New Laws Effective October 1

September 26, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

With fall comes cooler weather, changing leaves, and a number of new laws hitting the books. Several measures passed during the 2025 legislative session will take effect on Wednesday, October 1. Below is a brief overview of some of these important changes!

We’ve updated our motorcycle and e-bike laws to reflect our continued efforts to promote public safety and adapt to emerging technologies on our roads.

There is also good news for drivers  - a new law is changing how towing works in our state, making it harder for cars to be towed from private property and easier for people to get their cars back if they are towed. Right now, state law lets towing companies start the process of selling a towed car worth $1,500 or less just 15 days after the tow which is one of the shortest timelines in the country. That means if you don’t act fast, your car could be gone for good. The new law doesn’t change that 15-day starting point, but it adds more steps before a car can actually be sold. Now, tow companies have to make a real effort to contact the car’s owner and can’t finalize the sale until 30 days after the tow. Follow the links below for more details and for the complete list of new laws.

A new law raises the age from 18 to 21 for requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet and raises the age from 16 to 18 and under for children to wear a helmet while riding bicycles, scooters and skateboards.

New regulations are also being introduced for certain high-powered electric bikes. Riders of e-bikes without pedals and equipped with batteries over 750 watts (25-28 mph) will now need a valid driver’s license to operate them. Additionally, e-bikes with batteries over 3,500 watts (35 mph to over 50 mph) will require registration and insurance, similar to motorcycles.

Another measure prohibits the handcuffing of children under the age of 14, except in cases where there is a clear threat to public safety or when the child poses a risk of physical violence toward an officer. This law is intended to mitigate the traumatic impact that the use of restraints can have on young children.

Click here for the complete list and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
 

ICYMI - next Wednesday, the Yale Institute on Incarceration and Public Safety is hosting an event titled Sentenced Young & Growing Old: Toward Second Chances, Not Extreme Punishments.

I will be joined by experts and advocates for a discussion about the future of youth sentencing in Connecticut. The main point of discussion will my proposed  juvenile sentencing reform bill, which aims to:

  • Raise the age threshold for early parole eligibility from under 21 to under 26, in alignment with developmental brain science and the Miller v. Alabama decision.
  • Eliminate the arbitrary October 1, 2005 cut-off that currently denies hundreds of young people the chance at parole.
  • Address racial inequities in sentencing: Over 85% of those excluded under current law are people of color, and Connecticut ranks second nationally in racial disparity in youth incarceration.

Please click here to sign up for the event. 
 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York City officially announced the formation of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. This voluntary regional partnership aims to strengthen public health coordination, share expertise, and improve preparedness across state lines.

The Collaborative’s shared purpose is to work together in new ways – optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and reimagining core services – to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen confidence in vaccines and science-based medicine.
 

Optimum’s 18th Annual Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest is now accepting entries. Interested applicants must write an essay about their connection to Hispanic culture in 500 words or less. The contest is open to middle and high school students.
 
Essays must be submitted by October 31. Click here to learn more. 
 

ICYMI - The City of Norwalk will hold a mattress and box spring recycling collection on Saturday, September 27th from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM at 15 South Smith Street in Norwalk. This free collection program recycles mattresses and box springs through the City’s partnership with the Mattress Recycling Council’s Connecticut Bye Bye Mattress Program.

This program is only open to Norwalk residents. All mattresses and box springs must be dry and intact.

Unacceptable items include:
- Severely damaged, twisted, wet, frozen, or soiled mattresses.
- Mattresses infested with bed bugs or other living organisms.
- Sleeping bags, pillows, cushions, loose bedding, mattress pads or toppers, etc.
- Car beds.
- Juvenile products, i.e., carriage, basket, stroller, crib bumper, etc.
- Water beds.
- Camping or air mattresses.
- Fold-out sofa beds.
- Futons for furniture.

For additional information about the program, visit https://byebyemattress.com/ or https://www.norwalkct.gov/3127/Mattress-Recycling. For questions, contact the Customer Service Center at CustomerService@norwalkct.gov or (203) 854-3200.
 

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