I’m so proud to share that several new laws we passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1. Each of these laws is part of the work we’ve done to help make Connecticut a more fair, more practical, and equitable place to live. Among them is Public Act 26-42, which expands access to voting by allowing any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The law removes outdated restrictions that previously limited absentee voting to a narrow set of circumstances. Another new law,Public Act 26-12, strengthens recruitment and retention efforts for Connecticut's first responders. The legislation expands benefits such as tuition waivers and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members, while also providing support for the families of certain public safety personnel who die in the line of duty. Public Act 26-1 provides stronger workplace protections for employees at warehouses and fulfillment centers. The law ensures that productivity quotas do not interfere with legally required meal and bathroom breaks and requires employers to clearly communicate any quotas workers are expected to meet.
Public Act 26-12 includes a grant program for local and regional boards of education to offer free bus passes to public school students from ninth through 12th grade. The state Department of Veterans Affairs will offer a similar program for veterans. This program allows high school students and veterans across the state to receive free bus passes.
Several new tax changes will take effect, including a new research and development tax credit applied to personal income tax for qualifying small businesses, as well as an income tax credit for income-eligible family caregivers. During the annual sales tax-free week in August, the usual $100 exemption will rise to $300 and will now include backpacks and cleated athletic shoes to the list of items that can be bought tax-free.
These measures reflect our ongoing efforts to make voting more accessible, support those who serve our communities, and strengthen protections for Connecticut workers.
