HB 5405 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING OWNERS, OPERATORS AND LESSEES OF CRANES AND HOISTING EQUIPMENT.

HB 5405 establishes new safety regulations for crane and hoisting equipment operations in Connecticut. It creates a seven-member Examining Board to oversee licensing, grants inspectors authority to issue stop-work orders for violations like unsafe operation or incompetence (effective October 1, 2026), and imposes fines up to $5,000 for violations - including $5,000 for ignoring a stop-work order. The bill directly affects crane owners, operators, and hoisting equipment operators by requiring valid licenses, mandating compliance with safety standards, and enabling enforcement actions. Key provisions include mandatory administrative hearings for contested stop-work orders and civil penalties for operating without proper certification.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PS Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden its scope by renaming the act to include 'lessees' and updating the definition of 'crane' to cover more equipment types. The composition of the Examining Board was adjusted to include two owner representatives instead of one, and the definition of 'hoisting equipment' was expanded to include specific motorized machinery used in construction. Several sections were renumbered and reorganized to reflect these substantive changes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include lessees of cranes and hoisting equipment and to define a broader range of equipment under the term 'crane'.

SCOPE

The act title and text were updated to explicitly include 'lessees' (those who rent or lease equipment) alongside owners and operators.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'crane' was expanded to include various types such as pedestal cranes, portal cranes, and straddle cranes, and to clarify that multipurpose machines count if configured for hoisting.

A new definition for 'hoisting equipment' was added to specifically include motorized equipment used in construction projects over a certain cost threshold with specific lifting capacity and reach requirements.

REQUIREMENT

The composition of the Examining Board was changed to require two members representing crane owners instead of one, while maintaining two public members and two operator members.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reorganized, renumbered, and the effective date for repealing specific sections was updated to October 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Judiciary

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Safety and Security

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors