CMC Report

October 2025 – by Justin Swanson

Following is a recap of this month’s CMC meeting from October 13.

Meeting Overview

Administrator Paul Amarone opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and providing updates on current policy priorities. He introduced two new members, Danielle Cloud, CBIA’s Public Policy Associate, and Steven Berkowitz of Albert Brothers. Both shared their professional backgrounds and expressed enthusiasm about joining the collaborative policy efforts within the group. Tony Benoit and Michael Rocheleau also spoke about their organizations and emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation in shaping effective manufacturing policy. The meeting briefly addressed the upcoming legislative session and the possibility of a special session later in the year.

Legislative and Policy Update

Eric Gjede of Statehouse Associates and CBIA delivered an update on upcoming legislative developments. He noted that a special legislative session is scheduled for November 12–13, 2025, which will likely focus on transferring up to $500 million in surplus funds into a “safety net” reserve to prepare for possible federal budget reductions. He explained that no major legislation directly affecting manufacturing is expected during this session.

The group then turned its attention to the 2026 Legislative Agenda, reviewing the draft version of the 2025 CMC Legislative Agenda document. Energy costs emerged as a top concern, with participants stressing their impact on business competitiveness. Michael Rocheleau shared insights from Manufacture CT leadership discussions, noting that energy affordability consistently ranks among the highest advocacy priorities. Maintaining strong fiscal guardrails was also identified as a crucial element for ensuring long-term business stability and economic growth.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on workforce development and education accountability. Paul Amarone emphasized the need to revise high school graduation requirements and the state’s accountability index to better support career pathways in manufacturing and technical education. He explained that CBIA and Ready CT are collaborating through a working group to explore methods for recognizing and incentivizing schools and districts that prioritize vocational and career-focused programs. Steven Berkowitz raised thoughtful questions about how effective such policy adjustments might be in motivating schools to invest in manufacturing education. To support further discussion, Paul committed to sharing comparative examples from other states that have implemented similar changes.

Action Items and Next Steps

Paul Amarone will distribute data from other states that have revised their accountability measures and graduation standards to better align with workforce needs. Eric Gjede will examine potential regulatory issues to determine whether any should be included in the 2026 legislative agenda. The policy agenda is expected to be finalized before the end of the year and subsequently distributed to legislative leaders. Once completed, the CMC plans to schedule a call with key committee chairs in advance of the 2026 legislative session.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that the next CMC meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 1, 2025, at 3:00 PM. Meeting minutes and the agenda for that session will be circulated in advance.