Substitute Senate Bill No. 1156 seeks to amend the process for state-wide recognition of minor parties in Connecticut regarding nominating petitions. The bill repeals and replaces Section 9-453b of the general statutes, stipulating that the Secretary of the State will only issue nominating petition forms starting on the first business day of the election year. The application for these forms must include candidates' names, their consent, and party designation, which can only be included if reserved with the Secretary or if it corresponds to a minor party qualified for other offices on the same ballot. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of a "minor party" in Section 9-372 to specify that it is a party that is not a major party and has received at least one percent of the votes in the last election for the relevant office.

Furthermore, the bill repeals Section 9-66 and introduces new language clarifying the application of election provisions to major and minor parties, stating that these provisions will apply statewide for major parties and within the geographical jurisdiction of relevant offices for minor parties. The changes aim to simplify the nomination process for minor parties, allowing them to qualify for ballot access based on prior electoral performance rather than requiring a case-by-case assessment. The effective date for these amendments is set for January 1, 2026, and the bill 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