Bill Tracker – as of Jan. 26, 2023

The following is an updated list of bills MTAC is currently tracking. All previous bills mentioned in the Jan. 12 post are included below.

Over the coming weeks, thousands of proposals will be presented to the general assembly. As bills are introduced, we identify those proposals that have a direct impact on our industry. We will be closely tracking and sharing legislation of interest with you.

We will testify and lobby many of these issues for the industry. Please bring to our attention any legislation you think we should be tracking. See the bills below that we are already tracking.

Education

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 766 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS to alleviate the school bus driver shortage by assisting municipalities and school districts in the recruitment and retention of school bus drivers. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Energy & Environment

Proposed  H.B. No. 5068 AN ACT SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5072 AN ACT SEPARATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the Department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5124 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND TRANSFERRING ENERGY FUNCTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT, to create a Department of Energy and transfer energy-related functions from the current Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to the new Department of Energy. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Proposed H.B. No. 5161 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF EPA AIR REGULATIONS AND THE REPEAL OF CALIFORNIA AIR STANDARDS, to remove Connecticut’ reliance on the California emissions standards and base Connecticut’s Clean Air regulations on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5277 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF EMISSION STANDARDS BASED ON THE REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RATHER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, to remove the state’s reliance on California emissions standards and base the state’s emissions regulations on federal standards. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B No. 6234 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE, to (1) require state vehicle procurement to be fully electric, (2) streamline the permitting and opening of new electric vehicle charging sites, (3) create state offices to provide technical assistance to local governments concerning the Inflation Reduction Act, (4) require utilities to plan for the increased use of electric vehicles in the state and fund related grid improvements, and (5) accelerate electrification of the state’s school bus fleet. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6338 AN ACT CONCERNING SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, to provide for an independent energy regulatory authority. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6397 AN ACT CONCERNING ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, to create accountability for reaching the state’s carbon reduction goals. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6493 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DECOUPLING OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, to restructure the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority as a fully independent regulatory agency. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 792 AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, STATE CONTRACTS, PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND REDUCING ENERGY COSTS, to promote renewable energy, increase the energy efficiency of buildings, increase accountability in state contracting, provide consumer protection and lower costs for the state’s energy consumers. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Finance

Proposed H.B. No. 5083 AN ACT EXCLUDING BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMS AND BUSINESS TRAINING SERVICES FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES Allows for business training programs and services to be exempt from the sales and use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5080 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX. Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5110 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.  Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5127 AN ACT REPEALING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to repeal the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5128 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5131 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5164 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILING OF HIGHWAY USE TAX RETURNS, to reduce the frequency of filing highway use tax returns for affected carriers. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5167 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5226AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5290AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5303AN ACT COMBINING THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS GROSS EARNINGS TAX AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE FUELS TAX to combine the petroleum products gross earnings tax and the motor vehicle fuels tax and impose one tax on a per-gallon basis. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5304AN ACT EXEMPTING FARM VEHICLES FROM THE HIGHWAY USE TAX to exempt farm vehicles from the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5307AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5410AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX,to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5650 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5680 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE TAX ON DIESEL FUEL, to eliminate the tax on diesel fuel sold or used by a distributor in this state. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6069 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND CONCERNING THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and suspend the phase-in of the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 64 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 126 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RATE OF TAX ON DIESEL FUEL, to reduce the rate of tax for diesel fuel to forty and one-tenth cents per gallon and establish a task force to recommend changes to the statutory formula that sets the applicable tax rate for diesel fuel. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 127 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PHASE-IN AND RATE OF THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to delay the phase-in of the tax on fuels and gasohol by six months and require the Department of Revenue Services and the Office of Policy and Management make a joint recommendation as to the appropriate rate of such tax to ensure the state maintains its surface transportation infrastructure in good repair. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 350 AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES FROM THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to exempt all vehicles transporting agricultural commodities, machinery or supplies to or from a farm from the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 358 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 709 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Judiciary

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5848 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE RELATING TO SEAT BELT USE IN CIVIL MATTERS, to allow evidence of whether a person was wearing a seat belt to be admissible at the time of trial. REF. JUDICIARY

Labor & Public Employment

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 92 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF WAREHOUSE WORKERS, to protect warehouse workers. REF. LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

Transportation

Proposed H.B. No. 5080 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX. Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5110 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.  Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5127 AN ACT REPEALING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to repeal the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5128 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5131 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5164 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILING OF HIGHWAY USE TAX RETURNS, to reduce the frequency of filing highway use tax returns for affected carriers. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5167 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5045 AN ACT PERMITTING SMALL MUNICIPALITIES TO REDUCE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STATE ROADS to permit small municipalities to reduce the speed limit on certain state roads to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5255 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAFETY DEVICES to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices to enforce speed limits and stopping at red lights. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5371 AN ACT CONCERNING SAME-DAY CAR DEALER REGISTRATIONS to provide expedited same-day car registration for car dealers. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5966 AN ACT CONCERNING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND OTHER NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS to prevent drivers from mistakenly driving the wrong way or accessing prohibited highways while using global positioning systems or other navigation applications. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5967 AN ACT CONCERNING THE TEMPORARY REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS to allow an individual to purchase a motor vehicle or trailer and transport the motor vehicle or trailer home on the same day. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5968 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING WRONG-WAY DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES to prevent wrong-way driver-related fatalities. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5990 AN ACT STUDYING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING STRATEGIES, to study alternative transportation funding strategies, including a mileage-based user fee, so that the Special Transportation Fund remains fiscally solvent in the future. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5977 AN ACT CONCERNING THE VISIBILITY OF PRIVATE DELIVERY SERVICE EMPLOYEES, to require employees of a private delivery service company to wear high-visibility apparel when delivering items. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5988 AN ACT CONCERNING TRAINING FOR LOCAL TRAFFIC AUTHORITIES to require that local traffic authorities receive training in order to increase knowledge and make decisions that increase traffic and pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5990 AN ACT STUDYING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING STRATEGIES. To study alternative transportation funding strategies, including a mileage-based user fee, so that the Special Transportation Fund remains fiscally solvent in the future. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5993 AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES to improve traffic and pedestrian safety.REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5995 AN ACT CONCERNING INFORMATION COLLECTED BY AN AUTOMATED NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM to restrict the use of information collected by automated number plate recognition systems. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5998 AN ACT CONCERNING THE NONEMERGENCY AND NONCONSENSUAL TOWING OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY to reduce conflict between towing companies and motor vehicle owners. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6000 AN ACT CONCERNING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY to protect pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6162 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RED-LIGHT CAMERA PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF WATERBURY to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices to enforce stopping at red lights and reduce dangerous and reckless driving in the city of Waterbury. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6165 AN ACT CONCERNING “JAKE-BRAKING”, to alleviate excessive noises on roadways caused by the use of engine compression brake devices in densely populated residential areas. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – ProposedH.B. No. 6166AN ACT CONCERNING LOUD AND EXCESSIVE MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE to reduce loud and excessive noise from motor vehicles. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6234  AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE to (1) require state vehicle procurement to be fully electric, (2) streamline the permitting and opening of new electric vehicle charging sites, (3) create state offices to provide technical assistance to local governments concerning the Inflation Reduction Act, (4) require utilities to plan for the increased use of electric vehicles in the state and fund related grid improvements, and (5) accelerate electrification of the state’s school bus fleet. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6292 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REVIEW OF MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR LICENSE APPLICATIONS to require planning and zoning commissions to review and approve applications for dealing in or repairing motor vehicles pursuant to current zoning regulations, prior to the approval of such licenses by zoning boards of appeals. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6309 AN ACT CONCERNING FLASHING WRONG WAY SIGNS ON ALL HIGHWAY EXIT RAMPS to stop wrong way driving. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6546 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING WRONG-WAY DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES, to reduce wrong-way driving. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Proposed S.B. No. 15 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTY FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON STATE PARKWAYS, to promote public safety and compliance with the ban of certain motor vehicles on parkways in this state. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 178 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to provide transparency, oversight and accountability for the expenditure of certain federal funds by the Department of Transportation. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 586 AN ACT PROHIBITING MODIFICATIONS TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD AND FRONT SIDE WINDOWS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE to prohibit modifications to brake lights, turn signal lights, windshield and front side windows on a motor vehicle. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 590 AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES FROM THE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FUND, to ensure the resources of the Special Transportation Fund are expended on transportation. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 608 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RATES AND CHARGES FOR NONCONSENSUAL TOWING to ensure appropriate rates and charges for nonconsensual towing that accounts for the costs and overhead expenses incurred by the towing company. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 619 AN ACT EQUIPPING COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES WITH GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS to increase public safety and reduce traffic by requiring commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with global positioning systems. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 631 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTIES FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING to increase the fines and penalties for distracted driving so that such fines and penalties are similar with the fines and penalties for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. REF. TRANSPORTATION