Today, Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order requiring state agency officials to review their permits, licensing and certification procedures and to create plans for streamlining these processes. Additionally, the order demands refunds for applicants who experience delays in these processes.
“Today’s announcement reflects Governor Lamont’s commitment to making Connecticut a more predictable, efficient and business friendly state,” said Matthew Pugliese, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). “By streamlining our permitting, licensing and certifications, we’re removing barriers. We’re creating a clear, consistent process for businesses and communities.”
Pugliese said that each agency is tasked with compiling a “comprehensive list” of the licenses, permits and certifications they issue, which would also include information such as application methods, fees, total numbers of applications and applicant approval rates. Agency officials must then propose a maximum number of days required to process each of these applications and identify any barriers to this goal, as well as any barriers that would prevent them from processing refunds. The Governor’s Office will then publish a list of its own, outlining the maximum number of days agencies will have to turn around each of their various applications, and each application which is eligible for a fee refund if that deadline is not met.
“Once that list is complete, the Department of Administrative Services shall consult with each agency about the technological resources that can further streamline the application and decision processes,” said Pugliese.
Streamlining Connecticut’s licensing requirements, which were ranked the 30th worst in the nation in 2023, is not a new initiative for Lamont. In 2024, he urged the legislature to eliminate licensing fees for teachers, childcare, and healthcare workers. In his 2025 budget, he proposed the removal of fees for additional professions. While this order does not stipulate the removal of any fees, it does demand that applicants receive a refund of their fees if their application isn’t turned around by the deadlines set by the Governor’s Office.
“Remember Domino’s Pizza?” said Lamont. “If you don’t get that pizza in 30 minutes, you get your money back? Well, this is what we’re doing here for our certifications, that’s what we’re doing for licensing — We’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
Randy Salvatore, the CEO and President of RMS Companies, a real-estate development firm, said that streamlining processes “sends the message to developers like me that the state not only wants to move forward, but is putting actions ahead of words.” He noted that the EO will not look to “sidestep” safety protocols, but merely get applicants to the “end result a lot quicker.” Salvatore said that delays in permitting, environmental, traffic and zoning reviews, can “not only delay, but sometimes completely derail a project.”
“In such a fast moving world as we’re living in today, these government efficiencies become even more important every single day,” said Salvatore. “Today’s executive order shows that the Lamont administration understands these processes and is committed to doing everything that it can to make Connecticut an attractive place for companies to invest.”
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