OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-5388
AN ACT CONCERNING FISHING AND HUNTING RIGHTS OF
CERTAIN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.
Primary Analyst: SB 4/15/25
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: PR
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Resources of the General Fund GF - Revenue
Loss
See Below See Below
Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection
GF - Cost 42,500 32,500
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits
1
GF - Cost 13,231 13,231
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
Section 1 increases the number of free private land deer permits
issued annually, by decreasing the required minimum size of an
Indian’s reservation in order to qualify. This results in a revenue loss to
the resources of the General Fund; the scope of the revenue loss is
indeterminate as it is unknown how many additional free permits
would be issued and correspondingly how many fewer (paid) permits
would be purchased. The cost of firearm permits ranges from $11-$41
for Connecticut residents.
2
Section 2 requires the Department of Energy and Environmental
1
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 40.71% of payroll in FY 26.
2
https://portal.ct.gov/deep/hunting/2025-connecticut-hunting-and-trapping-
guide/hunting-and-trapping-licenses 2025HB-05388-R000714-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
Protection (DEEP) to develop a free ceremonial taking permit. This
results in a revenue loss to the resources of the General Fund. The scope
of the revenue loss is indeterminate as it is unknown how many
ceremonial permits would be issued and correspondingly how many
fewer hunting and fishing (paid) permits would be purchased.
Additionally, Section 2 results in a cost to DEEP associated with the
development and enforcement of the new permit. DEEP would require
a part-time Environmental Conservation Officer, with a salary of
$32,500 and corresponding fringe benefits of $13,231 (for a total of
$45,721) annually, beginning in FY 26. DEEP would also require $10,000
in information technology funding in order to update the on-line
licensing system to incorporate the new permit.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation and the number of permits
issued.