House Bill No. 5528 mandates that all members of public agencies complete training on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) conducted by the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC). The bill stipulates that current employees as of October 1, 2026, must complete this training by March 1, 2027, while new hires must do so within six months of their employment start date. The FOIC is authorized to provide this training through video or digital recordings. The bill also updates the content of the training sessions, removing certain outdated requirements and adding new topics such as contracts for governmental functions and veterans' military records.

In terms of legal changes, the bill repeals and replaces subsection (e) of section 1-205 of the general statutes, eliminating the requirement for training on physical record-keeping standards and the prohibition on indoor smoking, while adding new training topics. The bill's effective date is set for October 1, 2026, and it is expected to incur potential costs for state agencies and municipalities due to the need for employee coverage during training sessions. The FOIC is also tasked with updating training standards, which is anticipated to have no fiscal impact as the commission has the necessary expertise.