HB 5454 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE REFUND OF CERTAIN FIREARM PERMIT FEES.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5454272 February Session, 2026 LCOHouse Bill No.

24465454 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, March 31, 2026 The Committee on PUBLICPublic SAFETYSafety ANDand SECURITYSecurity Introducedreported by:through REP.

(PS)BOYD ANof ACTthe CONCERNING50th THEDist., REFUNDChairperson OFof CERTAINthe FIREARMCommittee PERMITon FEES.the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE REFUND OF CERTAIN FIREARM PERMIT FEES.

The local permitting authority, as defined in section 29-28, or the chief of police of a law enforcement unit of any federally recognized Native American tribe within the borders of the state, as referenced in subsection (c) of sectionHB5454 29-28,/ shallFile forward sufficient funds for the national criminal LCO 2446 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.

5454272 history1 recordsHB5454 checkFile toNo. the commissioner no later than five business days after receipt by the local permitting authority, or such chief of police of a law enforcement unit of any federally recognized Native American tribe, of the application for the temporary state permit.

272 section 29-28, shall forward sufficient funds for the national criminal history records check to the commissioner no later than five business days after receipt by the local permitting authority, or such chief of police of a law enforcement unit of any federally recognized Native American tribe, of the application for the temporary state permit.

LCOHB5454 2446/ 2File of 3 Raised Bill No.

5454272 (d)2 TheHB5454 renewalFile feeNo. required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall apply for each renewal which is requested not earlier than thirty- one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the state permit being renewed.

272 (d) The renewal fee required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall apply for each renewal which is requested not earlier than thirty- one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the state permit being renewed.

Section 1 October 1, 2026 Section 1 29-30(a) to (e) PS Joint Favorable LCOHB5454 2446/ 3File ofNo. 3

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272 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 $ Municipal Police Departments;

Potential Minimal Minimal Various Municipalities Revenue Loss Explanation The bill results in potential minimal revenue loss to local permitting authorities to the extent they fail to complete their duties within the existing statutorily established timeframes and must issue refunds.

Local permitting authorities are either a chief of police or the chief executive officer of the town.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to any refunds issued.

HB5454 / File No.

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272 OLR Bill Analysis HB 5454 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REFUND OF CERTAIN FIREARM PERMIT FEES.

SUMMARY This bill requires local handgun permitting authorities to partially refund the applicant’s fees if the authorities do not complete their duties (suchasbyfailingtoactonanapplication) withinstatutorilyestablished timeframes.

Under Connecticut law, handgun permits are issued under a two- part process, requiring approval from both the local permitting authority and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP).

The local official investigates an applicant, including through a background check, and issues a temporary state permit;

the State Police conduct state and national criminal history record checks on the applicant and issue a five-year state permit.

By law, as part of the handgun permitting process, applicants must pay a $140 fee and the local permitting authority retaining $70.

The bill instead requires the local authority to refund that $70 to the applicant if it does not complete its duties within certain timeframes.

Unchanged by the bill, applicants must also pay to cover the cost of an FBI national criminal history records check.

Asunder existing law,once atemporary state permit isapproved, the local permitting authority forwards the other $70 to the DESPP commissioner.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026.

LOCAL PERMITTING AUTHORITY DUTIES By law, the local permitting authority must inform the applicant HB5454 / File No.

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272 whether the permit has been approved or denied within eight weeks of a submitted application.

The local permitting authority must also take the applicant’s fingerprints or use any other method of positive identification and forward the fingerprints and positive identifying information to the State Police Bureau of Identification within five business days.

Existing law allows the local permitting authority to issue a temporary statepermitbefore anationalcriminalhistory check hasbeen received.