Substitute House Bill No. 5218 aims to enhance environmental protection by establishing riparian buffers and revising inland wetlands provisions. The bill authorizes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to use stormwater infrastructure funds to acquire conservation easements that maintain vegetated buffers along streams and rivers. DEEP is also directed to develop mandatory setbacks for development near streams, rivers, and inland wetlands, with a deadline to propose these setbacks by January 1, 2025. The bill updates the training program for inland wetlands agency members, requiring all members and staff to complete the program by June 1, 2026, or within a year of their appointment if hired after October 1, 2024, and every five years thereafter, excluding attorneys with inland wetlands experience. The bill is effective immediately for the conservation easements and setback provisions, while other sections become effective on October 1, 2024.

The bill expands the training requirements for inland wetlands agency members and staff, changing the current law from requiring at least one member or staff person to complete the training to mandating that all members and staff complete it. The updated training program must reflect recent statutory changes and common law developments and be available online. DEEP is expected to incur a cost of approximately $150,000 for a consultant to assist with the development of the mandatory setbacks, and there are potential fiscal impacts, including costs associated with the training program update and increased training participation, as well as revenue gains for the University of Connecticut, which hosts the training. The bill assumes an annual cost of up to $10,000 for DEEP and a similar revenue gain for UConn, with out-year costs expected to be less than $10,000 per year due to varied training requirements.