Senate 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. The bill requires that project proposals include increased mitigation efforts to address adverse impacts on wildlife, marine mammals, and the fishing industry, including provisions for workforce development retraining for fishermen impacted by these projects. Additionally, it stipulates that selected bidders must make initial and recurring payments into a mitigation fund, which cannot be returned to them or administered by them, and establishes an independent oversight committee to manage these funds.

The bill introduces new legal language that emphasizes the need for comprehensive mitigation strategies and oversight, while deleting provisions that would allow bidders to control the mitigation funds. The overall intent is to ensure that the development and operation of offshore wind facilities do not detrimentally affect the environment or the livelihoods of those in the fishing industry. The fiscal impact of the bill is expected to be negligible, as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is equipped to handle the regulatory requirements without additional costs.