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HB 7174 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING RIPARIAN AREAS.

HB 7174 establishes a legislative working group to study how to strengthen protections for vegetated riparian buffers (vegetation along waterways) in Connecticut. The group, including representatives from environmental groups, homebuilders, farmers, municipalities, and water utilities, will review other states' approaches, assess current state programs, and examine legal implications by January 15, 2026. It will recommend specific changes to statutes or regulations to improve watercourse health while balancing private property rights and climate goals. This bill does not enact new protections but creates a process for future policy development.
Issues: ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates working group to strengthen riparian buffer protections, study state approaches, and recommend regulatory improvements for watercourse health per explicit language.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Signed Jun 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 8 edits
MODERATE
This bill was renamed from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and shortened from 19 pages to 17 pages. The main substantive change is renaming 'Riparian buffer' to 'Riparian area' and adjusting the definition to remove the specific 'one hundred feet' distance requirement, making the definition more flexible. Several prohibited activities in riparian zones were removed or modified, and new permitted uses were added including residential homes with permits issued before July 1, 1987, and boat anchorage.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the specific 100-foot distance requirement for riparian areas and reducing the number of prohibited activities in certain zones. The definition of 'Riparian area' became more flexible without a fixed distance threshold.
DEFINITION

Changed 'Riparian buffer' to 'Riparian area' and removed the specific 100-foot distance requirement from the definition

REQUIREMENT

Removed the 100-foot distance requirement from prohibited activities in certain riparian zones

Added definition and requirements for dry hydrant installation in wetlands for firefighting purposes

ELIGIBILITY

Added residential homes with permits issued before July 1, 1987 as permitted uses in wetlands and watercourses

Added boat anchorage or mooring as a permitted use in wetlands and watercourses

Added uses incidental to residential property maintenance as permitted uses with specific limitations

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025 for new sections

SCOPE

Reduced bill length from 19 pages to 17 pages and removed some regulatory provisions

Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2025 · House May 29, 2025

How they voted

36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
Jun 4, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican11
11 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Jun 24, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (36-0)
senate
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. PASSED, HO. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. ADOPTED HO. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Planning and Development
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.