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House of Representatives
sHB5526 / File No. 438 1
General Assembly File No. 438
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5526
House of Representatives, April 7, 2026
The Committee on Environment reported through REP.
PARKER of the 101st Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING RECIPROCITY FOR CERTAIN INLAND
WATERS FISHING LICENSES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective October 1, 2026 ) If and when the state of 1
New York, the state of Massachusetts or the state of Rhode Island, as 2
applicable, enacts a similar law granting reciprocal privileges to 3
residents of this state, any person who holds a license to fish in inland 4
waters in the state of New York, the state of Massachusetts or the state 5
of Rhode Island, as applicable, may fish in any inland waters in this state 6
without a nonresident inland waters license to fish as required by title 7
26 of the general statutes, provided such nonresidents shall be subject to 8
all other provisions of the general statutes and the regulations of the 9
commissioner relating to fishing in lakes and ponds. 10
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section
sHB5526 File No. 438
sHB5526 / File No. 438 2
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
The phrase "as applicable" was added for purposes of clarity.
ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
sHB5526 File No. 438
sHB5526 / File No. 438 3
The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection
GF – Potential
Revenue Loss
Minimal Minimal
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill results in a revenue loss to the General Fund associated with
extending residents from New York, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island
that hold an inland waters fishing license in their state, privileges to fish
in Connecticut inland waters without a no nresident inland waters
fishing license, if their state provides reciprocity to Connecticut
residents. It is unknown how many fewer nonresident inland water
fishing licenses would be sold annually; 100 fewer licenses will result in
a revenue loss of approx imately $5,500 (each nonresident age 16 and
older inland waters license is $55).
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the number of reciprocal licenses
extended to residents of New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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sHB5526 / File No. 438 4
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5526
AN ACT CONCERNING RECIPROCITY FOR CERTAIN INLAND
WATERS FISHING LICENSES.
SUMMARY
This bill allows New York, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island residents
who hold an inland waters fishing license in their state to fish in
Connecticut inland waters without a nonresident inland waters fishing
license if their state passes a similar reciprocal law for Connecticut
residents. The bill requires them to follow all other Connecticut laws
and regulations for fishing in lakes and ponds.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 24 Nay 9 (03/18/2026)