OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-7174
AN ACT CONCERNING RIPARIAN AREAS.
Primary Analyst: SB 4/14/25
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: PR
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection
GF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Various Municipalities Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Explanation
The bill expands the authority of municipal inland wetlands agencies
and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to
regulate activities in the riparian area. This results in a potential cost to
DEEP and municipalities as the area requiring regulation and
enforcement is expanded. The potential cost is unknown and would
vary by location as well as the riparian areas activity proposals and
enforcement actions.
The bill makes other procedural changes to DEEP that are not
anticipated to result in a fiscal impact as DEEP has the staff and expertise
necessary to implement the changes.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.