Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8) Chosen for 2025 UCAC Advocacy Award

The UCAC Advocacy Award is given to an individual who has made a significant effort to improve legislation, regulations, or funding related to the utility construction industry, or the trades as a whole. Rep. Tim Ackert (R-8) was chosen to receive an Advocacy Award for his many years of supporting the trades. Below are links to some of Tim Ackert’s workforce development efforts from the past few years.

February 2025 – State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) testified in strong support of a House Republican Caucus proposal seeking to grow our skilled labor workforce by establishing a new career pipeline. Ackert stated that House Bill 5704, An Act Creating a Construction Pipeline Program, offers a multifaceted approach to build a larger and more robust construction workforce.
January 2025 – Ackert was assigned to several committees, including the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
October 2024 – In order to make money, you need to go to college, right? State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) wants to think differently. In a recent legislative roundtable on workforce development, Ackert invited several statewide trade, business, education, and housing advocates to address the high demand for skilled labor workers while proposing smart solutions to combat the housing crisis and prepare students for sustainable careers. As a promoter of state colleges, licensed electrician, and decades-long apprenticeship sponsor, Ackert wants to use his experience in post-secondary education to expand youth access to skilled labor opportunities.
March 2024 – Tim Ackert testified before the Higher Education and Employment Committee in support of Senate Bill 302: An Act Concerning Expanding the Tax Credit for Qualified Apprenticeship Training Programs and Establishing a Pilot Program for Children Interested in Trades.
February 2024 – Survey: Join me in fighting back against state mandated job suppression. Known as apprenticeship hiring ratios, state statutes currently limit the amount of apprentices a business can hire, shrinking our workforce, hurting our economy, and making it harder to meet our clean energy demands and hire the next, diverse generation of trade workers.
February 2024 – Tim Ackert testified in support of Senate Bill 106: An Act Concerning Workforce Development Initiatives in the State, which would order the Board of Regents for Higher Education administer a study of current and potential successful workforce development initiatives in Connecticut.
February 2024 – Tim Ackert held a press conference calling for an amendment to state apprenticeship hiring ratios in certain construction trades. Ackert, who has been a licensed electrician for over 30 years, was joined by several skilled labor employers and employees that support changing hiring ratios in order to reinforce an aging workforce. The proposal would change the hiring ratio of apprentices to licensees from 1:3 to 1:1.
November 2023 – Tim Ackert addresses how hiring ratios limit the success of apprenticeship programs during National Apprenticeship Week.
May 2023 – State Representative Tim Ackert (R-8) joined Governor Ned Lamont and others to announce the launch of a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program for educators in Connecticut. In collaboration with Commissioner Russell-Tucker of the Connecticut State Department of Education and Commissioner Bartolomeo of the Connecticut Department of Labor, this $3 million initiative will double the number of high schools offering programs for aspiring educators and help expand educator diversity.
March 2023 – State Representative Tim Ackert (R-8) testified in front of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee with his strong support for House Bill 6921, “An Act Concerning the Amount of the Apprenticeship Tax Credit for the Construction Trades.” As stated in his testimony, the bill seeks to incentivize more students, youth, and residents to join Connecticut’s skilled trade workforce. If passed, HB6921 would raise the tax credit from $4,000-$7,500 a year for hired apprentices who prove their commitment to completing their training.
March 2023 – State Representative Tim Ackert (R-8) joined the Education Committee to testify in support of two key bills that serve to fill more Connecticut jobs and reduce unnecessary mandates on school administrators. As Ranking Member of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, Ackert provided a valuable perspective on how both S.B. 1197 “An Act Concerning Workforce Development” and H.B. 6882 “An Act Concerning Mandate Relief” could promptly achieve these goals.