Jonathan Steinberg

Many of the new state laws passed during the 2023 legislative session take effect on January 1, 2024.

Some of the various issues addressed by the new laws include early voting, healthcare services, as well as online privacy and data protection.

Also on January 1, the state's minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.69 as a result of 2019 legislation, which implemented five incremental increases followed by future adjustments based on the federal employment cost index.

The full list of news laws is extensive, but here are a few highlights:

EARLY VOTING
Establishes a 14-day early voting period preceding general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential primaries.

HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Includes the creation of a Hospice at-Home pilot program to provide in-home hospice care to patients through in-person visits and telehealth.

PROTECTING MATERNAL HEALTH
Creates a new license category for freestanding birth centers, an Infant Mortality Relief Program to review medical records and other data on infant deaths and a midwifery working group to study and make recommendations on advancing choices for birth care.

ONLINE PRIVACY, DATA AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS
Makes various changes to laws on data privacy and related issues, including provisions on consumer health data, minors’ social media accounts and online services, online dating operators, and a task force on internet crimes against children.

RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
Among many supportive measures, this creates a plan to establish a Transitional Life Skills College program to support certain people with IDD who are transitioning out of high school or to independent living.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURIES
Expands eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries to employees covered by the workers’ compensation law.

You can read more about the news laws that are effective January 1 in this article from CT Insider.

Your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings during the legislative session had a direct influence on these new laws. Thank you for your input, and please continue sharing your views and making your voice heard.