State desk
Ranks 44th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Connecticut stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 7 Connecticut outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Connecticut in red. Free to cite with attribution.
A permit is required and issued to qualified applicants; treated as effectively shall-issue after the Bruen decision.
Connecticut is 1 of 15 states with this rule
29 · Constitutional (Permitless) Carry6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Connecticut taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 6.99 percent across 7 brackets, ranking 11 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Connecticut is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Connecticut charges 25.00 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 35 of 50, which is among the lowest in the country. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 43.40 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 49.90 cents.
Connecticut is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest16 · Near the Middle
Abolished in 2012.
Connecticut is 1 of 23 states with this rule
23 · Retains the death penalty4 · Retains it, executions paused
Not a right-to-work state; union-security agreements are permitted.
Connecticut is 1 of 24 states with this rule
26 · Right-to-Work
State minimum wage is $16.94, above the federal $7.25 floor.
Connecticut is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters are asked for ID that need not bear a photo, but may still vote by signing an affidavit if lacking one.
Connecticut is 1 of 8 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID14 · No Document Required
No ESA, voucher, or tax-credit scholarship program.
Connecticut is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
NCSL does not list Connecticut among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it.
Connecticut is 1 of 12 states with this rule
31 · No Duty to Retreat7 · Recognized by Court Decision
Following a 2024 constitutional amendment, any voter may request an absentee ballot without an excuse.
Connecticut is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Connecticut's unemployment rate was 5.1% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 49th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 48th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 4.2%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Connecticut is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court