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SB 466CONNECTICUTSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Connecticut bill expands public agencies' ability to block vexatious public records requesters for up to three years

Original title: AN ACT CONCERNING VEXATIOUS REQUESTERS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

Last action · April 9, 2026: File Number 572Sponsors: Rep. Stephen R. Meskers, 150th Dist. and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Beginning October 1, 2026, public agencies in Connecticut may include threatening or harassing conduct occurring outside of public records requests when petitioning to have someone declared a , and the may extend relief orders up to three years for second or subsequent petitions.

Why it matters

Changes the legal standards and maximum duration public agencies can withhold records from individuals classified as s, extending the restriction period from one year to three years for repeat petitioners.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

public agencies

Public agencies gain the ability to include off-site harassing conduct in petitions and secure longer relief periods from repeat requesters.

Directly affected

Freedom of Information Act requesters

Requesters found to be vexatious face potential non-compliance orders lasting up to three years for repeat determinations.

Key Facts

Public agencies may petition the Freedom of Information Commission for relief from a requester alleged to be a vexatious requester.
Petitions may include harassing or threatening conduct that took place at or outside of the agency's office, regardless of whether it was related to a public records request.
Petitions must detail the number and scope of requests, the nature of communications, and patterns of conduct amounting to an abuse of access or interference with agency operations.
The maximum period of relief from future requests is increased to up to three years for a second or subsequent granting of a petition concerning a requester.

Show all 7 facts

The maximum period of relief for a first-time granting of a petition remains capped at not to exceed one year.
The commission must hear and either grant or deny the petition not later than one year after its filing.
Parties aggrieved by the commission's decision may apply to the superior court within fifteen days of the meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conduct can be used to designate someone a vexatious requester under the bill?

Agencies can include the number and scope of pending requests, the nature of oral and written communications, and harassing or threatening conduct occurring at or outside the agency's office even if unrelated to the specific request.

How long can a public agency withhold records from a repeat vexatious requester?

For a second or subsequent granting of a petition, the may issue an order that the agency need not comply with future requests for a period of up to three years.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the Senate floor.

Procedural history

9 actions

Apr 9, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
File Number 572
Apr 9, 2026Senate
Senate Calendar Number 338
Apr 9, 2026Senate
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
Apr 9, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
Apr 2, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/08/26 5:00 PM
Mar 23, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

Show 3 earlier actions

Mar 23, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
Joint Favorable
Mar 9, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/13
Mar 6, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyCommittee
Referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Superior Court, Freedom of Information Commission, General Assembly

locationSuperior Court“Court where parties aggrieved by the commission's granting of a petition may app”Map →

OrganizationFreedom of Information Commission“Reviews petitions from public agencies regarding vexatious requesters.”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body passing the act.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

cga.ct.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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