Lamont budget hides flu shots, license cuts in 300-page plan
Gov. Lamont's budget revision includes free flu vaccines for uninsured residents and eliminates professional license fees for 160,000 workers.
The Democratic governor wants to eliminate application and renewal fees for electricians, plumbers, sheet metal workers, HVAC professionals and certain teachers. The move would benefit more than 160,000 Connecticut workers but cost the state $16 million in fiscal 2027 and $21 million the following year.
License fees range from $65 to $375 annually. The General Assembly previously eliminated similar fees for health-care workers, and Lamont’s proposal would also remove their renewal fees.
“This builds on what we’ve already done for healthcare professionals,” said Max Reiss, Lamont’s communications director.
The governor also proposed spending $892,000 for the Department of Public Health to provide free flu vaccines to uninsured and underinsured residents through a pilot program.
The initiative would distribute up to 52,000 doses, reaching about a quarter of Connecticut’s uninsured adult population, according to budget documents. State officials said the program could reduce healthcare costs from preventable hospitalizations.
Other smaller proposals buried in the budget revision include funding for literacy coaches and an informational campaign about bears.
The minor initiatives contrast with Lamont’s higher-profile proposals, including $200 to $400 energy rebates for taxpayers that dominated coverage when he unveiled his budget adjustments this week at the State Capitol in Hartford.
Lamont’s budget revision comes as the General Assembly prepares for its 2026 session. Lawmakers will review all proposals before voting on final budget adjustments.
The license fee elimination follows a trend of reducing regulatory costs for workers. Connecticut has steadily removed barriers to professional licensing, particularly in healthcare fields where worker shortages persist.
The flu vaccine pilot represents a new approach to public health outreach. Connecticut typically relies on federally qualified health centers and local health departments to provide vaccines to uninsured residents.
Legislative leaders have not yet commented on the smaller budget proposals. The General Assembly will begin committee hearings on Lamont’s full budget package in the coming weeks.