HB 5451 — AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS BY A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5451326 February Session, 2026 LCOSubstitute House Bill No.

19055451 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, April 1, 2026 The Committee on PUBLICPublic SAFETYSafety ANDand SECURITYSecurity Introducedreported by:through REP.

(PS)BOYD ANof ACTthe CONCERNING50th POSSESSIONDist., OFChairperson Aof FIREARMthe ONCommittee SCHOOLon GROUNDSthe BYpart Aof PEACEthe OFFICER.House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS BY A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property or at such school-sponsored activity, (2) by a person in accordance with an agreemententeredintobetweenschoolofficialsandsuchpersonorsuch person'ssHB5451 employer,/ (3)File by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, [while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's LCO No.

1905326 1 ofsHB5451 2File Raised Bill No.

5451326 person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's official duties,]duties, or[or] (4) by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.education, or (5) by a police officer certified pursuant to section 7-294d.

Section 1 October 1, 2026 53a-217b StatementPS ofJoint Purpose:Favorable Subst.

TosHB5451 allow/ aFile peaceNo. officer to possess a firearm on school grounds regardless of whether such officer is engaged in the performance of the officer's official duties.

[Proposed326 deletions2 aresHB5451 enclosedFile inNo. brackets.

Proposed326 additionsThe following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are indicatedprepared byfor underline,the exceptbenefit thatof whenthe members of the entireGeneral textAssembly, solely for purposes of ainformation, billsummarization orand resolutionexplanation orand ado sectionnot ofrepresent athe billintent orof resolutionthe isGeneral new,Assembly itor iseither notchamber underlined.]thereof LCOfor No.any purpose.

1905In 2general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of 2informational 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:

None Explanation The bill, which permits certain police officers to carry a firearm on school grounds at any time, results in no fiscal impact to the state.

This bill is not anticipated to affect the number of individuals sentenced under CGS § 53a-217b.

1 The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None 1Between FY 22 and FY 25, 56 offenses were recorded under CGS § 53a-217b and no fines were collected.

sHB5451 / File No.

326 3 sHB5451 File No.

326 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5451 AN ACT CONCERNING POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS BY A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER.

SUMMARY By law, peace officers (including state and local police officers) may lawfully carry a firearm on school grounds while carrying out their official duties.

This bill permits Police Officer Standards and Training Council-certified police officers to lawfully carry a firearm on school grounds at any time.

As under existing law, a person possessing a firearm or deadly weapon in or on public or private elementary or secondary school property, or at a school-sponsored activity, knowing they are not authorized to do so is guilty of a class D felony (punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine).

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026 BACKGROUND Peace Officers By law, the following individuals are designated peace officers:

state and local police, Division of Criminal Justice inspectors, state marshals exercising statutory powers, judicial marshals performing their duties, conservation or special conservation officers, constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties, appointedspecial 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- sHB5451 / File No.

326 4 sHB5451 File No.

326 tribal memorandum (CGS § 53a-3(9)).

Police Officer Bylaw,apoliceofficer isaswornmemberofanorganizedlocalpolice department or the State Police, an appointed constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, certain special policemen, or any member of a law enforcement unit who performs police duties (CGS § 7-294a).

COMMITTEE ACTION Public Safety and Security Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 20 Nay 9 (03/17/2026) sHB5451 / File No.

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