Researcher: JKL Page 1 4/1/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6914
AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE HARBOR
MANAGEMENT ACT.
SUMMARY
This bill requires municipal or state officials to consider a harbor
management commission’s written recommendations (e.g., ones made
in a comment letter) when the officials are making regulatory decisions
or undertaking or sponsoring development affecting the commission’s
jurisdiction, but only if the recommendation arises from content already
in an approved and adopted harbor management plan.
By law, a harbor management plan must identify existing and
potential harbor problems; establish goals; and make recommendations
for the harbor’s use, development, and preservation, among other
things. A municipal harbor management commission must have the
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Connecticut
Port Authority review and approve its plan before the municipality may
adopt it (CGS §§ 22a-113m & -113n). Once adopted, any
recommendations contained in the plan are binding on municipal and
state officials making regulatory decisions or undertaking or sponsoring
development affecting the commission’s jurisdiction, unless the official
shows cause for why a different action should be taken.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/14/2025)