Commerce Committee hears push to change skilled‑trades hiring ratio to 1‑to‑1

Hartford — Lawmakers heard hours of testimony Feb. 27 on a proposed law, HB 6,786, that would change Connecticut’s current hiring restriction for several licensed trades from a three‑journeyman‑to‑one‑apprentice rule to a one‑to‑one hiring ratio.

Supporters told the Commerce Committee the measure would unblock a persistent workforce bottleneck, speeding apprenticeship placements and helping meet demand for construction, energy and housing projects. Representative Tim Acker, a bill proponent, told the panel that the change "will give someone the opportunity to start a great career," and several trade and business groups said they have qualified applicants who can’t be hired because companies are capped at the existing ratio.

The bill’s proponents included Independent Electrical Contractors of New England, which executive director Ally French described as repeatedly hearing from contractors who “can almost instantly hire more apprentices by adjusting the ratio.” Representative Jill Berry, who introduced the measure, said it would support "affordable housing, disconnected youth, and workforce development," and urged the committee to act.

Business advocates also pressed the panel. Paul Amaron of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association said an update to a 1‑to‑1 hiring ratio could increase housing development, long‑term state revenue and the number of trained technicians available for electrification and building projects.

Contractors and apprentices described how the rule works on the ground. Contractor testimony repeatedly differentiated the “job‑site” rule — where one licensed worker supervises a single apprentice on any given job — from the separate company‑level hiring cap that limits how many apprentices a firm may employ in total. "On the job site it’s 1‑to‑1," several witnesses said; the debate centered on whether the state should continue to restrict how many apprentices a business may hire overall.

Contractors who support the change said they have ready applicants and work but cannot expand because the hiring cap restricts them from taking on apprentices. "We could easily accept dozens more apprentices if the hiring ratio was 1 to 1," said Ally French. Stillman Jordan of Encon Heating and Air Conditioning described his company repeatedly applying for ratio relief and sometimes being granted only a partial allowance: "If somebody is a bad actor, hold them accountable," he said, "but removing this barrier would unlock opportunity for many businesses and young people."

Opponents, including trade union representatives and watchdog advocates, asked the committee to pause for better data and stronger enforcement before changing the law. Several union speakers described how union apprenticeship systems coordinate training, place apprentices with signatory contractors and monitor completion, and argued that strengthening enforcement of registration and pay rules would address exploitative practices by bad actors better than changing the statewide hiring cap. "Bad actors should be penalized," said Vinny Valente of the Plumbers and Pipefitters JATC, "but that should not come at the expense of weakening protections for apprentices."

Committee members asked repeated questions about the state’s apprenticeship data and the ratio‑relief application process. Witnesses said a Department of Labor data request of apprenticeship sponsors had produced preliminary responses, but not yet a full, third‑party analysis. Several speakers urged the committee to require or wait for that analysis before moving forward; others said the need for apprentices is urgent and immediate policy change is required.

What’s next: The hearing produced no committee vote. Multiple witnesses asked the General Assembly to improve the apprenticeship oversight process — including faster, clearer ratio‑relief decisions and more staffing for enforcement — whether or not the hiring ratio itself is changed. Lawmakers indicated they would review the testimony and the Department of Labor responses before deciding whether to report HB 6,786 out of committee.

"I urge you to support change to 1 to 1," said contractor Tom Bodwin near the hearing’s end. "We have the work and the applicants. The state needs to stop choking the pipeline."