Transportation committee advances package on towing, rideshare rules, e-bikes, worker safety and transit passes

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Transportation Committee convened March 19 and moved a broad set of transportation-related bills forward to the floor, including measures on peer-to-peer car sharing, transportation network companies (TNCs), towing rates and practices, motor vehicle and boating penalties, worker and roadside safety programs, e-bikes and subsidized public transit for certain riders. Committee leaders said votes would be held open and that most items were forwarded “JFS to the floor” (joint favorable substitute).

The meeting blended technical agency recommendations from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with advocate and industry testimony. Several measures were described by chairs as “works in progress” that reflect changes made after public hearings and stakeholder feedback.

Why it matters

Taken together, the bills would change how the state regulates emerging mobility services, how towing and storage are priced and audited, and how the state addresses roadside worker and responder safety. Some measures also affect everyday road users — for example, by expanding helmet and distracted-driving rules and by creating a program for free public bus passes for high school students and veterans. Committee leaders and several members said the package balances consumer protections, small-business concerns and roadway safety.

Peer-to-peer car sharing and vehicle-miles-studying prohibition (SB 1447)

The panel advanced substitute language to SB 1447 that, as introduced, removed a retail delivery fee and instead focuses on applying sales-and-use tax to peer-to-peer car-sharing transactions and directing the resulting revenue to the Special Transportation Fund. The substitute also repeals an earlier statutory prohibition that prevented DOT from studying vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Chair remarks noted that the repeal ‘‘unhandcuffs’’ the state and would allow Connecticut to examine whether mileage-based policies make sense locally after considering other states’ studies.

Representative Kennedy raised concerns that the change could be read as creating a mileage tax; the chair clarified that the substitute does not establish a mileage tax and only lifts the statutory bar on studying VMT. Senator Wong said he would vote "no" out of committee, citing concerns that removing the prohibition could reopen debate about mileage-based fees that were previously rejected by the public after the toll debate.

Transportation network companies, driver protections (SB 1448)

The committee advanced SB 1448, which would revise TNC (ride-hail) registration fees to a tiered structure based on the number of drivers, add reporting requirements to DOT, require communications to drivers in English and Spanish, expand pre-enrollment disclosures (including information about the state Paid Family and Medical Leave program) and prohibit retaliation against drivers who file complaints. Committee members discussed whether drivers are independent contractors and how enrollment in state paid-leave works for that group; the chair clarified independent contractors can opt into the state program and that the bill requires companies only to inform drivers of that option.

Towing: medium/heavy tow rates and comprehensive towing reform (SB 1449 and HB 7162)

The committee moved forward two related towing measures. SB 1449 directs the DMV commissioner to establish a council representing towing, trucking, fire and police chiefs and state agencies to recommend a uniform schedule of rates for medium- and heavy-duty towing, including temporary higher rates while a permanent schedule is developed. The bill requires the council to submit documentation and to revisit rates periodically.

Separately, HB 7162 is a broad reform of nonconsensual and residential towing practices, requiring written or electronic authorization for many private-property tows, stronger signage requirements, photo documentation before towing, a DMV “towing bill of rights” (in English and Spanish) and changes to how towers store, value and sell abandoned vehicles. The substitute requires towers to accept credit cards, limits towing distance to a 10-mile radius or the nearest storage location, extends minimum hold times before sale and increases penalties for unauthorized towing. Chairs said votes were intended to protect vehicle owners while ensuring towers are fairly compensated for accident and heavy-lift work.

DMV recommendations, impaired driving parity for vessels (HB 7160)

A multipart DMV implementing bill was forwarded. Among its provisions are a requirement for certain driver-safety video content at license renewal, clarifications for dealer and recycler licensing, changes to pontoon boat registration to a length-based fee schedule, and a cross-notification provision so that an impaired-boating conviction can trigger action by DMV and vice versa. Representative Carney — who pressed for the boating/DUIs linkage after a deadly crash in Old Saybrook — thanked committee leadership for including reciprocal penalties.

Yellow envelopes for people with cognitive or physical disabilities (HB 7159)

The committee advanced legislation to create a “yellow envelope” program, modeled on the existing blue-envelope autism program, to help first responders quickly access relevant identifying and accommodation information for people with cognitive impairments or physical disabilities. The bill directs DMV to design the program with the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity and state police, fire and EMS associations; it also requires training materials for first responders.

Transit passes for students and veterans (SB 1243)

The committee advanced substitute language that keeps veterans in the proposal (free rides on state-owned/controlled buses with ID showing veteran status) and creates a program for school districts to purchase discounted passes for high school students in grades 9–12. DOT must negotiate contracts and may limit times of day for student use; the substitute removed an earlier, larger proposal to subsidize low-income passengers statewide to limit the bill’s fiscal impact.

E-scooters, e-bikes and motor-driven cycles (HB 6862)

The committee approved a bill that tightens rules on modified e-bikes and sellers that mislabel vehicles, requires correct labeling when a bike’s speed or motor characteristics change, and allows class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only) on trails to support accessibility. The bill also adjusts the motor-driven-cycle definition to include some unicycles and adjusts power thresholds.

Worker and roadside safety (HB 7060)

Following testimony from families of workers killed on highways and from law enforcement, the committee advanced a bill that names memorials for two workers killed in separate incidents and creates or expands training and awareness programs for work-zone and roadside vehicle safety. The measure would require drivers convicted of slow-down/move-over or other endangering-worker violations to complete an in-person safety program; it raises penalties for egregious violations in work zones and expands reckless-driving definitions to capture certain distracted-driving behaviors on limited-access highways.

Votes at a glance

(Committee leaders said votes would be held open; the committee moved the items below to the floor as "JFS to the floor" or the equivalent action. Recorded roll-call votes were initiated during the meeting; chairs announced they would hold votes open and report final tallies as required.)

- SB 1447 — An act concerning additional revenue sources for the Special Transportation Fund (peer-to-peer car sharing sales/use tax; repeal of prohibition on DOT studying VMT). Action: JFS to the floor; motion moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Morin Bello. Discussion included clarification that the substitute does not impose a mileage tax; some members said they would vote no out of committee. Votes recorded and held open.

- SB 1448 — An act concerning transportation network companies and third-party delivery companies (tiered registration fees; driver communications/reporting; anti-retaliation). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Warren Bello. Committee discussed Paid Family and Medical Leave eligibility for independent contractors. Votes recorded and held open.

- SB 1449 — An act concerning medium-duty and heavy-duty towing (temporary rates; council to set uniform schedule; factors for rates). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Senator Huang. Votes recorded and held open.

- HB 7162 — An act reforming motor vehicle towing statutes (authorization, signage, documentation, bill of rights, limits on distance, hold times before sale, penalties). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by (Senate) Arzeno. Votes recorded and held open.

- HB 7159 — An act creating yellow envelopes for first responders (accommodations for cognitive or physical disabilities). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Kennedy. Votes recorded and held open.

- HB 7160 — An act implementing DMV recommendations (penalties for OUI, pontoon fees, background checks, DMV technical changes). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Farrar. Votes recorded and held open.

- HB 7161 — An act on suspension of operator’s licenses for failure to pay fines or failure to appear and installment payment option (narrower scope than prior bills). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Morin Bello. Several members voiced reservations about road-safety tradeoffs; votes recorded and held open.

- SB 1243 — An act concerning fare-free bus service for high school students and veterans (veterans exempt; optional program for boards of education to procure discounted student passes). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Senator Wong. Votes recorded and held open.

- HB 6862 — An act concerning e-scooters, e-bikes and motor-driven cycles (labels, modification prohibitions, class 1 trail access). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Collins-Maine. Votes recorded and held open.

- SB 1377 — An act implementing DOT recommendations (MUTCD alignment, EV signage, urban transit districts, rail access). Action: JFS to the floor; moved by Representative Berger Gavallo; seconded by Representative Arzeno. Votes recorded and held open.

- SB 1375 (listed as "highway, pedestrian and cyclist safety") and HB 7060 (transportation worker safety) — measures addressing Vision Zero recommendations, helmets, distracted driving rules, complete-streets support, intelligent-speed assistant study and strengthened penalties for endangering highway workers. Both advanced out of committee; votes recorded and held open.

What’s next

Chairs said they will set a time to close or finalize the votes that were held open at the end of the meeting. Leaders also emphasized that many bills passed with substitute language produced after public hearings and stakeholder consultations and that several items remain “works in progress” expected to be refined on the floor or in subsequent deliberations.

Ending

Committee leaders repeatedly framed the session as collaborative and iterative and urged colleagues to work with DOT, DMV and other agencies as the bills move to the floor. Several members stressed roadway and worker safety as a continuing priority, and chairs urged motorists to obey slow-down/move-over rules while the legislature addresses statutory changes.