AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE AGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAP AND EMPLOYMENT PROMISSORY NOTES.
HB 5244 increases Connecticut's financial assistance cap for business projects from $10 million to $25 million over two years (amending Statute 32-462), affecting businesses seeking state funding for non-housing projects. It also creates an exception allowing employment promissory notes for educational personnel under collective bargaining agreements (amending Statute 31-51r), while maintaining the general prohibition on such notes as a condition of employment. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, for the cap change and immediately for the promissory note exception. These changes directly impact businesses applying for state economic development funds and educational employers negotiating with staff.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026
Last action May 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Raised Bill
→
CE Joint Favorable Substitute
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reclassified from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and marked as having 'Joint Favorable Substitute' status, indicating it has been amended and approved by both legislative chambers. Substantively, the bill clarifies that state debt obligations must be secured by funds from the General Fund and expands the definition of prohibited promissory notes to include fees related to federal H-1B visa applications.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on economic development funding and employment protections, but the definition of eligible debt funding sources was broadened to include General Fund appropriations.
DEFINITION
Added a requirement that state debt or obligations secured by a special capital reserve fund must be payable from amounts appropriated or deemed appropriated from the General Fund.
Expanded the list of prohibited employment promissory notes to explicitly include agreements requiring repayment of fees paid by employers for federal H-1B visa applications.
TECHNICAL
Updated bill metadata to reflect its status as a Substitute Bill with Joint Favorable Substitute approval.
Floor votes · House May 6, 2026
How they voted
146–1
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 150
May 6, 2026
D
Democratic101
97% Yea
R
Republican49
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
2
Committee
2
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Commerce
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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