HB 5520 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING FISH PASSAGES.

This bill updates Connecticut's laws to require fish passage facilities at dams and artificial obstructions, affecting dam owners, municipalities, and property owners upstream of these structures. It establishes a process where ten or more property owners can petition the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to require a fishway, while also allowing any person to petition for safe and effective fish passage at hydroelectric dams not regulated by federal agencies. The commissioner must hold public hearings, publish draft orders, and consider public comments before issuing final decisions, with requirements to maintain water flows and remove harmful obstructions if necessary.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill', indicating it has been amended and approved by legislative committees. The substantive policy text remains largely the same, with the primary changes being the reorganization of sections to consolidate definitions and the addition of a specific clause requiring dam owners to be treated as formal parties during public hearings.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability has not changed; it still governs the construction, repair, and operation of dams and fishways.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and the committee reference was updated from 'ENVIRONMENT' to 'ENV Joint Favorable Substitute', reflecting its legislative status.

The text was restructured to move the definition of 'rebuild' or 'substantially repair' to an earlier section and to streamline the list of conditions for ensuring fish passage.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision was added to ensure that any person, firm, corporation, or municipality owning or controlling a dam involved in a public hearing is automatically deemed a 'party' to that hearing.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors