A number of new laws that were passed during the 2024 legislative session went into effect Wednesday, Jan. 1.
One law will expand Connecticut’s paid sick leave policy to all companies with at least 25 employees. This new law lets employees take care of their families without adding any additional stress or financial strain.
Another law will make it easier than ever for companies to help employees pay off their student loan debt. Through one law, the tax credit for employers making payments for an employee will be expanded – helping Connecticut residents and businesses alike.
Another law regarding cannabis sales establishes the category of “moderate-THC hemp product” and places various restrictions on sales. Under the act, a “moderate-THC hemp product” is a manufacturer hemp product that has total THC of between one-half mg and five mgs, on a per-container basis.
The act only allows moderate-THC hemp products to be sold at a cannabis establishment or by a person who holds a Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) certificate of registration. A person seeking a certificate of registration as a moderate-THC hemp product vendor must submit to DCP an application with a $2,000 non-refundable application fee. The application must at least disclose the place the person sells, or intends to sell, the moderate-THC hemp product and certain sales revenue information.
Specifically, an applicant must provide enough information for the DCP commissioner to determine if, (1) for an existing retail location, at least 85% of the location’s average monthly gross revenue in the preceding year was from retail sales of moderate-THC hemp products to consumers or (2) for a proposed retail location, it is reasonably likely that at least 85% of the average monthly gross revenue will be from these sales.
Another law addresses “coerced debt,” which is created as a result of a domestic violence victim being forced by an abuser into incurring credit card debt. Credit card companies must now review the details of cases to determine if the debt is coerced debt, and abusers will be held liable for the debt.
Other laws that went into effect on Jan. 1 include a bill improving the health and safety of Connecticut residents and measures to make our elections more secure.
