Category: State News

Loopholes in current statutes allow anyone – including felons, traffickers, & extremists – to manufacture or assemble untraceable firearms using a 3-D printer or do-it-yourself kit

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) led a group of 26 lawmakers including U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in reintroducing the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, legislation to ban dangerous “ghost” guns. These weapons, which are easily assembled with a 3-D printer or a do-it-yourself gun making kit purchased from an unlicensed seller, can be obtained without passing a background check and have become the weapon of choice for criminals and extremists. Without a unique serial number, these guns are often untraceable and impede investigations by law enforcement. The bill would require online and other sellers of gun-making kits to comply with federal firearm safety regulations.

“Ghost guns are a major threat to public safety and law enforcement’s ability to protect our communities,” said Blumenthal. “Without serial numbers and readily available for anyone to assemble, these untraceable weapons are a convenient tool for those that hope to cause harm. Our measure closes the gaping loopholes that allow domestic abusers, criminals, and terrorists to bypass background checks. A homemade gun is still a gun. Subjecting these weapons to the same safety measures and requirements will save lives.”

“Gun violence has taken far too many lives and affected countless families around our nation,” said Espaillat. “Ghost guns are propelling this crisis, as these weapons are self-assembled, untraceable, and can allow criminals to evade firearm background checks. This has presented an ever-growing challenge for law enforcement agencies, as the number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has increased exponentially over the past few years alone. Our bill, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, would codify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF’s) authority to regulate and track these deadly weapons. We cannot ignore the public health implications facing the country as a direct result of ghost guns and our bill would implement commonsense solutions to help combat this crisis.”

“Illegal, untraceable ghost guns make it easy for criminals to get their hands on dangerous weapons. It makes no sense why a gun assembly kit should be treated any differently than a gun bought from a store. This legislation would bring federal law up to speed with the latest technology and stop the proliferation of ghost guns in our communities,” said Murphy.

The use of “ghost” guns across the country has been dramatically increasing. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the number of “ghost” guns recovered and traced by law enforcement went from 1,629 in 2016 to 19,273 in 2021, a more than 1000% increase.

Specifically, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act would permanently include the core building blocks of “ghost” guns– unfinished frames and receivers –in the definition of “firearm” under federal law. In doing so, online and other gun kit manufacturers and distributors selling frames and receivers that can “readily” be converted into fully functional weapons would be required to comply with the same federal regulations that govern the production and distribution of completed firearms.

It also includes a requirement that sellers have a manufacturer’s license and put a serial number on the frame or receiver included in each kit, and that purchasers undergo a background check. 

The Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

In the House, the bill is also led by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Brad Schneider (D-IL). 

The legislation is endorsed by the Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Giffords, and Newtown Action Alliance.

“Untraceable ghost guns, which can be obtained with no background check and no questions asked, are a dream come true for violent criminals and a nightmare for law enforcement,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Ghost guns look like a gun, shoot like a gun, and kill like a gun, so they must be regulated like a gun. We’re thankful to Senate Democrats for introducing legislation to do just that and we urge the gun sense majority in Congress to pass the Untraceable Firearms Act.”

“In recent years, the rise of unregulated ghost guns has had devastating consequences in communities all over the country. These unserialized and untraceable firearms are designed to evade public safety laws  – like background checks – which ensure firearms cannot be obtained by those who are not legally permitted to have them, including gun traffickers, those convicted of violent felonies and domestic violence abuse, and minors.  We cannot afford to wait. We must act now to stop the spread of these dangerous weapons. Brady is grateful to Senator Blumenthal for reintroducing this common sense bill to bolster public safety and the well-being of our communities,” said Kris Brown, President of Brady.

“Ghost guns can be obtained without a background check and intentionally lack serial numbers, meaning law enforcement has no clue where a gun came from when it is used in a crime. And with the gun lobby using the courts to block implementation and enforcement of the ATF’s rule regulating ghost guns, Congress must act to stop the alarming proliferation of these dangerous weapons. We applaud Senator Blumenthal for introducing the Untraceable Firearms Act to ensure that the key parts of ghost guns—the frame or receiver—are rightly regulated as firearms,” said Adzi Vokhiwa, Federal Affairs Director at GIFFORDS.

“According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives federal crime report, the number of suspected ghost guns recovered by law enforcement and submitted to the bureau for tracing increased by more than 1,000% between 2017 and 2021. It’s time for Congress to keep our children and families safe by passing the Untraceable Firearms Act to ban ghost guns to prevent criminals, domestic abusers, mass shooters, & other dangerous individuals from assembling their own untraceable weapons without background check, serial number, or sale record”, said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Allia

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced plans to expand Connecticut’s free school meals program for the 2023-2024 school year, enabling more students to receive access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no additional cost to them or their families.

Under the plan, $16 million of funding the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act will be invested into the program. Funds will be utilized to support the provision of meals at no cost in the following ways:

• All students in non-Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) will be able to receive breakfast meals at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 114 districts participating in the SBP are eligible to receive this funding serving an estimated 177,243 eligible students.
• Students who are eligible for reduced-price meals in non-CEP schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will be able to receive lunch at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 128 districts participating in the NSLP are eligible to receive this funding, serving an estimated 13,197 eligible students.

The investment results from collaborative advocacy between the Governor’s Office, the Connecticut State Department of Education, legislative leaders, and strategic school nutrition partners.

“This investment ensures that each student begins their day with a nourishing meal, fostering learning and growth,” Governor Lamont said. “Additionally, removing the family portion of the cost of lunch for students eligible for reduced-price meals means more money in their pockets for other essential needs. By ensuring access to nutritious meals, we empower our students to excel academically and in all facets of life.”

“I commend Governor Lamont and our legislative leaders for placing priority on the continuation of free breakfast and school-lunch subsidies for Connecticut’s students,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “Student health status, including physical health and student achievement, are directly connected. The research clearly shows that eating a nutritious and well-balanced breakfast improves concentration, alertness, and comprehension; results in fewer mistakes; assists with faster completion of math problems; results in better performance on standardized tests; and improves speed and memory on cognitive tests.”

Reimbursements to districts for meals served will be provided based on the approved eligibility status of each student – i.e., whether they quality for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum are recognizing Black-Owned Business Month, which is celebrated nationally each August. The commemoration provides an opportunity to acknowledge the resilience, innovation, and economic impact of Black-owned businesses in Connecticut and across the country.

“Our administration is proud to celebrate Black-Owned Business Month and acknowledge the many businesses across Connecticut that contribute to our communities and our economy,” Governor Lamont said. “By supporting small minority-owned businesses, we are strengthening our local economy and creating more job opportunities in our neighborhoods.”

“The Department of Administrative Services is committed to promoting inclusivity and economic growth by providing resources, services, and certifications to small and minority-owned businesses,” Commissioner Gilman said. “This month not only recognizes the economic contributions of Black-owned businesses but also highlights continued opportunities to expand our small business footprint across Connecticut. We encourage all small and minority owned businesses to become certified by our Supplier Diversity Team and learn about ways to contract with the State of Connecticut.”

“Black-owned businesses are a vital part of our economy for the jobs they create and the vibrancy they bring to our communities,” Commissioner Daum said. “In the past, many businesses – particularly small businesses – have had difficulties accessing resources to help them innovate and grow. The Lamont administration has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue by investing in a number of grant and loan programs, including the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, and strengthening the state’s business support network.”

“The Minority Construction Council is proud to recognize and celebrate Black-Owned Business Month,” Jennifer Little-Greer, executive director of the Minority Construction Council, said. “Throughout the year, MCC collaborates with Governor Lamont, DAS, and DECD to advocate, support, and create development opportunities for minority contractors throughout the State of Connecticut.”

During Black-Owned Business Month and throughout the year, it is essential to actively support and promote black-owned businesses in Connecticut. Here are a few ways to contribute:

• Patronize Black-Owned Businesses: Make a conscious effort to support black-owned businesses by seeking out their products and services. Explore online directories and local business associations to discover and engage with these enterprises.
• Spread the Word: Utilize social media platforms and word-of-mouth to promote black-owned businesses you have personally experienced. Share their stories, reviews, and achievements to encourage others to support them as well.
• Attend Community Events: Participate in local events, fairs, and markets that showcase black-owned businesses. This not only helps businesses gain exposure but also fosters a sense of community and solidarity.
• Collaborate and Partner: If you own a business or work in a relevant industry, consider collaborations or partnerships with black-owned businesses. This can lead to mutually beneficial opportunities and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive business landscape.

The Procurement Division of the Department of Administrative Services manages the Supplier Diversity Program and offers other certification programs, technical assistance, and networking opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses. Small and minority-owned businesses economically benefit from certification with the state through government contracting and other private sector opportunities. Businesses that are interested in registering as small or minority-owned can do so through the Department of Administrative Service’s website.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced plans to expand Connecticut’s free school meals program for the 2023-2024 school year, enabling more students to receive access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no additional cost to them or their families.

Under the plan, $16 million of funding the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act will be invested into the program. Funds will be utilized to support the provision of meals at no cost in the following ways:

All students in non-Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) will be able to receive breakfast meals at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 114 districts participating in the SBP are eligible to receive this funding serving an estimated 177,243 eligible students.

Students who are eligible for reduced-price meals in non-CEP schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will be able to receive lunch at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 128 districts participating in the NSLP are eligible to receive this funding, serving an estimated 13,197 eligible students.

The investment results from collaborative advocacy between the Governor’s Office, the Connecticut State Department of Education, legislative leaders, and strategic school nutrition partners.

“This investment ensures that each student begins their day with a nourishing meal, fostering learning and growth,” Governor Lamont said. “Additionally, removing the family portion of the cost of lunch for students eligible for reduced-price meals means more money in their pockets for other essential needs. By ensuring access to nutritious meals, we empower our students to excel academically and in all facets of life.”

“I commend Governor Lamont and our legislative leaders for placing priority on the continuation of free breakfast and school-lunch subsidies for Connecticut’s students,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “Student health status, including physical health and student achievement, are directly connected. The research clearly shows that eating a nutritious and well-balanced breakfast improves concentration, alertness, and comprehension; results in fewer mistakes; assists with faster completion of math problems; results in better performance on standardized tests; and improves speed and memory on cognitive tests.”

Reimbursements to districts for meals served will be provided based on the approved eligibility status of each student – i.e., whether they qualify for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition opposing a decision from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana prohibiting dozens of federal officials and agencies from communicating with social media companies about harmful online content, including financial scams, misinformation meant to undermine elections, and harassment. The coalition of 21 attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit urging the court to reverse the lower court decision. The coalition noted that the district court’s order sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the ability of federal, state, and local governments to keep Americans safe and secure online.

“Pseudoscience conspiracy theories, election disinformation, and other dangerous viral social media content carry real life consequences. It is not only appropriate, it is imperative that social media companies and government officials communicate to address the spread of false and misleading information. The district order unreasonably blocks these important channels of communication and must be overturned,” said Attorney General Tong.

Social media companies and government officials regularly engage in information-sharing and dialogue, especially during public health emergencies, elections, and other events where the spread of false or misleading information can endanger public health and safety. In May 2022, Missouri, Louisiana, and several individuals brought a lawsuit against dozens of federal officials and agencies, alleging efforts to pressure social media companies to remove or suppress certain speech. In July 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana granted a request for a preliminary injunction. The resulting order effectively stops any communication between many federal government officials and social media companies concerning content moderation policies.

Attorney General Tong and the coalition note in the amicus brief that the lower court’s order blocks an important tool that federal leaders have to share information and policy views on how social media platforms can keep Americans safe online, potentially undoing years of mutually beneficial dialogue. The brief highlights examples of productive communication with social media platforms, including the Office of the New York Attorney General’s work to identify and report social media content from the Buffalo mass shooting and its efforts with Amazon to stop sellers from price gouging supplies during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The brief also notes that social media companies have welcomed the input of state governments and federal agencies on topics critical to the public interest, such as protecting children from online harassment and preventing the spread of misinformation designed to undermine election security and integrity.

Joining Attorney General Tong in filing the amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

HARTFORD–Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation announced that the state will receive $6.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Resilience grant program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will be used to help Connecticut meet its zero carbon electric sector goal, improve system reliability and resilience in a range of weather and storm conditions, and attract, train, and retain a skilled and local workforce.

“This $6.5 million dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help Connecticut make much-need improvements to our electric grid. Just this summer, we’ve seen historic flooding and record-breaking temperatures, and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that put a big strain on the electric grid. We’re proud to have secured this funding to improve grid resilience and bring us closer to a clean energy future while creating good-paying jobs in our state,” said the Connecticut Congressional delegation.

Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general and New York City in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand language access for critical government alerts sent to cell phones, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). In a comment letter, the coalition acknowledges the important steps FCC has taken to expand access to WEAs but notes that this proposal would require wireless companies to use machine translation rather than human translation for WEAs and would only include translations for 13 languages. Following multiple severe weather emergencies across the country, Attorney General Tong and the coalition urge FCC to adopt its alternative proposal to use human translators, which are far more reliable, instead of machine translation, and to increase the number of available languages from 13 to at least 25.

“Severe weather emergencies—like the floods we are seeing across Connecticut this month—can be life-threatening and fast developing. Machine translation is just too glitchy and imprecise for this type of highly sensitive message. As our country experiences more dangerous, more frequent weather emergencies fueled by climate change, we need to do everything we can to get as many people as possible accurate, timely warnings,” said Attorney General Tong.

The FCC proposes the use of machine translation applications on cell phones that would translate English WEAs to a user’s preferred language without any review by human translators. However, machine translations are not always reliable.  A recent joint study by UCLA and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that the accuracy rate of machine translations from English varied widely for different languages – from 94 percent accuracy to as low as 55 percent accuracy.

During severe weather emergencies, which are increasingly fueled by climate change, current and accurate information can be critical to survival. Even a slim chance of error in translation could have severe consequences. Instead, the coalition endorses the FCC’s alternative approach of using alert templates for various emergency situations. Those templates would be created by humans, pre-installed on cell phones, and activated when an English-language WEA is received by the phone.

If FCC moves forward with its proposal to include only 13 languages, immigrant communities with high rates of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) would be excluded from WEAs. To reach more of these communities now and in the future, Attorney General Tong and the coalition recommend that WEAs be supported in all languages spoken by at least 300,000 people in the U.S. over five years old – a total of more than 25 non-English languages. The coalition also urges FCC to consider adding additional languages every few years based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data on spoken languages and LEP rates.

Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general and New York City in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand language access for critical government alerts sent to cell phones, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). In a comment letter, the coalition acknowledges the important steps FCC has taken to expand access to WEAs but notes that this proposal would require wireless companies to use machine translation rather than human translation for WEAs and would only include translations for 13 languages. Following multiple severe weather emergencies across the country, Attorney General Tong and the coalition urge FCC to adopt its alternative proposal to use human translators, which are far more reliable, instead of machine translation, and to increase the number of available languages from 13 to at least 25.

“Severe weather emergencies—like the floods we are seeing across Connecticut this month—can be life-threatening and fast developing. Machine translation is just too glitchy and imprecise for this type of highly sensitive message. As our country experiences more dangerous, more frequent weather emergencies fueled by climate change, we need to do everything we can to get as many people as possible accurate, timely warnings,” said Attorney General Tong.

The FCC proposes the use of machine translation applications on cell phones that would translate English WEAs to a user’s preferred language without any review by human translators. However, machine translations are not always reliable. A recent joint study by UCLA and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that the accuracy rate of machine translations from English varied widely for different languages – from 94 percent accuracy to as low as 55 percent accuracy.

During severe weather emergencies, which are increasingly fueled by climate change, current and accurate information can be critical to survival. Even a slim chance of error in translation could have severe consequences. Instead, the coalition endorses the FCC’s alternative approach of using alert templates for various emergency situations. Those templates would be created by humans, pre-installed on cell phones, and activated when an English-language WEA is received by the phone.

If FCC moves forward with its proposal to include only 13 languages, immigrant communities with high rates of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) would be excluded from WEAs. To reach more of these communities now and in the future, Attorney General Tong and the coalition recommend that WEAs be supported in all languages spoken by at least 300,000 people in the U.S. over five years old – a total of more than 25 non-English languages. The coalition also urges FCC to consider adding additional languages every few years based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data on spoken languages and LEP rates.

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT ADOPTING CLEAN AIR CAR AND TRUCK EMISSION STANDARDS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION, PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT

Connecticut Joining Eight States – Including MA, NJ, NY, and RI – To Slash Tailpipe Emissions From Cars, SUVs, and Trucks Beginning in 2027

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that the State of Connecticut is proposing regulations to make cars and trucks up to 90% cleaner and to require vehicle manufacturers to deliver more zero-emission vehicles to Connecticut drivers while also increasing consumer protections. The public comment period remains open until August 23, 2023.

The light-duty vehicle standards being released implement legislation adopted in 2003, requiring the state to adopt and remain consistent with California’s standards for light duty vehicles (passenger cars). These standards will require 90% cleaner emissions from internal combustion engines and will require vehicle manufacturers to deliver 100% electric vehicles by 2035. They also introduce assurance measures that strengthen battery life and warranty requirements for consumers.

The medium and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicle standards authorized by the Connecticut Clean Air Act (Public Act 22-25), which Governor Lamont signed into law last year, require increasing percentages of MHD electric vehicle (EV) sales until 2032 (depending on vehicle class) and will reduce emissions from internal combustion engine MHD vehicles by up to 90%. This legislation enables Connecticut to follow California’s program. Both light-duty and MHD standards provide manufacturers with significant flexibility in meeting the requirements, including credit and pooling banking provisions. In addition, Connecticut has and will continue to support and develop incentive programs to help Connecticut residents and businesses purchase new electric and advanced technology vehicles and will continue to work with manufacturers to determine how to best deploy those incentive programs.

Significantly reducing pollution from cars and trucks provides benefits to those living closest to transportation corridors, which include many distressed municipalities and other environmental justice communities.

With this action, Connecticut joins Rhode Island, Maryland, New Jersey, and New Mexico in announcing intention to adopt new standards. Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont finalized adoption of rules this year or late 2022.

“Connecticut and our neighboring states are taking decisive action to meet our climate pollution reduction targets,” Governor Lamont said. “Cars and trucks represent the largest air pollution sector in our state and these regulations are moving in coordination with commitments made by vehicle manufacturers to go all in on electrification.”

“To meet our long-term reduction targets, most vehicle sales need to be zero-emission by the middle of the next decade,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Implementing the Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks rules will also help us reduce smog and fine particulate emissions across Connecticut and especially in communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution.”

“We’re investing in no emission, sustainable vehicles and making infrastructure upgrades throughout the state that will help alleviate idling and encourage more active transportation,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Karen Kitsis said. “The transportation sector accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions impacting communities around the state, and taking these steps is the right thing to do. Through Governor Lamont’s leadership and with the continued support of our state and federal delegation, we’re transforming our transportation infrastructure to be more sustainable, accessible, and safer for all users.”

“The fact is that zero-emission vehicles protect public health and improve quality of life,” Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said. “Climate change is directly impacting the health of our communities. If zero-emission vehicles made up the majority of passenger vehicles on the road, air quality would improve and fewer people would have exacerbations of respiratory conditions. Regulations like this that are being proposed by Governor Lamont are bringing us one step closer to meeting our climate and health goals for generations to come.”

The proposed rules are receiving the support of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

“Passing the legislation allowing for Connecticut to continue lowering our GHG emissions has put our state on the path to better health,” State Representative Joe Gresko (D-Stratford), co-chair of the Environment Committee, said. “The industry is moving in this direction, and Connecticut and other states are joining them in directing the market to better consider our residents’ health.”

“I was honored to help lead the passage of the Connecticut Clean Air Act in 2022 and I’m thrilled that today we are launching a major piece of the legislation,” State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), co-chair of the Transportation Committee, said. “If we want to get serious about climate change, we need to recognize the role of air quality and tackle carbon emissions from its largest contributor – the transportation sector. These new regulations will ensure cleaner emissions vehicles are made available for purchase and move Connecticut forward to a greener future.”

“The environment has no party affiliation,” State Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), who has been recognized for his leadership on air pollution, climate transition, and coastal resiliency, said. “We must continue to strive to bring bipartisan solutions to everything we do with the environment. That includes combating climate change and our efforts to reduce asthma rates. Lowering vehicle emissions is one of the solutions which will improve air quality and public health. I was proud to support this legislation, and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to protect our environment.”

Advocates and stakeholders are applauding the issuance of the proposed rules.

“Transportation is the biggest source of air pollution in Connecticut and disproportionately contributes to nitrous oxides, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter,” Jay Stange of Transport Hartford Academy, a lead organizer for the Transportation Climate Coalition, said. “These pollutants harm public health, especially in low-income, urban communities, where years of discriminatory land use and transportation policies have resulted in environmental justice communities being disproportionately burdened with particulate matter air pollution from vehicles.”

“Two decades ago, Connecticut became a leader on cleaner transportation by adopting the Clean Cars I standards. Now, it’s time to take the next step in achieving the kind of emissions reductions we must in order to responsibly address climate change,” Charles Rothenberger, climate and energy attorney at Save the Sound, said. “Taken together, the regulations introduced today will provide long overdue updates to our vehicle standards, placing Connecticut on the path to transforming and modernizing the transportation sector and providing substantial environmental and health benefits for the citizens of Connecticut.”

“In a summer of smoky haze and extreme heat, climate change is undeniably a crisis,” Aziz Dehkan, executive director of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, said. “The world needs to dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and fast, if there’s any hope of preventing more frequent extreme weather events. With the passage of the Connecticut Clean Air Act, Connecticut has an opportunity to become a leader in decarbonizing transportation. With the adoption of the standards in the act, we can continue to supplant fossil fuel vehicles, accelerating to a clean energy future, and one that meets our critical climate goals.”

Cleaner vehicles are needed to address Connecticut’s air quality

Connecticut suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country, especially along heavily traveled transportation corridors where air pollution is most densely concentrated. Mobile sources are the single largest contributor to statewide greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 40% of emissions, and 70% of emissions of nitrogen oxides, a precursor to ground level ozone (smog). Exposure to poor air quality exacerbates acute and chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung diseases. Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles will decrease our largest source of in-state emissions and help Connecticut meet its air quality and climate change goals.

More and more, Connecticut residents are choosing to transition to EVs. As of July 1, 2023, EV registrations are up 20% since January 1, 2023, and up 42% since July 1, 2022, according to data from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

Public hearings and comments on proposed regulations

DEEP will hold public hearings, if requested, on the proposed regulations on August 22, 2023, and will accept comments on the proposed regulations until August 23, 2023. For specific notices for the regulations and the ability to comment please use the following links:

Proposed section 22a-174-37, Low NOx and ACT Regulation (PR2023-020)

Proposed section 22a-174-36d, Advanced Clean Cars II (PR2023-023)

Manufacturers committing to an electrified future and cleaner vehicles

Many vehicle manufacturers have already announced plans to electrify the vehicles they offer for sale amid increasing consumer demand and emerging regulatory requirements. For example:

Ford is planning for half of all vehicles it sells to be electric by 2030, and by the end of 2023 wants to produce 600,000 EVs per year.

General Motors committed to selling only zero-emission cars and trucks by 2035.

Honda aims to make its entire lineup zero-emissions in major markets by 2040. The company wants to offer 30 EV models by 2030 and produce more than 2 million EVs a year.

Hyundai plans to sell 1.9 million battery EVs annually by 2030 and will introduce 17 new EV models by then.

Nissan wants EVs to make up at least 75% of its sales in Europe, 55% in Japan, and 40% in China by fiscal year 2026. By fiscal year 2030, it wants 40% of its U.S. sales to be EVs.

Toyota expects its sales of all-electric vehicles to reach 3.5 million by 2030, and will introduce 30 EV models by that time.