The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7051, mandates the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Emergency Services and Public Protection to create and periodically update a comprehensive black bear management plan. This plan aims to ensure public safety, protect property, and maintain a sustainable black bear population within the state. Key components of the plan will include an assessment of the current black bear population, strategies for minimizing human-bear conflicts, public education initiatives, nonlethal deterrence methods, evaluation of population control measures, and waste management practices to reduce attractants. Additionally, the plan will outline protocols for managing bears that pose imminent threats to safety or property and will involve coordination with municipalities and law enforcement.

The bill stipulates that the initial black bear management plan must be submitted to the relevant joint standing committees of the General Assembly by January 1, 2026, and any revisions to the plan must be reported within thirty days of their development. The new legal language introduced in this bill emphasizes the collaborative approach between state agencies and local entities to enhance black bear safety measures, while the bill does not propose any deletions from existing law.