Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 7 R · 3 D cosponsors

SB 144 — AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.

Last action — FILE NO. 47

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    11 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

125 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the updated version of Senate Bill 144, the title has been changed to reflect its passage through the Environment Committee, with the addition of the committee report date and chairperson's name. The changes clarify the bill's legislative progress, indicating that it is moving forward and has received support from the committee. This is important because it shows that the bill is gaining traction and is a step closer to becoming law, potentially impacting environmental policies.

→
Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
144 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
47 February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No.
829 Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT Introduced by:
144 Senate, March 17, 2026 The Committee on Environment reported through SEN.
(ENV) AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.
LOPES of the 6th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.
and (4) five public members, to be appointed by the Governor, at least two of whom shall be experienced in the field of ecology, and all five of whom shall, consistent with the LCO 829 1 of 6 Raised Bill No.
and (4) five public members, to be SB144 / File No.
144 provisions of section 4-9a, have no substantial financial interest in, not be employed in or by, and not be professionally affiliated with any (A) utility, (B) facility, (C) hazardous waste facility, as defined in section 22a-115, or (D) ash residue disposal area, and shall have had no professional affiliation with any such utility, facility, hazardous waste facility or ash residue disposal area for three years preceding such public member's appointment to the council.
47 1 SB144 File No.
47 appointed by the Governor, at least two of whom shall be experienced in the field of ecology, and all five of whom shall, consistent with the provisions of section 4-9a, have no substantial financial interest in, not be employed in or by, and not be professionally affiliated with any (A) utility, (B) facility, (C) hazardous waste facility, as defined in section 22a-115, or (D) ash residue disposal area, and shall have had no professional affiliation with any such utility, facility, hazardous waste facility or ash residue disposal area for three years preceding such public member's appointment to the council.
[(d)] (e) For the appointment of ad hoc members in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the municipality most affected by the proposed facility shall be determined by the permanent members of the council.
[(d)] (e) For the appointment of ad hoc members in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the municipality most affected by the SB144 / File No.
If any one of the five public members or of the designees of the LCO 829 2 of 6 Raised Bill No.
47 2 SB144 File No.
144 speaker of the House of Representatives or the president pro tempore of the Senate resides (1) in the municipality in which a hazardous waste facility is proposed to be located for a proceeding concerning a hazardous waste facility or in which a low-level radioactive waste facility isproposed to be locatedfor aproceeding concerning alow-level radioactive waste facility, or (2) in the neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the proposed facility, the appointing authority shallappoint a substitute member for theproceedingsonsuchproposal.
47 proposed facility shall be determined by the permanent members of the council.
If any one of the five public members or of the designees of the speaker of the House of Representatives or the president pro tempore of the Senate resides (1) in the municipality in which a hazardous waste facility is proposed to be located for a proceeding concerning a hazardous waste facility or in which a low-level radioactive waste facility isproposed to be locatedfor aproceeding concerning alow-level radioactive waste facility, or (2) in the neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the proposed facility, the appointing authority shallappoint a substitute member for theproceedingsonsuchproposal.
[(f)](g)Thepublicmembersofthecouncil,including thechairperson, the members appointed by the speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate and the four ad hoc members specified in subsection (c) of this section, shall be compensated for their attendance at public hearings, executive sessions, or other council business as may require their attendance at the rate of two hundred dollars, provided in no case shall the daily compensation exceed two hundred dollars.
[(f)](g)Thepublicmembersofthecouncil,including thechairperson, the members appointed by the speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate and the four ad hoc members specified in subsection (c) of this section, shall be compensated for their attendance at public hearings, executive sessions, or other council business as may require their attendance at the rate of two hundred dollars, provided in SB144 / File No.
LCO 829 3 of 6 Raised Bill No.
47 3 SB144 File No.
144 [(g)] (h) The council shall employ such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and such employees shall, in the aggregate, have sufficient expertise in engineering and financial analysis to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
47 no case shall the daily compensation exceed two hundred dollars.
[(g)] (h) The council shall employ such employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and such employees shall, in the aggregate, have sufficient expertise in engineering and financial analysis to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Said departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority and offices shall not enter any contract or agreement with any party to the LCO 829 4 of 6 Raised Bill No.
Said SB144 / File No.
144 proceedings or hearings described in this section or section 16-50p that requires said departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority or offices to withhold or retract comments, refrain from participating in or withdraw from said proceedings or hearings.
47 4 SB144 File No.
47 departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority and offices shall not enter any contract or agreement with any party to the proceedings or hearings described in this section or section 16-50p that requires said departments, Council on Environmental Quality, authority or offices to withhold or retract comments, refrain from participating in or withdraw from said proceedings or hearings.
Such notice shall be published under the regulations to be promulgated by the council, in such form and in such newspapers as will serve substantially to inform the public of such application and to afford interested persons sufficient time to prepare for and to be heard LCO 829 5 of 6 Raised Bill No.
Such notice shall be published under the regulations to be promulgated by the council, in such form and in such newspapers as SB144 / File No.
144 at the hearing prescribed in section 16-50m.
47 5 SB144 File No.
47 will serve substantially to inform the public of such application and to afford interested persons sufficient time to prepare for and to be heard at the hearing prescribed in section 16-50m.
2 October 1, 2026 16-50l(b) ENV Joint Favorable LCO 829 6 of 6
2 October 1, 2026 16-50l(b) ENV Joint Favorable SB144 / File No.
47 6 SB144 File No.
47 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 $ CT Siting Council SCF - Cost See Below See Below Note:
SCF=Siting Council Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill results in a cost to the Connecticut Siting Council, as it requires (on or after October 1, 2026), any Connecticut Siting Council proceeding to include a local electorate from the municipality where a subject facility is being proposed.
In FY 25, the Connecticut Siting Council held25 regular meetings and public hearings.
It is estimated that at each regularly held meeting there could be an additional five to ten local representatives in attendance, resulting in an additional cost of approximately $1,000- $2,000 per meeting ($25,000 - $50,000 annually).
Additional costs may occur if local representatives also attend the public hearings.
The total cost to the fund would be dependent upon the total number of regular meetings and public hearings held, and the total number of local representatives in attendance.
1Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §16-50r and §16-50v, the Council’s budget is financed by fees and assessments paid to the Siting Council Fund.
Public members of the council are compensated for their attendance at public hearings, executive sessions, or other council business at a rate of $200 per activity, capped at $200 a day.
SB144 / File No.
47 7 SB144 File No.
47 The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of meetings and hearings held and the number of compensated representatives in attendance.
Show all 75 changed rows (35 more)
Previous
Latest
SB144 / File No.
47 8 SB144 File No.
47 OLR Bill Analysis SB 144 AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.
SUMMARY For any Connecticut Siting Council proceeding on or after October 1, 2026, this bill requires the council’s membership to include an elector from the municipality where the proposed facility would be located, in addition to the existing membership (see BACKGROUND).
Under the bill, the municipality’s chief elected official generally must appoint the elector.
However, if the proposed facility would be in more than one municipality, the applicable regional council of governments for the affected municipalities must appoint the elector.
The bill requires the elector to serve as a nonvoting member and abide by all applicable confidentiality rules.
By law, public members of the council must be paid for their attendance at public hearings, executivesessions,orothercouncilbusinessatarateof$200peractivity, capped at $200 a day.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 BACKGROUND Siting Council Membership – Energy and Telecommunications For energy and telecommunications facility proceedings, the existing council membership includes the following nine members:
1.
the energy and environmental protection commissioner or her designee, 2.
the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority chairperson or his SB144 / File No.
47 9 SB144 File No.
47 designee, 3.
one designee each from the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore, and 4.
five public members appointed by the governor.
By law, at least two of the public members must have ecology experience.
Additionally, all five public members must have no substantial financial interest in, not be employed in or by, and not be professionally affiliated with any utility or facility under the council’s jurisdiction, including hazardous waste facilities and ash residue disposal areas.
The law further prohibits the public members from having had a professional affiliation with any utility or these facilities for three years before their appointment.
Siting Council Membership – Hazardous Waste For hazardous waste facility proceedings, the existing council membership consists of the following 13 members:
1.
the public health and emergency services and public protection commissioners or their designees;
2.
the designees of the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore as described above;
3.
the five members of the public appointed by the governor as described above;
and 4.
four ad hoc members, three of whom must be electors from the municipality where the facility is being proposed and one who must be from a neighboring municipality likely to be most affected by the facility, appointed by their municipality’s chief elected officer.
By law, if any of the governor’s appointed public members or the House speaker’s or Senate president pro tempore’s designees live in the 1) municipality where a hazardous or low-level radioactive waste SB144 / File No.
47 10 SB144 File No.
47 facility is proposed or 2) neighboring municipality most likely to be affected by it, the appointing authority must appoint a substitute member for the proceedings on that facility.
COMMITTEE ACTION Environment Committee Joint Favorable Yea 29 Nay 5 (03/04/2026) SB144 / File No.
47 11
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. FILE NO. 47

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 57

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/16/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0220

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 176 not signed on

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (176)

176 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 176 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 144?
SB 144 is sponsored by Sanchez, J., Devin R. Carney (Republican), Stephen G. Harding (Republican), Heather S. Somers (Republican), Jeff Gordon (Republican), Mark W. Anderson (Republican), Bill Buckbee (Republican), Geraldo C. Reyes (Democratic), Aundre Bumgardner (Democratic), Paul Cicarella (Republican), and Saud Anwar (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 144?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 144?
Track SB 144 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 144

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 144

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →