Substitute House Bill No. 5544 proposes to amend section 9-164 of the general statutes, allowing municipalities to hold their elections in conjunction with state elections. The bill changes the municipal election date from the first Monday of May in odd-numbered years to either the Tuesday after the first Monday of November in odd-numbered years or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years, contingent upon a majority vote by the municipality's legislative body. It also permits municipalities that previously opted for May elections to switch to November elections or state elections, with adjustments made to the terms of incumbent officials accordingly.

Furthermore, the bill repeals and substitutes several sections, including 9-164c and 9-187a, to clarify the terms of elected officials in relation to the new election dates. Notably, it removes the previous limitation that terms could only be diminished for a period of not more than nine months when changing election dates, allowing for more flexibility in aligning terms with the new schedule. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027. The bill is expected to result in cost savings for municipalities that choose to align their election dates with state elections, although the specifics will vary based on individual municipal circumstances.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-164c, 9-187a, 9-164b
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-164c, 9-187a, 9-164b
File No. 550: 9-164c, 9-187a, 9-164b