Substitute Bill No. 278 seeks to strengthen the legal framework for military protective orders in cases of military interpersonal violence, with an effective date of October 1, 2026. The bill amends sections 46b-15 and 46b-16a of the general statutes by introducing new provisions that allow applicants to indicate if the respondent has firearms or ammunition, and grants the court discretion to consider relevant court records and family services unit reports during hearings. It also clarifies the definition of a "military protective order" as one issued by a commanding officer in the armed forces or the Connecticut National Guard. The bill modifies the application process for protective orders, ensuring prompt hearings and maintaining ex parte orders until a hearing occurs, while also emphasizing the protection of applicants and their dependent children, including provisions for temporary custody, visitation rights, and the safeguarding of pets.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a registration process for military protective orders in Connecticut, requiring petitioners to submit a request letter, two copies of the order (one certified), and a statement confirming the order's status. The Superior Court will file and enter these orders into an automated registry, which will now include military protective orders alongside existing protective and restraining orders. The bill also amends section 51-5c to incorporate military protective orders into this registry and assigns the Chief Court Administrator the responsibility of maintaining it and setting operational policies. Certain existing legal language is repealed to facilitate these changes, specifically removing the word "and" from the list of orders included in the registry.