by Kenneth Reed
WATERBURY, CT — Small business owners could get a sweet deal on healthcare coverage under a new tax proposal Gov. Ned Lamont touted at a Connecticut candy factory Wednesday.
Speaking at Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, Lamont backed House Bill 5041, a proposal that would create a new tax credit for small businesses offering employees individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements.
FILE PHOTO — Gov. Ned Lamont answers questions about the ICE shooting in Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2026 in New Haven. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
“This ICHRA allows you to be a part of a bigger pool up there on the exchange. We get you $1,000 credit making it a little easier for you guys to administer this for the folks that work here right now,” Lamont said. “Save you a little bit of money and make sure the folks get the care they need.”
Founded in 1964, Fascia’s has 45 employees, according to the company. That puts it on the larger side of qualifying for the credits, which would apply to businesses with 50 or fewer workers.
“Healthcare costs are eating our budget alive, small businesses, school boards,” said Lamont. “We’re trying to do everything we can to get our pension costs under control and bend the curve. Now it’s healthcare costs, and there are ways, through subsidies, to help people get going.”
Chris DiPentima, president and CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said there was no one-size-fits-all approach to managing healthcare costs.
“There is no silver bullet, but this is real, practical steps in the right direction,” he said.
Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerweski said city residents and employees needed more accessible and flexible healthcare options.
“While there’s still a lot of work to be done today reflects real progress it shows the state of Connecticut is listening and committed to finding practical, bi partisan solutions,” he said.
In addition to the credits, the bill requires the Office of Policy and Management to study and report on the feasibility of establishing the Connecticut Option program. That option would be a standardized state-designed health benefit plan to reduce health care coverage costs that is available to individuals in the state through private or commercial insurers, according to the Office of Legislative Research bill analysis.