Connecticut 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 953 — AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

Last action — FILE NO. 327

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

108 added · 49 removed

108 line(s) added, 49 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
General Assembly Committee Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
953 January Session, 2025 LCO No.
327 January Session, 2025 Substitute Senate Bill No.
5562 Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS Introduced by:
953 Senate, March 31, 2025 The Committee on Government Administration and Elections reported through SEN.
(GAE) AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.
FLEXER of the 29th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.
(C) "State contract" means an agreement or contract with the state or any state agency or any quasi-public agency, let through a procurement LCO No.
sSB953 / File No.
5562 1 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 process or otherwise, having a value of fifty thousand dollars or more, or a combination or series of such agreements or contracts having a value of one hundred thousand dollars or more in a calendar year, for (i) the rendition of services, (ii) the furnishing of any goods, material, supplies, equipment or any items of any kind, (iii) the construction, alteration or repair of any public building or public work, (iv) the acquisition, sale or lease of any land or building, (v) a licensing arrangement, or (vi) a grant, loan or loan guarantee.
327 1 sSB953 File No.
327 (C) "State contract" means an agreement or contract with the state or any state agency or any quasi-public agency, let through a procurement process or otherwise, having a value of fifty thousand dollars or more, or a combination or series of such agreements or contracts having a value of one hundred thousand dollars or more in a calendar year, for (i) the rendition of services, (ii) the furnishing of any goods, material, supplies, equipment or any items of any kind, (iii) the construction, alteration or repair of any public building or public work, (iv) the acquisition, sale or lease of any land or building, (v) a licensing arrangement, or (vi) a grant, loan or loan guarantee.
"State contractor" does not include a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute or charter, or an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part- time,andonlyinsuchperson'scapacityasastateorquasi-publicagency employee.
"State contractor" does not include a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute, [or] charter or tribal law, or an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part-time, and only in such person's capacity as a state or quasi-public agency employee.
(E) "Prospective state contractor" means a person, business entity or nonprofit organization that (i) submits a response to a state contract solicitation by the state, a state agency or a quasi-public agency, or a proposal in response to a request for proposals by the state, a state agencyoraquasi-publicagency,untilthecontracthasbeenenteredinto, LCO No.
(E) "Prospective state contractor" means a person, business entity or nonprofit organization that (i) submits a response to a state contract solicitation by the state, a state agency or a quasi-public agency, or a proposal in response to a request for proposals by the state, a state sSB953 / File No.
5562 2 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 or (ii) holds a valid prequalification certificate issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services under section 4a-100.
327 2 sSB953 File No.
"Prospective state contractor" does not include a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute or charter, or an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part- time,andonlyinsuchperson'scapacityasastateorquasi-publicagency employee.
327 agencyoraquasi-publicagency,untilthecontracthasbeenenteredinto, or (ii) holds a valid prequalification certificate issued by the Commissioner of Administrative Services under section 4a-100.
"Prospective state contractor" does not include a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute, [or] charter or tribal law, or an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part-time, and only in such person's capacity as a state or quasi-public agency employee.
(G) "Dependent child" means a child residing in an individual's household who may legally be claimed as a dependent on the federal LCO No.
(G) "Dependent child" means a child residing in an individual's household who may legally be claimed as a dependent on the federal sSB953 / File No.
5562 3 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 income tax return of such individual.
327 3 sSB953 File No.
327 income tax return of such individual.
"Subcontractor" does not include (i) a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute or charter, or (ii) an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part- time,andonlyinsuchperson'scapacityasastateorquasi-publicagency employee.
"Subcontractor" does not include (i) a municipality, [or] any other political subdivision of the state or any Indian tribe of this state recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a, including any entities or associations duly created by the municipality, [or] political subdivision or Indian tribe exclusively amongst themselves to further any purpose authorized by statute, [or] charter or tribal law, or (ii) an employee in the executive or legislative branch of state government or a quasi-public agency, whether in the classified or unclassified service and full or part-time, and only in such person's capacity as a state or quasi-public agency employee.
(L) "Principal of a subcontractor" means (i) any individual who is a LCO No.
(L) "Principal of a subcontractor" means (i) any individual who is a member of the board of directors of, or has an ownership interest of five sSB953 / File No.
5562 4 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 member of the board of directors of, or has an ownership interest of five per cent or more in, a subcontractor, which is a business entity, except for an individual who is a member of the board of directors of a nonprofit organization, (ii) an individual who is employed by a subcontractor, which is a business entity, as president, treasurer or executive vice president, (iii) an individual who is the chief executive officer of a subcontractor, which is not a business entity, or if a subcontractor has no such officer, then the officer who duly possesses comparable powers and duties, (iv) an officer or an employee of any subcontractor who has managerial or discretionary responsibilities with respect to a subcontract with a state contractor, (v) the spouse or a dependent child who is eighteen years of age or older of an individual described in this subparagraph, or (vi) a political committee established or controlled by an individual described in this subparagraph or the business entity or nonprofit organization that is the subcontractor.
327 4 sSB953 File No.
327 per cent or more in, a subcontractor, which is a business entity, except for an individual who is a member of the board of directors of a nonprofit organization, (ii) an individual who is employed by a subcontractor, which is a business entity, as president, treasurer or executive vice president, (iii) an individual who is the chief executive officer of a subcontractor, which is not a business entity, or if a subcontractor has no such officer, then the officer who duly possesses comparable powers and duties, (iv) an officer or an employee of any subcontractor who has managerial or discretionary responsibilities with respect to a subcontract with a state contractor, (v) the spouse or a dependent child who is eighteen years of age or older of an individual described in this subparagraph, or (vi) a political committee established or controlled by an individual described in this subparagraph or the business entity or nonprofit organization that is the subcontractor.
(B) No state contractor, prospective state contractor, principal of a state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor, with regard to a state contract or a state contract solicitation with or from the General Assembly or a holder, or principal of a holder, of a valid LCO No.
(B) No state contractor, prospective state contractor, principal of a state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor, with regard to a state contract or a state contract solicitation with or from the General Assembly or a holder, or principal of a holder, of a valid prequalification certificate, shall make a contribution to, or, on and after January 1, 2011, knowingly solicit contributions from the state sSB953 / File No.
5562 5 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 prequalification certificate, shall make a contribution to, or, on and after January 1, 2011, knowingly solicit contributions from the state contractor's or prospective state contractor's employees or from a subcontractor or principals of the subcontractor on behalf of (i) an exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative, (ii) a political committee authorized to make contributions or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates, or (iii) a party committee;
327 5 sSB953 File No.
327 contractor's or prospective state contractor's employees or from a subcontractor or principals of the subcontractor on behalf of (i) an exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative, (ii) a political committee authorized to make contributions or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates, or (iii) a party committee;
(D) If a prospective state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor makes or solicits a contribution as prohibited under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, as determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, no state agency or quasi-public agency shall award the prospective state contractor the contract described in the state contract solicitation or any other state contract for one year after the election for which such contribution is made or solicited unless the commission determines that mitigating LCO No.
(D) If a prospective state contractor or principal of a prospective state contractor makes or solicits a contribution as prohibited under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, as determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, no state agency or quasi-public agency shall award the prospective state contractor the contract described in the state contract solicitation or any other state contract for one year after the election for which such contribution is made or solicited unless the commission determines that mitigating circumstances exist concerning such violation.
5562 6 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 circumstances exist concerning such violation.
The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall notify applicants of the provisions of this subparagraphandsubparagraphs(A)and(B) ofthis subdivision during sSB953 / File No.
The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall notify applicants of the provisions of this subparagraphandsubparagraphs(A)and(B) ofthis subdivision during the prequalification application process;
327 6 sSB953 File No.
327 the prequalification application process;
No state agency or quasi-public agency shall execute a state contract unless such contract contains a representation that the chief executive officer or authorized signatory of the contract has received LCO No.
No state agency or quasi-public agency shall execute a state contract unless such contract contains a representation that the chief executive officer or authorized signatory of the contract has received such notice;
5562 7 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 such notice;
and (F) (i) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall certify sSB953 / File No.
and (F) (i) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall certify that neither the contractor or prospective state contractor, nor any of its principals, have made any contributions to, or solicited any contributionsonbehalf of,any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committeeauthorizedtomakecontributionstoorexpenditurestoorfor, the benefit of such candidates, in the previous four years, that were determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to be in violation of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, without mitigating circumstances having been found to exist concerning such violation.
327 7 sSB953 File No.
327 that neither the contractor or prospective state contractor, nor any of its principals, have made any contributions to, or solicited any contributionsonbehalf of,any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committeeauthorizedtomakecontributionstoorexpenditurestoorfor, the benefit of such candidates, in the previous four years, that were determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to be in violation of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, without mitigating circumstances having been found to exist concerning such violation.
(iii) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall disclose on the certification all contributions made by any of its principals to any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committee authorized to make contributions to or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates for a period of four years prior to the signing of the contract or date of LCO No.
(iii) Any principal of the state contractor or prospective state contractor submitting a bid or proposal for a state contract shall disclose on the certification all contributions made by any of its principals to any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committee authorized to make contributions to or expenditures to or for the benefit of such candidates for a period of four years prior to the signing of the contract or date of the response to the bid, whichever is longer, and certify that all such contributions have been disclosed.
5562 8 of 10 Committee Bill No.953 the response to the bid, whichever is longer, and certify that all such contributions have been disclosed.
(3) (A) On and after December 31, 2006, neither the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of sSB953 / File No.
(3) (A) On and after December 31, 2006, neither the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, any candidate for any such office nor any agent of any such official or candidate shall knowingly, wilfully or intentionally solicit contributions on behalf of an exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, a political committee or a party committee, from a person who he or she knows is prohibited from making contributions, including a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor with regard to a state contract solicitation with or from a state agency in the executive branch or a quasi-public agency or a holder of a valid prequalification certificate.
327 8 sSB953 File No.
327 the State or State Treasurer, any candidate for any such office nor any agent of any such official or candidate shall knowingly, wilfully or intentionally solicit contributions on behalf of an exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, a political committee or a party committee, from a person who he or she knows is prohibited from making contributions, including a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor with regard to a state contract solicitation with or from a state agency in the executive branch or a quasi-public agency or a holder of a valid prequalification certificate.
If the State Elections Enforcement Commission determines that a state contractor or prospective state contractor has failed to make reasonable LCO No.
If the State Elections Enforcement Commission determines that a state contractor or prospective state contractor has failed to make reasonable efforts to comply with this subsection, the commission may impose civil penalties against such state contractor or prospective state contractor in accordance with subsection (a) of section 9-7b.
5562 9 of 10 Committee Bill No.
sSB953 / File No.
953 efforts to comply with this subsection, the commission may impose civil penalties against such state contractor or prospective state contractor in accordance with subsection (a) of section 9-7b.
327 9 sSB953 File No.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
327 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 9-612(f) Statement of Purpose:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 9-612(f) GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
Show all 67 changed rows (27 more)
Previous
Latest
To redefine "state contractor", "prospective state contractor" and "subcontractor" to exclude statutorily recognized Indian tribes of this state for purposes of campaign finance laws.
sSB953 / File No.
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:
327 10 sSB953 File No.
SEN.
327 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.
OSTEN, 19th Dist.;
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
REP.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
WILSON, 46th Dist.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
REP.
None Municipal Impact:
NOLAN, 39th Dist.
None Explanation The bill expands existing exemptions from certain definitions under state campaign finance law to statutorily recognized Indian tribes, resulting in no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities.
S.B.
The Out Years State Impact:
953 LCO No.
None Municipal Impact:
5562 10 of 10
None sSB953 / File No.
327 11 sSB953 File No.
327 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 953 AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.
SUMMARY This bill exempts statutorily recognized Indian tribes in this state, as well as any entities or associations created by the tribes and its political subdivisions under tribal law, from certain definitions under a state campaign finance law.
Specifically, it applies to the definitions of “state contractor,” “prospective state contractor,” and “subcontractor” under the state campaign finance law that generally prohibits these contractors from making contributions to statewide and legislative candidates for public office and restricts these candidates from knowingly, willfully, or intentionally accepting contributions from these contractors (see BACKGROUND).
Existing law also generally exempts from these definitions (1) municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state, (2) executive or legislative branch employees, and (3) quasi-public employees.
State law statutorily recognizes the Schaghticoke, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot, the Mashantucket Pequot, the Mohegan, and the Golden Hill Paugussett tribes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2025 BACKGROUND Campaign Finance Prohibitions Regarding Contractors State law generally bans state contractors, prospective state contractors, pre-qualified contractors, subcontractors, and their sSB953 / File No.
327 12 sSB953 File No.
327 principals from making contributions to or on behalf of the following recipients:
(1) exploratory or candidate committees for statewide or legislative candidates, (2) political committees authorized to make contributions to or spend on behalf of candidates for statewide or legislative office, or (3) party committees.
Contractorsare also prohibitedfromsoliciting contributionsfor these committees from their employees, subcontractors, or subcontractors’ principals.
The prohibitions are branch-specific (e.g., a state contractor contracted with the General Assembly may not engage in these prohibited activities for legislative contests).
Relatedly, constitutional officers, legislators, candidates for these offices, and their agents generally may not knowingly, willfully, or intentionally solicit contributions from a prohibited entity for any exploratory, candidate, political, or party committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION Government Administration and Elections Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 13 Nay 6 (03/12/2025) sSB953 / File No.
327 13
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. FILE NO. 327

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 201

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

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/25

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0307

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

  10. DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE

  11. Vote to Draft

  12. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

0 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 187 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (187)

187 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 187 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current status of SB 953?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 953?
Track SB 953 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 953

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 953

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →