KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Connecticut

HB05321 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.

AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.

Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Commerce Committee
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
File Number 63
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Workforce Study Act

This act requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study workforce shortages, development, and training availability in Connecticut.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to conduct a study on workforce issues.
  • Includes analyzing how workforce shortages affect business activity in the state.
  • The commissioner must submit a report by January 1, 2027, to a committee that deals with commerce matters.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development
  • Businesses affected by workforce issues

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Economic and Community Development
A state official responsible for economic development and community growth.
Workforce shortages
Not having enough workers to meet the needs of businesses or industries.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not provide funding for conducting the study.
  • It is unclear how the results will be used after submission.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-18 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-03-18 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  3. 2026-03-18 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 68

  4. 2026-03-18 LCO

    File Number 63

  5. 2026-03-12 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/17/26 5:00 PM

  6. 2026-03-05 CE

    Joint Favorable

  7. 2026-03-05 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  8. 2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/03

  9. 2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Commerce

Official Summary Text

To require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study workforce shortages, workforce development and workforce training availability.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
House of Representatives
HB5321 / File No. 63 1

General Assembly File No. 63
February Session, 2026 House Bill No. 5321

House of Representatives, March 18, 2026

The Committee on Commerce reported through REP.
MESKERS of the 150th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Economic and 1
Community Development shall conduct a study of workforce shortages, 2
workforce development and workforce training availability. Such study 3
shall include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of the effect of such 4
shortages, development and training availability on commercial activity 5
in the state. Not later than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall 6
submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 7
general statutes, on the results of such study to the joint standing 8
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 9
relating to commerce. 10
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

CE Joint Favorable

HB5321 File No. 63

HB5321 / File No. 63 2

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill has no fiscal impact by requiring the Department of
Economic and Community Development (DECD) to conduct a study of
workforce shortages, workforce development and workforce training
availability. It is anticipated that DECD can produce the study within
existing resources.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

HB5321 File No. 63

HB5321 / File No. 63 3

OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5321

AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING.

SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Commerce Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/05/2026)