HB 5388 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING FISHING AND HUNTING RIGHTS OF CERTAIN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

HB 5388 modifies Connecticut's hunting and fishing regulations to recognize tribal rights on reservation lands. It removes the requirement for Native American tribal members to obtain licenses for hunting, fishing, or trapping on their tribe's reservation, subject to state environmental regulations and seasonal limits. The bill also creates a free, annual deer permit for tribal members on reservations larger than 10 acres, valid only November 1-December 31 for use with specific weapons. Additionally, it establishes a ceremonial permit allowing one annual animal take on state lands for cultural purposes without fee, limited to species otherwise legally harvestable.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

Committee Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to remove the creation of a new Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and replace it with a more limited ceremonial taking permit program. The effective date was changed from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025, and the act's title was shortened to remove 'Aquaculture Rights' and 'Natural'.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed by removing the establishment of a new commission and the authority to create tribal hunting and fishing regulations on ancestral lands. The focus shifted to a single ceremonial taking permit for state lands.

SCOPE

Removed the creation of the Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, which would have included tribal members and state officials to develop regulations and oversee comanagement agreements.

Removed aquaculture rights from the act title and text, narrowing the focus to fishing and hunting rights only.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed provisions that would have allowed tribes to regulate, enforce, and issue permits for hunting, fishing, and gathering on tribal and ancestral lands without state interference.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025.

Added a new provision for a one-time, fee-free ceremonial taking permit for an animal specimen on state lands, limited to one taking per Indian per year.

Removed the lifetime hunting and fishing license provision for federally or state-recognized tribal members.

FISCAL

Removed the provision requiring the Commissioner of Agriculture to prioritize tribal meat and fish processing facilities for USDA funding and certification.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors