HB 5523 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING A TRIBAL WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES ADVISORY COUNCIL.

This bill establishes a Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to facilitate cooperation between the state and Native American tribes on managing wildlife and fisheries resources. The commission will include representatives from five tribal nations, state agencies, and academic institutions to develop comanagement agreements that integrate tribal ecological knowledge with state conservation science. Additionally, the bill provides free hunting and fishing permits to enrolled tribal members on state lands, offers access to safety and education programs, and prioritizes tribal food processing facilities for technical assistance and funding support. These measures aim to promote sustainable resource use and tribal food sovereignty while maintaining state conservation goals and protections.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2026 Last action May 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from HB 5523 to a Substitute Bill and its title was changed to focus on an 'Advisory Council' rather than a 'Commission.' The most significant change is that the new body is explicitly defined as an advisory group with no enforcement or regulatory authority, replacing the original language that implied a commission with power to develop binding comanagement agreements. Additionally, the bill now clarifies that non-tribal members must attend meetings only on a quarterly basis at the invitation of tribal members, shifting the primary control of the group to the tribes.

Scope change

The scope shifted from establishing a potentially binding 'Commission' with authority to create comanagement agreements to creating a non-binding 'Advisory Council' that can only make recommendations to the state department.

DEFINITION

The entity created was changed from a 'Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission' to a 'Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Advisory Council'.

REQUIREMENT

The new text explicitly states that members voluntarily agree to serve and that non-tribal members must attend meetings quarterly only at the invitation of tribal members, whereas the original bill did not specify these attendance rules.

SCOPE

The original bill authorized the commission to 'develop recommendations for tribal-state comanagement agreements,' while the substitute limits the council to 'making recommendations' and explicitly removes the authority to create binding agreements.

ELIGIBILITY

The selection process for tribal members was clarified to require that they be 'selected by' the respective tribes, emphasizing tribal autonomy in choosing their representatives.

Floor votes · House May 1, 2026

How they voted

143–3

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 150

May 1, 2026

D Democratic101

98 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican49

45 Yea 3 Nay 1

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors