Substitute House Bill No. 7259, also known as Public Act No. 25-29, introduces several revisions to Connecticut's criminal justice statutes, effective October 1, 2025. Key changes include the handling of DNA samples by the Division of Scientific Services, which will now analyze samples based on available resources and confirm matches only when found. The bill replaces the term "individual" with "person" in law enforcement requests for DNA information and mandates that nonqualifying sample data be disclosed to the Chief State's Attorney's conviction integrity unit for exculpatory evidence obligations. Additionally, the bill revises protocols for health care facilities collecting sexual assault evidence, requiring victim consent for evidence kit designations and setting strict timelines for evidence transfer and analysis. It also reclassifies failure to appear in the second degree from a class A misdemeanor to a class D misdemeanor for first offenses, while maintaining the class A designation for subsequent offenses.

The bill further addresses civil immigration detainers and administrative warrants, imposing strict limitations on law enforcement's ability to act on detainers without judicial warrants or specific serious convictions. It expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" and prohibits communication with federal immigration authorities regarding individuals targeted by detainers. Additionally, the bill amends presentence confinement laws, allowing individuals unable to obtain bail to earn sentence reductions based on confinement duration. It establishes legal recourse for municipalities violating police conduct and clarifies the use of physical force by peace officers, including the conditions under which chokeholds may be employed. Lastly, the bill updates penalties for violations related to online gaming and sports wagering, introducing class C and B misdemeanors for various offenses.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 51-247, 54-56l, 30-113, 14-223
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 54-56l, 30-113
File No. 808: 54-56l, 30-113
File No. 953: 54-192h, 30-113
Public Act No. 25-29: 54-192h, 30-113