Connecticut HB 5470: AN ACT CONCERNING TOBACCO USE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS UNDER TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5470
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2435

Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduced by:
(ET)

AN ACT CONCERNING HYBRID SCHOOL BUSES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 22a-201d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) As used in this section, (1) "zero-emission school bus" has the same 3
meaning as provided in 42 USC 16091(a)(8), as amended from time to 4
time, (2) "alternative fuel school bus" means a school bus that reduces 5
emissions and is operated entirely or in part using liquefied natural gas, 6
compressed natural gas, hydrogen, propane or biofuels, (3) "hybrid 7
school bus" means a school bus that uses (A) a combustion engine fueled 8
by gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, 9
hydrogen, propane or biofuels, and (B) an electric motor capable of 10
propelling the bus that is powered by an electric battery or battery pack, 11
to provide vehicle propulsion from either the combustion engine or the 12
electric motor, or both, and [(3)] (4) "environmental justice community" 13
has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 22a-20a. 14
(b) [Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, (1) on] On 15

Raised Bill No. 5470

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and after January 1, [2035] 2040, one hundred per cent of the school 16
buses that provide transportation for all school districts in the state shall 17
be zero-emission school buses, [or] alternative fuel school buses [, and 18
(2) on and after January 1, 2040, one hundred per cent of the school buses 19
that provide transportation for all school districts in the state shall be 20
zero-emission] or hybrid school buses. 21
[(c) On and after January 1, 2030, one hundred per cent of the school 22
buses that provide transportation for school districts entirely within an 23
environmental justice community as of July 1, 2022, or in an area that 24
encompasses at least one environmental justice community as of July 1, 25
2022, shall be zero-emission school buses.] 26
[(d)] (c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 27
shall establish and administer a grant program for the purpose of 28
providing matching funds necessary for municipalities, school districts 29
and school bus operators to submit federal grant applications [in order] 30
to maximize federal funding for the purchase or lease of zero-emission 31
school buses, alternative fuel school buses, hybrid school buses and 32
electric vehicle charging or fueling infrastructure. Applications for such 33
grants shall be filed with the commissioner at such time and in such 34
manner as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall give 35
preference to applications concerning the purchase or lease of a zero-36
emission school bus that will be operated primarily in an environmental 37
justice community. The commissioner shall determine the amount a 38
municipality, school district or school bus operator shall be required to 39
provide to match such grant. 40
[(e)] (d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 41
shall, within available funds and appropriations, provide 42
administrative and technical assistance to municipalities, school 43
districts and school bus operators that are transitioning to the use of 44
zero-emission school buses, [applying] alternative fuel school buses and 45
hybrid school buses that apply for federal grants for such buses and for 46
installing electric vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure. 47

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Sec. 2. Subsection (h) of section 22a-202 of the 2026 supplement to the 48
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 49
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 50
(h) There is established an account to be known as the "Connecticut 51
hydrogen and electric automobile purchase rebate program account", 52
which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain 53
any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in 54
the account shall be expended by the Commissioner of Energy and 55
Environmental Protection for the purposes of (1) administering the 56
Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate 57
program and the voucher program established pursuant to section 22a-58
201e, and (2) paying the staffing needs associated with administering 59
the grant program for zero-emission buses, alternative fuel school buses 60
and hybrid school buses and providing administrative and technical 61
assistance for such grant program pursuant to section 22a-201d, as 62
amended by this act. 63
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 22a-201d
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 22a-202(h)

ET Joint Favorable