The Session Ends.

By Scott Dolch, President & CEO, Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association

At midnight on Wednesday, May 6, the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned Sine Die and the 2026 Legislative Session came to a close.

The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association (CHRA) represented our industry across many pieces of proposed legislation. With the support of our members, we successfully supported legislation to ensure the strength of prosperity of restaurants and hospitality businesses across the state, while also successfully stopping numerous bills that would have harmed our member businesses.

Firstly, a huge thank you to CRHA Members for your strategic engagement that helped advance key legislation and stop harmful proposals in their tracks — proof of the power of an informed and united industry voice. Here are some highlights from the 2026 session:

• SB 305: An Act Establishing a Working Group to Study Statewide Marketing & Tourism in the State: PASSED

The CRHA supported this bill that establishes a working group to study statewide marketing and tourism.

The study will include, but not limited to, a review of investment and participation in statewide marketing and tourism for the purpose of positioning the state as a prime destination for travel and encouraging strategic investment in such sectors.

• HB 5003: An Act Concerning Workforce Development & Working Conditions in the State: PASSED

Among other things, this bill requires an employer to: disclose a position’s wage range and benefits, provide reasonable break times for employers who are nursing, and create a guide for employees on pay codes for overtime and pay differentials

In a win for the restaurants statewide, this bill also allows restaurants to sell smaller sized lobster legally purchased from out of state waters.

• SB 5: An Act Concerning Online Safety: PASSED

This bill regulates AI for businesses across the state.

• SB 2: An Act Supporting Local Commerce: DID NOT PASS

This bill would have allocated a portion of the revenue from the 1% meals and beverage tax to statewide tourism marketing and municipalities. 

• HB 5537: An Act Establishing a Working Group to Study Ways to Fund a Universal Free School Meals Program: DID NOT PASS

This bill would have impose a tax on certain sweetened beverages, syrups and powders, and dedicate the revenue generated to a universal free school meals program.

• SB 436: An Act Concerning Advanced Notice of Employee’s Work Schedule by an Employer: DID NOT PASS

This bill would have required employers to provide advanced notice to certain employees of such employee’s work schedule and work schedule changes and create a cause of action for violations of advanced notice requirements.

• HB 5492: An Act Concerning Limitations on the Use on Noncompete Agreements: DID NOT PASS

This bill would have prohibited the use of noncompete agreements and exclusivity agreements unless they meet
certain criteria.

• HB 5524: An Act Concerning The State’s Materials Management System: DID NOT PASS

Among other things, this bill would have prohibited the use of polystyrene containers, single-use food service items unless requested by a consumer, and the distribution of single-use straws.

• HB 5536: An Act Establishing a State Short-Term Rental Registry: DID NOT PASS

This bill would have established a state short-term rental registry and authorize an optional municipal supplemental tax on short-term rentals, requiring short-term rental return filings to include disaggregated sales tax information.

Thank you to CRHA Members for using your voice to help shape legislation, protect our industry, and make a real difference. Your presence drove meaningful change and protected what matters most to our industry.

Interested in learning more about the CRHA and member benefits? Simply visit us at ctrestaurant.org.