COVID-19 Executive Orders Impacting Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act Extended

  UPDATE May 20, 2021
On May 19, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed Executive Order 12B which both repealed and extended certain provisions of of his previously issued Executive Order 7M.  Among the provisions extended is the suspension of the requirement that the Freedom of Information Commission hear and decide all appeals within 1-year of filing.  This provision has been extended through June 30, 2021.

It is of note that the provision of Executive Order 7M that suspended the time requirements for the filing an appeal with the FOI Commission, expired on April 19, 2021.  Accordingly, for any appeal filed on or after April 19, 2021, a denial must have occurred within 30 days prior to the date of appeal. On March 31, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed Special Act 21-2, An Act Concerning Public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergencies Declared and Renewed by the Governor.  The Special Act, approved by the legislature, renews the public health and civil preparedness emergency declarations through May 20, 2021. On March 10, 2020, Governor Ned Lamont declared public health and civil preparedness emergencies throughout the State of Connecticut as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and Connecticut.  Such declarations were to remain in effect until September 9, 2020.

On September 1, 2020, Governor Lamont renewed his declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies.  These renewed declarations will remain in effect until February 9, 2021, unless terminated earlier by the Governor. On September 9, 2020, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order 9A which extends through November 9, 2020, all executive orders issued pursuant to his March 10, 2020, declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergencies.

On November 9, 2020, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order 9L which extends through February 9, 2021, all executive orders issued pursuant to his March 10, 2020, declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergencies. 

On January 26, 2021, Governor Lamont signed a declaration extending Connecticut's state of emergency in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to April 20, 2021.  The extension applies to both the civil preparedness emergency and the public health emergency. 

Therefore, in accordance with the January 26, 2021, declaration, previously issued Executive Orders 7B, 7M, and 9H, which directly impact certain portions of Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act, are extended through April 20, 2021, unless terminated earlier by the Governor.