SB00145 • 2026

AN ACT STUDYING THE REMEDIATION OF HYDRILLA IN STATE LAKES AND THE EXPEDITING OF PERMITS RELATED TO SUCH REMEDIATION.

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Environment Committee
Last action: 2026-02-13
Official status: Public Hearing 02/20
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill ensures cost-effectiveness or efficiency of methods.

Act to Study Hydrilla Removal from State Lakes

This act requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to study methods for removing hydrilla from state lakes and develop faster permit processes.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct a study on how to remove hydrilla from state lakes, including examining effective methods like harvesting and spot treating without full permits.
Develops protocols for expediting permits related to hydrilla removal.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
People who need permits to remove hydrilla from state lakes

Terms To Know

Hydrilla: A type of plant that can grow in water and sometimes causes problems in lakes.
Permit: An official document allowing someone to do a specific activity, like removing hydrilla from a lake.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be used for the study.
It is unclear what exactly 'spot treating' means in this context without further details.

Bill History

2026-02-13 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 02/20
2026-02-11 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Environment

Official Summary Text

To examine the most effective methods and protocols for the remediation of hydrilla in state lakes, including ways to expedite permits for such remediation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO No. 831 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 145
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 831

Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT

Introduced by:
(ENV)

AN ACT STUDYING THE REMEDIATION OF HYDRILLA IN STATE
LAKES AND THE EXPEDITING OF PERMITS RELATED TO SUCH
REMEDIATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage ) The De partment of Energy and 1
Environmental Protection shall conduct a study, in conjunction with the 2
Office of Aquatic Invasive Species, on the remediation of hydrilla in 3
state lakes. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an 4
examination of the most effective methods of eliminating and 5
controlling hydrilla in such lakes, including , but not limited to, the 6
harvesting of such hydrilla and the ability to spot treat areas not 7
specifically authorized by a permit in an effort to prevent such areas 8
from enlarging. Additionally, such department shall develop protocols 9
for the expediting of permits to remediate hydrilla for alignment of the 10
issuance of such permits with the most efficacious time period and cost- 11
effective methodology for the treatment, remediation or harvesting of 12
such hydrilla by the applicable permittee. 13

Raised Bill No. 145

LCO No. 831 2 of 2

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section

Statement of Purpose:
To examine the most effective methods and protocols for the
remediation of hydrilla in state lakes , including ways to expedite
permits for such remediation.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]