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HB 5555

AN ACT EXPANDING THE ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Aimee Berger-Girvalo and 6 co-sponsors

Connecticut bill expanding confidentiality protections for vulnerable individuals' addresses in public records, broadening eligibility beyond current domestic violence and stalking victim categories.

FILE NO. 556
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Bill Summary · HB 5555

Legislative bill overview

HB 5555 expands Connecticut's Address Confidentiality Program administered by the Secretary of State. This program allows eligible individuals—currently limited to domestic violence victims, sexual assault survivors, and stalking victims—to obtain a substitute address for use on public records while keeping their actual residence confidential. The expansion likely broadens eligibility criteria or extends protections to additional categories of vulnerable people.

Why is this important

Address confidentiality programs serve as critical safety tools for individuals fleeing dangerous situations or facing ongoing threats. Expansion could protect additional vulnerable populations from harassment, stalking, or violence by preventing abusers or bad actors from accessing their actual addresses through public records. However, broader programs increase administrative costs and raise questions about balancing public access to records with individual privacy and safety needs.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of expansion: Determining which additional groups qualify (e.g., human trafficking survivors, witnesses in criminal cases, healthcare workers facing threats) involves difficult policy choices about who receives protections and why
  • Verification and fraud prevention: Broader eligibility increases risks that ineligible people abuse the system to avoid creditors, law enforcement, or legitimate service of legal documents
  • Public records access: Expansion may further limit transparency and accountability by keeping more individuals' addresses hidden from public view, affecting legitimate research, journalism, and legal proceedings

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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