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

Bill Text

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 352
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1977

Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES

Introduced by:
(LAB)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS
EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 21a-421d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) As used in this section: 3
(1) "Bona fide labor organization" means (A) with respect to a labor 4
peace agreement entered into on or before September 30, 2023, a labor 5
union that (i) represents employees in this state with regard to wages, 6
hours and working conditions, (ii) whose officers have been elected by 7
a secret ballot or otherwise in a manner consistent with federal law, (iii) 8
is free of domination or interference by any employer and has received 9
no improper assistance or support from any employer, and (iv) is 10
actively seeking to represent cannabis workers in the state, and (B) with 11
respect to a labor peace agreement entered into on or after October 1, 12
2023, a labor union that is included on the list established and 13
periodically updated by the department pursuant to subsection (b) of 14

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this section; 15
(2) "Labor peace agreement" means an agreement between a cannabis 16
establishment and a bona fide labor organization under this section 17
pursuant to which the owners and management of the cannabis 18
establishment agree not to lock out employees and that prohibits the 19
bona fide labor organization from engaging in picketing, work 20
stoppages or boycotts against the cannabis establishment; 21
(3) "Cannabis establishment", "dispensary facility" and "producer" 22
have the same meanings as provided in section 21a-420; and 23
(4) "Licensee" means a cannabis establishment licensee, dispensary 24
facility or producer. 25
(b) (1) Not later than October 1, 2023, the department shall establish 26
and periodically update a list of labor unions that (A) are actively 27
seeking to represent cannabis workers in this state, and (B) satisfy the 28
criteria established in subdivision (2) of this subsection. 29
(2) Not later than September 1, 2023, the department shall accept 30
applications for inclusion on the list established pursuant to subdivision 31
(1) of this subsection. Any labor union that wishes to be included on 32
such list shall submit an application to the department, in a form and 33
manner prescribed by the department. As part of such application, such 34
labor union shall attest, under penalty of false statement, that such labor 35
union: 36
(A) Is actively seeking to represent cannabis workers in this state; 37
(B) Satisfies at least two of the following criteria: 38
(i) Such labor union represents employees in this state with regard to 39
wages, hours and working conditions; 40
(ii) Such labor union has been recognized or certified as the 41
bargaining representative for cannabis employees employed at cannabis 42
establishments in this state; 43

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(iii) Such labor union has executed one or more collective bargaining 44
agreements with cannabis establishment employers in this state, which 45
agreement or agreements remain effective on the date of such labor 46
union's application under this subsection; or 47
(iv) Such labor union has spent resources as part of one or more 48
attempts to organize and represent cannabis workers employed at 49
cannabis establishments in the state, which attempt or attempts remain 50
active on the date of such labor union's application under this 51
subsection; 52
(C) Has filed the annual report required by 29 USC 431(b) for the 53
three years immediately preceding the date of such labor union's 54
application under this subsection; 55
(D) Has audited financial reports covering the three years 56
immediately preceding the date of such labor union's application under 57
this subsection; 58
(E) Was governed by a written constitution or bylaws for the three 59
years immediately preceding the date of such labor union's application 60
under this subsection; 61
(F) Is affiliated with regional or national associations of unions, 62
including, but not limited to, central labor councils; 63
(G) Is overseen by officers elected by secret ballot or otherwise in a 64
manner consistent with federal law; 65
(H) Is free from domination or interference by any employer; and 66
(I) Has not received any improper assistance or support from any 67
employer. 68
(3) In the event of any change in the information that a labor union 69
submits to the department under this subsection, the labor union shall 70
correct or update such information, in a form and manner prescribed by 71
the department, not later than thirty days after the date of such change. 72

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(4) In the event