Joseph P. Gresko

Dear Neighbor,



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 1^st!

 

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 1^st:



Addressing the Kid's Mental Health Crisis: 

• Comprehensive legislation to address the immediate, intermediate, and long-term needs of the children's mental and behavioral health system in Connecticut by:
  • Enhancing the Behavioral Health Workforce
  • Supporting School-Based Mental Health Services
  • Expanding Mental Health Treatment Facilities Across the State
  • Supporting Existing Services
  • Increasing Access Through Insurance Coverage
• The provisions were included in PA 22-47 – Passed in 2022

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

Banning a Harmful Pesticide:

• Will prohibit Connecticut golf courses from using the pesticide Chlorpyrifos to control foliage and soil-borne insect pests.
• Implements a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for any found in violation.
• These provisions were included in PA 22-142 – Passed in 2022

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 1^st can be accessed by clicking the button below:

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 4^th. 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.