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ConnecticutHB 054642026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND RIDER SAFETY, TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODERNIZATION GRANT PROGRAM, ENCAMPMENTS, MARINE PILOT LICENSE FEES, MOTOR VEHICLE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, DISTRACTED DRIVING, A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ACCESS TO PARKING FOR HOME HEALTH AGENCIES AND A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SCHOOL BUS FLEETS.
Sponsored By: Transportation Committee
Signed by Governor
Summary
To implement the recommendations of the Department of Transportation concerning (1) infrastructure and service connections located in the state's right-of-way, (2) diesel-fueled transit buses, (3) electric vehicle parking at state agencies, (4) the Port Eastside Infrastructure Improvement District, (5) dynamic part-time lanes and control systems, (6) the restricted use of highways during extreme weather conditions, and (7) the memorial naming of a certain bridge.
transportation
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 5 costs, 3 mixed.
More safety protections for rideshare riders
Starting October 1, 2026, rideshare companies must protect riders and drivers from discrimination and cannot refuse or cancel a ride because of a service animal. Companies must investigate reports and permanently ban drivers who break the service-animal rule. Starting January 1, 2027, companies must offer ride-location sharing, emergency contact options, optional audio recording, and 24-hour incident support. They must also monitor rides and allow a company-approved third party to respond in real time to verified safety alerts. Companies must tell riders about safety tools after a ride request and notify other registered companies within five days of a permanent ban for a qualifying assault.
Stricter rules for drivers using devices
Starting October 1, 2026, drivers on Connecticut highways cannot hold a phone, text, or view moving images while driving. Hands-free use and certain mounted navigation, parking, roadway-view, and object-detection tools are allowed, along with listed emergency and official-duty uses. Drivers under 18 cannot use a mobile device while driving, even hands-free, except for listed emergency communications. School bus drivers cannot use mobile devices, even hands-free, while carrying passengers, with exceptions for specified emergency, radio-like, and approved navigation uses. Driver knowledge tests must include a question about distracted driving, and a commercial driver convicted of illegal device use has a serious traffic violation.
New rules and fines for part-time lanes
Starting January 1, 2027, state officials can designate part-time lanes for buses, high-occupancy vehicles, emergency vehicles, and traffic control. A first camera-detected violation carries a $75 fine; a second or later violation within one year can cost up to $200. Participating towns can also issue fines, but cannot fine someone twice for the same offense. Staff must review images before notices, and systems must have signs, trained operators, and yearly checks; notices generally must arrive within 30 days and no later than 90 days. Personal data is limited to fine enforcement and repeat checks, then generally deleted within 30 days; repeat-check data must be deleted within a year. These violations cannot add insurance points or appear on driving records, and the motor vehicle agency may suspend or refuse registration when an owner does not respond as required.
Highway plants and carbon research
Starting October 1, 2026, the transportation department must set guidelines for managing trees and other plants along state highways. The rules must consider safety, upkeep, visibility, scenic roads, and environmental effects; safety work and removals during declared weather emergencies are exempt. The department must give the University of Connecticut a research grant from available resources for a study of carbon storage by trees and other plants. The commissioner must review the study by February 1, 2027, and revise the guidelines or explain why no revision is needed. The study’s reports were due January 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026.
Town grants to modernize traffic signals
Starting October 1, 2026, the transportation department runs matching grants to help towns modernize existing traffic signals. Projects can support transit signal priority, address congestion, or reduce idling, with preference for heavily congested areas. The state sets eligibility rules and the town’s required share; the law states no grant amount.
State agencies can buy diesel transit buses
The law repeals the rule that barred the state from procuring, purchasing, or leasing diesel-fueled transit buses beginning January 1, 2024. State agencies can choose to acquire diesel buses. Effects on transit service, public spending, and air quality depend on later purchasing decisions.
Fines for breaking emergency travel orders
Starting October 1, 2026, a person who breaks an order restricting travel on state roads during an emergency caused by extreme weather or another natural event can be fined up to $250. The law replaces the prior infraction classification for this violation.
Higher fines for vehicle noise violations
Starting October 1, 2026, the fine for each violation of Connecticut’s vehicle noise and equipment rules rises from $150 to $300. The total fine depends on the number of offenses.
New safety rules for rideshare drivers
Starting January 1, 2027, rideshare companies must check permitted drivers’ criminal histories at least once a year, including searches of state and national sex-offender registries. Companies must provide yearly training on sexual-assault prevention and driver conduct, and drivers must complete it. A company cannot let a driver work after the driver fails a requested identity check made while the driver is active on its network.
Port Eastside loses transportation-law exemption
The Port Eastside district improvements no longer have an exemption from the named state transportation laws. The text does not specify the compliance costs or household effects that follow.
Safety plans for electric school buses
Starting May 27, 2026, a local or regional school board must make a safety plan before buying and using a zero-emission school bus. The plan must consider students’ ages and needs and explain how to evacuate the bus during a fire. This adds a planning requirement while addressing student safety.
More electric-ready state parking
Starting July 1, 2026, qualifying new state facilities costing more than $100,000 and including public parking must make at least 8% of car and light-truck spaces ready for future electric charging. These spaces do not have to include Level 2 charging stations. A state agency can also let plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles park in its charging spaces without charging.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Transportation Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Bobby G. Gibson
Democratic • House
Geraldo C. Reyes
Democratic • House
Hilda E. Santiago
Democratic • House
Sarah Keitt
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/16/2026
Senate Roll Call Vote 293
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
House Roll Call Vote 131 AS AMENDED
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
House Roll Call Vote 130 HOUSE AMD C
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
TRA Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
5/27/2026legislatureTransmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
5/15/2026legislatureTransmitted to the Secretary of State
5/15/2026legislaturePublic Act 26-63
5/14/2026legislatureIn Concurrence
5/5/2026legislatureSenate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A,B,E,F
5/5/2026SenateSenate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A,B,E,F
5/5/2026SenateFile Number 749
4/30/2026legislatureSenate Calendar Number 493
4/30/2026SenateFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
4/30/2026SenateImmediate Transmittal to the Senate
4/29/2026SenateHouse Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A,B,E,F
4/29/2026HouseHouse Adopted House Amendment Schedule F 5139
4/29/2026HouseHouse Adopted House Amendment Schedule E 5182
4/29/2026HouseAmendment Withdrawn, House Amendment Schedule D 5142
4/29/2026legislatureHouse Rejected House Amendment Schedule C 5127
4/29/2026HouseHouse Adopted House Amendment Schedule B 4958
4/29/2026HouseBill Passed Temporarily
4/27/2026legislatureHouse Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 4662
4/27/2026HouseFile Number 418
4/7/2026legislatureHouse Calendar Number 302
4/7/2026HouseFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
4/7/2026HouseReported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
4/7/2026legislatureReferred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 12:00 PM
3/30/2026legislatureFiled with Legislative Commissioners' Office
3/19/2026legislature
Bill Text
Public Act No. 26-63
5/14/2026
File No. 749
4/30/2026
File No. 418
4/7/2026
TRA Joint Favorable Substitute
3/16/2026
Raised Bill
3/4/2026
Bill Analysis For File Copy 418
Bill Analysis For File Copy 749
Bill Analysis for HB-5464, as amended by House "A," "B," "E" and "F"
Fiscal Note For File Copy 418
Fiscal Note For File Copy 749
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4615 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4662 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4936 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4958 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5127 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5139 (No Fiscal Impact)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5142 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5165 (Potential Cost)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5175 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5182 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for HB-5464, As Amended by House "A" (LCO 4662)
Fiscal Note for HB-5464, As Amended by House "A" (LCO 4662), House "B" (LCO 4958), House "E" (LCO 5182), House "F" (LCO 5139)
House LCO Amendment #4615 (J)
House LCO Amendment #4936 (R)
House LCO Amendment #5165 (R)
House LCO Amendment #5175 (D)
House Roll Call Vote 130 HOUSE AMD C
House Roll Call Vote 131 AS AMENDED
House Schedule A LCO# 4662 (J)
House Schedule B LCO# 4958 (D)
House Schedule C LCO# 5127 (R)
House Schedule D LCO# 5142 (R)
House Schedule E LCO# 5182 (D)
House Schedule F LCO# 5139 (R)
Senate Roll Call Vote 293
Summary for Public Act No. 26-63
TRA Joint Fav. Rpt
TRA Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
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