Substitute House Bill No. 6914 amends the Harbor Management Act by requiring municipal and state officials to consider written recommendations from harbor management commissions when making regulatory decisions or undertaking development within the commission's jurisdiction. These recommendations must stem from content already included in an approved and adopted harbor management plan. The bill repeals the existing subsection (b) of section 22a-113n and replaces it with new language that emphasizes the binding nature of the recommendations made in the harbor management plan, while also allowing for consideration of subsequent written recommendations, provided they are based on the plan's content.

The bill maintains that once a harbor management plan is adopted, its recommendations are binding unless an official can demonstrate a valid reason for deviating from them. This procedural change is not expected to incur any costs for the state or municipalities, as indicated in the fiscal impact statement. The act is effective upon passage, and it aims to enhance the regulatory framework surrounding harbor management by ensuring that local commissions have a voice in decisions that affect their jurisdictions.

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