Governor Lamont signs sweeping workforce bill that adds retention, pay-transparency and safety protections

At a bill-signing event at the Office of the Governor, Governor Lamont signed House Bill 5,003, a sweeping workforce development law that supporters said will strengthen job protections, increase pay transparency and expand workplace safety measures for state workers and service employees.

The bill includes a provision requiring incoming building service contractors or new employers to retain a building's existing workforce for 90 days, wage-disclosure rules that must include information about benefits, and expanded workers' compensation coverage for education and health-care employees assaulted on the job, supporters said.

"This bill will ensure that incoming building service contractors or other new employers are required to retain a building's existing workforce for 90 days," said Rochelle Palachi, vice president for 32 BJ in Connecticut, describing the change as a "game changer" that will help workers keep jobs and benefits after management changes.

Ed Hawthorne, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, called House Bill 5,003 "one of the most significant advancements for workers' rights in recent memory," noting it also establishes a minimum wage for cannabis workers, requires job-posting transparency and includes tuition waivers and a "fallen hero" fund for certain public safety personnel.

Teachers and health-care representatives highlighted provisions aimed at addressing gender inequities and workplace violence. "This bill provides full wage replacement to any education employee or health-care employee who is assaulted in the line of duty," said John Brady, executive vice president of AFT Connecticut, recounting an episode of workplace violence to illustrate the need for stronger protections.

Building trades leaders praised requirements for daily logs on publicly funded projects and stiffer enforcement of crane-operator licensing rules, saying those measures improve safety and accountability on construction sites.

Sen. Julie Kushner, chair of the Senate labor committee, said the bill also adds quarterly reporting intended to help the Department of Public Health enforce safe-staffing rules in hospitals and learn where staffing gaps persist.

In his remarks, Governor Lamont framed the bill as compatible with business interests, saying raising standards and enforcing rules creates a level playing field. He noted Connecticut's earlier minimum-wage increases when discussing broader economic context.

The bill is identified in the signing event as House Bill 5,003. The transcript did not specify the bill's effective date or implementation timeline; that information was not provided at the event.

Next steps: the bill was signed in a ceremonial event; the effective date and administrative implementation details were not specified during the signing.