HB5044 and SB450
What Connecticut Residents Need to Know
House Bill 5044 and Senate Bill 450 are proposals currently being considered by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Health Committee during the 2026 legislative session. These bills represent a significant shift in how adult vaccination policy could be determined in Connecticut.
Connecticut Residents Against Medical Mandates (CTRAMM) strongly opposes HB 5044 and SB 450 because they set a precedent for centralized authority over vaccine policy, reduce legislative oversight, and create the potential for future adult vaccine mandates without meaningful public input.
What HB 5044 Does
HB 5044 restructures how adult vaccination policy could be established in Connecticut. The bill removes the current regulatory review process and transfers decision-making authority directly to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health.
Under HB 5044, the regulatory review committee that currently participates in decisions related to immunization policy would be removed from the process. Authority would instead be centralized in the office of the Department of Public Health Commissioner.
The bill eliminates required legislative oversight for future changes and establishes the framework for an adult vaccine schedule to be set administratively.
HB 5044 does not immediately mandate vaccines for adults. However, it creates the legal structure that would allow future mandates, including workplace mandates, to be implemented without requiring approval from the Connecticut General Assembly.
What SB 450 Does
Senate Bill 450 contains similar structural changes related to vaccination authority and includes additional provisions that raise concerns for many Connecticut residents.
SB 450 would further expand the authority of the Department of Public Health Commissioner over vaccination policy while also removing certain legal protections that residents currently rely on when raising religious objections related to vaccination requirements.
By weakening existing religious protections and centralizing authority within a single administrative office, SB 450 could significantly alter how vaccine policy is implemented and challenged within the state.
Together, HB 5044 and SB 450 represent a shift away from legislative oversight and toward administrative control of vaccination policy.
Public Health Committee Hearing
Both HB 5044 and SB 450 have been scheduled for a public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Health Committee.
Public Hearing Date
March 11, 2026
10:00 AM
The hearing will be conducted in a Zoom and hybrid format, which allows Connecticut residents to participate remotely by submitting written testimony or providing live public comment.
What Happens at Public Hearing
The Public Health Committee held a hearing on March 11, 2026.
Public engagement was extraordinarily high:
- Approximately 440 residents signed up to speak in opposition
- Fewer than 225 individuals were actually heard during the official hearing
- The hearing was cut off at midnight, preventing hundreds of additional speakers from participating
- Many individuals who signed up to testify remotely were not given the opportunity to speak
In addition:
- Over 7,000 written testimonies were submitted in opposition
- Approximately 96% of all submitted testimony opposed the bills
This level of public participation is significant and reflects widespread engagement across the state.
Why does this matter?
Legislation of this scale has long-term implications for how healthcare policies are developed and applied in Connecticut.
When thousands of residents engage in the process, it is critical that:
- Their voices are accurately represented
- The legislative process remains transparent
- Policymakers fully consider public input
Regardless of individual viewpoints, the integrity of the process matters.
Where are the bills now?
HB5044 and SB450 have:
- Been introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly
- Passed out of the Public Health Committee
- Completed a public hearing with significant public participation
They are now advancing through the legislative process.
What happens next?
These bills are expected to move forward and will be brought to a vote in the coming weeks in the Senate and the House.
This is a critical stage in the legislative process.
Once a bill reaches a vote, decisions are made quickly — and opportunities for public input become more limited.
What can residents do right now?
If you want to be involved, now is the time:
- Contact your State Representative and State Senator
- Request a meeting as a constituent
- Organize with others in your community
- Stay informed and engaged
It is IMPERATIVE that Connecticut Residents get involved NOW to stop these bills. The first step is finding your State Representative and Senator who will be voting on these bills.
Find them here: CGA Find Your Legislator. The second step is to use the 2026 Legislator Database to locate contact information for your State Representative and Senator to respectfully request a meeting to discuss your opposition to SB450 and HB5044!
Direct communication with legislators is one of the most effective ways to participate in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the petition to oppose these bills?
OPPOSE HB5044/SB450
Do HB 5044 or SB 450 mandate vaccines for adults?
Neither bill immediately mandates vaccines for adults. However, both bills restructure who has the authority to determine adult vaccination policy. By centralizing authority within the Department of Public Health Commissioner, future requirements could potentially be implemented administratively rather than through legislative approval.
What is changing under these bills?
HB 5044 and SB 450 would remove the regulatory review committee from the decision-making process, transfer authority directly to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, and reduce or eliminate legislative oversight for future changes to adult vaccine schedules.
SB 450 also includes provisions that could weaken religious protections related to vaccination requirements.
Why are people concerned if no mandate is included?
Concern exists because these bills establish the legal framework that would allow future administrations to expand adult vaccination requirements without returning to the General Assembly for approval. This structure is similar to how COVID-era workplace mandates were implemented through administrative authority.
Could this effect employment or access to services in the future?
Yes. Once authority is centralized within an administrative office, future policies could tie vaccination requirements to employment, licensing, education, or participation in public programs without requiring legislative debate.
Who would make these decisions under the bills?
HB 5044 and SB 450 place decision-making authority primarily with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health rather than with a regulatory review committee or through direct legislative oversight. The CT DPH supports adding the Covid-19 vaccine as a standard for adults in Connecticut.
Can Connecticut residents participate in the process?
Yes. Connecticut residents can request meetings with their legislators and request they oppose these bills.
Why is CTRAMM opposed?
CTRAMM opposes HB 5044 and SB 450 because they centralize power in a single executive office, reduce transparency and accountability, bypass traditional legislative oversight, and establish a precedent that could allow future vaccine mandates to be implemented without direct approval from elected representatives.
Where can I read the bills?
You can review the full text of the legislation through the Connecticut General Assembly website.
HB 5044 – Connecticut General Assembly
SB 450 – Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut Residents Against Medical Mandates (CTRAMM) strongly opposes HB 5044 and SB 450 because they set a precedent for centralized authority over vaccine policy, reduce legislative oversight, and create the potential for future adult vaccine mandates without meaningful public input.
What HB 5044 Does
HB 5044 restructures how adult vaccination policy could be established in Connecticut. The bill removes the current regulatory review process and transfers decision-making authority directly to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health.
Under HB 5044, the regulatory review committee that currently participates in decisions related to immunization policy would be removed from the process. Authority would instead be centralized in the office of the Department of Public Health Commissioner.
The bill eliminates required legislative oversight for future changes and establishes the framework for an adult vaccine schedule to be set administratively.
HB 5044 does not immediately mandate vaccines for adults. However, it creates the legal structure that would allow future mandates, including workplace mandates, to be implemented without requiring approval from the Connecticut General Assembly.
What SB 450 Does
Senate Bill 450 contains similar structural changes related to vaccination authority and includes additional provisions that raise concerns for many Connecticut residents.
SB 450 would further expand the authority of the Department of Public Health Commissioner over vaccination policy while also removing certain legal protections that residents currently rely on when raising religious objections related to vaccination requirements.
By weakening existing religious protections and centralizing authority within a single administrative office, SB 450 could significantly alter how vaccine policy is implemented and challenged within the state.
Together, HB 5044 and SB 450 represent a shift away from legislative oversight and toward administrative control of vaccination policy.
Public Health Committee Hearing
Both HB 5044 and SB 450 have been scheduled for a public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Health Committee.
Public Hearing Date
March 11, 2026
10:00 AM
The hearing will be conducted in a Zoom and hybrid format, which allows Connecticut residents to participate remotely by submitting written testimony or providing live public comment.
What Happens at Public Hearing
The Public Health Committee held a hearing on March 11, 2026.
Public engagement was extraordinarily high:
- Approximately 440 residents signed up to speak in opposition
- Fewer than 225 individuals were actually heard during the official hearing
- The hearing was cut off at midnight, preventing hundreds of additional speakers from participating
- Many individuals who signed up to testify remotely were not given the opportunity to speak
In addition:
- Over 7,000 written testimonies were submitted in opposition
- Approximately 96% of all submitted testimony opposed the bills
This level of public participation is significant and reflects widespread engagement across the state.
Why does this matter?
Legislation of this scale has long-term implications for how healthcare policies are developed and applied in Connecticut.
When thousands of residents engage in the process, it is critical that:
- Their voices are accurately represented
- The legislative process remains transparent
- Policymakers fully consider public input
Regardless of individual viewpoints, the integrity of the process matters.
Where are the bills now?
HB5044 and SB450 have:
- Been introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly
- Passed out of the Public Health Committee
- Completed a public hearing with significant public participation
They are now advancing through the legislative process.
What happens next?
These bills are expected to move forward and will be brought to a vote in the coming weeks in the Senate and the House.
This is a critical stage in the legislative process.
Once a bill reaches a vote, decisions are made quickly — and opportunities for public input become more limited.
What can residents do right now?
If you want to be involved, now is the time:
- Contact your State Representative and State Senator
- Request a meeting as a constituent
- Organize with others in your community
- Stay informed and engaged
It is IMPERATIVE that Connecticut Residents get involved NOW to stop these bills. The first step is finding your State Representative and Senator who will be voting on these bills.
Find them here: CGA Find Your Legislator. The second step is to use the 2026 Legislator Database to locate contact information for your State Representative and Senator to respectfully request a meeting to discuss your opposition to SB450 and HB5044!
Direct communication with legislators is one of the most effective ways to participate in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the petition to oppose these bills?
OPPOSE HB5044/SB450
Do HB 5044 or SB 450 mandate vaccines for adults?
Neither bill immediately mandates vaccines for adults. However, both bills restructure who has the authority to determine adult vaccination policy. By centralizing authority within the Department of Public Health Commissioner, future requirements could potentially be implemented administratively rather than through legislative approval.
What is changing under these bills?
HB 5044 and SB 450 would remove the regulatory review committee from the decision-making process, transfer authority directly to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, and reduce or eliminate legislative oversight for future changes to adult vaccine schedules.
SB 450 also includes provisions that could weaken religious protections related to vaccination requirements.
Why are people concerned if no mandate is included?
Concern exists because these bills establish the legal framework that would allow future administrations to expand adult vaccination requirements without returning to the General Assembly for approval. This structure is similar to how COVID-era workplace mandates were implemented through administrative authority.
Could this effect employment or access to services in the future?
Yes. Once authority is centralized within an administrative office, future policies could tie vaccination requirements to employment, licensing, education, or participation in public programs without requiring legislative debate.
Who would make these decisions under the bills?
HB 5044 and SB 450 place decision-making authority primarily with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health rather than with a regulatory review committee or through direct legislative oversight. The CT DPH supports adding the Covid-19 vaccine as a standard for adults in Connecticut.
Can Connecticut residents participate in the process?
Yes. Connecticut residents can request meetings with their legislators and request they oppose these bills.
Why is CTRAMM opposed?
CTRAMM opposes HB 5044 and SB 450 because they centralize power in a single executive office, reduce transparency and accountability, bypass traditional legislative oversight, and establish a precedent that could allow future vaccine mandates to be implemented without direct approval from elected representatives.
Where can I read the bills?
You can review the full text of the legislation through the Connecticut General Assembly website.
HB 5044 – Connecticut General Assembly
SB 450 – Connecticut General Assembly