HB 5409 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING TROOPS-TO-TRADES INITIATIVES.

HB 5409 creates a state program to help military members transition to civilian careers. It requires the Labor Department to provide career counseling and maintain an online hub listing job training resources, veteran-friendly employers, and state transition programs. The state military leadership must develop a follow-up program tracking veterans' education and employment outcomes after discharge, while the Veterans Affairs department will host an annual job fair connecting veterans with employers. The bill directly affects active-duty personnel, reserves, National Guard members, and veterans seeking civilian workforce opportunities.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → VA Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and underwent significant substantive changes to its implementation timeline and operational requirements. The most critical change is the shift of the primary program launch date from October 1, 2026, to October 1, 2028, allowing for a longer planning period. Additionally, the bill now mandates a study of other states' use of AI for job matching before the program fully launches, and it reassigns the responsibility for sending the biweekly newsletter from the Labor Commissioner to the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a mandatory study of artificial intelligence models for connecting veterans with employers before the main program begins. The applicability of the newsletter distribution requirement was modified to be handled by the Department of Veterans Affairs rather than the Labor Department.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the main career counseling program and related activities was delayed from October 1, 2026, to October 1, 2028.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added for the Labor Commissioner to study how other northeastern states use technology, including AI, to connect veterans with employers by January 1, 2028.

The duty to send the biweekly email newsletter to veterans was transferred from the Labor Commissioner to the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.

The Labor Commissioner must now update an informational web page annually starting January 1, 2027, rather than creating a new page from scratch.

The Adjutant General's role changed from developing a new transition assistance program to improving and promoting an existing state-based employment assistance program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Veterans' and Military Affairs

lower

18 primary · 0 co-sponsors