Announcements

On May 6, 2026, HB 5509 was added to the Connecticut Senate consent calendar and passed the Senate! This was the final day of the legislative session, so we were on the edge of our seats.

JPus is very grateful to all of the JPs who took the time to submit written and oral testimony to the legislators and help them understand why this legislation was necessary. We’re also very grateful for the leadership of Representative Eleni Kavros Degraw, who chairs the Planning and Development Committee and introduced and ushered the bill through the session. Also, Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, whose cosponsorship and behind the scenes negotiations moved mountains. And importantly, none of this would have happened without Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, who first heard our pleas to improve the civil officiant system, turning JPus’ white paper into the initial 2023 legislation.

Related Links

• The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
• The legislative backstory.
• In addition to testifying live before the Planning and Development Committee, in 2026 JPus submitted written testimony.  We did this in 2025 as well, and in  2023. Each is a little different, but they all summarizes the problems.

Unanimous Vote Gives Confidence

Since 2022, JPus has been working to address problems with JP appointments and increase training requirements for marriage officiants. Pending legislation, HB5509, is the result of these efforts.

On April 8, 2026, Representative Kavros DeGraw fielded questions before the House of Representatives voted unanimously 144-0 to pass HB5509.

Afterwards, in an email, Representative Kavros DeGraw said she is hoping that the bill will be placed on the Senate’s “Consent Calendar” since it passed unanimously through the House.

Related Links

• The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
• The legislative backstory.
• In addition to testifying live before the Planning and Development Committee, in 2026 JPus submitted written testimony.  We did this in 2025 as well, and in  2023. Each is a little different, but they all summarizes the problems.

Connecticut JPs Walk the Walk

Not content to sit on the sidelines, Connecticut JPs took action to address problems related to JP appointments and the quality and oversight of officiants in the state (HB7150, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace). Several members of the Justice of the Peace Association took time out of their day to help members of the Planning and Development Committee better understand what officiating marriages is all about. Testimony included the need for training, improving the appointment process, developing systems to address illegal marriages (forced, trafficked and fraudulent), tracking the marriage status of couples and more.

Oral Testimony

JPus Managing Member Loretta Jay was joined by JPus members Jennifer Marshall Nealy, Anna Neumon and Katherine Vass speaking before the Planning and Development Committee on March 10, 2025. Recordings of their testimonies are visible below: Top left: Loretta Jay; top right: Jennifer Marshall Nealy. Bottom left: Anna Neumon; bottom right: Katherine Vass.

Written Testimony

We’re grateful to the JPs who submitted written testimony in support of HB7150.

In addition, Justice of the Peace Association Managing Member Loretta Jay; Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas; and Mark Bernacki from the Connecticut Town Clerk Association also submitted written testimony supporting the bill. Read all of the written testimony on the Connecticut General Assembly’s website.

Related Links

• How-to Testify in support of the bill, with written sample
• See the bill, HB7150, with highlighted sections related to JPs who perform marriages.
• The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
• The legislative backstory.
• Member Support article about how to advocate to support legislation

• See our template to guide your written and oral testimony
• Oral testimony can be by Zoom or in person. Maximum time allowed is three minutes, though legislators may ask you questions extending your time. Link to sign up is below.

Sign-up to speak or submit written testimony in Support of HB7150

• Register to speak in-person or by Zoom. Deadline to sign-up is 3PM Sunday. Three minute time limit. The speaker order is randomized and is released at 6PM on Sunday night.
• Submit your written testimony here. The hearing is on March 10, 2025 at 10:30AM. Indicate that you SUPPORT HB7150.

HB7150, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace

The Justice of the Peace Association worked with the state legislators who introduced the bill, along with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas on the language of the bill. This is the critical bill to address problems Connecticut JPs have reported:

• Establishing training and qualifications for JPs. The bill requires JPs to pass a test following their appointment. Training may be implemented, too.
• Inability to transfer JP appointments between municipalities. This will be addressed through a working group tasked with examining issues related to JPs.
• Favoritism and discrimination by DTCs and RTC impeding the appointment process. This will also be explored through the working group.
• Disparity toward unaffiliated and minor political party voters. The bill is a step in the right direction, creating a second window for non-major political party JPs to be appointed. JPus encourages testimony to support these vacant JP positions being filled at any time, not only during the two periods outlined in the legislation.
• Unbefitting JPs that make more work for town clerks and give professional JPs a bad name. This bill defines misconduct and establishes consequences for such behavior.

See the key points and the bill with highlighted language that relates to JPs who perform marriages.

Zoom Q&A, Two Sessions Scheduled Sunday: 9AM or 6PM

Questions? Join JPus’ Managing Member Loretta Jay on Sunday, March 9, 20025 at either 9AM or 6PM for more information about the proposed bill, guidance on how to submit written testimony and how to testify in person or by Zoom. Members and non-members are welcome.

• If you are on JPus’ email distribution list, please check your email for the Zoom links.
• If you don’t receive our emails yet, you can sign up here. A reminder will be sent on Sunday at 6AM with the link. If you missed that deadline, please email [email protected] to receive the Zoom links.

Related Links

• How-to Testify in support of the bill, with written sample
• See the bill, HB7150, with highlighted sections related to JPs who perform marriages.
• The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
• The legislative backstory.
• JPus 2023 Managing Member’s testimony to the Planning and Development Committee that summarizes the problem.
• Member Support article about how to advocate to support legislation

The bill to end child marriage is stalled in the CT Senate.

The House already passed it, and the Governor promised to sign it. If they don’t act by Wednesday, the bill will die.

• Please follow this link for an email campaign targeted at CT Senate President Looney. The Senate President has the power to bring HB6569 to the floor for a vote right now and end child marriage in Connecticut. The session ends on Wednesday and the bill will die if it is not voted upon. Customize the email to let him know you are a JP or town clerk.
• Gather at the Connecticut State Capitol tomorrow (Friday) wearing bridal gowns and veils, with our arms chained and mouths taped, to protest forced and child marriage and urge Connecticut senators to pass HB6569, the simple, commonsense bill that would eliminate all marriage before age 18, no exceptions.

Chain-In Hartford
June 2, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Connecticut State Capitol
210 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT

Related Links

• On May 3, 2023, the bill passed the House 98 to 45. Hooray! Watch the debate on the House floor. (Trigger warning: some verbiage by opponents of the bill is infuriating – and untrue.)
• Legislative activity in Connecticut to end child marriage, including JPus’ testimony to legislators.
• Information and a link to view JPus’ panel discussion about child marriage in Connecticut.
• Landing page for JPus activity involving child marriage in all of our states.
• Education and training for officiants about child and forced marriage
• How membership voted to join the Coalition to End Child Marriage.

On January 22, 2023, the Justice of the Peace Association submitted testimony to New Hampshire’s Children and Family Law Committee in support of HB34. The legislation would change the minimum age to marry in the state to 18 – no exceptions. Read JPus’ testimony.

February 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Join the Justice of the Peace Association and the National Association of Social Workers – CT for an interactive workshop that exposes the harm of child marriage and efforts underway to end it in Connecticut. Esteemed panelists will highlight the social, emotional, and ethical problems connected with child marriage, the need for “brightline” (no exceptions) laws, and what Connecticut marriage officiants, clerks and citizens can do to advocate for change. Read more and registration.