News

A raft of changes to how Connecticut law protects sensitive medical information, minors from online threats, and misuse of social media lead a group of dozens of new laws that take effect today.

Taxpayers can employ several strategies in the face of limited deductibility of state and local taxes through 2025 and perhaps beyond.

Nearly 60 new Connecticut laws will take effect on Oct. 1, including legislation concerning line-of-duty deaths, home care worker protections and police body cameras.

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that beginning on January 1, 2025, Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $15.69 per hour to $16.35 per hour.

Connecticut’s pension funds performed better than expected in the most recent fiscal year, showing double-digit returns even as the state continues to play catch-up with its massive unfunded pension liabilities.

Businesses, developers say guardrails are important, but varied state laws create confusion.

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened two Business Recovery Centers in Monroe and Oxford that are now providing in-person assistance to businesses seeking to apply for federal disaster aid for damages incurred due to the severe flooding the western portion of Connecticut experienced on August 18, 2024.

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that President Joe Biden has approved his request for a major disaster declaration due to the historic rainfall and extreme flooding that impacted towns and cities in western Connecticut on August 18, 2024.

This publication has been updated to address the guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relative to the victims of severe storms and flooding in Connecticut and New York. In recognition of the recent IRS guidance, the Commissioner of Revenue Services will exercise the authority provided him under Conn. Gen. Stat.§ 12-2(a)(5) on a case-by-case basis and the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) will consider requests for relief from penalty and interest that would otherwise accrue on late filings and payments after September 30, 2024.

Businesses with 5 or more employees who do not offer a retirement plan and have been in business since January 1, 2023 are required to either register and enroll employees in MyCTSavings, or provide another qualified retirement plan. Once enrolled, employees have the option to opt-out, stay with the standard Roth IRA, or customize a Roth IRA by setting the deduction percentage and choosing from several fund options.

Pete Gioia, the former longtime economist of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, has died, according to CBIA President and CEO Chris DiPentima.

On May 28, 2024, Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation expanding Connecticut’s 2011 Sick Leave Law. The new legislation is effective on January 1st, 2025. The law covers more employees, expands the reasons under which employees may use paid sick leave, and reduces the required hours to accrue paid sick leave.

Next Gen Personal Finance, CT Financial Scholars provide professional development to help schools meet new requirements.

FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Connecticut to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides beginning on Aug. 18, 2024, and continuing.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services will be hosting a virtual webinar on Wednesday, Sept 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. to provide a Connecticut Real Estate Conveyance Tax Return (myCTREC – Form OP-236) Tax Overview. Representatives from the Department will give a presentation about Connecticut’s myCTREC and answer frequently asked questions. Please submit any myCTREC questions with the registration form by Wednesday August 28, 2024.

At the beginning of the legislative session, CTCPA's Governmental Accounting and Auditing (GAA) Committee proposed a change to state law to assist many municipalities and governmental auditors. The committee requested extending the deadline for filing certified reports required by the State Department of Education (SDE) from December 31 to January 31. This extension would provide much-needed relief for municipalities and auditors, recognizing the challenges school districts face in meeting the December 31 deadline and allowing for a more systematic and less stressful process.

The House adjourned Sine Die on June 27 after passing Emergency Certified Senate Bill 501 in concurrence with the Senate. The bill was immediately transmitted to the Governor, who has said he will sign it. As a reminder, although the main impetus for special session was to address a flaw with the property tax for commercial vehicles, the bill became omnibus legislation impacting a number of different areas.

With no grand announcement, Connecticut quietly expanded employee’s paid sick time benefits. The bill greatly expands the law’s reach.

The Senate Wednesday passed a bill to regulate artificial intelligence after a passionate debate over whether the rules will protect state residents from the kind of dangers the internet has brought or become unbearable burdens to businesses and stifle innovation.

The Connecticut General Assembly’s General Law Committee held a wide ranging public hearing on Thursday to explore the potential impacts, both good and bad, of artificial intelligence on a host of issues of interest to the state.