New Laws Effective July 1

June 27, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a great week.

Please keep reading for information about new laws going into effect on July 1, upcoming events in the community, and more!

New Laws Effective July 1

Several new laws that were passed during the 2025 legislative session take effect on Tuesday, July 1. Please see below to read about some of them!

Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget takes effect July 1. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. Our budget strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.

We approved billions of dollars to be used for school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, and many more local initiatives through our annual bond funding package.

Our students will soon learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, how to analyze the modern media landscape, and the rich history of the AAPI community in our state and the entire country.

Our elections will soon be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public.

A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks will go into effect July 1. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public.

Many more bills are going into effect July 1, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.

You can click link here for the full list of laws going into effect, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Public Information Meeting on the Replacement of Bridge in West Haven

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a virtual public information meeting concerning the replacement of a bridge carrying U.S. Route 1 over West River in New Haven and West Haven on July 30 at 6:00 p.m.

The public information meeting is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project. The meeting will take place on Zoom, and registration is required. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded. For instructions on accessing the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions, please visit portal.ct.gov/DOTWestHaven0156-0185.

ICYMI - Dog License Renewal

ICYMI - you have until the end of the month to renew or register your furry friend's dog license.

All dog licenses must be renewed for 2025, and any new dogs over six months of age or currently unlicensed must also register at this time.

No license may be issued unless a valid rabies certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian and including the date of the vaccination and duration of immunity, is presented to the town clerk.

Click here to learn about the registration process in West Haven.

Click here to learn about the registration process in Milford.

Click here to learn about the registration process in Orange.