House Bill No. 5152 seeks to strengthen wildfire prevention efforts by amending existing laws regarding open burning and the roles of fire wardens. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (f) of section 22a-174, allowing open burning of brush on residential properties and municipal facilities with the requirement of obtaining permits from local officials. It introduces new restrictions on open burning during high fire danger conditions and limits the issuance of permits for municipal landfills to no more than six times per year. Additionally, municipalities are empowered to regulate or prohibit open burning within their jurisdictions. The bill also modifies section 23-36, granting the State Forest Fire Warden the authority to prohibit open flames on lands controlled by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection when necessary.

Moreover, the bill enhances the authority of the DEEP commissioner, the state forest fire warden, and the governor in wildfire prevention measures. It prohibits open brush burning within 100 feet of woodland or grassland areas during high or very high forest fire risk, while maintaining existing bans during extreme fire risk conditions. The bill allows the state forest fire warden to ban open flames on commissioner-controlled lands and extends the deadline for volunteer fire department chiefs to submit reimbursement requests from one month to four months in emergencies. It also grants the governor the ability to independently close sections of woodland and brush land and ban open-air fires during extreme drought or hazardous conditions. Fines for violations are increased from $5-$100 to $500-$1,000, with potential imprisonment for up to six months. The bill includes technical changes and is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 23-36, 23-39, 23-50
ENV Joint Favorable: 23-36, 23-39, 23-50
File No. 35: 23-36, 23-39, 23-50