Senator Ryan Fazio and Governor Lamont Continue to Advance the Elimination of Licensing Fees in CT

HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT – State Senator Ryan Fazio (R- Greenwich) thanks Governor Lamont for highlighting his legislative proposal of eliminating the fees workers in certain in-demand professions are required to pay when applying for an occupational license, benefiting nearly 180,000 workers.

Senator Fazio first introduced the proposal to eliminate licensure fees for key professions in Connecticut with S.B. 135 in 2023, S.B. 135 in 2024, and S.B. 388 in 2025 with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, aiming to make the state a more attractive place to live and work by cutting unnecessary financial barriers and fees for skilled professionals.

Sen. Fazio said, “For several years it has been my top priority to pass legislation to cut burdensome fees on Connecticut’s workers, including our great teachers, nurses, mental health professionals, electricians, plumbers, and hundreds of thousands of other licensed professionals. I appreciate the governor’s leadership in making it a priority this year. Workers shouldn’t have to pay this tax just for the right to work in our state! Let’s come together to cut licensing fees on workers and send a signal that we want to make it easier to work, live, and succeed in Connecticut!”

“Workers in certain skilled professions are required to obtain licenses for understandable reasons, but we should be doing more to encourage jobseekers to enter these fields, and that is why I want to eliminate all of the costs associated with applying for and renewing these licenses,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the last several years, we’ve enacted more than $840 million in permanent tax cuts, most of which are specifically targeted at providing relief to middle-class taxpayers, and I am asking the legislature to continue on this path by eliminating these occupational license fees.”
Senator Fazio has been a vocal advocate for workforce development policies that lower costs for professionals, improve economic mobility, and strengthen Connecticut’s economy. He remains committed to ensuring that this proposal continues to move forward and deliver real benefits to workers across the state.