SB 352 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

352354 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

1977352 ReferredSenate, toApril 2, 2026 The Committee on LABORLabor ANDand PUBLICPublic EMPLOYEESEmployees Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(LAB)KUSHNER ANof ACTthe CONCERNING24th THEDist., MINIMUMChairperson FAIRof WAGEthe ANDCommittee PERSONSon EMPLOYEDthe ATpart CANNABISof ESTABLISHMENTS.the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

(1) "Bona fide labor organization" means (A) with respect to a labor peace agreement entered into on or before September 30, 2023, a labor union that (i) represents employees in this state with regard to wages, hours and working conditions, (ii) whose officers have been elected by a secret ballot or otherwise in a manner consistent with federal law, (iii) is free of domination or interference by any employer and has received no improper assistance or support from any employer, and (iv) is actively seeking to represent cannabis workers in the state, and (B) with respect to a labor peace agreement entered into on or after October 1, 2023, a labor union that is included on the list established and periodicallySB352 updated/ byFile the department pursuant to subsection (b) of LCO 1977 1 of 5 Raised Bill No.

352354 this1 section;SB352 File No.

354 periodically updated by the department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section;

(ii) Such labor union has been recognized or certified as the bargainingrepresentativeforcannabisemployeesemployedatcannabis establishmentsSB352 in/ thisFile state;No.

LCO354 1977 2 ofSB352 5File Raised Bill No.

352354 (iii)establishments Such labor union has executed one or more collective bargaining agreements with cannabis establishment employers in this state,state; which agreement or agreements remain effective on the date of such labor union's application under this subsection;

(iii) Such labor union has executed one or more collective bargaining agreements with cannabis establishment employers in this state, which agreement or agreements remain effective on the date of such labor union's application under this subsection;

(3) In the event of any change in the information that a labor union submits to the department under this subsection, the labor union shall correct or update such information, in a form and manner prescribed by theSB352 department,/ notFile laterNo. than thirty days after the date of such change.

LCO354 1977 3 ofSB352 5File Raised Bill No.

352354 (4) In the event that a labor union no longer satisfies the criteria established in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the labor union shall notify the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department and not later than thirty days after suchthe labordate unionof no longer satisfies such criteria,change. that such labor union no longer satisfies such criteria.

(4) In the event that a labor union no longer satisfies the criteria established in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the labor union shall notify the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department and not later than thirty days after such labor union no longer satisfies such criteria, that such labor union no longer satisfies such criteria.

or (4) the court, after hearing, orders alternative remedies, which may include, but need not be limited to, ordering the department toSB352 revoke/ theFile license or ordering the appointment of a receiver to LCO 1977 4 of 5 Raised Bill No.

352354 properly4 disposeSB352 ofFile anyNo. cannabis inventory.

354 to revoke the license or ordering the appointment of a receiver to properly dispose of any cannabis inventory.

Section 1 October 1, 2026 21a-421d LAB Joint Favorable LCOSB352 1977/ 5File ofNo. 5

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354 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill, which clarifies that gratuities shall not be recognized as part of the fair minimum wage for employees of a cannabis establishment, dispensary facility or producer, does not result in any fiscal impact as it conforms with current Labor Department practice.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB352 / File No.

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354 OLR Bill Analysis SB 352 AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

SUMMARY This bill explicitly prohibits the labor commissioner from counting tips as part of the state’s minimum wage requirement for employees of cannabis establishments, dispensaries, or producers.

It also specifies that any cannabis establishment, dispensary, or producer that pays an employee less than the state minimum wage is violating the minimum wage law.

The state’s existing “tip credit” law, unchanged by the bill, generally allows employers to pay less than the minimum wage to bartenders and hotel and restaurant staff who customarily and regularly receive tips, as long as their tips make up the difference (CGS § 31-60(b)).

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026 BACKGROUND Related Bill sHB 5003, § 7, reported favorably by the Labor and Public Employees Committee, is identical to this bill.

COMMITTEE ACTION Labor and Public Employees Committee Joint Favorable Yea 9 Nay 4 (03/17/2026) SB352 / File No.

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