Connecticut GOP Pushes Bill to Curb State Employee Telework

HARTFORD, Conn. (Day.News) — Connecticut House Bill 5705, titled 'An Act Limiting Remote Work For State Employees,' was introduced on Jan. 21, 2025, by Rep. Mark W. Anderson (R-62nd District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Anne Dauphinais (R-44th District). The partisan Republican proposal seeks to amend state statutes to restrict telework, overriding existing collective bargaining or arbitration agreements, amid ongoing discussions about state employee performance in hybrid setups.

Referred immediately to the Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees, the bill remains at 25% progression with no further action as of early 2026. Proponents argue it addresses fiscal impacts and productivity concerns, echoing a related 2025 Senate Bill 220 by Sen. Heather S. Somers (R-18th District), which calls for a study of remote work's effects on state operations. AFT Connecticut, representing state workers, has voiced opposition, noting a public hearing on the measure to reduce telework options.

The push contrasts with Connecticut's 2021 remote work tax relief signed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D), which retroactively exempted 2020 home-based employees from creating corporate tax nexus and offered credits for cross-state commuters. No recent legislation expands permanent telework for agencies like the Department of Children and Families, despite pandemic-driven shifts; instead, current efforts focus on reining in flexibility to boost in-office presence across Hartford's state complex.

As the 2025 session progresses, the bill highlights tensions between modern work preferences and demands for accountability in Connecticut's $28 billion state budget, where employee costs form a major chunk. Labor leaders warn of morale hits, while sponsors cite unproven remote efficiencies in public service roles.