New Laws Taking Effect in the New Year

December 15, 2022
As we prepare to ring in the new year and welcome the start of 2023, a number of laws passed will take effect when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st!
 
These laws mark the tireless work put in by my colleagues and me throughout the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions to address your concerns and make necessary changes in Hartford.
Here are a few of the laws taking effect January 1st:

Cannabis Possession Charges Cleared:

  • Specified Connecticut residents convicted of cannabis possession will have their records automatically cleared and other specified charges can be petitioned for erasure at the start of the new year
    • Click here and scroll to the bottom of page 29 for a breakdown table on qualifying erasures
    • Announced Delay: The Governor's Office recently announced that some erasures would be delayed until, "…the second half of 2023." Click here to learn more
  • Numerous state agencies must also provide recommendations by January 1st on how to prevent cannabis use by individuals under 21and address the impacts of cannabis legalization on youth
  • These provisions were included in PA 21-1Passed in 2021 – that legalized the recreational adult-use of cannabis

Clean Slate Law:

  • Nearly 280,000 more people will be eligible to have their criminal records erased on January 1st, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles must provide written documentation if they deny an application for a person's qualified pardon
    • Announced Delay: As shared above, the Governor's announced delay will also affect this law's provisions
  • These provisions were included in PA 21-32Passed in 2021 – known as the Clean Slate Law

The Bottle Bill:

  • Will expand the types of bottles and cans accepted in the 5-cent return program to now include:
    • Teas
    • Hard Seltzers
    • Ciders
    • Energy Drinks
    • Coffee
  • This provision was included in PA 21-58 Passed in 2021 – which makes tiered adjustments to the state's bottle redemption program through January 2024

Lead Poisoning Safety:

  • Will take a tiered approach strengthening Connecticut's lead poisoning testing standards to align with federal standards and will lower the threshold for youth testing levels that trigger parental notification or home inspection
    • The Governor's Office reported that in 2020, over 1,000 Connecticut Children tested at high enough lead levels to trigger the federal standard for a home inspection
  • These provisions were included in PA 22-49 Passed in 2022 – and will incrementally lower the qualifying testing levels through January 2025

Breast & Ovarian Cancer Screening Coverage:

  • Certain commercial health insurance policies will be required to cover:
    • Mammograms
    • Ultrasounds
    • MRIs for breast screenings
    • Breast biopsies
    • Certain prophylactic mastectomies
    • Breast reconstruction surgery
    • BRCA 1 and 2 testing
    • Ovarian cancer screenings 
  • These provisions were included in PA 22-90 – Passed in 2022 – which expanded required insurance coverage from previous legislative efforts

These are just a few of the laws and provisions going into effect when we celebrate the new year. The full list of laws taking effect on January 1st can be accessed by clicking the button below:

Laws Taking Effect January 1
As you look over the new laws taking effect in 2023, I want to remind you that there is always an opportunity to have your voice heard, especially with the upcoming General Session convening on January 4th. Please make sure to stay active in the legislative processes and let me know what you would like to see in both our community and throughout Connecticut.