A new Connecticut law lets small manufacturers pilot technology in state agencies—but there's a major cost provision most owners haven't heard about.
Connecticut's HB05247, An Act Concerning A Test Bed Technologies Program, creates a pathway for small manufacturers and contractors to pilot new technology within state government. But buried in the bill is a financial requirement that catches many business owners off guard: your company pays all the costs. The state pays nothing.
Under Section 1(e) of HB05247 (Page 4), any small business—defined as a certified small contractor or minority business enterprise—that wants to test its technology through a state agency pilot program must cover 100% of acquisition and deployment costs out of pocket. This isn't a reimbursement program. You fund the pilot yourself from day one.
That's not all. As part of your application, you must also pay for an independent market-research assessment. This assessment is a required component of applying, which means it's a cost you incur before you even know if your pilot will be approved.
Together, these two obligations—full pilot funding plus independent market research—represent the single largest direct financial burden the bill places on applicant businesses.
If your manufacturing business is certified as a small contractor or minority business enterprise (MBE) in Connecticut, and you want to test new technology or processes by running a pilot within a state agency, this law applies to you. The pilot window itself is short: 30 to 60 days. But the financial commitment is real and upfront.
Larger manufacturers and those without small-business certification are not subject to these same requirements under this particular program.
The law becomes effective October 1, 2026. The state will establish an application portal by January 1, 2027. That gives you roughly six months from the effective date to understand the program and prepare your financial plan if you're considering applying.
Before you approach the portal, you should have clarity on:
This is a self-funded pilot opportunity, not a grant or subsidy program. It makes sense if your business has the capital to test technology in a real government environment and believes the market validation and operational data are worth the investment. It's less practical if your business relies on state or federal cost-sharing to fund R&D pilots.
The upside: a 30–60 day pilot in a state agency can provide genuine market traction and case-study material. The downside: you're financing it entirely yourself.
For a detailed breakdown of how HB05247 affects small manufacturers and contractors, including certification requirements and application strategy, a free, business-specific resource is available through Connecticut's manufacturing and small-business networks.