New Laws Effective January 1st

On January 1st, there were 25 passed bills from the 2023 legislative session that became law in our state. New laws voted on in the legislative session generally take effect on the following- July 1st, October 1st, or January 1st.

During our legislative sessions there are a large amount of bills are typically passed. One of the more impactful laws include online privacy/safety protections, hospice/palliative care, and early voting.

Here are some key points concerning early voting-

• Referendums and primaries for town committee members are exempt.
• Early voting hours for general elections and primaries are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including weekends and excluding legal state holidays, except that on the last Tuesday and Thursday before the election, the locations must be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Early voting hours for special elections and presidential preference primaries are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding legal state holidays and initially March 31, 2024.
• Every municipality must establish at least one early voting location and may establish more, all subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State’s Office.

GENERAL ELECTIONS

14 DAYS

BEGINNING 15 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION, AND ENDING 2 DAYS PRIOR

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

7 DAYS

BEGINNING 8 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION, AND ENDING 2 DAYS PRIOR

SPECIAL ELECTIONS

4 DAYS EACH

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE BEGINNING 5 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION, AND ENDING 2 DAYS PRIOR

TAX CUTS

The state budget, adopted in June, cuts the bottom two marginal income tax rates for all filers from 3% to 2% and from 5% to 4.5%. Income taxes on the first $50,000 in taxable income will be lowered for single filers and married people filing separately, $100,000 for joint filers, and $80,000 for heads of household. January 1 is also the start of easing the cliff on income tax exemptions for retirement income. The new budget adds a tax deduction schedule for retirement income above the full exemption threshold.

SUPPORTS FOR THE I/DD COMMUNITY

Several provisions of a comprehensive bill concerning resources and support services for residents with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) take effect in the new calendar year. More businesses could be eligible for credits for hiring the disabled. The Connecticut JOBSCT Tax Rebate Program will lower the threshold for businesses who hire 25 new full-time employees, down to 15 to retain eligibility for 50-percent income tax rebates for the new employees, if one employee has an intellectual disability.

The new law also requires annual reports from the Department of Social Services on the size of the waiting list for the Medicaid waiver program for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Public Act 23-137 also requires the state to create and acquire sensory kits for emergency services workers to give to autistic children and adults to help them during emergency encounters.

HELPING FIREFIGHTERS

Every day, firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our community safe. Unfortunately, some of the risks they face can take years to develop, and some, like contact with or inhalation of hazardous materials, can be life threatening.

Now, municipalities are required to make annual contributions to the state’s firefighters cancer relief account, which is used to provide wage replacement benefits to eligible paid and volunteer firefighters diagnosed with cancer. Beginning January 1, 2024, towns must contribute $10 for each career or volunteer firefighter in its fire district or districts by December 15 of each year.

ONLINE DATING SAFETY

We passed a bill last session to bring some safety measures to online dating. Under the new law, online dating companies will be required to have safety centers and reporting procedures to respond to unwanted behaviors, links to report sexual harassment, and safety advice for online dating, including alerts to romance scams.

BOTTLE BILL

The deposit cost for certain beverage containers will increase from $.05 to $.10 on January 1. Initially passed during the 2022 session with a phased roll out, the cost of deposits on (generally) hard cider, plant water or plant infused drink, juice or juice drink, tea, coffee, kombucha, sports or energy drinks, and any beverages identified as one of these products with letters, words, or symbols on their labels will increase.