The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 6957, allows a town to officially designate itself as a city through a vote by its legislative body. If a town chooses to make this designation, it will be recognized as a consolidated town and city under state law. This change is significant as it provides towns with the autonomy to redefine their municipal status without existing statutory rules that differentiate between towns and cities.

Additionally, the bill includes conforming amendments to existing laws regarding official seals. Specifically, it updates Section 7-101 of the general statutes to reflect that each town or city must have a seal that includes its name and the word "seal," and it outlines the process for changing any design or inscription on that seal. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-101
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-101
File No. 354: 7-101