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HB 5221CONNECTICUTSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Connecticut Reestablishes Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee with 12 Members and Subpoena Powers

Original title: AN ACT REESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE.

Last action · April 7, 2026: Referred by House to Committee on AppropriationsSponsors: Aundré Bumgardner and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Beginning July 1, 2026, House Bill 5221 reestablishes the permanent standing Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee in Connecticut to examine state agency programs, evaluate state expenditures, and conduct investigations. The measure authorizes a 12-member panel appointed by legislative leaders, grants subpoena powers, and requires an annual report to the General Assembly by February 15.

Why it matters

The measure establishes a permanent legislative oversight body with the authority to subpoena witnesses, review confidential state records, and evaluate the efficiency of state agencies and quasi-public bodies, backed by an initial state funding cost of $1,243,624 in 2027 and $1,228,624 in fiscal year 2028.

Background
  • The Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee previously functioned as a permanent standing committee from 1973 until its funding was eliminated in 2017. context
  • The Government Administration and Elections Committee favorably reported the substitute bill to the House of Representatives. context

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

State departments and agencies

State departments and agencies are subject to program reviews, audits, information requests, and corrective action requirements by the reestablished committee.

Directly affected

Quasi-public agencies

Quasi-public agencies must submit annual reports and compliance audit reports to the committee for assessment.

Directly affected

Legislative Management

Legislative Management incurs operational and salary costs to hire and support 12 committee staff members.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary function of the reestablished Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee?
The committee is tasked with examining state agency programs to ascertain whether they are effective, operate efficiently, continue to serve their intended purposes, or require modification or elimination.
How many members serve on the committee and how are they chosen?
The committee consists of 12 members: six members of the Senate (three appointed by the president pro tempore and three by the Senate minority leader) and six members of the House of Representatives (three appointed by the speaker of the House and three by the House minority leader).
Does the committee have the power to issue subpoenas?
Yes, either chairperson of the committee has the power to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses by subpoena and and require the production of necessary books and papers.
What are the estimated financial costs associated with reestablishing the committee?
The fiscal analysis estimates a cost to Legislative Management of $1,243,624 in FY 27 and $1,228,624 in FY 28 for hiring 12 staff members, along with an estimated active employee fringe benefit cost of $507,538 per year.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

10 actions
  1. Apr 7, 2026House
    Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations
  2. Mar 25, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    File Number 160
  3. Mar 25, 2026House
    House Calendar Number 135
  4. Mar 25, 2026House
    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
  5. Mar 25, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
  6. Mar 19, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/24/26 5:00 PM
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Mar 12, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
  2. Mar 11, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Joint Favorable
  3. Feb 19, 2026Connecticut General Assembly
    Public Hearing 02/23
  4. Feb 18, 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.

Sponsors

Aundré BumgardnerHouse · District 41Democratic/Working FamiliesCosponsor
Paul CicarellaSenate · District 34RepublicanCosponsor
Kurt VailHouse · District 52RepublicanCosponsor
Craig FishbeinHouse · District 90RepublicanCosponsor
Jeff GordonSenate · District 35RepublicanCosponsor
Show 1 more sponsor
Stephen HardingSenate · District 30RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Restoration of Defunct Oversight Body

The bill reverses a 2017 statutory repeal by reestablishing the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee that previously operated from 1973 through 2016.

Legislative Program Review and Investigations CommitteeGeneral Assembly

Connected Entities

Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, Craig C. Fishbein, Aundre Bumgardner and 10 more
OrganizationLegislative Program Review and Investigations Committee“Permanent standing committee reestablished by the bill.”Map →
PersonCraig C. Fishbein“Representative for the 90th District, cosponsor.”Map →
PersonAundre Bumgardner“Representative for the 41st District, cosponsor.”Map →
PersonJeff Gordon“Senator for the 35th District, cosponsor.”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body of the state of Connecticut.”Map →
PersonPaul Cicarella“Senator for the 34th District, cosponsor.”Map →
PersonBlumenthal“Chairperson of the Government Administration and Elections Committee.”Map →
PersonStephen G. Harding“Senator for the 30th District, cosponsor.”Map →
OrganizationJudicial Review Council“Council that investigates complaints against judges and magistrates.”Map →
PersonKurt Vail“Representative for the 52nd District, cosponsor.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Children and Families“State agency required to disclose certain information upon committee request.”Map →
OrganizationGovernment Administration and Elections Committee“Legislative committee reporting the substitute bill.”Map →
OrganizationAuditors of Public Accounts“State auditors responsible for compliance audits.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

cga.ct.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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