This bill updates Connecticut's distracted driving laws by clarifying definitions of mobile phone use and restricting hand-held phone usage while driving. It directly affects all motor vehicle operators by prohibiting the use of hand-held mobile phones to make calls or operate mobile electronic devices like text messaging apps while operating a vehicle on highways. Key provisions establish a rebuttable presumption that holding a phone to or near the ear constitutes call engagement, while allowing exceptions for emergency communications, official duties of first responders and military personnel, and hands-free phone use. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and does not authorize confiscation of phones unless other laws permit it.
This bill authorizes the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to issue permits allowing organ transport vehicles to use specific colored lights, including blue, red, yellow, or white, either steady or flashing. It directly affects vehicles operated by employees of licensed organ procurement organizations while they are transporting organs, eyes, or human tissue for transplantation. The legislation creates a new permit category for these vehicles, enabling them to use lighting that would otherwise require authorization under current state law, which generally restricts colored and flashing lights on motor vehicles. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, and establishes that these vehicles must still comply with existing restrictions on light use for police officers and DMV inspectors.
This bill amends a previous agreement to transfer three parcels of state land in Cheshire, Connecticut, to the town, allowing the town to sell the land for economic development, medical facilities, housing, or open space preservation. The town must sell the land at fair market value within five years, or by July 1, 2031, or the land will return to state ownership, with proceeds from any sale going to the state's Transportation Fund. The State Properties Review Board must approve the transfer within 30 days, and the Department of Transportation retains control of the land until the official conveyance is completed.
This bill authorizes the state to transfer a 0.22-acre parcel of land in Torrington to the city for use in relocating a trail. The state will cover only the administrative costs of the transfer, and the land comes with an existing easement reserved for the state Department of Transportation. The city must use the land for the trail relocation project, and if it fails to do so, retains ownership, or leases the land, the property must be returned to the state. The State Properties Review Board must approve the transfer within 30 days of receiving a proposed agreement.
This bill updates Connecticut law to automatically suspend driver's licenses for individuals who repeatedly fail to stop for school buses with flashing red lights. It applies to all licensed drivers, youth instruction permit holders under 18, and unlicensed individuals attempting to operate vehicles. The law establishes specific suspension periods ranging from 30 days to five years depending on the type of violation and whether it is a first or subsequent offense. The commissioner of motor vehicles must enforce these suspensions without a hearing once the required number of violations is documented.
HB 5243 authorizes Connecticut to issue up to $8 million in state bonds for economic development in the greater Mystic area (Groton and Stonington). The funds will finance specific projects including dock/pier improvements, parking garage construction, shuttle boat service, and riverwalk enhancements. These projects aim to boost local economic activity and tourism infrastructure. The bonds are general state obligations, repaid through state appropriations, with funding effective July 1, 2026.
This bill updates motor vehicle and medical licensing laws to improve accessibility and professional training. It requires disability parking placards to display expiration dates prominently in boldface and establishes an advisory council to prevent fraud while protecting disabled individuals. The council will develop educational materials and review best practices for placard use and parking access. Additionally, the bill mandates that physicians include specific training topics like cultural competency and risk management in their continuing medical education requirements. These changes aim to enhance system integrity and improve healthcare standards without altering existing rights for qualified individuals.
SB 134 establishes a new "Airport Development Zone" in the town of Plainville, specifically designating certain land parcels for airport-related development. The bill defines the zone using specific census blocks from the 2020 census, creating a legal framework for future projects near the airport. This zoning change directly affects property owners and businesses within the designated area by enabling development under new regulations. The zone becomes effective October 1, 2026, requiring the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to implement it. The bill focuses solely on defining the zone boundaries and legal authority, without specifying development types or financial details.
SB 9 provides a tax credit for Connecticut businesses with 100 or more employees in federally designated "severe nonattainment" air quality areas (as defined by the Clean Air Act). The credit covers 50% of eligible spending on commuting programs that reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, including public transportation, carpooling, or microtransit services, up to $250 per employee annually, with a total annual cap of $1.5 million. Businesses must submit a plan to the state transportation department detailing how they will implement these programs to qualify for the credit.
This bill amends a prior agreement to transfer a 1-acre state-owned land parcel in Bridgeport to the Bridgeport Port Authority for free, covering only administrative costs. The land, located near Interstate 95 and Stratford Avenue, must be used for economic development or waterfront projects, with any future sales or leases requiring fair market value pricing and proceeds going to the state's Transportation Fund. The Department of Transportation must also grant the Port Authority a right of way to access the property, while the State Properties Review Board must approve the transfer within 30 days.
