AN ACT CONCERNING OVERSIGHT OF PERMITTING PROCESSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Energy Technology

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Government Oversight Committee
Last action: 2026-03-19
Official status: Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Environment
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text specifies a report deadline but does not confirm if any changes will be made after the study.

Reviewing Permitting Processes at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

This law requires state officials to study ways to improve permit reviews, including using technology or creating faster paid services.

What This Bill Does

Requires a report by January 1, 2027, on how artificial intelligence could help with the preliminary review of general permits.
Asks for ideas about creating an expedited review process with higher fees for certain permits and identifying which permits are appropriate for this service.
Directs officials to study automation tools that businesses and towns could use for individual permit types like solid waste, thermal loop power generation, fuel cell power generation, or coastal land management.
Requires a look at automating renewals and lowering fees when no changes are needed from the original permit application.

Who It Names or Affects

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection
Businesses that apply for permits
Municipalities (towns) that need permits
State legislative committees on environment and government oversight

Terms To Know

General permit: A standard approval given to many similar projects without needing a separate review for each one.
Individual permit: A specific approval required for unique or large projects that need detailed review, such as power plants or waste sites.
Expedited process: A faster way to get a decision on an application, often in exchange for paying extra fees.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only requires a study and report; it does not automatically change any rules or start new programs.
It is unclear which specific permits will be chosen for faster review until the Commissioner finishes their assessment.
No final decision has been made on whether to use artificial intelligence tools, raise fees, or lower renewal fees.

Bill History

2026-03-19 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Environment
2026-03-18 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-18 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Environment
2026-03-17 GOS
Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference Environment
2026-03-17 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/10
2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Government Oversight

Official Summary Text

To require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct an assessment of the general and individual permitting processes and whether certain modifications are feasible or recommended.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO 1 of 2

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5475
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING OVERSIGHT OF PERMITTING PROCESSES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2027, the 1
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall assess and 2
report on potential methods to facilitate the permitting process of 3
general permits, including (1) the use of artificial intelligence tools to do 4
the preliminary review of all applications, and (2) the feasibility of 5
creating an expedited review process with increased fees for the 6
expedited service for certain permits and identifying any permits 7
appropriate for such service and any statutory changes required to 8
effectuate such expedited review process. 9
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Energy and 10
Environmental Protection shall assess and report on methods to 11
facilitate the permitting process of individual permits, including, but not 12
limited to, (1) permits for solid waste, thermal loop and fuel cell power 13
generation and coastal land management , whether there are increased 14
automation tools that businesses and municipalities could use to reform 15
the timeline and costs of permitting, and (2) the feasibility of creating an 16
expedited review process with increased fees for the expedited service 17
for certain permits and identifying any permits appropriate for such 18
Substitute Bill No. 5475

LCO 2 of 2

service and any statutory changes required to effectuate such expedited 19
review process. 20
(c) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Energy and 21
Environmental Protection shall assess and report on the feasibility of 22
automating and reducing fees for the renewal of permits where the 23
applicant does not have any changes to the information given for the 24
original permit or the factors concerning permit renewal. 25
(d) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Energy and 26
Environmental Protection shall submit a report, in accordance with the 27
provisions of section 11 -4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 28
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 29
relating to the environment and government oversight. Such report 30
shall include the results of the commissioner's assessments pursuant to 31
subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section and any recommendations 32
for legislation. 33
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Subsec. (b)(1),"permits" and "power generation" were moved for
clarity.

GOS Joint Favorable Subst. C/R ENV