CT SJ00038

Proposes amending the Connecticut State Constitution to replace gender-specific terms like "men," "man," "he," "him," "his," "himself," "his or her" with gender-neutral terms such as "persons," "person," "the governor," "the accused," "such citizen," "such person's self," and "such official"

Affects 29 sections across multiple articles of the Constitution, including provisions on equal rights, free speech, criminal prosecution rights, right to bear arms, equal protection, legislative membership requirements, executive branch powers, judicial eligibility, and voter qualifications

Changes foundational language in Article First from "All men when they form a social compact, are equal in rights" to "All persons when they form a social compact, are equal in rights"

Would be presented to voters at the November 3, 2026 general election with the ballot question: "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to make all references to individuals gender-neutral?"

Makes no substantive changes to rights, powers, or procedures—amendments are purely linguistic updates to modernize gendered language throughout the document