Read the full stored bill text
Senate
SB406 / File No. 304 1
General Assembly File No. 304
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 406
Senate, April 1, 2026
The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through
SEN. GASTON of the 23rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee
on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISPLAY OF LIGHTED LAMPS ON
BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 14 -288 of the 2026 supplement to 1
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3
(a) Each bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter operated upon the 4
public highway [, during the times or under the conditions as provided 5
in subsection (a) of section 14 -96a,] shall display a lighted lamp upon 6
the forward part of such bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter (1) at 7
any time from a half-hour before sunset to a half-hour after sunrise, (2) 8
at any time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric 9
conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly 10
discernible at a distance of five hundred feet ahead, and (3) at any time 11
during periods of precipitation, including, but not limited to, periods of 12
snow, rain or fog . Such lamp shall, when lighted, emit a white light 13
which in clear weather shall be visible at a distance of not less than five 14
SB406 File No. 304
SB406 / File No. 304 2
hundred feet in the direction in which such bicycle, electric bicycle or 15
electric scooter is proceeding. Each bicycle, electric bicycle or electric 16
scooter shall also, at all times, be equipped with a reflector or reflecting 17
tail light lens, which reflector or lens shall be attached to the rear of such 18
bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter in such manner as to reflect 19
rays of light thrown upon the same, and such reflector or reflecting tail 20
shall be visible at a distance of not less than six hundred feet from the 21
rear when illuminated by the head lamps of a motor vehicle. Such 22
bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter shall also be equipped with 23
reflective material so placed and of sufficient size and reflectivity to be 24
visible from both sides of such bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter 25
at a distance of not less than six hundred feet when illuminated by the 26
head lamps of a motor vehicle. Each bicycle, electric bicycle or electric 27
scooter shall also, at all times, be equipped with a braking device 28
sufficient to enable the operator thereof to stop within twenty -five feet 29
on dry, level and clean pavement when moving at a speed of ten miles 30
per hour. No person shall equip a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an 31
electric scooter with a siren or device which emits a whistle or use a siren 32
or device which emits a whistle while operating a bicycle, an electric 33
bicycle or an electric scooter. 34
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2026 14-288(a)
PS Joint Favorable
SB406 File No. 304
SB406 / File No. 304 3
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 $
State Resources GF&TF -
Potential
Revenue Gain
Minimal Minimal
Note: GF&TF=General Fund & Transportation Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which requires certain small vehicles to display a lighted
lamp when operating on public highway s at certain times, results in a
minimal potential revenue gain to the extent new offenses are
committed and fines are collected.1
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, 17 offenses were recorded under CGS § 14-288 and $368 in
fines was collected.
SB406 File No. 304
SB406 / File No. 304 4
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 406
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISPLAY OF LIGHTED LAMPS ON
BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
SUMMARY
This bill lengthens the time period when bicycles, electric bicycles,
and electric scooters operated on a public road must display a lighted
lamp on the front of the vehicle. Current law requires their display at
any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. The
bill instead requires it at any time from a half -hour before sunset to a
half-hour after sunrise.
Under existing law, unchanged by the bill, these vehicles must also
display the light:
1. when, due to poor light or weather conditions, riders cannot see
people and vehicles on the road at 500 feet ahead of them and
2. during precipitation, including snow, rain, or fog.
By law and under the bill, a violation of these provisions is an
infraction (CGS § 14-288(b)).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
BACKGROUND
Infractions
Infractions are punishable by fines, usually set by Superior Court
judges, of between $35 and $90, plus a $20 or $35 surcharge and an
additional fee based on the fine’s amount. There may also be other
applicable charges depending on the type of infraction. For example,
certain motor vehicle infractions trigger a Special Transportation Fund
surcharge of 50% of the fine. An infraction is not a crime , and violators
SB406 File No. 304
SB406 / File No. 304 5
can generally pay the fine by mail without making a court appearance.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/17/2026)