This bill establishes a mechanism for the town of New Shoreham to seek a time-limited exemption from certain statewide regulations governing deer hunting and management. The town council is authorized to petition the director of the Department of Environmental Management for exemptions from specific prohibitions, including hunting seasons, methods of take, and bag limits, for the purpose of controlling the deer population on town lands to mitigate public health risks associated with tick-borne illnesses. The exemption period shall not exceed two years.

The petition submitted by the town council must include a description of the deer population conditions, evidence of the population's impact on public health and safety, and a proposed island deer management plan. This plan must specify the regulatory prohibitions from which an exemption is sought, the proposed methods of deer management, the geographic boundaries of the lands covered, and measurable population reduction targets. The director is responsible for reviewing the petition, holding public hearings, and issuing a written decision within specified timeframes.

Upon approval of the management plan, the town council may adopt local ordinances to implement the plan, which must not conflict with any conditions imposed by the director. The bill maintains the enforcement authority of state environmental police and requires the town to submit annual reports on deer management activities. Additionally, the town must indemnify the state and its agencies from any claims arising from the implementation of the management plan. The exemption period will automatically expire after two years, and the town may petition for renewal following the same process.