CBIA Releases 2026 Policy Solutions

The state’s largest business organization today released its 2026 legislative policy solutions. 

This 10-point package of recommendations is designed to reimagine Connecticut’s economy and champion small business competitiveness. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of Connecticut’s economy—making up 99% of the state’s businesses, employing hundreds of thousands, and critical in supporting Connecticut’s larger companies,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima. 

“However, from persistent inflation and high energy and healthcare costs to a tight labor market, evolving workforce expectations, and rapidly changing technology, smaller employers and their employees face significant challenges.  

“These headwinds impact whether they can expand, hire, invest, or even keep their doors open. 

“This session, we are calling on lawmakers to not only recognize the importance of small businesses to the state’s economy but focus on policy solutions that will build a framework to help them thrive.” 

Policy Solutions

DiPentima said the policy solutions, developed in collaboration with business leaders and residents from around the state, will address the high costs of living and running a business, improve efficiency, and build new career pathways to expand our world-class workforce.  

The solutions are specifically designed to: 

• Restore the pass-through entity tax credit to give direct relief to small businesses 

• Eliminate the sales tax on energy and gas bills to reduce operating costs 

• Expand eligibility for R&D and apprenticeship tax credits to support innovation and workforce development 

• Allow the creation of association health plans to broaden access to high-quality, affordable healthcare 

• Establish a small business concierge at DECD to improve access to state resources 

• Launch a state-funded AI adoption grant program to help businesses integrate technologies 

• Streamline permitting and certification programs to reduce delays and improve regulatory predictability 

• Mandate regular agency reviews of existing regulations to eliminate outdated or ineffective requirements 

• Incentivize comprehensive schools to offer career and technical education to expand workforce pipelines 

• Remove barriers to occupational licensing to help workers enter high demand fields more easily 

Chris Davis, CBIA’s vice president of public policy, also emphasized the importance of Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails. 

“The 2017 fiscal reforms built a sustainable foundation and positioned the state to make critical, long-term investments in infrastructure, workforce development, education, and affordability,” Davis said. 

“The decisions made in the halls of the state Capitol this session—on taxes, regulations, workforce readiness, infrastructure, and energy—will either unlock opportunity or compound existing burdens for small employers. 

“By prioritizing policies that allow small businesses to compete and thrive, we can strengthen our economy, support our communities, and open the door to meaningful opportunities for all residents.” 

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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).