The Labor and Public Employees Committee convened for the first meeting of the 2025 legislative session and used the session to introduce new members and staff, review priorities for the year and set its next meeting date, the committee announced.

The committee chair (name not specified in the transcript), who opened the meeting with safety announcements, highlighted recent results from Connecticut’s paid leave program and the state’s minimum-wage increases as evidence the panel’s work has affected working families. The chair said, “we reached a 1,000,000,000 dollars in pay, payments to working families to people using this benefit, $1,000,000,000 in a period of 3 years,” and noted the state’s minimum wage has risen from $10.10 in 2019 to $16.35.

That framing set the tone for a largely organizational meeting in which committee members introduced themselves, thanked staff and described expectations for the year. Senator Samson, the committee’s ranking member, said he welcomed robust debate across ideological lines and emphasized continuing collegial relations despite differences: “you can disagree in a really big way on a lot of things and yet still get along and behave like adults.” Representative Weir said he intends the committee’s work to help Connecticut’s economic ranking and added, “I'd be satisfied to see us shooting for a 25.”

New and returning members who introduced themselves included Representative Canedo; Representative Sheikh; Representative Nick Gauthier of the 38th District; Representative Gail Master Francesca of the 80th District; and Representative Blesser, who noted his return from the Senate. The committee also introduced nonpartisan staff joining the panel, including Alyssa Santos from the Office of Legislative Research and Legislative Commissioner Office staff Heather Reeves, and acknowledged Cameron as the committee clerk and Chris Calabrese as assigned from House Democrats.

Logistics and scheduling details announced during the meeting included the date, time and room for the next meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 14, in room 22B at 2 p.m., as stated by the committee chair. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn; Representative Blesser moved to adjourn and the motion was seconded. The chair called for a voice vote and declared the meeting adjourned.

No bills, motions for committee referral, or formal policy votes were taken at this session; the transcript records only organizational remarks, member introductions, staff introductions and scheduling.

The committee agenda items flagged by members and the chair—continued oversight of paid family leave and attention to wage policy—are likely to return as substantive agenda items in future meetings, where formal motions and votes may be recorded.