Transportation Committee advances package: dealer pricing, Shoreline East, rail studies and automated enforcement move from committee

The Transportation Committee on March moved a slate of transportation bills out of committee, advancing measures on motor-vehicle pricing transparency, Shoreline East rail service restoration, small-harbor funding, noise barriers, and expanded automated traffic enforcement to the legislative floors.

The committee approved a bill that would require car dealers to include any dealer conveyance fee in the stated advertised price and the selling price quoted to prospective buyers and to prohibit preprinting sales orders that indicate optional fees. Senator Cohen, one of the committee co-chairs, said the measure tackles a transparency problem that has surprised consumers: “Consumers still don't recognize or realize that, they will be charged conveyance fees, potentially at the last minute after working hard to negotiate down the price of a motor vehicle.” Several members said they remain concerned about the absence of a cap and said they want continued engagement; Senator Wong said he would vote no to flag the measure and to seek more input before the floor.

The committee also advanced a bill directing the Department of Transportation to restore Shoreline East rail service to its pre-COVID-19 level by July 1, 2025. Senator Cohen, who represents communities served by the line, urged colleagues to support restoring service to encourage ridership and local transit-oriented development, saying the state recently secured $5,000,000 to enhance the line and that service increases have already brought riders back.

Other bills moved forward included: - A requirement that DOT develop and publish a funding schedule for noise barrier construction by Oct. 1, 2025, based on an existing priority list; - A codification of the Connecticut Port Authority—s Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP) and related bond-account changes to allow grant distributions and certain dredging reimbursements; - A bill requiring DOT to study the feasibility of operating hybrid trains on the Danbury branch and to report by Feb. 1, 2026, while also requiring DOT to post Connecticut Public Transportation Council materials on a dedicated webpage; - A measure that prohibits intentionally projecting a laser at an aircraft or its flight path and makes such a violation a class A misdemeanor; - A requirement that landscaping trailers parked on public highways display traffic cones consistent with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; and - A measure increasing the fine for repeat parking-in-front-of-hydrants offenses.

A contested policy area drew extended discussion: expanded automated traffic-enforcement cameras. The bill requires DOT to craft a plan to expand speed-camera use on highways and to report recommendations by Feb. 1, 2026, and it clarifies that municipal speed and red-light camera revenue may reimburse vendors and support safety and mobility improvements. Representative O'Day, who said she had been skeptical in the past, said she had changed her view based on testimony and would support moving the bill out of committee. Representative Anderson raised privacy and constitutional concerns, noting uncertainty about how tickets would be assigned when multiple people are linked to a vehicle registration.

Committee leaders emphasized the bills are "work in progress" and that committee approval to send bills to the floor does not guarantee final passage. Several members urged continued outreach to impacted stakeholders, including municipalities, dealers and transit advocates.

Votes at a glance (Summary of committee motions; all items were moved to the floor from the Transportation Committee and recorded as "JFS to the floor" in committee minutes.)

- SB 774 — An act concerning the offering price of a motor vehicle by a car dealer. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Representative Brown. Outcome: advanced from committee. Note: Several members voiced support for transparency but concerns about the absence of a fee cap and asked for continued refinement before floor consideration.

- SB 714 — An act restoring service on the Shoreline East rail line. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Representative Brown. Outcome: advanced from committee. Sponsors said prior session funding of $5,000,000 is in the budget and additional restoration is estimated to need further appropriations.

- SB 1081 — An act requiring an economic study on areas surrounding the Mohegan Pequot Bridge. Motion moved by Senator Austin; seconded by Senator Wong. Outcome: advanced from committee. Requires joint DECD and DOT study and a report by July 1, 2026.

- HB 7057 — An act concerning installation of sound barriers by the Department of Transportation. Motion moved by Senator Wong; seconded by Representative Farrar. Outcome: advanced from committee. Requires DOT to develop a publicly posted schedule by Oct. 1, 2025.

- HB 5240 — An act requiring placement of traffic cones around certain landscaping vehicles when parked on a public highway. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Representative Morin Bello. Outcome: advanced from committee. Directs compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; violation is an infraction.

- HB 6861 — An act implementing Connecticut Airport Authority recommendations regarding unmanned aircraft and projecting a laser at an aircraft or flight path. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Representative Kennedy. Outcome: advanced from committee. Makes intentional projection of a laser on/at an aircraft or flight path a class A misdemeanor.

- SB 1242 — An act funding Small Harbor Improvement Projects (SHIP). Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Senator Wong. Outcome: advanced from committee. Codifies SHIP, sets grant priorities (municipal projects prioritized), and requires Bond Commission action for future tranches; the bill also allows certain dredging reimbursements.

- HB 7059 — An act concerning Connecticut rail. Motion moved by Senator Wong; seconded by Senator Cohen. Outcome: advanced from committee. Requires DOT to study hybrid trains on the Danbury branch and New Milford extension feasibility; report due Feb. 1, 2026; added provisions to post Connecticut Public Transportation Council materials online.

- HB 5766 — An act increasing the penalty for subsequent offenses of parking in front of a fire hydrant. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Senator Wong. Outcome: advanced from committee. Establishes fine up to $200 for subsequent offenses.

- HB 7058 — An act concerning automated traffic enforcement safety devices. Motion moved by Senator Cohen; seconded by Representative Smith. Outcome: advanced from committee. Directs DOT to develop an expansion plan for speed cameras on highways; municipalities may use camera revenues for vendor reimbursement and roadway safety improvements. Committee discussion addressed appeals processes, who receives violations when multiple parties are linked to a vehicle registration, and protections to keep camera revenue directed to traffic-safety purposes.

What happens next All bills advanced will be eligible for consideration on their respective chamber floors. Committee leaders and members repeatedly described the language of several bills as "work in progress" and said they expected further amendments as bills move through appropriations or onto the floor.

Quotes "Consumers still don't recognize or realize that, they will be charged conveyance fees, potentially at the last minute after working hard to negotiate down the price of a motor vehicle," Senator Cohen said during debate on SB 774.

"This is a bill in which the committee leadership had worked very hard to accommodate some of the challenges and input from the dealers," Senator Wong said, later adding he would flag the bill and vote no in committee to secure additional input on SB 774.

"We need to get the [Shoreline East] line moving again. We need full restoration in order to see ridership return," Senator Cohen said while urging colleagues to advance SB 714.

Ending Committee members set the next Transportation Committee meeting for Wednesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. They said votes from this session would be held open until 2:30 p.m. per the clerk's announcement. Several lawmakers said they expect further negotiations and technical fixes before some bills reach the full House or Senate floors.