The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 5017, amends existing legislation regarding the Tire Stewardship Program in Connecticut. It mandates that tire retailers must participate in a tire stewardship organization by January 1, 2026, a shift from the previous voluntary participation requirement. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any retailer failing to join the program by this date will be prohibited from supplying tires in the state. The bill also requires tire stewardship organizations to identify participating retailers in their implementation plans submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), ensuring ongoing compliance and transparency.

Furthermore, the bill extends liability protections previously granted to tire producers and stewardship organizations to include retailers, shielding them from antitrust or unfair trade practice claims when acting under the provisions of the law. The bill repeals and substitutes specific subsections of section 22a-905i of the general statutes, including the deletion of the voluntary participation clause for retailers and the insertion of new requirements for their involvement in the stewardship program. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the management of discarded tires and promote environmental sustainability through increased retailer participation in the stewardship program.