House Bill No. 6440, effective July 1, 2025, allows members of the former four companies of the Governor's Guards to organize as a private military force, aligning with existing definitions and provisions in the general statutes. The bill amends current laws regarding the reactivation of military units by the Governor, explicitly including these private military forces while ensuring that no state funds will be used for their reactivation and that no individual can be involuntarily activated. It also removes the Governor's Guards from the definition of the organized militia and updates the National Guard's composition to include the Army and Air National Guard. The appointment process for the Governor's military staff is revised, eliminating certain ex-officio positions and allowing for honorary appointments, while the Adjutant General is tasked with supplying the organized militia with necessary arms and equipment.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for leasing military facilities, requiring applications to be submitted to the Adjutant General, who will approve them based on insurance certification. It expands the list of eligible organizations for leasing to include private military forces historically related to the Governor's Guards, alongside military and nonprofit organizations. The bill establishes a "military facilities account" for maintenance and renovation of military facilities and mandates annual reporting on leasing proceeds. It also requires the transfer of financial balances from the Governor's Guards and horse accounts to this new account by June 30, 2025. Overall, HB 6440 aims to streamline the organization and financial management of the Governor's Guards while transitioning it to a private entity, resulting in significant savings for the Connecticut Military Department and the Office of the State Comptroller starting in FY 26.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 3-10d, 27-2, 27-15, 27-21, 27-39
VA Joint Favorable: 3-10d, 27-2, 27-15, 27-21, 27-39
File No. 258: 3-10d, 27-2, 27-15, 27-21, 27-39