Jennifer Leeper

Just like that, we are saying goodbye to 2023 and welcoming in 2024. I always love this time of year, a time to reflect on the year past and my intentions for the year to come. A new year brings new possibilities, opportunities, and hope. I wish you a 2024 that is filled with exciting new promises, adventures, good health, and peace. Happy New Year!

• New Laws Going Into Effect Jan. 1, 2024
• Upcoming Tax Relief Measures

As we ring in the new year, there are some laws that become effective on January 1 that were passed during the 2023 legislative session addressing key issue areas including early voting, health and mental health, and online privacy and data protection.



There will also be an increase in the minimum wage effective January 1 from $15.00 to $15.69 made possible through legislation passed in 2019, which implemented five incremental increases in the minimum wage followed by future adjustments that are tied to the percentage change in the federal employment cost index.



Below, I share some highlights, and a link to the complete list. Please feel free to share and reach out to my office if you would like more detail on any of the new laws.

EARLY VOTING (PA 23-5)

Establishes a framework for early, in-person voting requiring a 14-day early voting period for general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries.

 

HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE (PA 23-174)

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

 

PROTECTING MATERNAL HEALTH (PA 23-147)

Establishes 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 community birth care.

 

ONLINE PRIVACY, DATA AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS (PA 23-56)

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 (PA 23-137)

Among many supportive measures, 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 (PA 23-35)

Expands eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries to all employees covered by the workers’ compensation law.

• The largest income tax reduction in our state's history, benefitting more than one million tax filers;
• An increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit that places Connecticut among the top five states in the nation with the largest rates on this program. The EITC is increasing from 30.5% to 40% of the federal EITC - providing an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits to about 211,000 low-income filers who receive the credit; and
• An expansion of exemptions on certain pension and annuity earnings to benefit seniors

Due to smart budgeting in our 2023 legislative session, the three measures are expected to reduce taxes for taxpayers by about $460.3 million while still growing our General Fund revenue for the next several years.

This is wonderful news that will benefit every resident of our state, and I'll continue fighting for even more measures to lift us all up.