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EV study bill stalls in the CT legislature as end-of-session draws closer

House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (L-R) talk with reporters Friday May 3, 2024 at the ϳԹ Capitol as a bill to create a roadmap for EV's appeared stalled. “I think our state was shocked at how much pushback there was and how woefully unprepared we were for that transition,” Ritter said. “I don't see it getting better by doing nothing. But some people think the commission is not worth it.” (Michayla Savitt/ϳԹ)
Michayla Savitt
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ϳԹ
House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (L-R) talk with reporters Friday May 3, 2024 at the ϳԹ Capitol as a bill to create a roadmap for EV's appeared stalled. “I think our state was shocked at how much pushback there was and how woefully unprepared we were for that transition,” Ritter said. “I don't see it getting better by doing nothing. But some people think the commission is not worth it.”

With just a handful of days left in ϳԹ’s short legislative session, a House bill that would create a roadmap for electric vehicle rollout is stalling.

would establish a 40-person group to examine how to prepare the state for more electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure, to help reduce the state’s contributing to climate change: transportation.

The measure was born over concerns of whether ϳԹ was ready to adopt California emission standards that phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, who wields influence over what bills ultimately get taken up for debate in the chamber, told reporters Friday morning he likes the bill but doesn't think it will get taken up in the coming days.

“I think our state was shocked at how much pushback there was and how woefully unprepared we were for that transition,” Ritter said. “I don't see it getting better by doing nothing. But some people think the commission is not worth it.”

Ritter said the state follows the at this point - which are less strict than the California-led standards. With an end-of-Wednesday deadline, it’s possible the issue will get shifted to January of next year.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora said he doesn’t support the measure because of the proposed 40-person council makeup — concerns echoed by his caucus in committee as well — but said Friday that the state needs a roadmap for the future of EVs.

“Republicans have said all along, we need a plan,” Candelora said. “We just can't force our way into electric vehicles.”

If taken up and passed in the House, the bill would still need Senate passage before lawmakers adjourn.

As ϳԹ's state government reporter, Michayla focuses on how policy decisions directly impact the state’s communities and livelihoods. She has been with ϳԹ since February 2022, and before that was a producer and host for audio news outlets around New York state. When not on deadline, Michayla is probably outside with her rescue dog, Elphie. Thoughts? Jokes? Tips? Email msavitt@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from ϳԹ, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de ϳԹ, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — ϳԹ.

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ϳԹ’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.