This bill amends existing laws related to the fish and game commission, introducing several key changes. 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 in designated areas, specifically the sea duck hunting area. The bill also removes the term "brook" from references to trout in fishing regulations, thereby broadening the scope of applicable fishing methods. Furthermore, it empowers the executive director of fish and game to establish the fisheries habitat fee through rule-making, rather than a fixed amount, and repeals the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission.

The bill includes specific legal language changes, such as replacing "his" with "their" to promote gender neutrality in references to the executive director. It also introduces a new provision that allows for the use of dip nets and traps for fishing while setting parameters for their use. The fisheries habitat fee is now defined as a fee set by the executive director in accordance with existing administrative rules, rather than a fixed dollar amount. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage, with an approval date of July 15, 2025, and an effective date of September 13, 2025.

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
As Amended by the House: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
Version adopted by both bodies: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 206:11, 207:7, 211:9, 214:1-g