House Bill No. 5461 proposes to eliminate the fees associated with the issuance and renewal of marine pilot licenses in Connecticut, which is currently set at $105.48 annually. The bill amends subsections (c) and (d) of section 15-13 of the general statutes by repealing the requirement for pilots to pay this fee upon licensing and renewal. Additionally, it modifies the language regarding the bond requirement for pilots, changing the reference from "his or her" to "such pilot's." The bill also repeals certain language in subsection (d) of section 13b-59 that pertains to license, permit, and fee revenues, specifically removing references to the fees associated with marine pilot licenses.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and is expected to result in a revenue loss of less than $1,000 annually for the Connecticut Port Authority, which oversees the licensing of marine pilots. Currently, there are seven licensed marine pilots in the state, and the elimination of the fee aims to support the recommendations made by the Connecticut Port Authority to streamline the licensing process for these professionals who play a crucial role in navigating vessels safely through state waters.