Substitute House Bill No. 7137 proposes significant amendments to the regulations governing the issuance of carry permits for pistols and revolvers in Connecticut, set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (b) of section 29-28 of the general statutes, introducing new criteria for temporary state permits. Applicants must have a bona fide permanent residence in the jurisdiction and pass a state and national criminal history records check. The bill expands the list of disqualifying offenses to include certain misdemeanors from other jurisdictions, particularly those involving violence, threats, or drug-related offenses within the past seven years, while removing previous disqualifiers related to specific misdemeanor violations. Additionally, it stipulates that individuals holding a valid permit as of July 1, 2024, are exempt from additional training and limits applicants to one temporary permit application within a twelve-month period.

The bill also revises the eligibility requirements for obtaining long gun and handgun eligibility certificates, lowering the minimum age for applicants to eighteen and requiring completion of a state-approved safety course. It introduces new disqualifiers related to mental health and restraining orders, ensuring that individuals with certain legal or mental health issues cannot obtain permits. The changes include the addition of specific misdemeanor convictions from other jurisdictions to the disqualifying list, while removing some existing categories. The fiscal impact of the bill is notable, with estimated costs to the state and municipalities ranging from approximately $784,444 to $1,961,111 annually, primarily due to the need for additional staff to manage the increased application volume and conduct thorough criminal record reviews.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-36f, 29-37p
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 29-36f, 29-37p
File No. 782: 29-36f, 29-37p