Transportation committee advances multiple drafting motions, reserves HB 5646 for public hearing and refers Jones Act resolution

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut General Assembly Transportation Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, approved a series of procedural motions to draft multiple raised bills and committee bills, reserved House Bill 5646 for a subject-matter public hearing, and voted to change the reference of House Resolution 9 — a memorial asking Congress to amend the Jones Act — to the Commerce Committee. All votes reported during the meeting were taken by voice and were announced as carried.

The moves set the committee’s early agenda for the 2025 long session as members emphasized road safety, mass transit efficiency and climate-related transportation issues. Representative Berger Gavallo, the committee’s House co-chair, and the committee’s leaders said the group intends to work in a bipartisan, collaborative fashion.

Representative Berger Gavallo said she was “excited to be here” for the committee’s first meeting of the session and welcomed many new and returning members. Representative Kennedy, the House ranking member, said the committee would focus on safety “not just in your vehicles, but as pedestrians and bicyclists and everything that’s walkable,” and called for…