The Connecticut legislature's Environment Committee has approved a bill that would require stringent emissions standards currently being used by California for more vehicles. Brookfield State Representative Stephen Harding voted against the bill saying it would significantly increase costs to Connecticut businesses and leave future decisions on these standards up to the Legislative Regulations Review Committee and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner.
Under the federal Clean Air Act, states can adopt Environmental Protection Agency vehicle emissions standards or tougher standards set by regulators in California. Connecticut previously adopted the California standards on most cars and light-duty trucks.
The bill advanced by the Environment Committee would adopt California’s standards for trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds, including larger pickups, delivery vans and tractor-trailers.
DEEP recently released a report finding that Connecticut can significantly improve air quality and public health by adopting new emission standards for medium and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles offered for sale in Connecticut beginning in 2026. Connecticut experienced 21 days of unhealthy levels of ozone this past year, including some of the highest monitored values on the east coast.
Ridgefield state Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo says the clean air crisis is potentially the greatest public health crisis the state is facing right now, and not something she's will to pass onto her children.
