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SB 63 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MITIGATION OF EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES FROM FUTURE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS.

SB 63 requires future offshore wind developers to implement stronger wildlife and fisheries protections. It mandates that projects include enhanced mitigation measures (like retraining for affected fishermen) and make mandatory payments into an independent fund. The fund, managed by a dedicated oversight committee - not the developers - will cover ongoing harm to fisheries, wildlife, and the environment from wind project operations. This applies to all new offshore wind proposals after October 2026.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates environmental protections for offshore wind projects, directly supporting renewable energy infrastructure development through funding and mitigation requirements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates stronger wildlife/fisheries protections and independent fund for environmental harm from wind projects, directly advancing conservation and mitigation measures.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Mar 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Proposed Bill → Committee Bill · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from a proposed version to a committee version, adding co-sponsors and changing the bill number from 35 to 3563. The core policy requirements remain the same, but the committee version includes a new requirement that selected bidders cannot return mitigation funds and establishes an independent oversight committee to manage those funds. The effective date was also added as October 1, 2026.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on offshore wind project mitigation, but the committee version adds specific restrictions on fund returns and creates a new oversight committee structure.
REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that selected bidders cannot return mitigation funds to themselves.

Added requirement to establish an independent mitigation fund oversight committee to administer and distribute funds.

TIMELINE

Added specific effective date of October 1, 2026 for the commissioner to adopt regulations.

TECHNICAL

Added co-sponsors (Sen. Somers and Rep. Bumgardner) and updated bill number from 35 to 3563.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
upper
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.