Substitute House Bill No. 7139, effective October 1, 2025, introduces significant amendments to the regulations governing state marshals in Connecticut. 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 checks, and establishes a State Marshal Commission to oversee professional standards, training, and the equitable assignment of restraining orders. Additionally, the bill introduces stricter regulations against misconduct, such as billing for unperformed work, and mandates that state marshals must be residents of the counties they serve.

Further amendments focus on modernizing the service of process laws, including provisions for electronic transmission of legal documents by attorneys and public agencies, which will be treated as original documents if they meet specific requirements. The bill also updates the process for serving legal documents to limited liability companies and correctional officers, while establishing a new fee structure for service processes. Notably, it repeals outdated statutes and clarifies the requirements for subpoenas and civil actions, ensuring that all documents are signed in ink by authorized personnel. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the efficiency, accountability, and integrity of the state marshal system while streamlining legal processes within the judicial framework.

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