AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHWAY SAFETY.

House of Representatives
HB5463 / File No. 417 1

General Assembly File No. 417
February Session, 2026 House Bill No. 5463

House of Representatives, April 7, 2026

The Committee on Transportation reported through REP.
BERGER-GIRVALO of the 111th Dist., Chairperson of the
Committee on the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHWAY SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 14-296aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
(a) For purposes of this section : [, the following terms have the 3
following meanings: 4
(1) "Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless or digital 5
telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communications 6
without an access line for service. 7
(2) "Using" or "use" means holding a hand-held mobile telephone to, 8
or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear. 9
(3) "Hand-held mobile telephone" means a mobile telephone with 10
which a user engages in a call using at least one hand. 11
(4) "Hands-free accessory" means an attachment, add -on, built -in 12
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feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently 13
installed in a motor vehicle, that, when used, allows the vehicle operator 14
to maintain both hands on the steering wheel. 15
(5) "Hands-free mobile telephone" means a hand -held mobile 16
telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped 17
with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of 18
such hand -held mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a call 19
without the use of either hand, whether or not the use of either hand is 20
necessary to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 21
(6) "Engage in a call" means talking into or listening on a hand -held 22
mobile telephone, but does not include holding a hand -held mobile 23
telephone to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 24
(7) "Immediate proximity" means the distance that permits the 25
operator of a hand -held mobile telephone to hear telecommunications 26
transmitted over such hand-held mobile telephone, but does not require 27
physical contact with such operator's ear.] 28
(1) "Hands -free mode" means the operation of a mobile electronic 29
device by which a user engages in a voice communication or receives 30
audio without touching or holding such device, except to activate, 31
deactivate or initiate with a single touch or swipe of a user's hand. 32
[(8)] (2) "Mobile electronic device" means any hand -held or other 33
portable electronic equipment capable of providing data 34
communication between two or more persons, including , but not 35
limited to, a mobile telephone, a text messaging device, a paging device, 36
a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is 37
capable of playing a video game or a digital video disk, [or] equipment 38
on which digital photographs are taken or transmitted, equipment to 39
display a video or moving image or any combination thereof . [, but ] 40
"Mobile electronic device" does not include any audio equipment or any 41
equipment installed in a motor vehicle for the purpose of providing 42
navigation, emergency assistance to the operator of such motor vehicle 43
or video entertainment to the passengers in the rear seats of such motor 44
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vehicle. 45
[(9)] (3) "Operating a motor vehicle" means operating a motor vehicle 46
on any highway, [as defined in section 14 -1,] including being 47
temporarily stationary due to traffic, road conditions or a traffic control 48
sign or signal, but not including being parked on the side or shoulder of 49
any highway where such vehicle is safely able to remain stationary. 50
(4) "Highway", "commercial motor vehicle" and "authorized 51
emergency vehicle" have the same meanings as provided in section 14 -52
1, as amended by this act. 53
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and 54
subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate a motor 55
vehicle upon a highway [, as defined in section 14-1, while using a hand-56
held mobile telephone to engage in a call or while using ] while (A) 57
holding or supporting a mobile electronic device [. An operator of a 58
motor vehicle who types, sends or reads a text message with a hand -59
held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a 60
motor vehicle shall be in violation of this section, except that if] with any 61
part of such person's body, (B) using a mobile electronic device, unless 62
such device is being used in a hands-free mode, (C) reading, viewing or 63
typing a text message or other nonvoice message or communication on 64
a mobile electronic device, or (D) a video or moving image on a mobile 65
electronic device or an installed screen or other device of a similar nature 66
is visible to such person while seated in the normal operating position, 67
unless such moving image is a map generated by a navigation system 68
or application on such device or screen and such device or screen is 69
mounted on or affixed to the motor vehicle's windshield, dashboard or 70
center console in a manner that does not impede the operation of the 71
motor vehicle. If such operator is driving a commercial motor vehicle, 72
[as defined in section 14 -1,] such operator shall be charged with a 73
violation of subsection (e) of this section. 74
[(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand -held mobile 75
telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, his or her ear while 76
operating a motor vehicle is presumed to be engaging in a call within 77
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the meaning of this section. The presumption established by this 78
subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator 79
was not engaged in a call.] 80
[(3)] (2) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as 81
authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of [a hand-held mobile telephone 82
or] a mobile electronic device, unless otherwise provided by law. 83
[(4) Subdivision] (3) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this 84
subsection shall not apply to: (A) [The use of a hand -held mobile 85
telephone] Holding or using a mobile electronic device for the sole 86
purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an 87
emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital, 88
physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire 89
department; or a police department, [or] (B) any of the following 90
persons while in the performance of their official duties and within the 91
scope of their employment: A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) 92
of section 53a -3, a firefighter or an operator of an ambulance or 93
authorized emergency vehicle [, as defined in section 14-1,] or a member 94
of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27 -103, 95
while operating a military vehicle, or (C) [the use of] using a hand-held 96
radio by a person with an amateur radio station license issued by the 97
Federal Communications Commission in emergency situations for 98
emergency purposes only . [, or (D) the use of a hands -free mobile 99
telephone.] 100
(c) No [person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 101
electronic device, including those with hands -free accessories, or a 102
mobile electronic device, while operating ] school bus operator shall 103
operate a school bus that is carrying passengers [, except that this 104
subsection shall not apply when such person: (1) Places an emergency 105
call to school officials; (2) ] while using a mobile electronic device, 106
including when such device is in hands -free mode, unless such school 107
bus operator : (1) Holds or uses a hand -held mobile telephone as 108
[provided in] permitted under subparagraph (A) of subdivision [(4)] (3) 109
of subsection (b) of this section; [(3)] (2) uses a [hand-held mobile 110
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telephone or] mobile electronic device in a manner similar to a two-way 111
radio to allow real -time communication with a school official, an 112
emergency response operator, a hospital, physician's office or health 113
clinic, an ambulance company, a fire department or a police department; 114
or [(4)] (3) uses a mobile electronic device with a video display, provided 115
such device (A) is used as a global positioning system or to provide 116
navigation, (B) is securely attached inside the school bus near such 117
[person] operator, and (C) has been approved for such use by the 118
Department of Motor Vehicles. 119
(d) No person under eighteen years of age shall [use any hand-held 120
mobile telephone, including one with a hands -free accessory, or ] 121
operate a motor vehicle upon a highway while using a mobile electronic 122
device, [while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway] including 123
when such device is in hands -free mode , except as [provided in ] 124
permitted under subparagraph (A) of subdivision [(4)] (3) of subsection 125
(b) of this section. 126
(e) No person shall [use a hand -held mobile telephone or other 127
electronic device or type, read or send text or a text message with or 128
from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a 129
commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14 -1, except for the 130
purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an 131
emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital; 132
physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire 133
department or a police department] operate a commercial motor vehicle 134
in violation of the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this 135
section, except as permitted under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) 136
of subsection (b) of this section. 137
(f) Except as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this 138
section, no person shall (1) engage in any activity not related to the 139
actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the 140
safe operation of such vehicle on any highway, [as defined in section 14-141
1] or (2) fail to maintain a proper lookout while operating a motor 142
vehicle. 143
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(g) Any law enforcement officer who issues a summons for a 144
violation of this section shall record on such summons the specific 145
nature of any distracted driving behavior observed by such officer. 146
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined two hundred 147
dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy -five dollars for a 148
second violation and six hundred twenty -five dollars for a third or 149
subsequent violation. 150
(i) An operator of a motor vehicle who commits a moving violation, 151
as defined in subsection (a) of section 14 -111g, while engaged in any 152
activity prohibited by this section shall be fined in accordance with 153
subsection (h) of this section, in addition to any penalty or fine imposed 154
for the moving violation. 155
(j) The state shall remit to a municipality twenty -five per cent of the 156
fine amount received for a violation of this section with respect to each 157
summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk of the Superior Court 158
or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior 159
Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on or before 160
the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each year, certify 161
to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this 162
subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or 163
official. 164
(k) A record of any violation of this section shall appear on the 165
driving history record or motor vehicle record, as defined in section 14-166
10, of any person who commits such violation, and the record of such 167
violation shall be available to any motor vehicle insurer in accordance 168
with the provisions of section 14-10. 169
(l) No person shall be subject to the prosecution for a violation of the 170
provisions of this section and subsection (a) of section 14 -222, as 171
amended by this act, because of the same offense. 172
Sec. 2. Section 14 -222 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 173
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 174
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October 1, 2026): 175
(a) (1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public 176
highway of the state, or any road of any specially chartered municipal 177
association or of any district organized under the provisions of chapter 178
105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads 179
and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars or more or upon any 180
private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance 181
with the provisions of section 14 -218a or section 14 -307a or upon any 182
school property recklessly, having regard to the width, traffic and use 183
of such highway, road, school property or parking area, the intersection 184
of streets and the weather conditions. The operation of a motor vehicle 185
upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten cars or more at 186
such a rate of speed as to endanger the life of any person other than the 187
operator of such motor vehicle, or the operation, downgrade, upon any 188
highway, of any motor vehicle with a commercial registration with the 189
clutch or gears disengaged, or the operation knowingly of a motor 190
vehicle with defective mechanism, shall constitute a violation of the 191
provisions of this subsection. The operation of a motor vehicle upon any 192
such highway, road or parking area for ten cars or more at a rate of 193
speed greater than eighty -five miles per hour but not greater than one 194
hundred miles per hour shall constitute a violation of the provisions of 195
this subsection. The operation of a motor vehicle in a highway work 196
zone, as defined in section 14 -212d, while engaged in any activity 197
prohibited by section 14-296aa, as amended by this act, shall constitute 198
a violation of the provisions of this section. 199
(2) Any person who violates any provision of subdivision (1) of this 200
subsection shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more 201
than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or 202
be both fined and imprisoned for the first offense and for each 203
subsequent offense shall be fined not more than six hundred dollars or 204
imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned. 205
(b) (1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public 206
highway of the state, or any road of any specially chartered municipal 207
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association or of any district organized under the provisions of chapter 208
105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads 209
and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars or more or upon any 210
private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance 211
with the provisions of section 14 -218a or 14 -307a or upon any school 212
property at a rate of speed greater than one hundred miles per hour. 213
(2) Any person who violates subdivision (1) of this subsection shall 214
be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than six hundred 215
dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and 216
imprisoned for the first offense and for each subsequent offense shall be 217
fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than 218
one year or be both fined and imprisoned. 219
(3) Any police officer who arrests a person for a violation of 220
subdivision (1) of this subsection, who has previously been convicted of 221
a violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall cause the motor 222
vehicle such person was operating at the time of the current offense to 223
be impounded for a period of forty -eight hours after such arrest. The 224
owner of such motor vehicle may reclaim such motor vehicle after the 225
expiration of such forty-eight-hour period upon payment of all towing 226
and storage costs. 227
(c) No person shall be subject to prosecution because of the same 228
offense for a violation of both (1) subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and 229
(2) subsection (a) of section 14-219. 230
Sec. 3. Subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 14 -36 of the 2026 231
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 232
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 233
(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not previously 234
held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or whose 235
Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license expired more than two 236
years prior to the application date, the commissioner shall require the 237
applicant to demonstrate personally to the commissioner, a deputy, a 238
motor vehicle inspector or an agent of the commissioner, in such manner 239
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as the commissioner directs, that the applicant is a proper person to 240
operate motor vehicles of the class for which such applicant has applied, 241
has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of the motor vehicles to 242
ensure their safe operation by him or her and has satisfactory 243
knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the 244
road. The knowledge test of an applicant for a class D motor vehicle 245
operator's license shall include a question concerning highway work 246
zone safety and the responsibilities of an operator of a motor vehicle 247
under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge test shall include not less 248
than one question concerning distracted driving, the use of mobile 249
[telephones and] electronic devices by motor vehicle operators or the 250
responsibilities of motor vehicle operators under section 14 -296aa, as 251
amended by this act. If any such applicant has held a license from a state, 252
territory or possession of the United States where a similar examination 253
is required, the commissioner may waive part or all of the examination. 254
If any such applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later than two 255
years after the date of discharge from the military and who, prior to such 256
discharge, held a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the 257
same class as that for which such applicant has applied, or (B) a member 258
of the armed forces or the National Guard who currently holds a 259
military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class as that for 260
which such applicant has applied, the commissioner shall waive all of 261
the examination, except in the case of a commercial motor vehicle 262
license, the commissioner shall waive the driving skills test for such 263
applicant and may, in such commissioner's discretion, waive the 264
knowledge test for such application, provided such applicant meets the 265
conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77, as amended from time to time. For 266
the purposes of this subsection, "veteran" and "armed forces" have the 267
same meanings as provided in section 27 -103. When the commissioner 268
is satisfied as to the ability and competency of any applicant, the 269
commissioner may issue to such applicant a license, either unlimited or 270
containing such limitations as the commissioner deems advisable, and 271
specifying the class of motor vehicles which the licensee is eligible to 272
operate. 273
Sec. 4. Subdivision (88) of section 14 -1 of the 2026 supplement to the 274
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general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 275
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 276
(88) "Serious traffic violation" means a conviction of any of the 277
following offenses: (A) Excessive speeding, involving a single offense in 278
which the speed is fifteen miles per hour or more above the posted 279
speed limit, in violation of section 14-218a or 14-219; (B) reckless driving 280
in violation of section 14-222, as amended by this act; (C) following too 281
closely in violation of section 14-240 or 14-240a; (D) improper or erratic 282
lane changes, in violation of section 14 -236; (E) using a [hand-held 283
mobile telephone or other electronic device or typing, reading or 284
sending text or a text message with or from a mobile telephone or ] 285
mobile electronic device in violation of subsection (e) of section 14 -286
296aa, as amended by this act, while operating a commercial motor 287
vehicle; (F) driving a commercial motor vehicle without a valid 288
commercial driver's license in violation of section 14 -36a or 14-44a; (G) 289
failure to carry a commercial driver's license in violation of section 14 -290
44a; (H) failure to have the proper class of license or endorsement, or 291
violation of a license restriction in violation of section 14 -44a; or (I) a 292
violation of any provision of chapter 248, by an operator who holds a 293
commercial driver's license or learner's permit that results in the death 294
of another person; 295
Sec. 5. Subdivision (15) of subsection (a) of section 42-110x of the 2026 296
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 297
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 298
(15) "Video game console" (A) means any computing device, 299
including, but not limited to, any console machine, handheld console 300
device or similar device or system, that is primarily used by consumers 301
to play video games, (B) includes, but is not limited to, the components 302
and peripherals of any computing device described in subparagraph (A) 303
of this subdivision, and (C) does not include any (i) general or all -304
purpose computing device, (ii) desktop, laptop or tablet computer, or 305
(iii) [hand-held] mobile telephone. [, as defined in section 14-296aa.] 306
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 14-296aa
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 14-222
Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 14-36(e)(3)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2026 14-1(88)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2026 42-110x(a)(15)

TRA Joint Favorable

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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Judicial Dept. (Probation) GF - Potential
Cost
Minimal Minimal
State Resources GF&TF -
Potential
Revenue Gain
See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund; GF&TF=General Fund & Transportation Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill updates and expands certain driving -related offenses,
resulting in a potential cost to the Judicial Department for probation and
a potential revenue gain to the state from fines. 1 On average, the
marginal cost for supervision in the community is less than $ 6002 each
year for adults and $450 each year for juveniles.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the number of offenses and fines
collected.

1 Between FY 22 and FY 25, there were about 70,000 offenses recorded and $6.4 million
in fines collected under CGS §§ 14-222 and 14-296aa.
2 Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and only
includes costs that increase with each additional participant. This does not include a
cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense is
anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation
officers.
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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5463

AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHWAY SAFETY.

SUMMARY
This bill revises and updates the state’s distracted driving law.
Among other things, it explicitly prohibits:
1. driving while a video or moving image (other than GPS) is visible
to the driver,
2. driving while holding or supporting a mobile electronic device
with any part of the body, and
3. failing to maintain a proper lookout.
The bill reorganizes and makes various minor, technical, and
conforming changes to the distracted driving law, including merging
current definitions into two terms (“mobile electronic device” and
“hands-free mode”), deleting redundant language, and making
technical corrections to statutory references. Broadly, these changes
simplify and update the law to reflect current technology and its use.
The bill also makes it a per se reckless driving violation to drive in a
highway work zone while engaged in any activity prohibited under the
state’s distracted driving law.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
DISTRACTED DRIVING REVISIONS
“Mobile Electronic Device” and “Hands Free Mode”
The bill combines current law’s definitions, eliminates redundant
ones, and generally updates them to reflect current device and vehicle
technology and how it is used (for example, voice -activated vehicle
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technologies).
Under current law, a “mobile electronic device” is any handheld or
portable electronic equipment capable of providing data
communications between two or more people, including a number of
devices specified in the law. The bill (1) eliminates the definition of
mobile telephone and other associated definitions and instead includes
mobile telephone as one of the specified devices and (2) adds equipment
to display a video or moving image to the list of devices included. It also
clarifies that the law is not limited to only those listed in the definition.
The bill defines the term “hands free mode” and eliminates current
law’s definitions for handheld mobile telephone, hands -free accessory,
and hands -free mobile telephone. “Hands -free mode” means the
operation of a mobile electronic device where a user engages in voice
communication or receives audio without touching or holding the
device, other than to activate or deactivate it with a single touch or
swipe. Compared to the definitions the bill eliminates , this new
definition focuses on how a person uses the technology, as opposed to
the technology’s features.
Prohibited Activities
Currently, the activities prohibited under the distracted driving law
generally focus on how a person is using a device. More specifically, it
prohibits using a mobile telephone to engage in a call or using a mobile
telephone or mobile electronic device to type, send, or read a text
message. It also (1) presumes that a driver who holds a phone near their
ear is engaged in a call and (2) allows an exception for using hands-free
mobile telephones.
The bill revises the se prohibited activities by generally eliminating
those under current law and instead prohibiting (1) holding or
supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of the body ; (2)
using a mobile electronic device (unless it is in hands-free mode); or (3)
reading, viewing, or typing a text message or other nonvoice message
or communication on a mobile electronic device.
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The bill retains (directly or indirectly) existing law’s exceptions to
these prohibited activities (such as emergency calls) and special
circumstances (such as prohibiting young drivers from using devices
even hands-free).
Driving with Video in Driver’s View. The bill additionally prohibits
driving while a video or moving image is visible to the driver, in the
normal driving position, on a mobile electronic device, installed screen,
or other similar device. This prohibition does not apply to maps
generated by GPS systems or applications, as long as the device or
screen is mounted or attached to the vehicle’s windshield, dashboard,
or center console in a way that doesn’t impede driving. (Presumably,
this activity is already prohibited under current law, to the extent that it
is considered “using” a mobile electronic device.)
Failure to Maintain Proper Lookout. Existing law also prohibits
engaging in any activity that is not related to driving and that interferes
with safe driving. The bill additionally prohibits failing to maintain a
proper lookout while driving.
DISTRACTED DRIVING IN A WORK ZONE
Existing law prohibits driving recklessly for the surroundings and
conditions (such as road geometry or weather) , and specifies certain
circumstances that constitute reckless driving per se, including driving
more than 85 m.p.h.
The bill expands these per se reckless driving violations to include
driving a motor vehicle in a highway work zone while engaging in any
activity the state’s existing distracted driving law prohibits.
Under existing law, reckless driving is an unclassified misdemeanor,
subject to a fine, up to 30 days (first violation) or up to 364 days
(subsequent violations) imprisonment, or both. The fine for reckless
driving in a work zone is $200-$600 for a first violation and up to $1,200
for subsequent violations. The fine for distracted driving in a work zone
is $400 for a first violation, $750 for a second violation, and $1,250 for
subsequent violations. These fine amounts are two times the standard
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amount because both violations are subject to the existing law doubling
fines for various driving violations committed in a work zone (CGS §
14-212a).
Under the bill, a person cannot be prosecuted for both a reckless
driving violation and distracted driving violation for the same offense.
Under existing law, distracted driving violations are processed by the
Centralized Infractions Bureau and may be processed by mail or online.
Reckless driving is a crime and generally requires the violator to appear
in court.
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
SB 484, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, (1) adds
video converters to the definition of a mobile electronic device and (2)
makes distracted driving in a work zone a per se reckless driving
offense.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Transportation Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 34 Nay 1 (03/16/2026)