Substitute Senate Bill No. 1156 seeks to amend the laws governing the recognition and nomination processes for minor parties in Connecticut. The bill repeals and replaces Section 9-453b, stipulating that the Secretary of the State will only issue nominating petition forms starting on the first business day of the election year. It mandates that applications for these forms must include candidates' names, signed consent statements, and party designations, which can only be included if they are reserved with the Secretary or correspond to a qualified minor party. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of a "minor party" in Section 9-372, clarifying that it refers to parties that are not major parties and have received at least one percent of the votes in the last election for the relevant office.

The bill also aims to simplify ballot access for minor party candidates by allowing them to qualify for state, district, and municipal elections if any candidate from their party received at least 1% of the votes for a statewide office in the last election. This change broadens the opportunities for minor parties in the electoral process. Furthermore, the bill includes technical adjustments to existing statutes, specifically in sections 9-372 and 9-66, to clarify definitions and ensure compliance with the new provisions. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-453b, 9-372, 9-66
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-453b, 9-372, 9-66
File No. 667: 9-453b, 9-66