A dozen new state laws have now gone into effect in the new year.

Connecticut's cannabis industry will see new regulations. Only licensed cannabis dispensaries registered with the Department of Consumer Protection will be able to sell products with 0.5 milligram to 5 milligrams of THC.

The minimum wage has increased from $15.69/hour to $16.35/hour as part of a 2019 law signed by Gov. Ned Lamont requiring it to be adjusted annually based on the health of the economy. Absentee ballot security will also be tightened. Towns and cities are required to video record drop boxes during elections and release those recordings to the public. Also set to change is the amount of paid sick time some workers get. Nearly all private sector employers with at least 25 employees must guarantee workers at least 40 hours of paid sick time each year. It's phase one of a three-step plan aiming to get nearly all private employees paid sick days by 2027.

"This is the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do for the people who are taking care of doing the work you know in our communities and it also sends a message this is the type of state we welcome you, we respect workers, the choices they have to make," said Governor Ned Lamont.

Home health workers will also receive more protection this year.