Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06222 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-
2		-
3		-	LCO 1 of 2
4		-
5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6222
6		-	January Session, 2025
7	1
8	2
9	3
	4	+	LCO No. 5357 1 of 6
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6222
	7	+	January Session, 2025
	8	+	LCO No. 5357
10	9
11	10
12		-	AN ACT CONCERNING THE TAKING OF EASTERN OYSTERS AND
13		-	INVASIVE AQUATIC SPECIES.
	11	+	Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(ENV)
	16	+
	17	+
	18	+
	19	+	AN ACT CONCERNING AQUACULTURE IN THE STATE.
14	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	21		Assembly convened:
16	22
17		-	Section 1. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Agriculture 1
18		-	shall conduct a study on the appropriate minimum length for eastern 2
19		-	oysters to be taken in the state. In undertaking such study, the 3
20		-	commissioner shall consult with scientific experts concerning such 4
21		-	appropriate minimum length. The commissioner's recommendation 5
22		-	concerning such minimum length shall be based on the conclusions of 6
23		-	such scientific consultations as to the minimum length that enables the 7
24		-	optimal health condition of the oysters taken and the state's oyster beds. 8
25		-	Not later than February 1, 2026, in accordance with section 11-4a of the 9
26		-	general statutes, the commissioner shall submit a report to the joint 10
27		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 11
28		-	matters relating to the environment that shall contain such 12
29		-	recommendation and a detailed analysis of the basis for such 13
30		-	recommendation. 14
31		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 15
32		-	Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the 16
33		-	Department of Agriculture, shall establish a commercial invasive 17
34		-	aquatic species harvest license to regulate the collection, sale and 18
35		-	distribution of invasive marine species, including, but not limited to, 19 Substitute Bill No. 6222
	23	+	Section 1. Section 26-234b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
	24	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
	25	+	(a) No person may take eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from 3
	26	+	the waters of this state which are less than three inches long or which 4
	27	+	are otherwise not ready for harvest, as determined by the Commissioner 5
	28	+	of Agriculture, except that the taking of such oysters for sale, transplant 6
	29	+	and relay for aquaculture purposes within the waters of the state shall 7
	30	+	not be prohibited. The Commissioner of Agriculture may adopt 8
	31	+	regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out 9
	32	+	the purposes of this section. 10
	33	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 11
	34	+	no person may harvest hatchery-based, farm-raised eastern oysters that 12
	35	+	are less than two and one-half inches long or which are otherwise not 13
	36	+	ready for harvest, as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture. 14
	37	+	The Commissioner of Agriculture may adopt regulations, in accordance 15
	38	+	with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this 16
	39	+	Committee Bill No. 6222
36	40
37	41
38		-	LCO 2 of 2
	42	+	LCO No. 5357 2 of 6
39	43
40		-	green crabs and Asian shore crabs. Any such licensee shall be permitted 20
41		-	to: (1) Harvest and sell such invasive species for use as bait or for human 21
42		-	consumption, and (2) sell such invasive species directly to restaurants 22
43		-	and seafood markets for food purposes. 23
44		-	(b) The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and 24
45		-	Agriculture shall develop clear guidance and regulatory provisions to 25
46		-	ensure that (1) restaurants and individuals with a dealer's license can 26
47		-	legally procure, process and sell green crabs and other designated 27
48		-	invasive species for human consumption, and (2) fishermen operating 28
49		-	under a bait dealer license may sell invasive species both as bait and for 29
50		-	food while ensuring compliance with all applicable public health and 30
51		-	seafood safety regulations. 31
52		-	(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may 32
53		-	adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the 33
54		-	general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section. Such 34
55		-	regulations may include an expansion of the list of invasive aquatic 35
56		-	species covered under such license, as may be necessary to support 36
57		-	ecosystem management efforts. 37
	44	+	section. 17
	45	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) For purposes of this section: 18
	46	+	(1) "Oyster shell recycling" means the collection, curing and 19
	47	+	repurposing of oyster shells for use in shellfish restoration and 20
	48	+	enhancement projects; 21
	49	+	(2) "Curing" means the process of storing oyster shells in a designated 22
	50	+	location for a period sufficient to eliminate potential pathogens before 23
	51	+	use in shellfish restoration efforts; 24
	52	+	(3) "Shell recycling site" means a location authorized by the 25
	53	+	Department of Agriculture for the collection, curing and storage of 26
	54	+	oyster shells; and 27
	55	+	(4) "Public shellfish restoration efforts" means oyster shell 28
	56	+	deployment in state or municipal programs that are designed to restore 29
	57	+	or enhance shellfish habitats, support natural bed productivity and 30
	58	+	improve coastal resilience. 31
	59	+	(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the 32
	60	+	Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall develop 33
	61	+	a streamlined permitting process for municipalities, businesses and 34
	62	+	nonprofit organizations that seek to establish oyster shell recycling 35
	63	+	operations. 36
	64	+	(c) The Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the 37
	65	+	Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, may designate 38
	66	+	transfer stations and water pollution control facilities as shell recycling 39
	67	+	sites, provided such designation shall be in compliance with any 40
	68	+	applicable public health or environmental regulation. The 41
	69	+	Commissioner of Agriculture may adopt regulations, in accordance 42
	70	+	with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement 43
	71	+	the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include, but not be 44
	72	+	limited to, provisions concerning storage time limits to prevent odor 45
	73	+	and pest issues, public health protections to ensure oyster shells do not 46
	74	+	Committee Bill No. 6222
	75	+
	76	+
	77	+	LCO No. 5357 3 of 6
	78	+
	79	+	interfere with existing waste management operations and any local 47
	80	+	approval requirements, including, but not limited to, consultation with 48
	81	+	municipal health departments. 49
	82	+	(d) The Commissioner of Agriculture may designate oyster shells as 50
	83	+	a recyclable commodity for purpose of use in a public shellfish 51
	84	+	restoration effort. Any oyster shells designated as a recyclable 52
	85	+	commodity by the Commissioner of Agriculture shall be used 53
	86	+	exclusively for public shellfish restoration efforts. No person shall sell 54
	87	+	such shells or profit from any such public shellfish restoration efforts. 55
	88	+	The Commissioner of Agriculture shall oversee the allocation of 56
	89	+	recovered oyster shells to ensure their use in approved public shellfish 57
	90	+	restoration efforts. 58
	91	+	(e) Each oyster shell recycling operation shall comply with sanitation 59
	92	+	guidelines, as established by the Commissioner of Agriculture, to 60
	93	+	prevent public nuisance and contamination. The collection and storage 61
	94	+	of such oyster shells shall comply with the standards set forth in the 62
	95	+	state's shellfish restoration program and any other shell recovery 63
	96	+	guidance of the Departments of Agriculture and Energy and 64
	97	+	Environmental Protection. 65
	98	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Department of Agriculture's 66
	99	+	Bureau of Aquaculture shall consult with Connecticut Sea Grant to 67
	100	+	prepare a diversity, equity and inclusion report on efforts to increase the 68
	101	+	participation of black, indigenous and people of color, women and 69
	102	+	veteran farmers in aquaculture. Such report shall identify sources of 70
	103	+	funding for increasing such participation through the provision of 71
	104	+	training and technical assistance, including, but not limited to, 72
	105	+	providing opportunities for access to aquaculture leases, associated 73
	106	+	equipment and vessels for such groups. Not later than January 1, 2026, 74
	107	+	the bureau shall submit such report, in accordance with the provisions 75
	108	+	of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee 76
	109	+	of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 77
	110	+	environment. 78
	111	+	Committee Bill No. 6222
	112	+
	113	+
	114	+	LCO No. 5357 4 of 6
	115	+
	116	+	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions 79
	117	+	of sections 22-11h to 22-11j, inclusive, of the general statutes, the 80
	118	+	Commissioner of Agriculture shall consult with Connecticut Sea Grant 81
	119	+	to ensure clear permitting guidelines for the production of seaweed by 82
	120	+	persons with an aquaculture license. Additionally, the commissioner 83
	121	+	shall develop processing and distribution infrastructure for seaweed 84
	122	+	producers in the state. In undertaking such efforts, the commissioner 85
	123	+	may enter public-private partnerships to improve market access and 86
	124	+	market viability of seaweed produced in the state. 87
	125	+	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Department of Agriculture's 88
	126	+	Bureau of Aquaculture shall consult with Connecticut Sea Grant to 89
	127	+	study the Noank Aquaculture Cooperative in order to evaluate it as a 90
	128	+	sustainable model for shellfishing operations. Such study shall include, 91
	129	+	but not be limited to, an examination of the benefits of shared working 92
	130	+	waterfront access for shellfish farmers, the economic advantages and 93
	131	+	challenges of cooperative aquaculture models and the development of 94
	132	+	recommendations for increasing cooperative-based aquaculture, 95
	133	+	hatchery and research opportunities in the state. Not later than January 96
	134	+	1, 2026, the bureau shall submit such report, in accordance with the 97
	135	+	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 98
	136	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 99
	137	+	relating to the environment. 100
	138	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 101
	139	+	Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the 102
	140	+	Department of Agriculture, shall establish a commercial invasive 103
	141	+	aquatic species harvest license to regulate the collection, sale and 104
	142	+	distribution of invasive marine species, including, but not limited to, 105
	143	+	green crabs and Asian shore crabs. Any such licensee shall be permitted 106
	144	+	to: (1) Harvest and sell such invasive species for use as bait or for human 107
	145	+	consumption, and (2) sell such invasive species directly to restaurants 108
	146	+	and seafood markets for food purposes. 109
	147	+	(b) The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and 110
	148	+	Committee Bill No. 6222
	149	+
	150	+
	151	+	LCO No. 5357 5 of 6
	152	+
	153	+	Agriculture shall develop clear guidance and regulatory provisions to 111
	154	+	ensure that (1) restaurants and individuals with a dealer's license can 112
	155	+	legally procure, process and sell green crabs and other designated 113
	156	+	invasive species for human consumption, and (2) fishermen operating 114
	157	+	under a bait dealer license may sell invasive species both as bait and for 115
	158	+	food while ensuring compliance with all applicable public health and 116
	159	+	seafood safety regulations. 117
	160	+	(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may 118
	161	+	adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the 119
	162	+	general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section. Such 120
	163	+	regulations may include an expansion of the list of invasive aquatic 121
	164	+	species covered under such license, as may be necessary to support 122
	165	+	ecosystem management efforts. 123
	166	+	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of Revenue 124
	167	+	Services shall develop an oyster shell recycling tax credit program for 125
	168	+	restaurants that participate in oyster shell recycling efforts. Such 126
	169	+	program shall provide a tax credit of one dollar for every fifty pounds 127
	170	+	of oyster shells recycled by such a restaurant, provided such credit shall 128
	171	+	not exceed one thousand dollars for any such restaurant in a tax year. 129
	172	+	(b) The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall develop procedures 130
	173	+	for restaurants to claim such credit, including documentation and 131
	174	+	verification of oyster shell recycling participation. 132
58	175		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
59	176		sections:
60	177
61		-	Section 1 from passage New section
62		-	Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 New section
	178	+	Section 1 July 1, 2025 26-234b
	179	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section
	180	+	Sec. 3 from passage New section
	181	+	Sec. 4 from passage New section
	182	+	Sec. 5 from passage New section
	183	+	Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 New section
	184	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 New section
63	185
64		-	ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
	186	+	Committee Bill No. 6222
	187	+
	188	+
	189	+	LCO No. 5357 6 of 6
	190	+
	191	+	Statement of Purpose:
	192	+	To support and expand aquaculture in the state.
	193	+
	194	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	195	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	196	+	underlined.]
	197	+
	198	+	Co-Sponsors: REP. BUMGARDNER, 41st Dist.
	199	+
	200	+	H.B. 6222
	201	+
65	202