The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5526, aims to establish reciprocity for fishing licenses among the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for inland waters fishing. If these neighboring states enact similar laws, individuals holding valid fishing licenses from those states will be permitted to fish in Connecticut's inland waters without needing a nonresident inland waters license. However, these nonresidents must still adhere to all other relevant state laws and regulations regarding fishing.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and introduces new legal language to facilitate this reciprocity. It does not include any deletions from existing law, as the entire text of the bill is new. The intent behind this legislation is to enhance fishing opportunities for residents of Connecticut and neighboring states, promoting recreational fishing and cooperation among the states.