Legislation

The ACLU of Connecticut takes an active role in every session of the state legislature to support bills that advance civil liberties and oppose those that do not. We have testified before the legislature hundreds of times and have taken leading roles in the struggles to repeal the death penalty, fight racial profiling, challenge police practices, advocate for decarceation and an end to discrimination against people living with a criminal record, protect and expand LGBTQIA+ rights, and prevent encroachment on the right to free speech.

In 2021, the Connecticut General Assembly's legislative session is virtual, making it more important than ever for people to take action with us online.

Visit out action page to get involved. Sign up for our action alerts, to make sure you get emails around when it's time to act on important legislation. Build your effectiveness as an advocate by checking out our videos on how to give effective public testimony and how to build relationships with legislators. 

Stay updated on our legislative work with the 2025 Legislative Tracker.

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Feb 23, 2021
HR 7 & SR 5
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
HR 7 & SR 5

Supporting House Resolution 7 and Senate Resolution 5, Resolution Approving the Settlement Agreement in Robert Barfield, et al. v. Angel Quiros, in His Official Capacity as Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Correction

Criminal Legal System
Position: Support
Status: Active

While supporting these resolutions is necessary, it is not enough. Merely adopting the settlement agreement, which is in effect until March of 2022, does not go far enough to protect incarcerated people’s...

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Feb 23, 2021
HB 5481
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
HB 5481

House Bill 5481, An Act Establishing a Grant Program for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses

Racial Justice
Position: Support
Status: Active

Providing access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 is a critical piece of pandemic recovery equity. Equity recognizes that, to get...

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Feb 23, 2021
SB 854
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
SB 854

Senate Bill 854, An Act Concerning a List of the 100 Most Delinquent Child Support Obligors

Criminal Legal System
Position: Support
Status: Active

Rather than stigmatizing people who may be unable to pay child support, Connecticut should focus on programs and policies that actually provide resources and support to the young people of this state. For...

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Feb 23, 2021
SB 572, SB 781 & HB 5162
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
SB 572, SB 781 & HB 5162

Supporting Senate Bill 572, An Act Concerning Community Crisis Response Teams and Reentry Centers and Senate Bill 781, An Act Requiring a Study of the Crisis Intervention Training. Opposing House Bill 5162

Criminal Legal System
Position: Other
Status: Active

Dozens of lives might have been saved if these interventions had been implemented earlier. We owe it to the lives that will be saved by implementing non- police responses to mental health crises to make...

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Feb 23, 2021
SB 56
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
SB 56

Senate Bill 56, An Act Deterring Age Discrimination in Employment Applications

Women's Rights
Position: Support
Status: Active

Age discrimination is a real problem. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found that not only do most people have inaccurate negative beliefs about older workers, but also that age...

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Feb 23, 2021
SB 261
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
ACLU of Connecticut ACLU-CT Legislative Testimony
Feb 23, 2021
SB 261

Senate Bill 261, An Act Concerning the Recommendations by the Department of Motor Vehicles

Criminal Legal System
Position: Needs amendments
Status: Active

Given the many downsides of prolific collateral consequences, laws imposing new collateral consequences should always be viewed skeptically. Where, as here, they have no proven deterrent effect, that...

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