CMC Report

September 2025 – by Justin Swanson

Following is a recap of this month’s CMC meeting from September 8.

The September 8 CMC meeting focused on leadership updates, legislative developments, and strategic priorities for the manufacturing community. Administrator Paul Amarone provided an update on the ongoing Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) search, noting that a candidate with expertise in bioscience and semiconductors is expected to be announced shortly. Members agreed that engaging the new CMO early will be critical to ensure alignment with policy objectives and to secure their participation in upcoming events.

Eric Gjede presented a comprehensive legislative update, highlighting the upcoming special session that will address housing, immigration, and the potential impacts of HR 1 on programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. The group discussed the likelihood of additional issues surfacing, including renewed debate around a warehouse bill originally targeting Amazon. Turning to the 2026 legislative agenda, members identified healthcare and energy costs as pressing challenges for manufacturers, with smaller businesses particularly vulnerable. Concerns were also raised about the unintended effects of the state’s minimum wage increase, which positions Connecticut among the highest in the nation and may exacerbate the benefits cliff for workers.

Additional discussions examined the future of the R&D tax credit, regulatory burdens affecting manufacturers, and barriers in high schools that limit career readiness for trades and manufacturing pathways. A working group, including CBIA and ReadyCT, is preparing recommendations to improve accountability measures, with findings due by January 1. The meeting also underscored the importance of building coalitions to address healthcare affordability and other systemic issues. Finally, Paul Amarone announced the release of CBIA’s 2025 Annual Survey, offering valuable insights to guide legislative proposals and advocacy in the months ahead