CT HB07018

Establishes a five-member Test Bed Technologies Advisory Board within the Department of Economic and Community Development, effective July 1, 2025, to meet at least twice annually and evaluate technologies that could reduce state agency operational costs

Advisory board may recommend pilot test programs lasting 30-60 days where state agencies temporarily use approved technologies, products, or processes to validate cost-reduction effectiveness

Participating businesses must be certified small contractors or minority business enterprises, demonstrate safety compliance, maintain patent documentation, and show commercialization potential within two years of pilot completion

All costs for technology acquisition and testing are borne by the applicant, not the state, and pilot acquisitions are exempt from standard state procurement requirements

Following successful pilots, state agencies may request the Commissioner of Administrative Services to procure the technology, with procurement information made available to all state agencies