Substitute House Bill No. 7139, also known as Public Act No. 25-78, introduces significant amendments to the responsibilities and operational framework of state marshals in Connecticut, effective October 1, 2025. Key provisions include a requirement for state marshals to carry personal liability insurance with increased minimum coverage amounts of $250,000 for individual damages and $500,000 for multiple persons, along with a renewal date of October 1 each year. The bill also modifies the timeline for remitting collected funds, allowing up to 45 days for personal check payments, and establishes a State Marshal Commission to oversee professional standards, training, and the equitable assignment of restraining orders. Additionally, the bill introduces new regulations regarding residency, minimum service fees, and fitness for duty for marshals over 72 years old, while also increasing the bond amount required from state marshals from $10,000 to $100,000.

The bill further modernizes the service of process laws by allowing electronic transmission of legal documents and establishing new fee structures for process serving. It mandates that state marshals maintain an electronic mail address for receiving documents and clarifies that electronic documents will be treated as originals for service purposes. The bill also repeals certain existing statutes, including those governing the service of notice for hearings, and introduces provisions for serving foreign limited liability companies and correctional officers. Overall, Substitute House Bill No. 7139 aims to enhance the accountability, efficiency, and clarity of the operations of state marshals while ensuring compliance with legal standards and protecting sensitive information.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 6-35, 6-38, 6-38b, 6-38c, 6-38d, 6-38e, 6-39, 34-243r, 52-593a, 52-50, 6-38n
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 6-35, 6-38, 6-38b, 6-38c, 6-38d, 6-38e, 6-39, 34-243r, 52-593a, 52-50, 52-45a, 6-38n
File No. 770: 6-35, 6-38, 6-38b, 6-38c, 6-38d, 6-38e, 6-39, 34-243r, 52-593a, 52-50, 52-45a, 6-38n
File No. 934: 6-35, 6-38, 6-38b, 6-38c, 6-38d, 6-38e, 6-39, 34-243r, 52-593a, 52-50, 52-45a, 6-38n
Public Act No. 25-78: 6-35, 6-38, 6-38b, 6-38c, 6-38d, 6-38e, 6-39, 34-243r, 52-593a, 52-50, 52-45a, 6-38n