Labor & Employment (Minimum Wage) in Connecticut

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SR 12: RESOLUTION PROPOSING APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THE STATE EMPLOYEES BARGAINING AGENT COALITION (SEBAC).

This resolution approves a four-year agreement between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition covering approximately 42,000 state employees. The deal includes a 2.5% general wage increase and annual increments for most workers in fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with a wage re-opener clause for the final year. The agreement also incorporates specific provisions for salary adjustments, healthcare savings, and various fringe benefits costs totaling over $722 million across the four-year period.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Public Employees

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5492: AN ACT CONCERNING LIMITATIONS ON THE USE ON NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS.

This bill restricts the enforceability of noncompete agreements in Connecticut by limiting which workers can be bound by such contracts. It directly affects employees and independent contractors by establishing wage thresholds that determine whether a noncompete is valid. Under the new rules, noncompete agreements are automatically unenforceable for workers earning less than twice the state minimum wage, and for independent contractors earning less than five times the minimum wage. Additionally, noncompetes cannot restrict workers from working in geographic areas or performing job types where they had no significant presence or activity in the two years before leaving their job. The law also clarifies that certain agreements like nonsolicitation, nondisclosure, and business sale contracts are not considered noncompetes and remain unaffected.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Minimum Wage

passed · Connecticut · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SR 4: RESOLUTION PROPOSING APPROVAL OF A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THE CONNECTICUT EMPLOYEES UNION INDEPENDENT, NP-2 BARGAINING UNIT (CEUI).

This Senate resolution approves a tentative collective bargaining agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, NP-2 Bargaining Unit, covering approximately 3,661 state employees who work in service, maintenance, and support roles across hospitals, campuses, airports, and other state facilities. The agreement establishes a four-year contract from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029, providing a 2.5% general wage increase and annual increments for the first three years, with a wage re-opener provision allowing for additional negotiations in the final year. The resolution also authorizes lump sum payments for employees at the top step of their pay plans and includes provisions for grade changes and other salary adjustments, with total estimated costs of approximately $45 million across four fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 471: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF APPRENTICES ON PREVAILING WAGE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

This bill updates Connecticut's prevailing wage laws for public works projects by expanding the definition of covered work to include off-site custom fabrication of mechanical systems like plumbing and HVAC. It requires all state and local public works contracts to specify that workers must be paid at least the customary hourly wage for their trade in the area where the project is located. The legislation also strengthens enforcement by allowing the Labor Commissioner to issue citations and fines for wage violations, maintain a public list of repeat offenders, and refer contractors for potential debarment from future state contracts. Additionally, the bill gives contracting officers the authority to terminate contracts or withhold payments if workers are not paid the required wages.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Minimum Wage

passed · Connecticut · House Feb 26, 2026

HR 3: RESOLUTION PROPOSING APPROVAL OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT JUDICIAL BRANCH AND THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, SEIU LOCAL 2001, THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES (AFT/AFT-CT, AFL-CIO).

This resolution approves an arbitration award between Connecticut's Judicial Branch and three employee unions: SEIU Local 2001, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and the Union of Professional Judicial Employees. The award includes a 2.5% general wage increase effective July 2025, annual increments for employees, and lump-sum payments, impacting judicial branch salaries and benefits. The agreement costs approximately $8.07 million in fiscal year 2026 and $8.60 million in 2027, with retroactive application to July 1, 2025. It directly affects over 1,000 judicial employees represented by these unions through adjusted compensation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 5089: AN ACT EXEMPTING OVERTIME WAGES, TIPS OR GRATUITIES AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

HB 5089 would exempt overtime wages, tips or gratuities, and Social Security benefits from the state's personal income tax. This directly affects workers who earn overtime pay, receive tips (like in restaurants), or rely on Social Security benefits as part of their income. The bill's key mechanism is amending tax law to remove these specific income sources from taxable personal income. It does not change tax rates for other income types, focusing solely on these exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Sales Tax Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 5010: AN ACT EXEMPTING TIPS OR GRATUITIES AND OVERTIME PAY FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

HB 5010 would amend state tax law to exclude tips or gratuities and overtime pay from taxable personal income. This change directly affects workers who earn these specific income types, such as servers, hospitality staff, and hourly employees receiving overtime. The bill's key provision requires updating the tax code to remove these earnings from the base used to calculate personal income tax. As a result, individuals would pay income tax only on their regular wages, not on declared tips or overtime earnings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Labor Standards Minimum Wage

passed · Connecticut · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SR 3: RESOLUTION PROPOSING APPROVAL OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT JUDICIAL BRANCH AND THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, SEIU LOCAL 2001, THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES (AFT/AFT-CT, AFL-CIO).

This resolution approves a pre-existing arbitration award between Connecticut's Judicial Branch and three employee unions (SEIU Local 2001, IBPO Local 731, and AFT/AFT-CT). The agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2025, includes a 2.5% general wage increase, annual increments, and lump-sum payments for judicial employees. It will cost approximately $8.07 million in fiscal year 2026 and $8.60 million in fiscal year 2027, affecting all covered bargaining units. The resolution requires legislative approval per state law but does not create new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 352: AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

SB 352 requires cannabis businesses (including dispensaries and producers) to enter into "labor peace agreements" with approved labor unions as a condition for obtaining or renewing licenses. To qualify as a "bona fide labor organization," unions must apply to the state department, meet specific criteria (like representing cannabis workers or having active organizing efforts), and maintain compliance with reporting standards. The bill establishes a process for the department to maintain a list of eligible unions and mandates binding arbitration for disputes over agreements, with license suspension as a penalty for violations. It directly affects cannabis employers and unions seeking to represent workers in the state’s cannabis industry.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 5057: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR TIPS OR GRATUITIES.

HB 5057 would allow workers who report tips to their employers to deduct the full amount of those declared tips from their taxable income when filing personal income taxes. This directly affects service industry workers, such as servers and bartenders, who receive tips as part of their earnings. The bill amends tax code to create a specific deduction for "tips or gratuities declared by a taxpayer," reducing the income subject to tax. It applies only to tips already reported to employers, not unreported tips, and does not change how tips are taxed at the employer level.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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