HB 5225, An Act Prohibiting Certain Licensees And Registrants From Selling, Dispensing, Transferring Or Delivering Any Drug Or Device To Execute A Sentence Of Death

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE GENERAL LAW COMMITTEE

Monday, February 23, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 5225, An Act Prohibiting Certain Licensees And Registrants From Selling, Dispensing, Transferring Or Delivering Any Drug Or Device To Execute A Sentence Of Death.  CHA has concerns about the bill as written.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

HB 5225 seeks to prohibit or punish individuals licensed, registered, or doing business in this state from manufacturing, compounding, selling, testing, distributing, dispensing, or supplying any drug or medical device for the purpose of executing the death penalty in another state.  The prohibition would apply when the regulated individual or entity has actual knowledge that the drug is intended to be used to carry out a death sentence.

As CHA outlined in response to a similar initiative last year, the bill, although well-intended, could have a chilling effect on the overall availability of the targeted drugs, all of which have appropriate and therapeutic uses in the routine delivery of healthcare.

Additionally, some of the drugs that are affected are used for compassionate euthanasia of pets and other animals.  Several of the targeted drugs are on or have recently been on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug shortage list. 

We are extremely hesitant to give manufacturers a reason to stop making these drugs, many of which are not high-profit drugs.

Because the risk of losing access to the shortage drugs is so serious and can place healthcare providers and veterinarians in Connecticut in situations where they must scramble for other drugs to use to be able to provide safe patient or vet care, we ask that the bill not go forward as written.

If the bill does go forward, we ask that the following language be added: 

The Department of Consumer Protection, drug control division, shall continuously monitor the drug supply chain to timely detect any disruption in the drug supply chain relating to drugs impacted by this Act.  The department shall keep a log of any voluntary reports by providers in Connecticut relating to the shortage of any drugs potentially impacted by this Act.  

Finally, it is important to note the bill also risks negatively impacting Connecticut’s efforts to protect patients and providers who seek, provide, or obtain reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming healthcare.  It is inconsistent for Connecticut to impose penalties for activities that are legal in another state based on the theory that those activities are contrary to Connecticut’s public policy and laws, while simultaneously proclaiming other states may not punish patients and providers if Connecticut law provides a shield.  That inconsistency is potential evidence that could be used as a collateral attack in any legal action on Connecticut’s shield laws.

We urge caution in taking any steps that serve to weaken Connecticut’s ability to shield patients and providers from punishment by other states.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.