ConnecticutSB 013772025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND DRIVERS, THE PROJECTION OF A LASER AT AN AIRCRAFT OR FLIGHT PATH, AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAFETY DEVICES, SMALL HARBOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THE CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL, BUS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND THE NAMING OF CERTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Summary

To implement the recommendations of the Department of Transportation concerning the Connecticut Plan Coordinate System, an autonomous vehicle pilot program, crosswalks, light rail transit signals, highway service signs, federal surface transportation urban program funding, rail facilities and transit districts.

transportation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

28 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 11 costs, 7 mixed.

Lower bus fares for eligible riders

Beginning October 1, 2025, Connecticut must discount state-owned or state-controlled bus fares by up to 50% for eligible riders. These include veterans, people 65 or older, people with disabilities, and riders 18 or younger. A reduced-fare transit card may be required. School boards may also buy discounted passes for public school students in grades 9–12. Boards can give them away or sell them at cost or less, but participation is optional.

More electric-bike help for disabled residents

Beginning July 1, 2025, residents with physical disabilities receive priority for Connecticut electric-bike rebates or vouchers. Adaptive electric bikes intended for these residents are exempt from the usual $3,000 base manufacturer's suggested retail price limit. This price-limit exception runs through June 30, 2027. Other program requirements still apply, and priority does not guarantee a voucher.

Clearer receipts for ride-hailing passengers

Beginning October 1, 2025, ride-hailing companies must send an electronic receipt within a reasonable time after a ride. Receipts must show the starting point, destination, total time, distance, and an itemized fare, if any. The law does not set or change ride prices.

More protections for ride-hailing drivers

Beginning October 1, 2025, ride-hailing companies must offer drivers real-time company messaging in English and Spanish while using the app. Weekly summaries must show the previous week's rider fares, driver earnings, and the driver's percentage share. Companies cannot punish or threaten drivers solely for filing a company complaint, including blocking app access. Before allowing someone to drive, companies must explain optional paid family and medical leave enrollment. They must also explain requirements for rides starting in neighboring states and their process for removing drivers from the app.

More ways to complete driver retraining

Beginning October 1, 2025, required driver retraining can take place in person, through interactive online learning, or both. Online classes must include required interaction, participation, or testing. The Department of Motor Vehicles or certified groups can offer the program. Driving schools that meet state licensing requirements can seek approval to provide it.

Pointing lasers at aircraft becomes criminal

Beginning October 1, 2025, intentionally pointing a laser on or at an aircraft or its flight path is prohibited. A violation is a class A misdemeanor. U.S. or Connecticut armed forces members and police officers are exempt while performing official duties.

New grants support small harbor projects

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Connecticut Port Authority must run competitive grants for small harbors outside its authority. Grants can support dredging, private maritime infrastructure, matching funds, environmental costs, and project costs when federal money is inadequate. Qualifying dredging projects can also receive reimbursement, and municipal applications receive preference. Private infrastructure projects need all required permits and authorizations before receiving grants. The authority sets eligibility, private matching amounts, and annual application procedures.

Road service signs can show charging

Beginning July 1, 2025, specific service signs can include electric vehicle charging. They can also use other words allowed by the federal traffic-sign manual. The law expands eligible sign information but does not require signs to be installed.

State financing supports harbor improvements

Beginning July 1, 2025, the State Bond Commission can approve up to $20 million in bonds for the small harbor improvement account. Proceeds must fund uses allowed by the account's law. Port Authority grants can support port, harbor, and marina improvements, including dredging, navigation work, and small-harbor dredging reimbursements. Annual grants are capped at $6.75 million. At least $5 million must be available outside the deep-water ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London.

Towns get street-planning help and grants

Beginning July 1, 2025, the transportation commissioner must help towns and regional councils adopt or use Complete Streets policies. These policies guide street improvements for different road users. The commissioner can also award municipal grants for public highway improvements that include these standards or policies. These provisions set no grant amount.

Drivers face higher traffic fine limits

Beginning October 1, 2025, the maximum fine for drivers who violate pedestrian-crossing rules rises from $500 to $750 per violation. A second or later violation for leaving a vehicle within 10 feet of a fire hydrant carries a fine up to $200. These are maximum fines, not required amounts for every violation.

New far-left-lane limits for drivers

Beginning October 1, 2026, drivers generally cannot use the far-left lane on divided, limited-access highways with three or more same-direction lanes. Exceptions cover passing, police directions, left-side entrances or exits, emergency response, roadwork, and congestion that makes lane use necessary. Violations carry an $88 infraction fine. The transportation commissioner must run a campaign about the rule and fines from October 1, 2025, until October 1, 2026.

Reckless drivers must take retraining

Beginning October 1, 2025, drivers convicted of reckless driving must attend an operator retraining program. This adds reckless driving to the mandatory retraining rules. The existing requirement for a specified crash-related violation remains.

Wider parking limits near crossings

Beginning October 1, 2025, parking is generally barred within 30 feet of intersections or approaches to marked crosswalks. A curb extension as wide as the parking lane allows a 20-foot limit; available marked spaces also provide an exception. When installing or replacing markings, traffic authorities must place spaces at least 30 feet away, or 20 feet with qualifying extensions. Parking is also barred within 30 feet of covered stop or yield signs, up from 25 feet for stop signs. The stated New Haven exception ends.

Motorcycle helmets required for riders under 21

Beginning October 1, 2025, motorcycle and motor-driven-cycle operators and passengers under 21 must wear approved helmets. The previous rule covered riders under 18. Helmets must meet the federal motorcycle helmet safety standard.

More coordinate details in property records

Beginning January 1, 2026, surveys and deeds using coordinates for survey stations or land-boundary corners must include more documentation. Preparers must explain the method and source used to establish the coordinates. They must also include observation details.

State can acquire land for roads

Beginning July 1, 2025, the transportation commissioner can acquire land or property access rights for eligible federal urban transportation projects. The property or rights must be needed to build or maintain roadway or facility improvements. Acquisition can occur through purchase, gift, or condemnation, affecting owners whose land or access is needed.

New costs for driver retraining providers

Beginning October 1, 2025, retraining providers seeking certification or renewal must pay a $350 application fee and maintain a $50,000 surety bond. Providers must be registered and in good standing in Connecticut, with a Connecticut business location. They must submit course plans for approval and electronically report enrollment and completion. Motor vehicle officials must investigate specified applicant histories. Certification lasts two years and cannot be transferred.

Special school crosswalk markings no longer required

Beginning October 1, 2025, school crosswalks no longer need distinctive markings showing that school children use them. Traffic authorities keep their general power to designate crosswalks and intersections they consider dangerous to pedestrians.

Ride-hailing companies face higher fees

Beginning October 1, 2025, ride-hailing registration and annual renewal fees depend on active driver accounts at registration or renewal. Fees are $5,000 for fewer than 50 drivers, $10,000 for 50–199, and $30,000 for 200 or more. Previously, each fee was a flat $5,000. The transportation commissioner can also audit additional company records about driver drug-and-alcohol policies. Audits require reasonable written notice and are limited to four per year.

Highway applicants face capped permit fees

Beginning July 1, 2025, the transportation commissioner can set application fees by regulation for specified highway permits and operating certificates. Covered applications include state highway right-of-way encroachment permits and development-related permits and certificates. Fees cannot exceed 125% of estimated administrative costs for the applications. Municipalities can be exempted.

Rail property permits require insurance

Beginning July 1, 2025, the transportation commissioner can permit temporary, nonexclusive access to state property supporting rail operations, including rail rights-of-way. Permit holders must obtain the insurance listed in the permit and name the state as an additional insured. The commissioner sets coverage in consultation with the state's insurance and risk management director.

State gains railroad property access

Beginning July 1, 2025, the transportation commissioner can use agents to survey railroad routes and can build, equip, and maintain railroads. State staff can enter private property for railroad surveys, inspections, and geological studies. Borings and other tests require reasonable notice, and the state must pay for resulting damage or injury. If an owner refuses tests after notice, the commissioner can assess damages through the statutory process and enter afterward. A railroad company's route remains the route in its charter.

Helmet rules expand for young riders

Beginning October 1, 2025, the youth helmet rule covers ages 17 and younger, rather than 15 and younger. It covers bicycles, electric bikes, scooters, skateboards, and roller or in-line skates on traveled roadways and in parks. Approved headgear must fit properly and be fastened; not wearing it remains neither a violation nor an offense. Bicycle, electric-bike, and electric-foot-scooter rental businesses must provide qualifying helmets to operators 17 or younger who lack one. Businesses may charge a helmet rental fee.

Fewer survey monuments face higher fines

Beginning January 1, 2026, the $2,000–$5,000 survey-monument fine continues for qualifying National Geodetic Survey monuments. It covers knowing damage, destruction, disturbance, or removal of monuments used for specified location or precise elevation measurements. Connecticut Geodetic Survey monuments are removed from this particular penalty provision.

More work-zone cameras and spending options

The law removes the limit of 15 highway work zones using state speed-control cameras at one time. Recording remains limited to work zones with speed limits of at least 45 mph, set using accepted traffic-engineering practices. Beginning July 1, 2025, municipalities can also spend automated-enforcement fines on device costs. These include vendor costs for design, installation, operation, and maintenance, alongside other allowed transportation uses.

More federal road-funding options for towns

Beginning July 1, 2025, Connecticut can make eligible urban-road and rural-collector funding agreements under any federal surface transportation funding act. Federal funds can go directly to municipalities as well as the state transportation department. For locally maintained roads, towns generally pay half of costs not covered by federal funds. A town can agree with the commissioner to pay more, up to the full nonfederal share.

Transit funding shifts to federal formulas

Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, transit district funding follows the applicable federal urban or rural formula. This replaces the prior fixed fiscal 2024 urban-district amount and separate urban-district grant program. Transit districts and municipalities serving areas outside a district must meet the commissioner's eligibility standards. They must cover part of operating costs through fares, user fees, federal or local subsidies, or other non-state sources.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Transportation Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 174 • No: 39

House vote • 3/19/2025

House Roll Call Vote 253 AS AMENDED

Yes: 110 • No: 34

Senate vote • 3/19/2025

Senate Roll Call Vote 240

Yes: 31 • No: 4