HB05243 • 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PLAN FOR THE GREATER MYSTIC AREA.

Agriculture Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Commerce Committee
Last action: 2026-06-02
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date other than 'from passage', so the exact start day is unknown until signed.

Creating a Working Group for Economic and Tourism Plans in Greater Mystic

This law creates a special team to study ways to improve the economy and tourism in Groton and Stonington by looking at funding, traffic, parking, land agreements, and coastal safety.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a working group focused on economic development and tourism for the towns of Groton and Stonington.
Requires the group to examine federal or state funding options to fix breakwaters in Stonington Harbor.
Directs the group to study transportation choices that reduce traffic jams and parking problems.
Asks the group to look at land agreements and building projects that improve access and protect against coastal risks.
Sets a deadline of February 1, 2027, for the group to submit its final report with recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

Residents and businesses in Groton and Stonington
State lawmakers from the Commerce Committee and those representing Groton or Stonington
Officials from state agencies including Policy and Management, Economic Development, Energy and Environmental Protection, Transportation, and Agriculture
Local town leaders and representatives from business groups

Terms To Know

Working group: A temporary team of people created to study a specific topic and make recommendations.
Breakwater: A structure built in the water to protect harbors from strong waves.
Easement: Legal permission for someone to use a piece of land owned by another person or group.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not provide any money directly; it only creates the team to study funding options.
The working group ends on February 1, 2027, or when they submit their report if that happens later.

Bill History

2026-06-02 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-20 LCO
Special Act 26-30
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-04-28 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 473
2026-04-28 LCO
File Number 730
2026-04-27 Connecticut General Assembly
House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 4426
2026-04-27 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
2026-04-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Immediate Transmittal to the Senate
2026-04-01 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 233
2026-04-01 LCO
File Number 314
2026-03-26 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26 5:00 PM
2026-03-17 CE
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-03-17 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 02/24
2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Commerce

Official Summary Text

To facilitate economic development in the greater Mystic area.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Substitute House Bill No. 5243

Special Act No. 26-30

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PLAN FOR THE
GREATER MYSTIC AREA.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. ( Effective from passage ) (a) There is established a working
group to develop a plan relating to economic development and tourism
in the greater Mystic area. Such plan shall include, but need not be
limited to, an examination of (1) the potential federal, state or other
sources o f funding for the restoration of any breakwater located in
Stonington Harbor, (2) transportation options to ease traffic congestion
and alleviate parking pressure , and (3) potential easements and
infrastructure improvement s to enhance accessibility and coastal
resiliency. For the purposes of this subsection, "the greater Mystic area"
means the towns of Groton and Stonington.
(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: (1) The
chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
commerce, or their designees; (2) the state representati ves and state
senators of the General Assembly representing the town of Groton, or
their designees; (3) the state representatives and state senators of the
General Assembly representing the town of Stonington, or their
Substitute House Bill No. 5243

Special Act No. 26-30 2 of 2

designees; (4) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or
the secretary's designee; (5) the Commissioner of Economic and
Community Development, or the commissioner's designee ; (6) the
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the
commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Transportation, or
the commissioner's designee; (8) the chief elected official of Groton, or
the official's designee; (9) the chief elected official of Stonington, or the
official's designee; (10) a repres entative of a regional economic
development organization; (11) a representative of a chamber of
commerce; (12) a representative of the Bureau of Aquaculture of the
Department of Agriculture; and (13) any individuals the chairpersons of
the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to commerce deem relevant and
necessary to carry out the duties of the working group, including, but
not limited to, a representative of the local traffic authority of the town
of Groton and a representative of the local traffic authority of the town
of Stonington.
(c) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce
shall serve as administrative staff of the working group.
(d) Not later than February 1, 2027, the working group shall submit a
report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a
of the general statutes. The working group shall terminate on the date
that it submits such report or February 1, 2027, whichever is later.