requires hearings to be held before a neutral arbitrator instead of the board.

  • Section 10-151

    submit written findings and recommendations to the board for final disposition. → render to the board of education and the teacher a written disposition that shall be binding on the parties.

    This change makes the decisions of the neutral arbitrator binding on both the teacher and the board.

  • Section 10-151

    if the hearing is before the board of education, the board shall render its decision not later than fifteen calendar days after the close of such hearing and shall send a copy of its decision to the teacher.

    This removal eliminates the timeline for the board's decision if hearings are conducted by a neutral arbitrator.

  • Section 10-151

    A board of education may designate a subcommittee of three or more board members to conduct hearings and submit written findings and recommendations to the board for final disposition in the case of teachers whose contracts are terminated.

    This change prohibits board subcommittees from conducting termination hearings, transferring that responsibility to a neutral arbitrator.

  • Section 10-151

    Any teacher or board of education aggrieved by the decision of a board of education after a hearing as provided in subsection (d) of this section may appeal therefrom, not later than thirty calendar days after such decision, to the Superior Court. → Any teacher or board of education aggrieved by the award of the hearing officer may make an application to the Superior Court to confirm, vacate or modify said award pursuant to sections 52-417 to 52-419, inclusive.

    This amendment updates the process for appeal from decisions made by the board to those made by the arbitrator.

Action History

  1. FILE NO. 353

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 239

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

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/01/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0303

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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16 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 171 not signed on

Sponsors (16)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (171)

171 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

labor education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 351?
SB 351 is sponsored by Sanchez, J., Julie Kushner (Democratic), Daniel Gaiewski (Democratic), Jane M. Garibay (Democratic), Michael "MJ" Shannon (Democratic), Christopher Poulos (Democratic), Tom Delnicki (Republican), Martha Marx (Democratic), Nick Gauthier (Democratic), Sarah Keitt (Democratic), Jillian Gilchrest (Democratic), Maryam Khan (Democratic), Greg S. Howard (Republican), Nicholas Menapace (Democratic), and Laurie Sweet (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 351?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 351?
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