This bill proposes to update Connecticut’s Antitrust Act by incorporating federal merger guidelines into state law and expanding the powers of the state Attorney General’s Antitrust Section. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Antitrust Section to investigate and take legal action against corporate mergers that potentially violate federal guidelines established by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The key purpose is to enhance consumer protection and maintain fair market competition by allowing state authorities to more actively challenge proposed corporate mergers that might harm economic competition. By adopting federal merger guidelines into state law, Connecticut would provide its Attorney General with additional legal tools to scrutinize and potentially block corporate mergers that could negatively impact consumers or create undue market concentration. This legislative change reflects a proactive approach to antitrust enforcement at the state level, aligning Connecticut’s regulations more closely with federal standards.