HARTFORD, Conn. — A number of new laws are taking effect in Connecticut that provide protections in some areas and tougher penalties in others. Some changes Connecticut residents can expect include:

-Medical debts may no longer be reported to credit bureaus.

-New protection for children on school buses

-New rules for social media platforms when it comes to minors

– An accelerated timetable for processing electoral crimes

RELATED TOPICS: New Connecticut laws take effect July 1

The new election law follows widespread criticism of the way a 2019 voter fraud investigation was conducted in Bridgeport. Four people were arrested after allegedly committing voter fraud during the 2019 Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport. House Bill 5498 gives election workers 90 days to notify prosecutors of any election-related crimes.

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The school bus protection bill is the result of a report of a sharp increase in the number of cars illegally passing stationary school buses across the state. The new law will allow cities to increase fines for drivers and improve security cameras. As for reporting medical debt, health care providers and hospitals will be prohibited from reporting their patients' debts to credit bureaus.

Dozens more laws go into effect Monday – including changing the kindergarten entry age, expanding government-funded medical care, broader telehealth coverage and more. Click here to see the full list of new laws.

RELATED TOPIC: Supreme Court overturns 40-year-old precedent, weakens federal regulations

Kaelee Collins is a multimedia journalist at FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on XAnd Instagram.

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