2026 State Senate Voting Records

09.01.2026

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Issues & Policies

The following table illustrates how members of the Connecticut Senate voted in 2025 on a series of key bills, either in committee or on the Senate floor.

If a senator sponsored a bill and did not have an opportunity to vote on it, or abstained or was absent, that is also reflected in these records. Bill sponsorship is weighed the same as a vote in calculating legislators’ overall voting scores.

While these bills reflect just a fraction of all legislation addressed during the session, they were chosen as the framework for CBIA’s 2026 legislative voting records based on their potential impact—positive or negative—on job growth, affordability, and the state’s economy.

Those senators with voting records of 85% or higher are recognized as “affordability champions” for their commitment to policies that address Connecticut’s high costs of living and running a business.

Senate-Voting-Records_2026

2026 Voting Records: Key Bills

Energy Taxes (SB 2): Exempts electricity and natural gas purchases by commercial and industrial customers with less than $10 million in annual gross income from state sales tax. Passed Finance Committee 50-3. No action taken by Senate. CBIA Position: Supported.

Commuter Incentives (SB 9): Comprehensive transportation measure expands commuter access, creates new employer incentives, and continues investment in microtransit services. Passed Transportation Committee 32-4; Appropriations Committee 53-0; Finance Committee 48-0; Senate 35-0; House 137-13; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Supported.

Warehouse Mandates (SB 298): So-called “emergency bill” raises serious questions about a lack of legislative transparency, bundling numerous policy changes and previously stalled measures, including significant restrictions on warehouse operators, making it the most expansive, anti-competitive legislation in the country. Passed Senate 26-10; House 96-48; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Opposed.

Artificial Intelligence Study (SB 417): Authorizes a study of a Small Business Artificial Intelligence Grant Fund, an important and forward-looking step toward lowering entry barriers, encouraging responsible AI adoption, and improving productivity and competitiveness. Passed Commerce Committee 20-0; Senate 36-0; House 150-0; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Supported.

Striking Workers (SB 440): Introduced by the Labor Committee for a third consecutive session—despite the governor twice vetoing similar bills—the measure allows striking workers to collect unemployment benefits, setting a dangerous policy precedent and undermining Connecticut’s economic competitiveness. Passed Labor Committee 9-4; no action taken by the Senate. CBIA Position: Opposed.

Productivity Tax (SB 515): Effectively punishes employers for becoming more efficient, imposing a new annual “workforce and productivity gap surcharge” that penalizes productivity gains and discourages investment and innovation. Passed Finance Committee 34-20; no action taken by Senate. CBIA Position: Opposed.

Workplace Mandates (HB 5003): Sweeping, multifaceted workforce bill with positive and negative consequences for businesses, adding costly new compliance, liability, and administrative burdens along with provisions designed to better connect employers with students and align career pathways. Passed Labor Committee 9-4; Appropriations Committee 34-13; House 117-29; Senate 28-7; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Opposed.

DEEP Reforms (HB 5153): Authorizes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner to issue general permits in place of individual permits in appropriate circumstances, improving efficiency while maintaining regulatory oversight. Passed Environment Committee 33-0; House 143-0; Senate 36-0; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Supported.

Energy Costs (HB 5156): Establishes a “climate superfund cost recovery program,” requiring fossil fuel producers that meet specified historical emissions thresholds to make payments into a state climate adaptation fund over a multi-year period. Passed Environment Committee 23-10; no action taken by House. CBIA Position: Opposed.

Healthcare Costs (HB 5378): Transformational, bipartisan bill addresses growing healthcare affordability crisis by allowing small businesses to pool their risk and purchase insurance through a trade association or local chamber of commerce, allowing hundreds of thousands of employees to access affordable, high-quality health plans. Passed Insurance Committee 9-4; failed in Appropriations Committee 19-27. CBIA Position: Supported.

Small Business Concierge (HB 5467): Creates a dedicated point of contact within the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Small Business Affairs to streamline how employers access grants, technical assistance, and other resources. Passed Commerce Committee 20-0; House 143-4; Senate 36-0; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Supported.

Workforce Development (HB 5491): Requires creation of a centralized hub on the Department of Labor’s website for information, resources, and materials on workforce development by Jan. 1, 2027, updated on a semi-annual basis. Passed Labor Committee 13-0; House 146-0; Senate 36-0; signed by Gov. Lamont. CBIA Position: Supported.