Substitute House Bill No. 7139, also known as Public Act No. 25-78, introduces significant amendments to the responsibilities and operational standards 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 yearly renewal date. 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, it introduces new regulations regarding residency, minimum service fees, and fitness for duty for marshals over 72 years old, while increasing the bond amount from $10,000 to $100,000.

The bill further modernizes the service of process laws by allowing electronic transmission of legal documents to state marshals, with specific guidelines and limitations on the number of documents and pages that can be submitted electronically. It also clarifies the conditions under which state marshals can serve legal documents, including provisions for serving foreign limited liability companies and correctional officers. The bill updates the fee structure for serving processes, aligning it with federal mileage reimbursement rates, and mandates that officers document their travel attempts. Overall, Substitute House Bill No. 7139 aims to enhance the accountability, efficiency, and clarity of the legal process in Connecticut while ensuring that state marshals are adequately trained and equipped to perform their duties.

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