Sen. Cicarella Receives 2025 AARP Legislative Achievement Award

Recognized for leadership in protecting consumers, including seniors, through stronger consumer protection laws.

HARTFORD – State Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-34) was recently selected to receive the 2025 AARP Legislative Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership in passing important consumer protection legislation. The award honors legislators whose work significantly benefits the more than 590,000 AARP members in Connecticut.

Sen. Cicarella was recognized for his role in advancing legislation to rein in automatic renewal contracts and ensure total price disclosure when purchasing goods and services. The act (P.A. 25-11), which became effective on October 1, 2025, requires businesses offering automatic renewals or continuous service agreements to obtain a consumer’s permission before charging credit or debit accounts. It also ensures that courts and agencies consider whether records of consent comply with laws on recording phone calls when determining if consent was properly obtained.

“Thank you to AARP Connecticut for this honor, and to the advocates and volunteers who work every day to protect consumers. I will continue advocating for seniors and all Connecticut residents in helping ensure they are treated fairly and have a strong voice in the decisions that affect them,” said Sen. Cicarella.

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan said, “Consumers today face a constant stream of pop-up advertisements, hidden fees, fine print, and increasingly sophisticated scam communications that threaten their financial security. Each time legislation is enacted that promotes transparency, good-faith business practices, and stronger consumer protections, it represents a meaningful step forward ensuring that consumers can make informed decisions without fear of unfair or deceptive practices. We appreciate Senator Cicarella’s leadership and commitment to making Connecticut a more consumer-friendly state.”

More information on AARP Connecticut is available here.

Photo above from left to right: John Erlingheuser, AARP Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach; Barbara Munck, North Haven resident and longtime AARP volunteer and advocate; State Sen. Paul Cicarella accepting the 2025 AARP Legislative Achievement Award; and Nora Duncan, AARP Connecticut State Director, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.