House Bill No. 7127 aims to amend existing laws regarding state agency contracts for the licensing of software applications. The bill repeals Section 4d-30 of the general statutes and introduces new language that clarifies the definitions of "contract," "contractor," and "subcontractor" in relation to state agency information systems and telecommunications. Notably, it prohibits any contract entered into or amended on or after October 1, 2025, from including provisions that limit a state agency's ability to install or run licensed software on hardware of their choosing, provided that the software is designed for generally available desktop or server hardware.

The bill's effective date is set for October 1, 2025, and it is expected to impact a wide range of current software licensing contracts, including those for widely used systems like Microsoft. The fiscal implications of this legislation are currently indeterminate, as it remains unclear whether software providers will adjust their contracts to comply with the new requirements. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the flexibility of state agencies in managing their software applications and hardware choices.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
GAE Joint Favorable:
File No. 684: