Connecticut SB 414: AN ACT CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH PARITY.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 414
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 13b-31h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) The Department of Transportation shall develop, and thereafter 3
revise as necessary, guidelines governing tree and vegetation 4
management, removal and replacement along state highways for use by 5
its employees and contractors when undertaking maintenance and 6
construction projects. The goal of the guidelines shall be to ensure the 7
impacts of maintenance and construction projects on the environment, 8
landscape and noise pollution are balanced or outweighed by measures 9
taken to avoid and minimize the impacts. 10
(b) Such guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to, 11
provisions addressing (1) the safety of the traveling public; (2) general 12
roadside vegetation management activities performed by the 13
department, including, but not limited to, mowing, herbicide 14
application, grassing, replanting with native species whenever 15
practicable, limb management, tree removal and debris removal; (3) 16
beautification, enhancements and the effect on scenic roads designated 17
pursuant to section 13b-31c; (4) visibility enhancement; and (5) the 18
environmental impact of such work, including (A) preventing invasive 19

Substitute Bill No. 414

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tree, brush or plant species' growth and impact, (B) storm water run-off, 20
(C) erosion, (D) replanting of vegetation species to expand and improve 21
pollinator habitats, as described in section 22-90b, and (E) reduced 22
mowing. Such guidelines shall apply to construction projects financed, 23
in whole or in part, with federal funds to the extent such guidelines do 24
not conflict with federal laws and regulations. 25
(c) Such guidelines shall not apply to the removal of any trees or 26
vegetation necessary to maintain public safety or that is performed 27
because of a weather-related civil preparedness emergency declared 28
pursuant to section 28-9. 29
(d) [On or before January 1, 2024] Not later than February 1, 2027, the 30
Commissioner of Transportation shall consider the results of the study 31
and recommendations conducted pursuant to section 63 of public act 32
24-151, as amended by this act, by the Department of Natural Resources 33
and the Environment at The University of Connecticut concerning the 34
carbon sequestration by trees and other vegetation along highways and 35
other areas in the state , and determine the need, if any, for revisions to 36
the guidelines adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. If the 37
commissioner determines a revision to such guidelines is not warranted, 38
the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the 39
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the 40
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 41
transportation and the environment explaining the reasons for such 42
determination. If the commissioner revises such guidelines in response 43
to the results of such study, the commissioner shall submit such revised 44
guidelines to [the] such joint standing committees, [of the General 45
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and 46
the environment,] in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. 47
[The] Such joint standing committees shall hold a joint public hearing 48
on such revised guidelines and the commissioner shall present such 49
revised guidelines at the public hearing. 50
Sec. 2. Section 63 of public act 24-151 is repealed and the following is 51
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 52

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(a) The Department of Transportation shall provide a grant from 53
available resources to the Department of Natural Resources and the 54
Environment at The University of Connecticut for the purpose of 55
studying the carbon sequestration by trees and other vegetation along 56
highways and other areas in the state. 57
(b) The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at 58
The University of Connecticut shall (1) submit an interim report, not 59
later than January 1, 2025, and a final report, not later than [July 1, 2025] 60
October 1, 2026, concerning the [department's findings] results of such 61
study and any recommendations to the Department of Transportation 62
and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 63
cognizance of matters relating to transportation and the environment, 64
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 65
and (2) present either or both such reports at a hearing held jointly by 66
said joint standing committees. 67
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
se