House Bill No. 7223 seeks to formalize and expand the gubernatorial succession order in Connecticut for situations where the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate are all vacant. The bill introduces a new line of succession that includes the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, House Majority Leader, and Senate Majority Leader. This new order will only be activated if all preceding offices in the line of succession are also vacant, ensuring a clear protocol for maintaining governance continuity.

Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which these successors would assume the role of Governor, such as in cases of death, resignation, refusal to serve, removal from office, impeachment, or absence from the state. The successors would serve until a new Governor is elected at the next regular election. The effective date for this legislation is set for October 1, 2025, and it is noted that the bill will not have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities. While the bill introduces new legal language to clarify the procedures for succession and the election of a new president pro tempore, it does not contain any deletions from current law. The Government Administration and Elections Committee has reported the bill favorably with a unanimous vote of 19-0 on March 26, 2025.