House Bill No. 5343, now Public Act No. 26-140, establishes new reporting requirements for state agencies regarding advertising expenditures. Effective July 1, 2026, each state agency must submit an annual summary of all advertising purchases made during the preceding fiscal year to the Commissioner of Administrative Services by November 1. This summary must include the total amounts spent and additional specified information, such as the names of advertising vendors, the methods of advertising categorized by media type, and the general subject matter of the advertising. The Commissioner is then required to compile these reports and submit a comprehensive summary to the relevant legislative committee by January 1 of the following year.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the president of The University of Connecticut provide similar annual reports detailing advertising expenditures made through their communications offices. These reports must include the total advertising costs, names of vendors paid over $50,000, categorized advertising methods, and the general subject matter of the advertising. The act aims to enhance transparency and accountability in state advertising spending while allowing for volunteer assistance from higher education institutions or neutral third parties to aid in data reporting.