SB 261 — AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UPON THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

261645 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

1694261 ReferredSenate, toApril 15, 2026 The Committee on JUDICIARYJudiciary Introducedreportedthrough by:SEN.

(JUD)WINFIELD ANof ACTthe CONCERNING10th TRANSFERDist., OFChairperson Aof MOTORthe VEHICLECommittee REGISTRATIONon UPONthe THEpart DEATHof OFthe THESenate, OWNERthat OFthe THEbill VEHICLE.ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UPON THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

(b) If a motor vehicle is owned by one owner who is a natural person, such owner may designate, in writing in a space provided on the certificate of registration for such motor vehicle, a beneficiary who shall assumeSB261 ownership/ ofFile suchNo. motor vehicle after the death of the owner and upon the making of an application pursuant to this subsection.

The645 LCO 1694 1 ofSB261 4File Raised Bill No.

261645 ownerassume making such designation shall have all rights of ownership of suchmotorvehicleduringtheowner'slifeandthebeneficiaryshallhave no rights in such motor vehicle untilafter suchthe timedeath asof the owner dies and anupon applicationthe ismaking madeof an application pursuant to this subsection.

The owner making such designation shall have all rights of ownership of suchmotorvehicleduringtheowner'slifeandthebeneficiaryshallhave no rights in such motor vehicle until such time as the owner dies and an application is made pursuant to this subsection.

or (2) ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the brother, sister, father, mother, child or spouse of the owner, in which case the registration shall,uponthepaymentSB261 ofafeeoftwentydollars,continue/ inforceuntilFile LCO 1694 2 of 4 Raised Bill No.

261645 the2 endSB261 ofFile theNo. registration period or until the ownership is sooner transferred to a person other than such a relative.

645 shall,uponthepayment ofafeeoftwentydollars,continue inforceuntil the end of the registration period or until the ownership is sooner transferred to a person other than such a relative.

LCOSB261 1694/ 3File of 4 Raised Bill No.

261645 (f)3 AnySB261 personFile mayNo. transfer an unexpired registration of a motor vehicle such person owns or leases for a period of one year or more, to anothermotorvehicleownedorsoleasedbysuchpersonuponpayment of the fee required by subsection (i) of section 14-49.

645 (f) Any person may transfer an unexpired registration of a motor vehicle such person owns or leases for a period of one year or more, to anothermotorvehicleownedorsoleasedbysuchpersonuponpayment of the fee required by subsection (i) of section 14-49.

Section 1 October 1, 2026 14-16 JUD Joint Favorable LCOSB261 1694/ 4File ofNo. 4

645 4 SB261 File No.

645 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:

None Explanation The bill creates a secondary deadline by which a beneficiary designated on a motor vehicle registration certificate must transfer the vehicle after the death of the owner.

This does not result in a fiscal impact because it is not expected to change the number of vehicles registered in any municipality for property tax purposes.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB261 / File No.

645 5 SB261 File No.

645 OLR Bill Analysis SB 261 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UPON THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

SUMMARY Thisbillcreatesa secondarydeadlinebywhichthepersondesignated by a motor vehicle’s owner to assume ownership when the owner dies (the beneficiary) may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a new title and registration in the beneficiary’s name.

By doing so, the bill potentially gives beneficiaries more time to transfer vehicle ownership.

Under current law, a beneficiary has 60 days after the owner’s death to apply for a new title and a registration in his or her name.

The bill instead gives applicants until 60 days after the death or before the registration’s expiration, whichever is later.

By law, motor vehicle registrations are generally issued for three-year periods.

As under existing law, if the beneficiary fails to apply within this timeframe, he or she has no rights to ownership and title.

Additionally, the beneficiary’s right to obtainownership and title is subordinate to the rights of any lienholder with a recorded security interest.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026 COMMITTEE ACTION Judiciary Committee Joint Favorable Yea 37 Nay 4 (03/30/2026) SB261 / File No.

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