Submitted by State Sen. Norm Needleman
(May 10, 2025) — The following is a report provided by the office of State Senator Norm Needleman.
Legislative Update
The State Senate convened for two session days this past week and passed several key bills. One expands Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program to include approximately 50,000 additional public and private school employees, such as paraeducators, library staff, custodians, and food service workers. Another bill protects students’ financial aid and scholarships from being reduced by higher education institutions when students receive external scholarships. Additionally, we approved legislation empowering municipalities to respond more aggressively to illegal street takeovers. The bill permits towns and cities to enact ordinances allowing the destruction of seized vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs involved in such events, and it authorizes the suspension or revocation of driver’s licenses for repeat offenders.
DMV Expands Hours to Support REAL ID
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that to better serve Connecticut residents acquiring REAL IDs, DMV will open its doors on Mondays. DMV is also seeking to help residents who have existing plans for air travel in the next month. Those individuals can visit any DMV office for same-day service, though they should expect longer-than-usual wait times. Passports and permanent resident cards will also be accepted. Are you unsure whether you need a REAL ID? If your driver’s license or ID card has a gold star in the top-right corner, you are good to go.
All-Terrain Wheelchairs in Connecticut State Parks
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced that its All-Terrain Wheelchair Program has been expanded to seven state parks and state forests. Reservations can now be made for the program, which will begin on June 7, 2025. Under this program, people requiring the use of wheelchairs will be able to travel parks, trails and beaches in a way that supports their mobility. Gillette Castle, Dinosaur, Rocky Neck, Harkness Memorial and Stratton Brook State Parks, as well as Topsmead State Forest and Wadsworth Falls, will offer the all-terrain wheelchairs; to learn more, click here.
