Researcher: MHF Page 1 3/31/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 953
AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE
STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE
STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR
PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.
SUMMARY
This bill exempts statutorily recognized Indian tribes in this state, as
well as any entities or associations created by the tribes and its political
subdivisions under tribal law, from certain definitions under a state
campaign finance law.
Specifically, it applies to the definitions of “state contractor,”
“prospective state contractor,” and “subcontractor” under the state
campaign finance law that generally prohibits these contractors from
making contributions to statewide and legislative candidates for public
office and restricts these candidates from knowingly, willfully, or
intentionally accepting contributions from these contractors (see
BACKGROUND). Existing law also generally exempts from these
definitions (1) municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state,
(2) executive or legislative branch employees, and (3) quasi-public
employees.
State law statutorily recognizes the Schaghticoke, the Paucatuck
Eastern Pequot, the Mashantucket Pequot, the Mohegan, and the
Golden Hill Paugussett tribes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025
BACKGROUND
Campaign Finance Prohibitions Regarding Contractors
State law generally bans state contractors, prospective state
contractors, pre-qualified contractors, subcontractors, and their
principals from making contributions to or on behalf of the following 2025SB-00953-R000327-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 3/31/25
recipients: (1) exploratory or candidate committees for statewide or
legislative candidates, (2) political committees authorized to make
contributions to or spend on behalf of candidates for statewide or
legislative office, or (3) party committees.
Contractors are also prohibited from soliciting contributions for these
committees from their employees, subcontractors, or subcontractors’
principals. The prohibitions are branch-specific (e.g., a state contractor
contracted with the General Assembly may not engage in these
prohibited activities for legislative contests).
Relatedly, constitutional officers, legislators, candidates for these
offices, and their agents generally may not knowingly, willfully, or
intentionally solicit contributions from a prohibited entity for any
exploratory, candidate, political, or party committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 6 (03/12/2025)