The proposed bill establishes the Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Advisory Council, which will consist of 23 members, including representatives from various tribes, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and other relevant state departments. The council's primary responsibilities will be to provide recommendations to DEEP on integrating tribal ecological knowledge into state conservation plans and to promote sustainable natural resource use in alignment with state conservation goals. Notably, the council's authority does not extend to lands held in federal trust or reservation lands, which remain under tribal jurisdiction. The tribal members of the council are tasked with developing meeting procedures and will invite non-tribal members to attend quarterly meetings.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the DEEP commissioner provide free hunting and fishing permits to enrolled members of federally or state-recognized tribes for activities conducted off reservation lands, while ensuring that these activities adhere to state conservation goals. The commissioner is also required to offer access to conservation education and safety programs for these tribal members. Furthermore, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture to prioritize tribal meat, fish, and aquaculture processing facilities for technical assistance and funding support, thereby fostering tribal food sovereignty and local economic development. The effective date for these provisions is set for October 1, 2026.