This bill establishes a rebate program to help Connecticut residents, businesses, and municipalities purchase or lease new or used electric vehicles, with priority given to low-income households and environmental justice communities. It also creates a matching grant program to help municipalities upgrade traffic signals for better transit efficiency and reduces congestion. Additionally, the bill sets a timeline requiring most school buses to be zero-emission or alternative fuel vehicles by 2035, with accelerated adoption in distressed municipalities.
This bill implements recommendations from the Department of Transportation by requiring utility companies to maintain infrastructure within state highway rights-of-way and establishing new standards for electric vehicle charging at state facilities. The legislation mandates that utility companies install, repair, and replace service connections in state highway areas, with larger companies needing permits for work on public roads. Additionally, the bill sets a target for state bus fleets to include at least 30% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and requires new state facilities with public parking to have 8% of spaces designed for future electric vehicle charging. State agencies managing EV charging stations will be restricted from allowing non-charging vehicles to occupy those spaces, though exceptions exist for vehicles that can charge without being plugged in. These changes affect utility providers, state transportation infrastructure, and public parking policies across Connecticut.
This bill establishes a pilot program to test solar-powered noise barriers along state highways, aiming to reduce traffic noise while generating electricity. It requires the state transportation commissioner to install and evaluate one to three of these structures, consulting with utility regulators on power connections, and submit a detailed report by January 2028 on costs, performance, and environmental impacts. The legislation also updates vehicle noise regulations by reinforcing requirements for mufflers, exhaust systems, and horns, while increasing the fine for violations to $150,000 per offense. These changes directly affect state highway infrastructure projects and motor vehicle owners and operators.
HB 5401 updates how Connecticut adopts and revises its State Building Code. It requires the State Building Inspector and Codes Committee to base the code on a nationally recognized model, limits revisions to once every six years (or per two model cycles), and mandates provisions for energy conservation and EV charging circuits in new residential garages. The bill also imposes a temporary pause on new building standards from October 2026 to October 2032, except for safety, federal funding, or accessibility needs, and prohibits local municipalities from enforcing stricter rules than the state code during this period. Additionally, it requires mandatory training for building code officials and professionals like architects and contractors on the State Building Code and Fire Safety Code.
HB 5153 creates a new electric vehicle rebate program prioritizing residents in environmental justice communities and low-income households. It allows rebates or vouchers for purchasing or leasing battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicles, with income eligibility capped at 300% of the federal poverty level and a 200% bonus for qualifying residents. Vehicles must cost $50,000 or less, and rebates prioritize those in environmental justice communities or participating in state assistance programs. The bill also makes minor adjustments to land conservation grant rules, allowing urban agriculture or habitat restoration on publicly owned land in targeted communities, but this affects less than 20% of annual grant funding.
