Bolinsky: January 1st New Laws
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Key Takeaways
- Bolinsky previews major laws going into effect January 1.
- Lawmakers enact reforms affecting residents and businesses statewide.
- Bolinsky highlights implementation timelines and expected impacts.
- Residents urged to review new rules and compliance requirements.
Several new laws take effect January 1st that could have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I have highlighted some of them below.
An expanded list of those new laws, along with summaries, can be accessed here.
A summary of some new laws includes:
Among other things, I co-sponsored PA 25-152 to increase the mandatory property tax exemption for farm machinery, other than motor vehicles, from $100,000 to $250,000 in assessed value. It also creates a 20% refundable business tax credit for farmers’ investments in eligible machinery, equipment, and buildings that may be applied against the corporation business or personal property income taxes; sets eligibility criteria; requires all or part of the credit to be repaid under certain conditions for five years after the property is acquired.
This provision of PA 25-16, our 2025 Aging Committee Omnibus is taking effect on January 1, requiring certain individual and group health insurance policies to cover biomarker testing to diagnose, treat, manage, or monitor an insured’s individual’s disease or condition over time. This measure was a priority for our committee and I, as well as to several advocate groups, including my friends at AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association.
The full policy impact of PA 25-16’s 2025 Aging Committee Omnibus, built in partnership with the Governor’s OPM staff, is best described in the full title of the signed bill: An Act Establishing An Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Task Force Requiring Health Insurance Coverage for Biomarker Testing; and Concerning Transfers & Discharges in Residential Care Homes; and Tuition Waivers for Nursing Home Residents Who Take Courses at Regional-Technical Community Colleges; and Closures & Evacuations of Residential Care Homes & Nursing Homes.
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
PA 25-159 is an omnibus bill covering many topics, but the January 1 section implements the Yellow Envelopes Program. The DMV, in consultation with the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity and other specified entities, must develop yellow envelopes and related public awareness materials for people with cognitive impairments or physical disabilities. Among other things, the envelopes must have written information on how first responders can accommodate and effectively interact with these individuals.
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING GROWTH
This new law is the very unpopular housing bill that I opposed, and have for several years. It’ll wreak havoc on small town Connecticut, Newtown included, and I will continue to oppose it’s heavy-handed removal of local control.
Other major acts include:
- An Act Concerning Various Measures Recognizing and Honoring the Military Service of Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces in Connecticut
- An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Office of Higher Education, Expanding Dual Credit Opportunities and Concerning College Readiness and Remedial Support Programs at the CT State Colleges and Universities and Information Reported to the Credential Database
- An Act Concerning the Department of Consumer Protection's Recommendations Regarding Lottery and Gaming Regulations