By Laura Bailey
HARTFORD — Several new laws will go into effect in Connecticut on Jan. 1, 2025, addressing workers’ rights, election security, and public health concerns. Among the key changes are an expansion of paid sick leave, additional safeguards for absentee voting, and improved protections for home healthcare workers.
Expanded Paid Sick Leave
Under HB-5005, a new law will expand paid sick leave requirements for employees. Currently, Connecticut mandates that businesses with 50 or more employees provide 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Starting January 1, the law will extend this requirement to private employers with 25 or more employees, making it one of the most expansive paid sick leave laws in the nation.
The law is part of a three-step plan that will eventually cover almost all private employees, regardless of company size. It also increases the rate at which employees can accrue sick leave and shortens the waiting period before they can begin using it.
Absentee Ballot Fraud Prevention
HB-5498, known as the “Election Security and Transparency Act,” aims to prevent absentee ballot fraud. The law, prompted by a 2019 absentee ballot scandal in Bridgeport, introduces several measures to improve the security and transparency of absentee voting.
Key provisions include:
- Video surveillance of absentee ballot drop boxes, with recorded footage retained for review.
- Town clerks will be required to record the method by which absentee ballots are received.
- Limits on who can apply for multiple absentee ballots, and amendments to existing election crime statutes to specifically address absentee voting abuses.
- Confidentiality requirements for election data shared between states.
- Restrictions on the use of absentee ballot applications to defined periods leading up to elections.
This legislation follows a high-profile case earlier this year where several Bridgeport Democrats, including a former city employee and a sitting member of the city council, were charged with absentee ballot abuse during the 2019 mayoral election.
Cannabis and Hemp Regulations
A new law (H.B. 5105), effective January 1, will regulate hemp-based products containing THC. Under the new rules, only licensed cannabis dispensaries will be allowed to sell hemp-based products containing between 0.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams of THC. The change is designed to set an age limit on these products, which previously lacked such restrictions.
This legislation addresses growing concerns about the availability of higher-potency cannabis products to younger residents. The law is intended to make it more difficult for minors to access hemp-based THC products.
Protections for Home Healthcare Workers
In response to the tragic death of 63-year-old home healthcare worker Joyce Grayson, SB No. 1 will provide enhanced protections for home health workers starting January 1. Grayson was found dead in a Willimantic halfway house while she was on a scheduled appointment.
The law requires the state to establish a grant program to incentivize home health agencies to provide security escorts for their workers and to report any incidents of threats or abuse to the state health department. This initiative aims to ensure the safety and security of healthcare workers who often work in isolated and vulnerable environments.
These legislative changes and others going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, reflect Connecticut’s ongoing efforts to address key issues and improve protections for both workers and residents.
Laura Bailey can be reached at lbailey@bristoledition.org
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