Substitute House Bill No. 5189, known as Public Act No. 24-48, is a legislative act concerning the establishment of a "small harbor improvement projects account" by the Connecticut Port Authority. This account is designated for the deposit of proceeds from state-issued notes, bonds, or other obligations, funds appropriated by the General Assembly, and any other funds legally permitted to be deposited. The purpose of the account is to finance federal and nonfederal dredging projects in small harbors, which are defined as harbors in Connecticut not under the authority of the Connecticut Port Authority. The funds may be used to support local and state matching requirements for dredging projects, cover incremental costs associated with environmental regulatory requirements or management practices, and fund private maritime infrastructure projects in small harbors, provided they have obtained all necessary permits and authorizations.

The act specifies that the small harbor improvement projects account can also be used to cover the costs of dredging projects in the absence of adequate federal funds. In such cases, the Connecticut Port Authority is tasked with seeking reimbursement from the federal government. Additionally, the authority is required to adopt procedures in accordance with section 1-121 of the general statutes to implement the provisions of this act, which includes establishing a process for contracting projects in small harbors. The act was approved on May 28, 2024, and is effective from the date of passage. There are no specific insertions or deletions from current law indicated in the provided text.