AN ACT CONCERNING STATE-WIDE RECOGNITION OF MINOR PARTIES FOR PURPOSES OF NOMINATING PETITIONS.

SB 1156 changes how minor political parties qualify for statewide ballot access via nominating petitions. It revises the definition of a "minor party" to require that such a party's candidate received at least 1% of votes cast for a state office in the previous election. This means minor parties must meet this vote threshold to legally submit petitions for their candidates, directly affecting their ability to appear on ballots without party designation. The bill does not alter the 20% threshold for "major parties" but clarifies that minor parties must satisfy this specific 1% requirement to use nominating petitions.