The bill, identified as Substitute House Bill No. 5371 with File No. 398, proposes an amendment to the current law regarding the electronic filing of permanent vehicle registration applications by car dealers. The amendment requires car dealers authorized to issue temporary or new registrations to file applications for permanent registration electronically with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if they file an average of five or more such applications per month. This is a change from the current threshold of seven applications per month. The bill allows for dealers to request an exemption from electronic filing due to hardships, such as a lack of access to electronic communication devices. Additionally, the DMV commissioner may enter into agreements with nonprofit associations or organizations to file applications on behalf of dealers, who may be charged a convenience fee determined by the commissioner.

The bill is set to be effective from July 1, 2023, and amends subsection (b) of section 14-61 of the general statutes. The fiscal impact statement indicates that there is no expected fiscal impact on the state or municipalities as a result of this bill. The bill analysis clarifies that the change potentially increases the number of car dealers required to file electronically by lowering the monthly application threshold. The Transportation Committee reported favorably on the bill, with a joint favorable substitute vote of 36 to 0 on March 17, 2023.