Researcher: DD Page 1 3/19/25
OLR BILL ANALYSIS
HB 5017
AN ACT CONCERNING PARTICIPATION IN THE TIRE
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM BY TIRE RETAILERS.
SUMMARY
A 2023 law required the establishment of a statewide stewardship
program to manage discarded tires (PA 23-62). Among other things, it
required tire producers, by January 1, 2025, to join a stewardship
organization and submit plans to implement the program to the
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for its
approval (see BACKGROUND ). This bill requires tire retailers to
participate in a stewardship organization by January 1, 2026, and
prohibits those who fail to participate in the program from supplying
tires by that date. Under current law, their participation in a tire
stewardship organization is voluntary.
The bill also requires tire stewardship organizations, starting by
January 1, 2026, to identify in their implementation plans any retailer
participating in their program. Under the bill, organizations must
identify these retailers on an ongoing basis as part of the existing law
that requires them to notify the DEEP commissioner of material changes
to the program.
Under existing law, to the extent a tire producer or tire stewardship
organization is exercising authority according to the law’s provisions,
they are immune from liability for any antitrust or unfair trade practice
claim based on a violation of antitrust law. The bill extends these
liability protections to retailers but does not correspondingly extend the
condition that the protections apply only if the retailer is exercising
authority according to the law.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
2025HB-05017-R000138-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DD Page 2 3/19/25
BACKGROUND
Connecticut Tire Stewardship, LLC’s Plan
One entity, Connecticut Tire Stewardship, LLC, has submitted a tire
stewardship program plan under the existing law. Currently, 15 tire
producers, but no retailers, have joined the plan. The plan notes that it
does not anticipate that many retailers will voluntarily participate in the
program because they have a financial disincentive to do so. Many of
them currently generate revenue by charging a fee for processing
returned tires, which they would be prohibited from doing if they were
participating in the tire stewardship program under existing law.
Tire Stewardship Program Requirements
Under existing law, the tire stewardship program must, to the extent
technologically and economically practicable, establish and manage a
statewide collection system for tires. This program must provide for:
1. free public access to the collection system (i.e. drop-off) for
discarded tires;
2. suitable storage containers for tires, as needed, throughout the
collection system;
3. public promotion and education about the program;
4. market development, as needed, to meet performance goals; and
5. financing program activities only by producer funding.
The program must also ensure that discarded tires are (1) picked up
from the collection system and transported for recycling and (2) resold
or recycled (CGS § 22a-905i). The DEEP commissioner is authorized to
civilly enforce the program’s requirements under her existing authority.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 24 Nay 11 (02/28/2025)