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--- version:Public Act No. 26-61
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,19 +1,34 @@
-Substitute House Bill No. 5334
+Researcher: DD Page 1 5/5/26
 
-Public Act No. 26-61
+OLR Bill Analysis
+sHB 5334 (as amended by House "A")*
 
 AN ACT CONCERNING RIPARIAN AREAS.
-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
-Assembly convened:
 
-Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Commissioner of Energy
-and Environmental Protection shall utilize any state funds made
-available to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection,
-for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the purpose of the
-preservation of riparian areas to hi re an employee to conduct training
-for inland wetland commissions on matters pertaining to the Inland
-Wetlands and Watercourses Act, including, but not limited to, the
-preservation of riparian areas.
+SUMMARY
+This bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental
+Protection (DEEP) to use FY 27 funds that are available for preserving
+riparian areas to hire an employee to train inland wetland commissions.
+The training must be on the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act
+(IWWA), including preserving riparian areas.
+*House Amendment “A” replaces the underlying bill, which would
+have made various changes to the IWWA, including : (1) requiring
+anyone proposing certain  activities in a wetland or watercourse to
+demonstrate that the activity would not adversely impact the wetland
+or watercourse ; (2) expand ing the number of factors the DEEP
+commissioner and inland wetland s agencies must take into account
+when regulating, licensing, and enforcing activities under the IWWA ;
+(3) adding the removal of natural vegetative cover in riparian areas to
+the list of regulated activities that generally require a permit under the
+IWWA; and (4) modifying whether certain activities involving
+removing or conserving natural vegetation are considered “as of right”
+or “nonregulated.” It also changes the effective date to July 1, 2026.
+EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2026
+COMMITTEE ACTION
+Environment Committee
+Joint Favorable Substitute
+Yea 23 Nay 11 (03/13/2026)
 
-Governor's Action:
-Approved May 20, 2026
+Appropriations Committee
+Joint Favorable
+Yea 37 Nay 9 (04/14/2026)