This bill introduces several amendments to current fish and game laws. Notably, it allows public hearing notices to be posted digitally on newspaper websites, enhancing accessibility for the public. Additionally, it permits the shooting of injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorized watercraft, which is a new provision aimed at wildlife management. The bill also removes the term "brook" from references to trout in the regulations concerning the methods of taking fish, thereby simplifying the language. Furthermore, it empowers the executive director of fish and game to establish the fisheries habitat fee through rules, rather than a fixed amount, and repeals the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission, streamlining the regulatory framework.

The bill includes specific legal language changes, such as replacing "his" with "their" to promote gender neutrality in the duties of the executive director. It also introduces a new paragraph that clarifies the exceptions for shooting waterfowl from motorized watercraft and modifies the existing regulations on nets and traps used for fishing. The effective date of the bill is set for 60 days after its passage, allowing for a transition period for the implementation of these changes. Overall, the bill reflects a modernized approach to fish and game management in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
As Amended by the Senate: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g