Patrick Callahan

Rep. Callahan Op-ed: Revisiting Electric Bus Mandates for School Districts and the DOT

Lawmakers need to think about the big picture and consider ramifications of our actions before passing legislation. Often it seems like the Connecticut General Assembly is going back to old laws even after painstaking warnings that facts and logic show a proposal will create problems. Moving forward with legislation in a deliberate way, listening to all stakeholders, takes time but produces a better regulation or law. The ‘pass it now, fix it later’ approach shouldn’t be the norm . The bottle bill comes to mind as we recently voted to make adjustments to the recycling law after deposits were raised to $0.10 because of massive amounts of fraud. I and others warned that abuse of the system would happen when the proposal to hike the fee was implemented, but that argument wasn’t enough to sway the majority. That speedy Emergency Certification bill won’t fully address the issue, which is why the Environment Committee is considering further changes in a bill before us currently. Another area where concerns were ignored: banning gas-powered buses. S.B. 4 was passed by the majority in 2022. It included a provision to prohibit the state from purchasing diesel-powered buses after January 1, 2024. School districts were also required in another provision to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles. Now, the State Department of Transportation and some of the same legislators who passed this bill are asking for mandate relief for the state fleet and their school districts. Bills are before both the Transportation Committee and the Energy & Technology Committee. Some of the things we warned about when the initial legislation was debated are still concerns. The cost of an electric bus can be three times as much as a diesel bus, not including the cost of a charging station. Cost is not the only issue. Proponents of these provisions had on rose-colored glasses when they passed the feel-good bill and ignored market reality. The availability of this technology is another big reason why the CT DOT is now asking for a reprieve. Electric bus batteries haven’t advanced as far as passenger vehicle batteries. Current technology also presents a challenge for school districts that are spread out because certain trips and routes require greater range than is available. In the winter, these batteries lose power and even if range wasn’t an issue, a midday recharge is still needed. School districts can also purchase fuel tax-free, so the price of electricity and agreements with the bus companies will need to be considered. Our electric supply and distribution network to power charging for EVs will increase demand, and further drive up the cost of electricity to our residents. Taxpayers already have their budgets stretched to the max, something reflected in many towns needing several referenda to pass a budget these days. Expensive electricity exasperated by the “public benefits” charge also effects the affordability. H.B. 5470 – An Act Concerning Hybrid School Buses – is a step in the right direction, but Section 13 of Public Act 22-25 must be repealed.

CT DOT to Perform Maintenance Work on I-84 Ramps

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is performing wrong way driver detection maintenance and recertification on I-84 west and eastbound in Danbury on Monday, March 23, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 East and Westbound at Exit 4 in Danbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 5 in Danbury • I-84 Eastbound at Exit 2 in Danbury Traffic will follow posted detours and drivers are advised to seek alternate routes during the ramp closures listed above. Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. The DOT is performing similar work throughout the region over the next two weeks. Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 West and Eastbound at Exit 10 in Newtown • I-84 West and Eastbound at Exit 11 in Newtown • I-84 Westbound at Exit 9 in Newtown Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 Eastbound, Exit 14 in Southbury • I-84 Eastbound, Exit 16 in Southbury • I-84 Westbound, Exit 15 in Southbury Monday, March 30, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 Westbound at Exit 17 in Waterbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 22 in Waterbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 25 in Waterbury

Rep. Callahan Weighs in on Electric Lead Blower Mandate Bill

As this month moves forward, various legislative committees are coming up on deadlines to vote bills out of committee, to either the House or Senate, or other committees for further consideration. Both the Environment Committee and Transportation Committee have held their final meetings to advance bills that originated in those committees. State Representative Patrick Callahan issued this statement on one bill in particular: "In the Environment Committee, I voted against a bill that would have banned gas-powered leaf blowers for state agencies. That section was removed, but this bill is still an incremental step in that direction. The only part of the original proposal left is a landscaper loan program through the CT Green Bank. The quasi-public organization gets a lot of its funding through the Public Benefits Charge on all of our utility bills.

Rep. Callahan Speaks in Favor of No Tax on Tips & Overtime Proposal

House Republicans raise an amendment to adopt the federal policy of no tax on tips & overtime. State Representative Patrick Callahan expressed disappointment it was voted down along party lines. Later, the concept was raised as a bill. H.B. 5010 was the subject of a public hearing by the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

Rep. Callahan Introduces Amendment to Address Bottle Bill Fraud

There was an e-cert raised during a recent meeting of the House of Representatives that could be considered urgent. This was an attempt to stem the fraud in bottle redemptions that have left businesses in Connecticut with losses of about $10 million. When Connecticut increased the bottle deposit to 10-cents, the legislature didn't work in cooperation with our surrounding states. New York and Massachusetts only have a 5-cent fee on bottles and Rhode Island doesn't have a deposit law. That has led to truckloads of bottles sold out-of-state coming into Connecticut for recycling. "I offered an amendment to go back to 5-cent deposits, but that was rejected mostly along party lines. The Environment Committee is working on a bill this session to address this issue from other angles, but until we go back to 5-cents (or neighboring states hike their fee), this will just be like putting band aids on a gaping wound," said Rep. Patrick Callahan.