AN ACT CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

This bill requires the Connecticut Department of Transportation to create and update guidelines for managing vegetation along state highways, balancing environmental protection with public safety and maintenance needs. The guidelines will cover activities like mowing, herbicide use, replanting with native species, and protecting pollinator habitats, while excluding emergency removals needed for public safety or weather-related emergencies. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the University of Connecticut to assess carbon sequestration by roadside vegetation, with results to be reviewed by the transportation commissioner and reported to legislative committees by October 1, 2026.