Connecticut Bill Would Require Marijuana Workers to Receive Full Minimum Wage, Bar Counting Tips Toward Pay
- Connecticut lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 352 to prohibit marijuana businesses from counting tips toward employee wages, ensuring cannabis workers receive the full state minimum fair wage.
- The bill, introduced by the Labor and Public Employees Committee, specifies that gratuities cannot be recognized as part of the minimum wage for employees at cannabis establishments, dispensaries, or producers.
- Under the proposal, any cannabis business paying less than the minimum fair wage would violate state law, with the bill amending Section 21a-421d of Connecticut statutes.
- SB 352 is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and has been referred back to the committee for further consideration.
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Connecticut lawmakers have filed legislation that would prohibit marijuana businesses from counting tips toward employee wages, requiring all cannabis workers to be paid the full state minimum fair wage. Senate Bill 352 was introduced today by the Labor and Public Employees Committee. The measure is titled An Act Concerning The Minimum Fair Wage And Persons Employed At Cannabis Establishments.
Under the proposal, “in no event shall the Labor Commissioner recognize, as part of the minimum fair wage, gratuities for persons employed at a cannabis establishment, dispensary facility or producer.” It further states that any marijuana business that pays or agrees to pay an employee less than the minimum fair wage would be in violation of state law.
The bill amends Section 21a-421d of the general statutes and would take effect October 1, 2026. The stated purpose of the legislation is “to clarify that persons employed at cannabis establishments are to be paid the minimum fair wage.”
SB 352 has been referred to committee that introduced it. The full text of the proposal can be found here (PDF)
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