HB 5462

General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 5462
  February Session, 2026
 AN ACT CONCERNING NOISE POLLUTION.
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
 Assembly convened:
1Section 1. (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, "solar
2     photovoltaic noise barrier" means a structure constructed between a
3     highway and adjacent property that incorporates solar photovoltaic
4     technology designed to generate electricity and provide highway noise
5     mitigation.
6(b) The Commissioner of Transportation shall establish a solar
7    photovoltaic noise barrier pilot program for the purpose of evaluating
8    the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits and
9    effectiveness of integrating solar photovoltaic technology into noise
10    barriers located alongside state highways. The pilot program shall
11    include the design, installation, operation, maintenance and evaluation
12    of at least one, but not more than three, solar photovoltaic noise barriers.
13    The commissioner may enter into agreements with third parties for the
14    design, installation, operation or maintenance, or any combination
15    thereof, of solar photovoltaic noise barriers. The commissioner shall
16    consult with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority regarding electric
17    interconnection and net metering eligibility.
18(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, the commissioner shall submit a
19    report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general
20    statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
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21 having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. Such report
22 shall include information concerning the total costs of the pilot program;
23 electricity generation data; maintenance and performance, safety and
24 structural findings; environmental impacts and any recommendation
25 for the continuation, expansion or modification of the pilot program.
26    Sec. 2. Section 14-80 of the general statutes is repealed and the
27 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026):
28    (a) Each motor vehicle and the devices on such vehicle shall be
29 operated, equipped, constructed and adjusted to prevent unnecessary
30 or unusual noise.
31   (b) (1) Each motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine
32 shall be equipped, except as hereinafter provided, with a muffler or
33 mufflers designed to prevent excessive, unusual or unnecessary exhaust
34 noise. The muffler or mufflers shall be maintained by the owner in good
35 working order and shall be in use whenever the motor vehicle is
36 operated.
37    (2) No person, including a motor vehicle dealer or repairer or a
38 motorcycle dealer, shall install, and no person shall use, on a motor
39 vehicle, a muffler or mufflers lacking interior baffle plates or other
40 effective muffling devices, a gutted muffler, a muffler cutout or a
41 straight exhaust except when the motor vehicle is operated in a race,
42 contest or demonstration of speed or skill as a public exhibition
43 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-164a, or any mechanical device
44 which will amplify the noise emitted by the vehicle.
45    (3) No person, including a motor vehicle dealer or repairer or a
46 motorcycle dealer, shall remove all or part of any muffler on a motor
47 vehicle except to repair or replace the muffler or part for the more
48 effective prevention of noise.
49   (4) No person shall use on the exhaust system or tail pipe of a motor
50 vehicle any extension or device which will cause excessive or unusual
51 noise.
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52    (c) The engine of every motor vehicle shall be equipped and adjusted
53 to prevent excessive fumes or exhaust smoke.
54    (d) All pipes carrying exhaust gases from the motor shall be
55 constructed of, and maintained with, leak-proof metal. Exhaust pipes
56 shall be directed from the muffler or mufflers toward the rear of the
57 vehicle and shall be approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis of
58 the vehicle and approximately parallel to the surface of the roadway, or
59 shall be directed from the muffler upward to a location above the cab or
60 body of the vehicle so that fumes, gases and smoke are directed away
61 from the occupants of the vehicle. Exhaust pipes on a passenger vehicle
62 shall extend to the extreme rear end of the vehicle's body, not including
63 the bumper and its attachments to the body, or shall be attached to the
64 vehicle in such a way that the exhaust pipes direct the exhaust gases to
65 either side of the vehicle ensuring that fresh ambient air is located under
66 the vehicle at all times. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt
67 regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish
68 safety standards for passenger vehicles equipped with exhaust pipes
69 located in front of the rear axle.
70   (e) Every motor vehicle shall, when operated on a highway, be
71 equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting
72 sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than
73 two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an
74 unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
75    (f) (1) No vehicle shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use on
76 a vehicle, any siren, whistle or bell as a warning signal device, except as
77 otherwise permitted by this section.
78   (2) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal
79 device which is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an
80 ordinary warning signal.
81   (3) Any authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren,
82 whistle or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal
83 conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet and of a
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84 type approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Such signal shall
85 not be used unless the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency
86 call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the
87 law, in which event the driver of the vehicle shall sound the signal when
88 reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the
89 approach of the vehicle.
90    (g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be
91 fined one [hundred fifty] thousand dollars for each offense.
  This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
  sections:
  Section 1      October 1, 2026  New section
  Sec. 2  October 1, 2026  14-80
 Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
 In Section 1(b), "performance" was changed to "effectiveness" for clarity.
 TRA  Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
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