Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 27 D · 5 R cosponsors

SB 421 — AN ACT CONCERNING REPORTING OF DOUBLE UTILITY POLES.

Last action — FILE NO. 471

  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 March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 33 sponsors

    33 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (27 D · 5 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

253 added · 51 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 421 adds a statement indicating that the Committee on Energy and Technology recommends the bill for passage. This change is important because it clarifies the bill's endorsement by the committee, which can influence how legislators and the public perceive its support and likelihood of becoming law. Additionally, some redundant lines were removed to streamline the document and focus on the essential content.

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Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
421 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
471 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
2471 Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY Introduced by:
421 Senate, April 7, 2026 The Committee on Energy and Technology reported through SEN.
(ET) AN ACT CONCERNING REPORTING OF DOUBLE UTILITY POLES.
NEEDLEMAN of the 33rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING REPORTING OF DOUBLE UTILITY POLES.
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section:
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section and section 2 of this act:
(1) "Public utility pole" means a pole owned by a telephone company, an electric distribution company or a municipal electric utility that is used to support lines for (A) the distribution of electricity, (B) telecommunications services, (C) the lighting of streets or sidewalks, or (D) traffic signals;
(1) "Public utility pole" means a pole, including a portion of a pole, owned by a telephone company or an electric distribution company that is used to support wires for (A) the distribution of electricity, (B) telecommunications services, as defined in section 16-247a of the general statutes, or (C) the lighting of streets or sidewalks;
(2) "Double utility pole" means the existence of more than one utility pole within a radius of six feet resulting from incomplete work to replace a public utility pole;
(2) "Double utility poles" means a replacement public utility pole built or installedalongside,or attachedto,anexisting publicutility pole, or a portion of an existing public utility pole, for the purpose of transferring the wires from the existing utility pole to the replacement utility pole, provided the existing public utility pole, including any portion of such utility pole, has not been removed after the installation sSB421 / File No.
471 1 sSB421 File No.
471 of the replacement utility pole;
(4)"Telecommunicationsservices"hasthesame meaning asprovided in section 16-247a of the general statutes;
(4) "Telephone company" has the same meaning as provided in section 16-1 of the general statutes;
LCO No.
and (5) "User" means any person or entity, except for an electric distribution company, a telephone company, a municipality or a political subdivision of a municipality, that maintains equipment of any sort on a public utility pole.
2471 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.421 (5) "Telephone company" has the same meaning as provided in section 16-1 of the general statutes;
(b) The owner of any public utility pole, or the owner's agent, shall deliver written notice of any removal and replacement work concerning such utility pole to each user of such utility pole not less than seventy- two hours (1) before the starting date of any such work if such work is planned, or (2) after such work is completed if such work was unplanned and necessary to correct a hazardous condition on an emergency basis.
and (6) "Municipal electric utility" means a municipal electric utility established pursuant to chapter 101 of the general statutes.
Such notice shall describe the location of the public utility pole, the nature of the work completed or to be completed, the date upon which such work was completed or is to be completed and the date and method of delivery of such notice.
(b) On or before July 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop and implement an electronic system that allows any person to submit a report of double utility poles.
(c) Each user of a public utility pole that receives notice of work pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall transfer its equipment from the existing public utility pole to the replacement public utility pole not later than fifteen days after receiving such notice.
Before submitting a report pursuant to this section, the commissioner may require that a person create a user account, verified in any manner deemed appropriate by the commissioner, on the Internet web site of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Upon the completion of the work to transfer equipment pursuant to this subsection, the user shall provide written notice to the owner of such utility pole that such work has been completed.
To ensure accuracy in the reporting of double utility poles, the commissioner may require that any such submission be accompanied by a detailed description of the location of the double utility poles and a photograph of such poles.
(d) If a user fails to complete the work required to transfer the user's equipment in the time required under subsection (c) of this section, the owner of the public utility pole, or the owner's agent, may complete such work on the user's behalf.
The commissioner shall make such reporting system publicly available on the Internet web site of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Such owner or owner's agent may submit a bill to such user based on the prevailing rate of wages sSB421 / File No.
(c) On or before October 31, 2027, and not less than quarterly thereafter, the commissioner shall compile a list of double utility pole reports submitted through the system and make such list available to any electric distribution company, telephone company or municipal electric utility in the state.
471 2 sSB421 File No.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
471 established pursuant to section 31-53 of thegeneral statutes for any such work completed on behalf of such user.
Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section Statement of Purpose:
(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, a user that fails to transfer the user's equipment to a replacement public utility poleincompliancewithsubsection(c)ofthissectionshallbeinviolation of this section.
To require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to implement a system for reporting double utility poles.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may impose, by order of the authority, a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars for each violation of subsection (c) of this section, and in the case of a continued violation, each day thereof shall be deemed a separate violation.
LCO No.
The authority shall impose any such civil penalty in accordance with the procedure established in section 16-41 of the general statutes.
2471 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.
(2) The authority shall impose no penalty on a user pursuant to this subsection if (A) the user of a public utility pole was prevented from completing the transfer of such user's equipment due solely to a municipality's failure to timely remove or transfer any equipment owned by such municipality or a political subdivision of the municipality, or (B) the owner of a public utility pole, or the owner's agent, completes any work required to transfer such user's equipment pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
421 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
(f) (1) An electric distribution company or telephone company that removes a public utility pole, including any portion of such a utility pole, and installs a replacement public utility pole shall complete the transfer of any wires or equipment owned by the electric distribution company or telephone company and the removal of the public utility pole that was replaced not later than fifteen days after such company receives notice from each user of such pole that each user has completed the transfer work required by the user pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
(2) An electric distribution company or telephone company that fails to transfer such company's equipment to a replacement public utility pole, and remove the public utility pole that was replaced, in compliance with subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be in violation sSB421 / File No.
2471 3 of 3
471 3 sSB421 File No.
471 of this section.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may impose, by order of the authority, a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars for each violation of this subsection, and in the case of a continued violation, each day thereof shall be deemed a separate violation.
The authority shall impose any such civil penalty in accordance with the procedure established in section 16-41 of the general statutes.
(g) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall remit the amount of any civil penalty collected pursuant to this section or section 2 of this act to the Commissioner of Social Services for the purpose of providing funding for the Connecticut energy assistance program administeredby the commissioner pursuant to section 17b-2 of the general statutes.
(h) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section and section 2 of this act.
Sec.
2.
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) On and after October 1, 2026, the owner of any public utility pole shall compile and maintain a list of any double utility poles owned or maintained by such owner or such owner's agent that have existed for not less than thirty days.
Such owner shall provide such list to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority upon the authority's request.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2027, the owner of any double utility poles, or the owner's agent, shall undertake any work necessary to eliminate such double utility poles.
Any owner that fails to eliminate such double utility poles on or before October 1, 2027, shall be in violation of this section.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may impose, by order of the authority, a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars for each violation of this section, and in the case of a continued violation, each day thereof shall be deemed a separate violation.
The authority shall impose any such civil penalty in accordance with the procedure established in section 16-41 of the general statutes.
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sSB421 / File No.
471 4 sSB421 File No.
471 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 New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(e)(1), a reference to "subsection (b)" was changed to "subsection (c)", for accuracy.
ET Joint Favorable Subst.
sSB421 / File No.
471 5 sSB421 File No.
471 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 $ Social Services, Dept.
GF - Revenue Minimal Minimal Gain Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill creates a process for public utility pole users and owners to transfer their wires and equipment from existing poles to replacement poles and then remove double utility poles, which does not result in a cost to the state or municipalities.
The bill also imposes a civil penalty of up to $100 for each day that a utility pole user or owner remains in violation of the bill’s requirements under various circumstances.
It is anticipated that this will result in a minimal revenue gain to the Department of Social Services (DSS), which the bill requires be used to support the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (commonly known as LIHEAP).
Rate Payer Impact The bill could potentially achieve savings for electric customers, to the extent it results in costs caused by pole users to be appropriately allocated to those entities, rather than electric distribution companies.
The amount of savings is indeterminate and will be based on a number of factors outside the immediate scope of the bill.
The Out Years sSB421 / File No.
471 6 sSB421 File No.
471 The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of civil violations and the revenue collected.
sSB421 / File No.
471 7 sSB421 File No.
471 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 421 AN ACT CONCERNING REPORTING OF DOUBLE UTILITY POLES.
SUMMARY This bill generally creates a process, including notice requirements, deadlines, and penalties, for public utility pole users and owners to transfer their wires and equipment from existing poles to replacement poles and then remove double utility poles (where the existing pole and its replacement are alongside or attached to each other) by October 1, 2027.
Under the bill, a “public utility pole” is a pole or portion of it that is owned by a telephone company or an electric distribution company (EDC;
Eversource or United Illuminating) and used to support wires for distributing electricity, telecommunications services, or street or sidewalk lighting.
A “user” is any person or entity that maintains equipment on a public utility pole, except for an EDC, telephone company, municipality, or municipality’s political subdivision.
The bill allows the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to adopt regulations to implement its provisions.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES Notice Requirement The bill requires a public utility pole’s owner or agent to deliver to each of the pole’s users written notice about any removal and replacement work for the pole.
The notice must be delivered at least 72 hours (1) before the work on the pole starts (if the work is planned) or (2) after the work is completed (if it was unplanned and needed to correct a hazardous condition on an emergency basis).
The notice must sSB421 / File No.
471 8 sSB421 File No.
471 describe the pole’s location, the nature of the work, the expected or actual completion date, as applicable, and the notice’s date and method of delivery.
User Requirement to Transfer Equipment The bill requires each notified user to transfer its equipment from the existing pole to the replacement pole within 15 days after receiving the notice.
Upon completing the transfer, the user must notify the pole’s owner in writing.
If a user fails to complete the transfer within the 15 days, the bill allows the pole’s owner, or its agent, to complete the transfer work on the user’s behalf and bill the user for the work based on the prevailing wage rates set in the state’s prevailing wage law.
Pole Owner’s Removal and Replacement Work The bill requires an EDC or telephone company that removes and replaces a public utility pole, including any portion of one, to finish transferring any wires or equipment it owns and remove the replaced pole within 15 days after it receives notice from each of the pole’s users that they have completed the transfer work as required by the bill.
Double Utility Poles Starting on October 1, 2026, the bill requires the owner of any public utility pole to compile and maintain a list of any double utility poles it (or its agent) owns or maintains that have existed for at least 30 days.
The owner must give the list to PURA upon request.
Under the bill, a “double utility pole” is a replacement public utility pole built or installed alongside, or attached to, an existing public utility pole, or a portionof one,for transferring thewiresfromtheexistingpole to thereplacement, when the existing utility pole or any portion of it has not been removed after the installation of the replacement.
The bill requires any double utility pole owner, or its agent, to perform any work needed to remove its double utility poles by October 1, 2027.
sSB421 / File No.
471 9 sSB421 File No.
471 Enforcement The bill generally allows PURA to issue an order imposing a civil penalty of up to $100 for each day that a utility pole user or owner remains in violation of the bill’s requirements (for users to transfer their equipment, and owners to transfer their equipment and remove replaced poles and double poles).
The bill requires PURA to (1) impose thepenaltiesunderitsstatutoryprocedureforissuingcivilpenalties and (2) remit the collected penalties to the social services commissioner to help fund the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program.
However, the bill prohibits PURA from imposing a civil penalty on a utility pole user if the (1) user was prevented from completing the transfer work solely because ofamunicipality’sfailure to timelyremove or transfer any equipment it (or its political subdivision) owns (the bill does not specify a deadline for a municipality to complete this transfer) or (2) pole’s owner or agent completed the transfer work for the user as allowed by the bill.
COMMITTEE ACTION Energy and Technology Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 7 (03/19/2026) sSB421 / File No.
471 10
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 471

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 283

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

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0312

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Energy and Technology

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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33 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 154 not signed on

Sponsors (33)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (154)

154 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 154 →

"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 energy
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 421?
SB 421 is sponsored by Morrin Bello, Mitch Bolinsky (Republican), Michael "MJ" Shannon (Democratic), Gary A. Turco (Democratic), Christopher Poulos (Democratic), Ronald A. Napoli (Democratic), Joseph H. Zullo (Republican), Michael DiGiovancarlo (Democratic), Nicholas Menapace (Democratic), Josh Elliott (Democratic), Ben McGorty (Republican), Larry B. Butler (Democratic), Jan Hochadel (Democratic), Michael D. Quinn (Democratic), Steven Winter (Democratic), Marcus Brown (Democratic), Kenneth Gucker (Democratic), Jason Perillo (Republican), Laurie Sweet (Democratic), William Heffernan (Democratic), Robin E. Comey (Democratic), Tom Delnicki (Republican), Geraldo C. Reyes (Democratic), Eleni Kavros DeGraw (Democratic), Kerry S. Wood (Democratic), Rick Lopes (Democratic), MD Rahman (Democratic), Geoff Luxenberg (Democratic), Ceci Maher (Democratic), Mary M. Mushinsky (Democratic), Jorge Cabrera (Democratic), Kara Rochelle (Democratic), and Nick Gauthier (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 421?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 421?
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