Substitute House Bill No. 5490 establishes new requirements for sober living homes in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2026. The bill defines a "sober living home" as a residence for unrelated adults recovering from substance use disorders, where no formal treatment services are provided. It mandates that certified sober living homes report their status to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), including details such as the name of the individual responsible for daily operations and the number of beds available. Additionally, homes must maintain at least two doses of an opioid antagonist and provide annual training on its administration if any resident has an opioid use disorder. The bill also requires homes to submit weekly updates on bed availability and annual reports detailing operational information starting January 1, 2027.

To enhance transparency and accountability, the bill prohibits operators from misrepresenting their services and requires them to disclose information about staff credentials and any code violations. A printable disclosure form will clarify that sober living homes are not licensed for treatment services. The DMHAS will maintain an updated list of certified sober living homes and their bed availability on its website. The bill also aligns with federal privacy laws by prohibiting the disclosure of personally identifiable information without resident consent, classifying such violations as unfair trade practices. The implementation of these requirements is expected to incur costs of at least $100,000 for DMHAS due to increased staffing and contract needs for compliance oversight.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable:
File No. 600: