Substitute Senate Bill No. 953 seeks to amend campaign finance laws by redefining the terms "state contractor," "prospective state contractor," and "subcontractor" to explicitly exclude statutorily recognized Indian tribes in Connecticut. The bill modifies subsection (f) of section 9-612 of the general statutes, removing the inclusion of municipalities and political subdivisions from these definitions while adding the exclusion for Indian tribes recognized under subsection (b) of section 47-59a. This change clarifies that recognized Indian tribes and their associated entities will not be classified as state contractors or subcontractors, thereby exempting them from certain campaign finance regulations that apply to other entities involved in state contracts.

Additionally, the bill introduces new regulations that prohibit state contractors and prospective contractors from making or soliciting contributions to political committees associated with candidates for state office. It outlines penalties for violations, including the potential voiding of contracts and a one-year ban on future contracts unless mitigating circumstances are determined. Contractors must also certify that they have not made any prohibited contributions in the past four years, and state agencies are required to inform contractors of these prohibitions and penalties. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, and the bill is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.