HB 5328 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS ANTI-MUSLIM AND ANTI-ARAB RACISM IN SCHOOLS.

HB 5328 establishes a working group to address Islamophobia in public schools. The group, composed of 10 appointed members including Muslim community representatives, educators, and civil rights advocates, will provide resources and recommendations to the Department of Education by January 1, 2027. Its key mechanisms include proposing policy amendments to improve school safety for Muslim students and staff, and offering training for educators on addressing religious bigotry. This procedural bill directly affects public schools statewide by creating a structured process to develop solutions, though it does not enact immediate policy changes.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ED Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and its title was broadened to address anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism, not just Islamophobia. The working group's mandate was expanded to include developing curriculum resources on Islamic and Arab studies and genocide education. The composition of the working group was significantly altered to include more educators, parents, and specific advocacy organizations, while removing the requirement for a national civil rights organization representative.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from addressing general Islamophobia to specifically targeting anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism, and it now includes a mandate to develop educational curriculum materials related to these communities.

SCOPE

The bill's title and primary focus were changed from addressing 'Islamophobia' to addressing 'anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism'.

REQUIREMENT

The working group is now required to develop guidance and resources for curriculum materials on Islamic and Arab studies and genocide education.

ELIGIBILITY

The membership composition was restructured to include more teachers, school administrators, parents, and specific Connecticut-based advocacy groups, while removing the requirement for a representative from a national civil rights organization.

TIMELINE

The bill's status changed from a 'Raised Bill' to an 'ED Joint Favorable Substitute', indicating it has been revised and approved by the Education Committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors