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Legislative Session Bill Tracker 2026

The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association actively monitors a wide range of legislation throughout each legislative session. During the first weeks of the 2026 Legislative Session, several bills of interest were introduced. It's important to note that the introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage.

To give you a sense of the breadth and variety of legislation we are tracking, here are just a few of the bills currently on our radar. Should any of these bills progress through the legislative process, we will provide timely updates and additional information to keep you informed. A reminder, the introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage, and we will provide updates as needed.

If you would like additional information on any given bill, then please click the following link to the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) website. At the bottom of the CGA page you will see a pop-up titled "Quick Bill Search", and a blank space in which a bill number can be typed. Once you have typed in your bill number of interest click go, then you will be presented with the most current information regarding your bill of interest!

The Connecticut General Assembly completed their legislative business for the 2026 regular session as they reached their constitutional adjournment date of midnight on May 6th. After months of negotiations with the Lamont Administration, lawmakers approved a bipartisan budget adjustment that includes new aid to municipalities, a boost in funding for public schools, and new investments in early childhood education and childcare. The CRHA has testified throughout the session, read more about our efforts here.

Tracked Bills

HB 5003-An Act Concerning Workforce Development And Working Conditions In The State 
To increase workforce development efforts and improve working conditions in the state. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 10:00 AM

HB 5030- An Act Implementing The Governor's Budget Recommendations For General Government
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations. Hearing Thu 3/12 @ 1:00 PM

HB 5041- An Act Expanding Health Care Coverage 
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.  Hearing Tue 3/17 @11:00 AM

HB 5145- An Act Concerning The Department Of Economic And Community Development 
To require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study economic development issues in the state. Hearing Tue 2/17 @ 12:30 PM 

HB 5213- An Act Establishing A Working Group To Evaluate Payroll Processing Methods Employed By Financial Institutions 
To establish a working group to evaluate payroll processing methods employed by financial institutions and the time required for payroll checks to clear. Hearing Tue 2/24 @ 11:00 AM

HB 5222- An Act Concerning The Department Of Consumer Protection's Recommendations Regarding Various Statutes Concerning Consumer Protection
To implement the Department of Consumer Protection's recommendations regarding (1) the Board of Accountancy, (2) professional engineers and land surveyors, (3) real estate brokers and real estate salespersons, (4) plumbing and piping work, (5) businesses engaged in providing certain skilled trade work or services, (6) interior designers, (7) adulte Hearing Mon 2/23 @ 12:00 PM

HB 5223- An Act Establishing A Task Force To Study Issues Concerning Grocery Store Beer Permits 
To establish a task force to study issues concerning grocery store beer permits. Hearing Wed 3/4 @12:00 AM

HB 5243- An Act Concerning Economic Development Of The Greater Mystic Area 
To facilitate economic development in the greater Mystic area. Hearing Tue 2/24 @ 11:00 AM

HB 5279- An Act Adding Witnessing A Serious Physical Injury As A Qualifying Event For Purposes Of Post-traumatic Stress Injury Workers' Compensation Coverage
To add witnessing a serious physical injury that does not result in the death or permanent disfigurement of such person as a qualifying event for an employee to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage for a post-traumatic stress injury. Hearing Tue 2/24 @ 2:00 PM

HB 5319- An Act Concerning A Research And Development Tax Credit For Small Businesses
To require the Department of Economic and Community Development to administer a system of tax credit vouchers to allow qualified small businesses to earn and utilize credits for research and development expenses. Hearing Tue 3/3

HB 5333- An Act Concerning The Regulation Of Fisheries In The State
To clarify penalties for violating regulations concerning the taking of striped bass, prohibit the use of horseshoe crabs as bait, authorize the sale of certain lobsters from out-of-state by food service establishments and prohibit certain bait fishing in the Housatonic River and harvesting of striped bass. Hearing Wed 3/4 @ 11:00 AM

HB 5350- An Act Concerning Cannabis, Hemp And Infused Beverage Regulation
To (1) replace "marijuana" with "cannabis", (2) redefine "cannabis", (3) authorize qualifying out-of-state patients to access the state's palliative use cannabis market, (4) provide that no producer shall be required to staff any transport vehicle with more than one employee, (5) establish a cannabis regulatory working group, (6) prohibit a retaile, Hearing Wed 3/4 @ 12:00 AM

HB 5386- An Act Requiring Paycheck Transparency
To require employers to create a guide in order to help employees understand the pay codes used by the employer on employee records of hours worked. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 10:00 AM

HB 5387- An Act Concerning Disclosure Of Wage Ranges And Benefits On Public And Internal Job Advertisements 
To (1) require an employer to disclose the wages or wage range and a general description of the benefits to be offered with a position in a public or internal job posting for such position, (2) require an employer to annually provide an employee with the current wages or wage range and a general description of the benefits currently provided with s. Hearing Tue 3/3 @10:00 AM

HB 5443 - An Act Concerning The Sales And Use Taxes Rate For And Applicability To Certain Motor Vehicles, Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing, Certain Personal Property Used In Burials And Cremations And Electricity For Biotechnology Businesses, Dedicating Funding For The Tourism Fund And Increasing The Exemption Amount For Sales Tax-Free Week
To (1) increase the sales price threshold for a motor vehicle subject to the seven and three-fourths per cent sales and use taxes rate, (2) specify the sales and use taxes rate applicable to peer-to-peer car sharing, (3) increase the sales and use taxes exemption amount for certain property used in burials and cremations, (4) exempt the sale, furni.. Hearing Wed 3/11 @ 1:00 PM

HB 5467- An Act Concerning The Office Of Small Business Affairs
To require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to designate an employee of the Office of Small Business Affairs to be responsible for providing concierge services to small businesses in the state. Hearing Tue 3/10 @ 11:30 AM

HB 5524- An Act Concerning The State's Materials Management System
To expand the number of entities required to source-separate organic materials from the solid waste stream, prohibit the use of polystyrene containers by restaurants, prohibit the provision of single-use food service items unless requested by a consumer, prohibit the distribution of single-use straws that contain PFAS at restaurants, require certai.. Hearing Fri 3/13 @ 11:00 AM

HB 5536- An Act Establishing A State-Term Rental Registry And Authorizing An Optional Municipal Supplemental Tax On Short-Term Rentals
To establish a state short-tern rental registry,authorize an optional municipal supplemental tax on short-term rentals and require short-term rental return filings to include disaggregated sales tax information. 

HB 5537- An Act Imposing A Tax On Certain Sweetened Beverages, Syrups And Powders And Dedicating The Revenue Generated To A Universal Free School Meals Program
To impose a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders and dedicate the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program to reimburse local and regional boards of education for the provision of free school breakfasts and lunches to all public school students.Hearing Mon 3/16 @ 1:00 PM

SB 1- An Act Concerning Affordability 
To (1) exempt from the sales and use taxes sales of (A) certain clothing costing under one hundred dollars, school supplies and household appliances, and (B) sandwiches, grinders, coffee and tea prepared and sold by grocery stores, (2) increase the maximum allowable credit against the personal income tax for a person's primary residence or motor vehicle, (3) establish a credit against the personal income tax (A) for expenditures paid or incurred by certain taxpayers for the care and support of eligible family members, and (B) for a portion of rent actually paid by certain taxpayers for such taxpayer's primary residence in the state, and (4) allow all taxpayers, regardless of income, to deduct the full amount of Social Security benefits that are includable in gross income for federal income tax purposes. Hearing Fri 2/13 @ 1:00 PM 

SB 2- An Act Supporting Local Commerce 
To (1) exempt from the sales and use taxes gas and electricity used by certain commercial and industrial businesses, (2) dedicate fifty per cent of the additional one per cent sales and use taxes imposed on meals sold by eating establishments, caterers or grocery stores to the Tourism Fund and fifty per cent to the municipality in which such revenue was generated, and (3) establish a Connecticut-India Trade Commission.. Hearing Fri 2/13 @ 1:00 PM 

SB 4- An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy
To (1) provide for the registration of data brokers, (2) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to establish an accessible deletion mechanism program, (3) require manufacturers to affix tariff cost estimates to new automobiles, (4) require disclosures regarding the use of personalized algorithmic pricing, (5) amend the Connecticut Data Privacy Act by (A) defining "facial recognition technology", (B) redefining "publicly available information", (C) eliminating the entity-level exemption for certain processing decisions concerning employment, (D) providing consumers with additional rights concerning certain profiling decisions, (E) prohibiting the sale, sharing, transfer or allowance of access to precise geolocation data, and (F) establishing new requirements concerning facial recognition technology, and (6) requiring certain state and municipal contracts to restrict the sale, sharing, transfer or allowance of access to automated license plate reader information. Hearing Wed 3/4 @12:00 AM

SB 116- An Act Concerning The Prevention Of Human Trafficking
To (1) require the Commissioner of Revenue Services to periodically disclose to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection the name and address of each operator of a hotel, lodging house or bed and breakfast establishment who has remitted the use tax, (2) impose penalties on operators of hotels, motels, inns or similar lodgings who fail to satisfy var. Hearing Wed 2/18 @ 12:30 PM 

SB 117- An Act Concerning Breaches of Security Involving Electronic Personal Information
To (1) provide that certain materials provided to the Attorney General following a breach of security involving electronic personal information shall be provided to the Attorney General in a form and manner prescribed by the Attorney General, (2) define “massive breach of security” , (3) require a third-party forensic examination, analysis and repor. Hearing Wed 2/18 @ 10:00 AM 

SB 118- An Act Concerning Baby Food Products and Toxic Heavy Metals
To prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution or offering for sale of, and require testing, disclosures and reporting concerning, baby food products containing toxic heavy metals. Hearing Wed 2/18 @ 10:00 AM 

SB 148- An Act Concerning Revisions To Aquaculture Related Statutes  
To clarify the notification procedure for designation of shellfish areas that are closed to harvesting due to contamination or pollution. Hearing Fri 2/20 @ 11:00 AM 

SB 228- An Act Concerning Liquor Permits and Tobacco Bars
To authorize the Department of Consumer Protection to issue a cafe liquor permit to additional tobacco bars. Hearing Wed 3/4 @12:00 PM

SB 230- An Act Concerning The Department Of Consumer Protection's Recommendations Regarding Liquor Control
To (1) eliminate a requirement that certain out-of-state shipper permittees report to the Department of Consumer Protection records concerning sales and shipments to consumers in this state, (2) define "retailer" for purposes of certain out-of-state shippers' permits concerning wine, (3) specify that applicants for issuance or renewal of a liquor permits. Hearing Mon 2/23 @ 12:00 PM

SB 269- An Act Concerning Workers' Rights
To require the Labor Commissioner to conduct a study of the rights of employees in the state. Hearing 2/24 @ 2:00 PM

SB 305- An Act Concerning Tourism
To establish a working group to study statewide marketing and tourism in the state. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 1:00 PM

SB 307- An Act Concerning The Department Of Economic And Community Development's Recommendations For Revisions To The Commerce Statutes
To implement  the Department of Economic and Community Development's recommendations for revisions to the commerce statutes, including (1) removing references to certain Department of Economic and Community Development offices, (2) repealing or modifying certain reporting requirements, (3) repealing defunct programs,(4) addressing changed to federa. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 1:00 PM

SB 345- An Act Concerning Breastfeeding In The Workplace, Pre And Post-Shift Hours And Establishing A Task Force To Study Workplace Heat Safety Standards
To (1) align state and federal law regarding break times for the purpose of breastfeeding or expressing milk during the work day, (2) include security screenings required by an employer in the definition of "hours worked" for purposes of chapter 558 of the general statutes, and (3) establish a task force to study and provide recommendations for the. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 10:00 AM

SB 358- An Act Concerning The Retention Of Service Contract Workers
To offer greater protections to certain service workers who are displaced or terminated when service contracts are terminated. Hearing Tue 3/3 @ 10:00 AM

SB 382- An Act Concerning Edible Food Recovery
To require the development of protocols regarding the donation of surplus edible food by retail food establishments to food distribution organizations. Hearing 3/4 @ 11:30 AM

SB 408- An Act Concerning Liquor Permits, Fire Safety And Prevention Inspections, The Registration Of Certain Information And Various Requirements Relating To Juice Bars
To (1) delete a provision regarding certain inspections not being deemed to constitute a precondition to renewal of a liquor permit, (2) modify certain requirements relating to fire safety and prevention inspections, (3) require certain nonresident owners project-based housing providers or agents in charge to register certain information, and (4) Hearing Thu 3/12 @ 11:00 AM

SB 417- An Act Requiring The Department Of Economic And Community Development to Develop A Plan To Establish An Artificial Intelligence Small Business Program
To require the Department of Economic and Community Development to develop a plan to establish an artificial intelligence small business program. Hearing Tue 3/10 @ 11:30 AM

 SB 436 - An Act Concerning Advanced Notice Of An Employee's Work Schedule By An Employer
To require employers to provide advanced notice to certain employees of such employee's work schedule and work schedule changes and create a cause of action for violations of advanced notice requirements.  Hearing Tue 3/10 @10:00 AM

SB 440- An Act Concerning Unemployment For Striking Workers
To allow certain striking workers involved in a labor dispute that has been continuous for fourteen days access to unemployment benefits. Hearing Tue 3/10 @ 10:00 AM

SB 441- An Act Requiring A Study of Labor Law Violations By Limited Liability Companies And Other Business Entities
To require the Labor Commissioner, in consultation with the Secretary of the State, Commissioner of Revenue Services and Commissioner of Administrative Services, to study the potential for members of a limited liability company or other business entity to circumvent certain labor laws by establishing a new business entity. Hearing Tue 3/10 @ 10:00 AM

SB 457- An Act Concerning The State's Bottle Bill
To (1) require the development of a product stewardship program for beverage containers sold in the state, (2) examine the legal implications of requiring state-specific labeling for beverage containers sold in the state, (3) establish a timeline for the picking up of beverage containers distributors, (4) prohibit transshipment of beverage conta. Hearing Fri 3/13  @12:00 PM

SB 460- An Act Concerning A Study Of Whether Unclaimed Gift Certificates Should Be Considered Abandoned Property
To require the Treasurer to conduct a study of the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of having unredeemed gift certificates escheat to the state. Hearing Fri 3/13  @12:00 PM

SB 472- An Act Concerning The Electronic Surveillance Of Employees
To require employers to notify employees of where electronic surveillance is occurring and which prohibited activities may give rise to surveillance without prior notice. Hearing Fri 3/13  @12:00 PM

SB 513- An Act Concerning Structural Efficiency In The Collection Of State Revenue
To modernize state revenue collection of payroll expense through an employer administrative optimization program, establish a structural efficiency dividend to be applied to the reduction of public benefits charges on electric bills and provide for the enhancement of employee retirement assets through qualifying retirement investment plans. Hearing Fri 3/27 @11:00 AM

 

Stalled Bills

The introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage, and we will provide updates as needed. Should any of these bills progress through the legislative process, we will provide timely updates and additional information to keep you informed and notify you if action is required from our members.