Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 4 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 5520 — AN ACT CONCERNING FISH PASSAGES.

Last action — FILE NO. 434

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 06, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 40% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

147 added · 82 removed

Plain-language change summary

The changes in Bill HB 5520 primarily involve clarifications about the process the commissioner will follow to ensure safe fish passage at dams. Specifically, it emphasizes the requirement to publish notice within 180 days after receiving a petition and indicates that the commissioner will assess existing fish passage structures for their effectiveness and potential harm to aquatic life. These adjustments matter because they aim to enhance the systematic management of fish passage, ultimately contributing to better environmental protection and the health of aquatic ecosystems.

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Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
5520 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
434 February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
2391 Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT Introduced by:
5520 House of Representatives, April 7, 2026 The Committee on Environment reported through REP.
(ENV) AN ACT CONCERNING FISH PASSAGES.
PARKER of the 101st Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING FISH PASSAGES.
For the purposes of this section, "rebuild" or "substantially repair"means any action altering LCO No.
For the purposes of sHB5520 / File No.
2391 1 of 5 Raised Bill No.5520 the structure of the dam or artificial obstruction, changing the use of the dam or artificial obstruction or impeding the available free passage of fish.
434 1 sHB5520 File No.
434 this section, "rebuild" or "substantially repair"means any action altering the structure of the dam or artificial obstruction, changing the use of the dam or artificial obstruction or impeding the available free passage of fish.
(b) If the commissioner determines that there is not a safe, timely and effective fish passage, the commissioner shall prescribe, by order, the LCO No.
(b) If the commissioner determines that there is not a safe, timely and effective fishpassage, thecommissioner shall prescribe, by order,issued to the person, firm, corporation or municipality, or political subdivision sHB5520 / File No.
2391 2 of 5 Raised Bill No.5520 conditions to ensure such a safe, timely and effective fish passage both upstream of such reservoir and downstream of such dam.
434 2 sHB5520 File No.
Such conditions may include, but shall not be limited to, requirements to (1) construct, rebuild and operate fishways, (2) remove any artificial obstructions, and (3) maintain minimum water flows.
434 thereof, that owns or controls such dam, the conditions to ensure such a safe, timely and effective fish passage both upstream of such reservoir and downstream of such dam.
If the commissioner determines that any existing fish passage structures are ineffective or harmful to aquatic life, the commissioner shall include conditions to remediate such harm, including, but not limited to, removal or reconstruction of the fish passage structures.
Such conditions may include, but shall not be limited to, requirements to (1) construct, rebuild and operate fishways, (2) remove any artificial obstructions, and (3) maintain minimumwater flows.
(c)Not laterthanonehundredeightydaysafter submittalofanysuch petition, the commissioner shall publish notice of the commissioner's tentative determination astowhetherthere isa safe,timely andeffective fish passage.
Ifthe commissioner determinesthat any existing fish passage structures are ineffective or harmful to aquatic life, the commissioner shall include conditions to remediate such harm, including, but not limited to, removal or reconstruction of the fish passage structures.
(c)Not laterthanonehundredeightydaysafter submittalofanysuch petition, the commissioner shall publish notice of the commissioner's tentative determinationastowhetherthere isasafe,timely andeffective fish passage.
The commissioner shall provide a publiccomment periodon suchtentative determination ofnot less than thirty days following publication of such tentative determination and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall hold a public hearing before making any final determination on such petition.
The commissioner shall providea publiccomment periodonsuchtentative determinationofnot less than thirty days following publication of such tentative determination and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall hold a public hearing before making any final determination on such petition.
(d) For any dam or artificial obstruction not subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall, upon petition of ten or more persons owning property above any such dam or artificial obstruction existing on October 1, 1982, built upon any stream, determine whether such dam or artificial obstruction shall be provided, by the person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof owning or controlling the dam or obstruction, with a suitable fishway for the passage of fish.
The person, firm, corporation or municipality, or political subdivision thereof, that owns or controls any dam that is the subject of such a public hearing shall be deemed to be a party to such hearing.
(e) Upon receipt of any application for a permit to construct, rebuild or substantially repair a dam or artificial obstruction built upon any LCO No.
(d) For any dam or artificial obstruction not subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall, upon petition of ten or more persons that own property above any such dam or artificial obstruction existing on October 1, 1982, built upon any stream, determine whether such dam or artificial obstruction shall be provided, by the person, firm, corporationor municipality,or political subdivision thereof, that owns or controls such dam or obstruction, with a suitable fishway for the passage of fish.
2391 3 of 5 Raised Bill No.5520 stream, as described in subsection (d) of this section, the commissioner shall require such dam or artificial obstruction be provided with a fishway if such a facility is necessary to protect fisheries resources by providing access to natural spawning or nursery areas or to protect the public interest by preventing the loss of a fishery from the area of the dam or artificial obstruction.
sHB5520 / File No.
434 3 sHB5520 File No.
434 (e) Upon receipt of any application for a permit to construct, rebuild or substantially repair a dam or artificial obstruction built upon any stream, as described in subsection (d) of this section, the commissioner shall require such dam or artificial obstruction be provided with a fishway if such a facility is necessary to protect fisheries resources by providing access to natural spawning or nursery areas or to protect the public interest by preventing the loss of a fishery from the area of the dam or artificial obstruction.
(f) Not later than thirty days after receipt of such a petition, as describedinsubsection(d)ofthissection, oranapplication,asdescribed in subsection (e) of this section, the commissioner shall set a time and place for a hearing on such petition or application, as applicable, if, in the opinion of the commissioner, a hearing is reasonable or necessary.
(f) Not later than thirty days after receipt of such a petition, as describedinsubsection(d)ofthissection,oranapplication,asdescribed in subsection (e) of this section, the commissioner shall set a time and place for a hearing on such petition or application, as applicable, if, in the opinion of the commissioner, a hearing is reasonable or necessary.
(g) Upon a determination that a fishway is necessary pursuant to subsection(d) or (e)of thissection,asapplicable, thecommissioner shall issue an order to the person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof owning or controlling the dam or obstructiontoconstructafishwayintheform,material,capacity,atsuch location and within such time as the commissioner establishes.
(g) Upon a determination that a fishway is necessary pursuant to subsection(d) or (e)of thissection,asapplicable, thecommissioner shall issue an order to the person, firm, corporation or municipality, or political subdivision thereof, that owns or controls such dam or obstructiontoconstructafishwayintheform,material,capacity,atsuch location and within such time as the commissioner establishes.
The commissioner shall cause a copy of such order to be served on such person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof.Such fishway shall be constructed and maintained subject to the approval of the commissioner, and shall be kept open and free for the passage of such fish in such manner and during such period as the commissioner requires.
The commissioner shall cause a copy of such order to be served on such person, firm, corporation or municipality, or political subdivision thereof.Such fishway shall be constructed and maintained subject to the approval of the commissioner, and shall be kept open and free for the passage of such fish in such manner and during such period as the commissioner requires.
LCO No.
sHB5520 / File No.
2391 4 of 5 Raised Bill No.
434 4 sHB5520 File No.
5520 Section 1 from passage 26-136 Statement of Purpose:
434 Section 1 from passage 26-136 ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
To provide additional means by which fish passages may be provided for on dams and reservoirs and establish standards for such fish passages.
sHB5520 / File No.
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
434 5 sHB5520 File No.
2391 5 of 5
434 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill makes procedural changes regarding petitioning the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to require a safe, timely, and effective fish passage to be installed at any hydroelectric dam that is not subject to federal regulation.
This is not anticipated to result in a cost to the state as DEEP has the staff and expertise necessary to complete the requirements contained within the bill.
The Out Years State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None sHB5520 / File No.
434 6 sHB5520 File No.
434 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5520 AN ACT CONCERNING FISH PASSAGES.
Show all 55 changed rows (15 more)
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SUMMARY This bill allows any person to petition the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to require a safe, timely, and effective fish passage be installed at any hydroelectric dam thatisnotsubjecttofederalregulation.(Currently,threesuchdamsexist in the state.) Under the bill, a fish passage is considered safe, timely, and effective if it meets or exceeds the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative’s existing standards.
Within 180 days after receiving a petition, the commissioner must (1) determine if a safe, timely, and effective passage exists upstream and downstream of the dam and associated reservoir for migratory fish at all life stages and (2) publish notice of her tentative determination and a draft order for any action to ensure an adequate passage, if applicable (see below), on DEEP’s website.
The commissioner must allow at least days for public comment on the tentative determination, and DEEP must hold a public hearing before making a final determination on the petition.
Under the bill, the entity that owns or controls the applicable dam is deemed a party to the hearing.
If the DEEP commissioner determines a dam does not have an adequate fish passage, she must issue an order to the entity that owns or controls the dam prescribing conditions to ensure a safe, timely, and effective fish passage both upstream of the reservoir and downstream ofthedam.
Theordermay require,amongother things,(1)constructing, rebuilding, and operating fishways;
(2) removing any artificial obstructions;
and (3) maintaining minimum water flows.
If the commissioner determines an existing fish passage structure is sHB5520 / File No.
434 7 sHB5520 File No.
434 ineffective or harmful to aquatic life, she must also include conditions for remediating the harm, including removing or reconstructing the structure.
The bill also makes technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage COMMITTEE ACTION Environment Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 34 Nay 0 (03/18/2026) sHB5520 / File No.
434 8
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 434

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 318

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0313

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 182 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (182)

182 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 182 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment energy
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5520?
HB 5520 is sponsored by John-Michael Parker (Democratic), Mike Demicco (Democratic), Patricia A. Dillon (Democratic), Mark W. Anderson (Republican), and Aundre Bumgardner (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5520?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 06, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5520?
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