SB 354 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING STAFFING IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS DIVISION IN THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

SB 354 requires the Labor Commissioner to employ a minimum number of staff at the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Division starting in fiscal year 2027. The bill directly affects unemployment claimants by aiming to improve processing of benefit claims through increased staffing. Its key provision mandates a specified minimum workforce level for the division, without changing benefit eligibility or amounts. This procedural bill focuses solely on staffing levels within the Labor Department's unemployment division.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → LAB Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' and amended to require the Labor Commissioner to hire a specific number of staff based on the existing workforce count as of September 30, 2025, rather than a fixed number. It also mandates an additional hiring of 25 employees by July 1, 2027, to process unemployment claims. The Legislative Commissioners noted a minor wording adjustment for clarity regarding the staff count.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from mandating a fixed number of employees to a dynamic requirement tied to the current workforce size, while adding a specific future hiring target.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the staffing requirement from a fixed number of employees to a minimum equal to the number of employees present on September 30, 2025.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement to hire an additional 25 employees by July 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and corrected 'Insurance Division' to 'Insurance Benefits Division'.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors