SB 368 — AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND PYROTECHNIC CODE.
Last action — FILE NO. 297
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
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 chanceBased 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
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
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
238 added · 26 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Substitute Senate Bill No. 368 include some lines that were added for clarification, while some repetitive lines were removed to streamline the bill. Specifically, the bill now has a clearer structure and consolidates certain legal references to make it easier to understand. These changes are important because they help ensure that the bill is more user-friendly for those affected by it, such as public safety officials and residents, facilitating proper implementation of the law.
Senate General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.
368297 February Session, 2026 ANSubstitute ACTSenate CONCERNINGBill ANo. STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND PYROTECHNIC CODE.
368 Senate, April 1, 2026 The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through SEN.
GASTON of the 23rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND PYROTECHNIC CODE.
(b) There is established, within the Department of Emergency ServicessSB368 and/ PublicFile Protection,No. an advisory committee consisting of the following eleven members:
(1)297 The State Fire Marshal, or the marshal's designee, (2) two members representing local fire marshals, deputy fire marshals and fire inspectors, selected from a list of individuals LCO 1 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 submitted by the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, (3) five members representing the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (4)an one member representing the advisory committee establishedconsisting under subsection (b) of section 29-291a of the generalfollowing statutes,eleven (5)members: one member representing theConnecticut Career Fire ChiefsAssociation,and(6) one member who has expertise in matters relating to the explosives or pyrotechnics industry.
(1) The State Fire Marshal, or the marshal's designee, (2) two members representing local fire marshals, deputy fire marshals and fire inspectors, selected from a list of individuals submitted by the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, (3) five members representing the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (4) one member representing the advisory committee established under subsection (b) of section 29-291a of the general statutes, (5) one member representing theConnecticut Career Fire ChiefsAssociation,and(6) one member who has expertise in matters relating to the explosives or pyrotechnics industry.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, the adoption of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto shall not be required to comply with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, except as provided insSB368 this/ section.File No.
(c)297 Prior to the adoption of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto, the Commissioner of LCO 2 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 Emergencyin Servicesthis andsection. Public Protection shall (1) post any proposed code, a statement of purpose for which the proposed code is proposed, a fiscal note associated with compliance with the proposed code prepared pursuant to section 4-168 of the general statutes and a regulatory flexibility analysis prepared pursuant to section 4-168a of the general statutes on the Internet web site of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (2) give notice electronically to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, (3) give notice to any person who has requested the commissioner for advance notice of the proposed code adoption proceedings, (4) provide for a public comment period of forty-five days following the posting of such proposed code, statement of purpose, fiscal note and regulatory flexibility analysis, and (5) hold a public hearing on the proposed code not less than twenty nor more than thirty-five days after such posting.
(c) Prior to the adoption of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall (1) post any proposed code, a statement of purpose for which the proposed code is proposed, a fiscal note associated with compliance with the proposed code prepared pursuant to section 4-168 of the general statutes and a regulatory flexibility analysis prepared pursuant to section 4-168a of the general statutes on the Internet web site of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (2) give notice electronically to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, (3) give notice to any person who has requested the commissioner for advance notice of the proposed code adoption proceedings, (4) provide for a public comment period of forty-five days following the posting of such proposed code, statement of purpose, fiscal note and regulatory flexibility analysis, and (5) hold a public hearing on the proposed code not less than twenty nor more than thirty-five days after such posting.
(e) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in coordination with the advisory committee, shall create and maintain a code-making record for each proposed code, submit such code- making record electronically to the standing legislative regulation review committee and the joint standing committee of the General AssemblysSB368 having/ cognizanceFile ofNo. matters relating to public safety and security and post such code-making record on the Internet web site of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
297 3 sSB368 File No.
297 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security and post such code-making record on the Internet web site of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
(1) The LCOfinal 3wording of 11the Substituteproposed Billcode No.in a format consistent with nationally recognized standards and codes, (2) the fiscal note prepared pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (3) the regulatory flexibility analysis prepared pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (4) all written and oral comments received during the public comment period, and (5) the responses to such comments prepared pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
368 final wording of the proposed code in a format consistent with nationally recognized standards and codes, (2) the fiscal note prepared pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (3) the regulatory flexibility analysis prepared pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (4) all written and oral comments received during the public comment period, and (5) the responses to such comments prepared pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall not take any actionto implement suchdisapprovedcode,except thatthe CommissionerofEmergencyServicesandPublicProtectionmaysubmit a substantively new proposed code in accordance with the provisions of this section, provided the General Assembly may reverse such disapprovalsSB368 in/ accordanceFile withNo. the provisions of section 4-171 of the general statutes.
(h)297 If the committee rejects a proposed code without prejudice, in LCO 4 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 wholedisapproval or in part,accordance thewith committee shall notify the Commissionerprovisions of Emergencysection Services4-171 and Public Protection of the reasonsgeneral forstatutes. the rejection and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall resubmit the proposed code in revised form to the committee not later than thirty days after the date of rejection without prejudice.
(h) If the committee rejects a proposed code without prejudice, in whole or in part, the committee shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of the reasons for the rejection and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall resubmit the proposed code in revised form to the committee not later than thirty days after the date of rejection without prejudice.
(j) No provision of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code or any amendment thereto adopted after October 1, 2026, is valid unless adopted in substantial compliance with the requirements of this section.AsSB368 proceedingto/ contestFile anyprovisionofthecodeonthegroundNo. of noncompliance with the requirements of this section shall be commenced within two years from the effective date of the code.
LCO297 5 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 (k)section.A Theproceedingto Commissionercontest anyprovisionofthecodeontheground of Emergencynoncompliance Serviceswith andthe Publicrequirements Protectionof this section shall advisebe thecommenced publicwithin concerningtwo howyears tofrom obtainthe aeffective copydate of the Statecode. Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto.
(k) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall advise the public concerning how to obtain a copy of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto.
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, insSB368 coordination/ withFile the advisory committee established under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act and in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall adopt [reasonable] regulations [, LCO 6 of 11 Substitute Bill No.
368297 in6 accordancesSB368 withFile chapterNo. 54,] for the granting of permits for supervised displays of fireworks or for the indoor use of pyrotechnics, sparklers and fountains for special effects by municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks, other organizations or groups of individuals or artisans in pursuit of their trade.
297 in coordination with the advisory committee established under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act and in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall adopt [reasonable] regulations [, in accordance with chapter 54,] for the granting of permits for supervised displays of fireworks or for the indoor use of pyrotechnics, sparklers and fountains for special effects by municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks, other organizations or groups of individuals or artisans in pursuit of their trade.
No high explosive such as dynamite, fulminate of mercury or other stimulator for detonating shall besSB368 used/ inFile anyNo. aerial bomb or other pyrotechnics.
Application297 for permits shall be made in writing at least fifteen days prior to the date of display, on such notice as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and LCO 7 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 Public Protection by regulation prescribes, on forms furnished by the commissioner, and a fee of one hundred dollars shall be payableused toin theany Stateaerial Treasurerbomb withor eachother suchpyrotechnics. application.
Application for permits shall be made in writing at least fifteen days prior to the date of display, on such notice as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection by regulation prescribes, on forms furnished by the commissioner, and a fee of one hundred dollars shall be payable to the State Treasurer with each such application.
Subsection (b) of section 29-359 of the general statutes is repealed andthefollowing issubstitutedis substituted inlieuthereof(EffectiveOctober 1,sSB368 2026):/ File No.
(b)297 The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, LCO 8 ofsSB368 11File Substitute Bill No.
368297 in1, coordination2026): with the advisory committee established under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act and in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall adopt regulations [in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54] defining the term "pyrotechnics" for purposesofsubsection(a)ofthissection.
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in coordination with the advisory committee established under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act and in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall adopt regulations [in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54] defining the term "pyrotechnics" for purposesofsubsection(a)ofthissection.
The Secretary of the State may omit from the regulations of Connecticut state agencies posted on the eRegulations System (1) any regulation of a federal agency or a government agency of another state thatsSB368 is/ incorporatedFile by reference into a Connecticut regulation, (2) any regulation that is incorporated by reference into a Connecticut LCO 9 of 11 Substitute Bill No.
368297 regulation9 andsSB368 toFile whichNo. a third party holds the intellectual property rights, (3) the State Building Code, (4) the State Fire Prevention Code, [and](5)theState FireSafety Code,and(6)the State Explosives,Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code.
297 that is incorporated by reference into a Connecticut regulation, (2) any regulation that is incorporated by reference into a Connecticut regulation and to which a third party holds the intellectual property rights, (3) the State Building Code, (4) the State Fire Prevention Code, [and](5)theState FireSafety Code,and(6)theState Explosives,Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code.
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Copies of the State Building Code,theStateFirePreventionCodeand theStateFireSafetyCodetheStateFireSafetyCodeshall shall be readily available for public inspection in the principal office of the Department of Administrative Services.
8 October 1, 2026 4-173 LCOsSB368 10/ ofFile 11 Substitute Bill No.
368297 Statement10 ofsSB368 LegislativeFile Commissioners:No.
297 Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
-LCO LCOsSB368 11/ ofFile 11No.
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297 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 $ Emergency Services and Public GF - Cost 187,871 187,871 Protection, Dept.
State Comptroller - Fringe GF - Cost 78,568 78,568 Benefits1 Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection(DESPP)toadopt andadminister aState Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code, resulting in a cost of $266,439 annually for salary and fringe benefits associated with one new Staff Attorney and one new Paralegal Specialist.
Developing, promulgating, and administering this code would be a new function for the agency and it is anticipated that DESPP will need these two new positions in its Legal Affairs Unit to meet the requirements of the bill.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts administered by the Comptroller.
The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.
sSB368 / File No.
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297 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 368 AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND PYROTECHNIC CODE.
SUMMARY This bill requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) commissioner, in coordination with an advisory committee the bill creates, to adopt and administer a State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code with provisions for explosives, blasting, gunpowder, fireworks, pyrotechnics, and rockets.
It sets administrative procedures for adopting and amending this code that are substantially similar to those under existing law for the State Building Code, Fire Safety Code, and State Fire Prevention Code.
Current law authorizes DESPP to regulate explosives, blasting agents, fireworks, pyrotechnics, sparklers, fountains, flame producing devices, and rockets by adopting regulations according to the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (UAPA).
Thebillmakesthese regulations part oftheState Explosives,Blasting andPyrotechnicCode andexempts them from the UAPA.
It instead subjects them to the process set out in the bill for the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code, including that the DESPP commissioner adopt them in coordination with the bill’s advisory committee.
Generally, unlike the UAPA process, the new code’s adoption process (1) does not require the attorney general to review the proposed codes for legal sufficiency and allows the Regulation Review Committee to waive its review and (2) deems a proposed code approved if the committee fails to meet or act within prescribed deadlines.
The bill also makes other conforming and technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 sSB368 / File No.
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297 STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING, AND PYROTECHNIC CODE MODEL, REVISION SCHEDULES, AND INTERPRETATIONS The bill requires the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code to be based on nationally recognized standards and codes.
It must also be revised (1) at the same time as the State Building Code and (2) as needed to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the nationally recognized standards and codes within 18 months after they are first published.
Under the bill, the DESPP commissioner may issue official interpretations of the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code, including on the applicability of any code provision.
It requires him to compile and index each code interpretation and publish them at periodic intervals at least every four months.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE The bill creates an 11-member advisory committee made up of:
1.
the state fire marshal (or her designee);
2.
two members representing local fire marshals, deputy fire marshals, and fire inspectors, selected from a list submitted by the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association;
3.
five members representing the State Police;
4.
one member representing the State Fire Prevention Code’s advisory committee;
5.
one member representing the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association;
and 6.
one member who has expertise in matters relating to the explosives or pyrotechnics industry.
All appointments to the committee must be made by the DESPP commissioner.
sSB368 / File No.
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297 STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING, AND PYROTECHNIC CODE ADOPTION PROCESS Action Steps Preceding Code Adoption Under the bill, before the proposed State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code or any amendment to it is adopted, the DESPP commissioner must do the following:
1.
post the proposed code, a statement of its purpose, a fiscal note associated with compliance, and a regulatory flexibility analysis on the DESPP website;
2.
send notice electronically to the Public Safety and Security Committee;
3.
notify anyone who requested advance notice of proposed code adoption proceedings;
4.
allow for a 45-day public comment period after the proposed code, statement of purpose, fiscal note, and regulatory flexibility analysis are posted;
and 5.
hold a public hearing on the proposed code between 20 and 35 days after posting the required information.
Public Comments and Code-Making Record Under the bill, after the public comment period closes, the DESPP commissioner and the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code’s advisory committee must respond to all written and oral comments received during the comment period and at the public hearing.
The response must include any change made to the proposed code, if applicable, and the rationale for the change.
The DESPP commissioner must post the responses on the DESPP website within 30 days after the comment period closes.
The DESPP commissioner and the advisory committee must create and maintain a code-making record for each proposed code, submit the record electronically to the Public Safety and Security and Regulation sSB368 / File No.
297 15 sSB368 File No.
297 Review committees, and post it on the DESPP website.
The record must include the following:
1.
the final wording of the proposed code in a format consistent with nationally recognized standards and codes, 2.
the required fiscal note and regulatory flexibility analysis, and 3.
all written and oral comments received during the public comment period, and the responses to them.
Regulation Review Committee Deadlines for Action on Proposed Codes The bill gives the Regulation Review Committee up to 45 days after the record is submitted to the committee to convene a meeting to approve, disapprove, or reject without prejudice the proposed code, in whole or in part.
If the proposed code is withdrawn, the DESPP commissioner must resubmit it and the committee has up to 45 days from the resubmittal to convene a meeting to approve, disapprove, or reject it without prejudice.
If the committee notifies the commissioner in writing that it is waiving its right to convene a meeting or fails to act on a proposed or a resubmitted proposed code within the deadlines, it is deemed approved by the committee.
Committee Disapproval of Code Under the bill, if the committee disapproves a proposed code, in whole or in part, it must notify the DESPP commissioner about its disapproval and the reasons for it.
The commissioner cannot take any action to implement a disapproved code, but he may submit a substantively new proposed code.
The legislature may also reverse the disapproval through existing provisions in the UAPA.
Committee Rejection of Code without Prejudice If the committee rejects all or part of a proposed code without prejudice, the bill requires it to notify the DESPP commissioner about the reasons for the rejection.
The commissioner must resubmit the proposed code in a revised form to the committee within 30 days after sSB368 / File No.
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297 the rejection.
Each resubmission must include a summary of any revisions.
The committee must review and take action on the resubmittal within 45 days after receiving it.
Enforceability of Code Under the bill, the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code or any approved amendment to it takes effect and is enforceable once posted on the DESPP website, except that (1) if a later date is required by statute or the code, the later date is the effective date, and (2) a code cannot take effect before the effective date of the public act requiring or permitting it.
The DESPP commissioner must include a statement certifying that the electronic copy of the code is a true and accurate copy of the code approved or deemed approved in accordance with the bill.
The electronic copy of the code posted on the DESPP website is the official version for all purposes, including legal and administrative proceedings.
Code Validity The bill specifies that no provision of the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code or any amendment to it adopted after the bill’s effective date is valid unless it substantially complies with the bill.
A proceeding to contest any provision on grounds of noncompliance must be commenced within two years from the code’s effective date.
Public Access to the Code The bill requires the DESPP commissioner to advise the public on how to obtain a copy of the code and any amendments to it.
EREGULATIONS SYSTEM By law, the secretary of the state may omit certain regulations from the regulations of state agencies posted on the eRegulations System.
As with the State Building Code, Fire Safety Code, and State Fire Prevention Code under existing law, the bill allows the secretary to omit the State Explosives, Blasting, and Pyrotechnic Code and post a link to sSB368 / File No.
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297 an electronic copy of it.
It requires that copies of the code be readily available for inspection in DESPP’s principal office.
BACKGROUND Related Bill sHB 5401, § 1, favorably reported by the Public Safety and Security Committee, makes several changes to when and under what circumstances the State Building Code may be amended, including limiting the frequency with which the code can be revised to once every six years or once per two full “model code cycles” (i.e.
the recurring period, typically three years, during which an edition of the nationally recognized model building code is published).
COMMITTEE ACTION Public Safety and Security Committee Joint Favorable Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/17/2026) sSB368 / File No.
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Action History
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FILE NO. 297
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SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 207
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FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.
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RPTD. OUT OF LCO
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REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26
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FILED WITH LCO
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Joint Favorable
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PUBLIC HEARING 0305
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REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Safety and Security
Sponsors
- Greg S. Howard · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Greg S. Howard Republican
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (186)
186 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 186 →"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.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 368?
- SB 368 is sponsored by Greg S. Howard (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 368?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
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