The bill, known as General Assembly Committee Bill No. 63, mandates the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to adopt regulations by October 1, 2026, aimed at enhancing mitigation measures for wildlife and fisheries affected by future offshore wind projects. Key provisions include increasing mitigation efforts to address adverse impacts on wildlife, birds, marine mammals, and the fishing industry, as well as requiring selected bidders to contribute to an offshore wind project mitigation fund. This fund is intended to support ongoing damages caused by the development and operation of offshore wind facilities, with strict prohibitions against bidders administering or reclaiming these funds.

Additionally, the bill establishes an independent oversight committee responsible for managing and distributing the mitigation funds. The intent of this legislation is to ensure that the environmental and economic impacts of offshore wind projects are adequately addressed, particularly for stakeholders such as fishermen who may be adversely affected. The bill introduces new legal language to facilitate these requirements while deleting any conflicting provisions from current law.