The new year will ring in some new laws for Connecticut. Check out how the changes affect you.
TAXES
Cigarette Tax: Will increase from $3.65 to $3.90 a pack on July 1.
Income Tax: Will increase for some higher income filers.
Luxury Goods Tax: Will increase from 7 to 7.75 percent.
Military Retirement: Fully exempt from state income tax.
Corporation Income Tax: The 20 percent corporation income tax surcharge will be extended for an addition two years and imposes temporary 10 percent surcharge for 2018.
Local
Find more here.
MINIMUM WAGE
Hourly: Connecticut's minimum wage will go up from $9.15 to $9.60.
Find more here.
EXCESSIVE FORCE ACT
Body Cams on Police: The "Concerning Excessive Use of Force" act requires that all police officers-- state, university and municipal-- wear body camera by July 1, 2016. Some departments already started.
Appointed Prosecutor: The act will require that the chief state's attorney appoint a special prosecutor or one from a different district than where a police involved incident took place.
Diversity: The act says that law enforcement will make "efforts to recruit, retain and promote minority officers so that the unit's racial and ethnic diversity is representative" of any community served.
Find more here.
INSURANCE
Nonemergency Appointments: A patient must let health care providers know if they are insured before scheduling an appointment.
Bills: Providers may not restrict billed amounts, reimbursement rates or out of pocket costs.
Mental Health: Some insurers must cover mental and nervous conditions.
Find more here.
