AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE FUNDING FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM.

HB 6939 authorizes Connecticut to use state funds to support its existing Right to Counsel (RTC) program, which provides free legal representation to income-eligible tenants facing eviction or threats to housing subsidies. The bill requires the Judicial Branch to contract with an administering entity (currently the Connecticut Bar Foundation) to fund designated legal organizations meeting specific criteria, such as expertise in housing law and service to low-income communities. This program covers eviction cases and administrative proceedings to preserve housing subsidies, directly benefiting vulnerable tenants at risk of displacement. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with estimated annual state costs of $1.7-3 million in fiscal year 2026 and $4.2-5.5 million in fiscal year 2027, supplementing federal funds that expire in 2026.