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SB 8 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO WORKERS' RIGHTS.

SB 8 would have amended unemployment benefit rules to protect workers during labor disputes by removing a provision that previously denied benefits if a dispute lasted 14 days after December 2026. It directly affected workers who lost jobs due to strikes or lockouts, ensuring they could retain benefits unless they participated in or financially supported the dispute. The bill changed eligibility rules to clarify that lockouts (defined as employers refusing work during negotiations) wouldn’t automatically disqualify workers from benefits. However, Governor Ned Lamont vetoed the bill on June 23, 2025, preventing these changes from taking effect. The veto means current unemployment rules remain in place for workers facing labor disputes.
Issues: ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves denial of unemployment benefits during labor disputes, protecting workers' rights and ensuring benefits during strikes/lockouts per bill's eligibility changes.95% confidence
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Vetoed
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Vetoed Jun 23, 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 legislature. The substantive content significantly expanded from a brief 5-line summary to a comprehensive 104-line act with detailed definitions, new requirements for quota transparency, and specific protections for workers in warehouse distribution centers.
Scope change
The bill now specifically applies to warehouse distribution centers (defined by NAICS codes) with 100+ employees at a single center or 1000+ employees across multiple centers, rather than the vague 'certain warehouse distribution centers' mentioned in the original proposal.
DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'Employee', 'Employer', 'Quota', 'Work speed data', and 'Warehouse distribution center' with specific NAICS codes and employee thresholds.

REQUIREMENT

Requires employers to provide written descriptions of quotas to employees by August 1, 2026, and notify employees of quota changes within two business days.

Prohibits quotas that prevent meal breaks, interfere with bathroom use, measure output in increments shorter than a work day, or rank employees against each other.

Mandates employers maintain records of individual and aggregated work speed data for three years.

ENFORCEMENT

Allows employees to request quota descriptions and work speed data for the prior 90 days if they believe a quota violates the act.

TIMELINE

Established effective dates of October 1, 2025 for definitions and July 1, 2026 for most operational requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed from a general statement about protecting workers' rights to specific protections for warehouse workers with detailed quota restrictions.

Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2025 · House May 30, 2025

How they voted

24–11
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 36
May 28, 2025
D Democratic25
24 Yea 1
96% Yea
R Republican11
11 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Jun 23, 2025
Vetoed
VETOED BY GOVERNOR
upper
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
upper
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.