Justices of the Peace Act - Marriage License Waiting Period
Summary
Connecticut HB05509 passed the House on April 8, 2026 with a 144-0 vote. The bill would require the Secretary of the State to publish a manual on justices of the peace duties, prohibit misconduct by justices of the peace, allow gubernatorial appointment to fill newly created JP offices, establish a 48-hour waiting period before marriage license issuance, and create a working group to study JP matters.
What changed
HB05509 enacts comprehensive changes to justices of the peace administration in Connecticut. The bill mandates publication of a JP duties manual, establishes misconduct prohibitions with potential enforcement consequences, and creates a 48-hour waiting period for marriage licenses. Newly created JP offices may be filled by gubernatorial appointment prior to the next regular election.
Justices of the peace and the Secretary of the State's office should prepare for new procedural requirements and compliance obligations. Marriage applicants will face mandatory waiting periods. The working group composition and scope will determine further regulatory changes to JP duties.
What to do next
- Publish JP duties manual (Secretary of the State)
- Implement 48-hour marriage license waiting period
- Establish JP working group to review duties and appointments
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Connecticut / HB05509 Passed HB05509 House Bill Passed 2026-04-08
An Act Concerning Justices Of The Peace.
To (1) require the Secretary of the State to publish a manual concerning the duties of justices of the peace, (2) prohibit misconduct by justices of the peace, (3) specify that a newly created office of justice of the peace may be filled by appointment prior to the next regular election, (4) require a forty-eight hour waiting period before the issuance of a marriage license, and (5) establish a working group concerning justices of the peace.
Bill Details
State Connecticut
Session 2026 General Assembly
Chamber House
Official Source www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillst...
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Sponsors
Planning and Development Committee Cristin McCarthy Vahey (Rep - D) William Pizzuto (Rep - R) Tom Delnicki (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-08 H House Passed 2026-03-30 H File Number 259 2026-03-30 H House Calendar Number 215 2026-03-30 H Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House 2026-03-30 H Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office 2026-03-23 H Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/30/26 12:00 PM 2026-03-16 H Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office 2026-03-13 H Joint Favorable Substitute 2026-03-06 H Public Hearing 03/11 2026-03-05 H Referred to Joint Committee on Planning and Development
Votes
2026-03-13 PD Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) Yea: 21 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 House Roll Call Vote 48 Yea: 144 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-03-05 J Planning and Development
Bill Text Versions
2026-03-04 Introduced 2026-03-30 Comm Sub Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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