Several New Laws Take Effect Oct. 1 In Connecticut

by Viktoria Sundqvist

More than 90 new Connecticut laws will take effect in whole or in part on Oct. 1, 2026. 

Laws passed by the legislature have effective dates of July 1, Oct. 1 and Jan. 1 each year, and certain parts of a law can have effective dates at different times. 

This year’s laws include some focused on protecting immigrants, increasing safety on the roads and putting safeguards in place for both chatbots and Automatic License Plate Readers. 

Here’s a summary of some of the new laws taking effect Oct. 1:

Automatic License Plate Readers

Public Act No. 26-14 changes several things related to Automatic License Plate Readers and Flock cameras, including how long the data can be stored. As of Oct. 1, data retention will be 21 days for images not part of an active investigation. 

Under the new law, Connecticut departments should only share data with surrounding states, and those searching must sign a waiver that their search does not violate Connecticut law. Searches cannot be conducted for immigration purposes, gender-affirming health care, reproductive care or first-amendment protected activities. 

The new law also gives Connecticut’s attorney general the authority to investigate potential misuse of the devices and petition a court for relief.

Protecting Immigrants

The same law, Public Act 26-14, establishes protected areas in Connecticut like schools, hospitals, places of worship, cemeteries, social services centers and disaster response facilities where people cannot be arrested or detained on a civil offense without a judicial warrant. The law also allows a person who is detained in a protected area to file a civil lawsuit and seek punitive damages and attorneys fees. The law, meant to strengthen the state’s Trust Act, was created in direct response to actions by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, with Republicans opposing it.

Passing School Buses

A driver who is observed illegally passing a stopped school bus three or more times will now have their driver’s license suspended for six months under Public Act 26-95. This is in addition to the initial $450 fine, with subsequent fines of up to $1,000. The new law was approved unanimously in both the House and the Senate earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont in June. However, the new law does not apply to those ticketed by the automatic cameras on school buses. 

Regulating chatbots, AI

Public Act 26-15 establishes the Connecticut Artificial Intelligence Responsibility and Transparency Act, also known as “CART Act,” to regulate artificial intelligence. It targets companies that offer AI chatbots to children and requires them to put in place a protocol to detect and address chats indicating a risk of self-harm. The law also requires the chatbots to have parental controls and prohibits them from engaging in romantic or sexual interactions with children.

The new law will also prohibit companies from using AI to discriminate against employees and requires employers to provide written notice when using AI to make a decision that impacts someone’s employment status.

Increased Data Protection

Public Act 26-64 amends the Connecticut Data Privacy Act and now limits surveillance pricing and requires disclosure requirements on the use of facial recognition technology. It also bans the sale of consumer’s precise geolocation data. The law also establishes a process to make it easier for the consumer to delete their own personal data. 

Travel Ban Violations

Commercial vehicles that violate a statewide travel ban during extreme weather conditions will see fines increase from $50 to $250 as of Oct. 1. The change was requested by the state Department of Transportation to further deter vehicles getting on the roads during storms and make cleanup easier and safer for state crews. 

Distracted Driving Changes

The same transportation bill, Public Act 26-63, updates the state’s regulations in regards to distracted driving. Language has been updated to clarify that any use of a handheld device is prohibited while driving, including scrolling on your phone or watching videos, not just texting and making phone calls. In fact, moving images on a mobile device or even an installed screen within view of the driver is prohibited, with exceptions for navigation maps on a mounted device or a driver-assisted system. As before, making an emergency call is allowed.

Medications In Prison

Public Act 26-40 requires the state Department of Correction to start a pilot program in a minimum-security facility to allow incarcerated people to keep and self-administer medications for a chronic illness. The program, which must be administered by a Department of Public Health licensed medical staff member at DOC, will be voluntary and participation can be revoked for medication misuse or if the medication poses a safety risk. DOC is required to submit a report on the program’s results by Jan. 1, 2028, to the Judiciary Committee. 

Noisy Vehicle Charges

Fines for driving a vehicle with unusual or unnecessary noise will double, from $150 to $300 as of Oct. 1, under Public Act 26-63. The law already requires mufflers be maintained and in good

working order and prohibits any device on the tail pipe or exhaust system that will cause excessive noise. The law also prohibits sirens, whistles and bells on personal vehicles, with limited exceptions. 

Rules On Convertible Pistols

As of Oct. 1, it will be illegal to sell or import into Connecticut any handgun that can easily be converted into fully automatic machine guns. People or companies who import or advertise these weapons in Connecticut can be fined $5,000 and may be sentenced to five years in prison. This is in line with other state laws that already ban weapons where a single person can discharge a high volume of rounds in a very short period of time, in an effort to limit mass casualties after Sandy Hook. “Machine guns are illegal in every state, including Connecticut,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement when he signed this bill into law in June. 

Municipal Camp Safety

Public Act 26-25 requires municipal-run youth camps to have trained mandated reporters, just like other youth camps do, as of Oct. 1. Mandated reporters have a legal duty to report to the appropriate authorities any reasonable suspicion or belief of child abuse or neglect. Previously, municipal camps were exempt from this requirement. This bill was introduced after a parks and recreation employee in Bethany was charged with sexually assaulting five children in 2024. He was later sentenced to four years in prison after taking a plea deal. The town’s first selectwoman stepped down after an independent investigation ordered by Bethany residents highlighted several failings by town officials as well as a lack of training, oversight and lack of policies in the town-run camp program.