HB 5008 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT-PUERTO RICO TRADE COMMISSION.

HB 5008 creates the Connecticut-Puerto Rico Trade Commission to formally promote economic collaboration between Connecticut businesses and Puerto Rico. The commission, composed of state officials and private sector representatives, will coordinate trade initiatives, identify market opportunities, and facilitate business connections between the two regions. It directly affects Connecticut businesses seeking to expand into Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican entities aiming to engage with Connecticut markets. The law establishes a structured mechanism for ongoing trade relationship development, moving beyond informal efforts to a dedicated state-led body.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Proposed Bill → Committee Bill · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from a proposed bill to a committee bill, indicating it has been reviewed by the Commerce Committee. The most significant change is the transformation of the commission's structure from a simple establishment to a detailed 12-member commission with specific appointment powers distributed among legislative leaders, the Governor, and committee members. The committee version adds detailed provisions about member qualifications, term lengths, meeting requirements, and administrative staffing that were absent in the original proposal.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from a basic establishment of a trade commission to a detailed operational framework with specific membership composition, appointment procedures, term limits, and administrative requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed composition of the commission with 12 specific member categories including legislative leaders, Governor appointees, and community representatives.

Added requirements for member qualifications, including current or past involvement in Puerto Rican affairs organizations.

Added provisions for administrative staff appointment by the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus chairperson.

Added attendance requirements with automatic resignation provisions for members missing three consecutive meetings or 50% of annual meetings.

Added annual reporting requirements to the Governor, Economic and Community Development Commissioner, and Commerce Committee by February 1, 2027.

TIMELINE

Added specific deadlines for initial appointments (October 1, 2025) and first meeting (November 1, 2025), plus term expiration dates.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill number from LCO No. 77 to LCO No. 6442 and updated page count from 1 to 5 pages.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2025 · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

36–0

Passed

Total votes 36

May 21, 2025

D Democratic25

25 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican11

11 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 3, 2025

Signed into law

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

lower

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

SENATE PASSED

upper

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Commerce

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE

lower

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Commerce

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors