2024 Session: New Mandates, Lack of Focus on Affordability, Growth, Lead to Mixed Results
The 2024 General Assembly session fell short of fully leveraging Connecticut’s post-pandemic economic momentum, the state’s largest business organization said today.
CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said the state’s strong fiscal health offered policymakers “the perfect platform to address economic roadblocks and set a strategic course for continued growth.”
“There was every reason for optimism coming into this session, given the state’s fiscal health, positive economic and job growth numbers, and the broad bipartisan collaboration that was expected to carry over from last session.” DiPentima said.
“While some positive measures were adopted, the session didn’t take full advantage of Connecticut’s current fiscal and economic position.
“Unfortunately, too much of the session was consumed by bills reflecting past detrimental policy habits or solutions in search of problems that do not exist.”
Missed Opportunities
DiPentima highlighted the legislature’s failure to address small business employee healthcare costs as one of the biggest disappointments of the session.
“For the second consecutive session, lawmakers were presented with bipartisan, transformational legislation that would change the lives of hundreds of thousands of small business employees,” he said.
“It’s not news that the small group health insurance market is broken—reinforced by the departure of yet another carrier this week—with small businesses and their employees battling rising costs and shrinking options.
“There was a meaningful solution on the table and it is incredibly frustrating that the bill failed to even receive a committee vote.”
DiPentima said that frustration was compounded by the legislature’s focus on additional costly workplace mandates, including a one-size-fits-all expansion of the state’s paid sick leave law and a payout fund for striking workers.
“Too much time and energy was spent this session on counterproductive measures like giving striking workers unemployment benefits, rather than addressing our real economic needs,” he said.
“Small businesses are the heart and soul of our economy and need more legislative champions to drive policies that help small employers, and their employees, survive, compete, and thrive.”
CBIA and allied organizations were successful in defeating other costly workplace mandates, including bills banning noncompete and nondisclosure agreements.
“It’s unfortunate to see the legislature again insert itself into the middle of the employer-employee relationship,” DiPentima said.
“While we’re grateful for those lawmakers who were willing to reject new mandates, these measures erode efforts to develop and implement solutions for growing our economy and expanding opportunities for all residents.”
Fiscal Health
Chris Davis, CBIA’s vice president of public policy, added that the legislative session was also marked by fiscal decision-making that signaled a potential return to “the bad habits of the past.”
“By using one-time federal funding to fill budget gaps, legislators opened the door for future tax hikes and difficult spending cuts,” he said.
“The fiscal guardrails enacted in 2017, and unanimously extended last year, are working as intended and are the key factor behind our current strong fiscal position and economic momentum.
“By using one-time federal funding to fill budget gaps, legislators opened the door for future tax hikes and difficult spending cuts.”
CBIA’s Chris Davis
“Collaboration and bipartisanship are critical to driving our economy and job growth in the wake of the pandemic.
“It’s essential that we don’t take a step backwards and repeat the costly mistakes of the past.
“We must return to bipartisan solutions and focus on responsible budgeting and solutions that address real issues important to Connecticut’s job creators and residents alike.”
Education, Childcare
DiPentima welcomed continued investments in education and early childhood care this session—both CBIA priorities.
“Connecticut’s economy can’t reach its full potential without growing the workforce and improving access to quality childcare and education that will help develop the next generation of the workforce,” he said.
“CBIA was grateful for the opportunity to work with legislators from both parties on measures that will help aspiring educators.”
CBIA’s Chris DiPentima
“CBIA was also grateful for the opportunity to work with legislators from both parties on measures that will help aspiring educators with industry experience get certified.”
DiPentima, who sits on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care, said legislation improving access to quality early childhood care and education is an important step forward.
“If families aren’t able to find and afford childcare, then they face the difficult choice of whether to return to the workforce or stay at home,” he said.
Other Measures
The 2024 session also saw several bills benefitting the state’s growing bioscience sector, including promoting the expansion of whole genome sequencing.
“This legislation not only goes a long way toward improving critical lifesaving care, but also keeps Connecticut at the forefront of innovative technology and science,” DiPentima said.
“It’s important that we continue to support a welcoming environment that fosters these kinds of breakthroughs and innovations.”
“We must focus on solutions that make Connecticut more affordable to live and work and expand career pathways for all.”
DiPentima
DiPentima stressed that there are many reasons for optimism surrounding Connecticut’s economic prospects.
“To reinforce that optimism, and build on our current momentum, we must focus on solutions that make Connecticut more affordable to live and work and expand career pathways for all,” he said.
“CBIA is committed to working with a broad coalition of private business, nonprofit, labor, and public sector leaders to address the state’s competitiveness challenges and grow our economy for the long term and provide more opportunities for all residents.”
CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state. For more information, please contact Scott Beaulieu (860.244.1929).
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CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.