Connecticut HB 5525: AN ACT CONCERNING A RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.

Bill Text

House Bill No. 5525 
 
Public Act No. 26-65 
 
 
AN  ACT  CONCERNING  A  RAPID  RESPONSE  PROGRAM  FOR 
CERTAIN AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) (1) For the purposes of 
this  section,  "rapid  response"  means  a  systematic  effort  to  eradicate, 
contain  or  control  hydrilla  or  other  aquatic  invasive  plant  species 
introduced  into  an  ecosystem  while  the  infestation  of  such  ecosystem 
remains localized and includes actions that address novel introductions 
into a waterbody. 
(2)  The  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experiment  Station's  Office  of 
Aquatic Invasive Species shall set criteria for newly discovered aquatic 
invasive  species  and  hydrilla  populations  discovered  within  the  most 
recent three-year period, including satellite populations of such hydrilla 
populations  to  qualify  for rapid  response  pursuant  to this  section  and 
shall  publish  and  maintain  a  page  on  such  agency's  Internet  web  site 
that lists such eligible species. Such office shall notify the Department of 
Energy and Environmental Protection when any new species is added 
to such list. 
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 22a-339i of the general 
statutes, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 

House Bill No. 5525 
 
Public Act No. 26-65 2 of 4 
 
expedite any permitting associated with rapid response actions for the 
aquatic invasive species specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 
this section, to enable the timely containment of such species and reduce 
the  risk  of  further  spread  within  and  between  waterbodies,  provided 
such priority expediting shall be given to permits for the containment of 
hydrilla. 
(c)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  section  22-79a  of  the  general 
statutes,  the  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experiment  Station's  Office  of 
Aquatic  Invasive  Species  shall  identify  new  introductions  of  aquatic 
invasive  plant  species  to  the  state  and  may  coordinate  and  conduct 
rapid response efforts to any such new population in any waterbody in 
the state. 
(d)   (1)   Notwithstanding   the   provisions   of   subdivision   (2)   of 
subsection  (h)  of  section  22a-66a  of  the  general  statutes,  any  rapid 
response herbicide treatment undertaken pursuant to the provisions of 
this section shall not require the provision of two individual notices to 
each owner of waterfront property on a privately owned lake or pond. 
One  such  notice  by  telephone,  personal  notification  or  by  leaving  a 
conspicuous  notice  on  an  entry  door  of  the  home  located  on  such 
property  shall  be  made  not  less  than twenty-four  hours  prior  to  such 
treatment. 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection and subsections 
(a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, any rapid response actions for newly 
introduced aquatic invasive plant species shall be timed in accordance 
with   the   best   available   science   to   occur   prior   to   or   during   key 
reproductive periods to minimize establishment and secondary spread 
of such aquatic invasive plant species. 
(e)  (1)  The  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experiment  Station's  Office  of 
Aquatic  Invasive  Species  shall  assist  rapid  response  efforts  related  to 
newly  discovered  hydrilla  and  newly  introduced  aquatic  invasive 

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species  identified  in  state  waterbodies  by  mapping  the  extent  and 
location   of   such   populations   and   documenting   the   presence   and 
locations  of  relevant  threatened  and  endangered  species  within  a 
scientifically determined radius, as established in consultation with the 
Department   of   Energy   and   Environmental   Protection's   Natural 
Diversity Data Base program, while determining the sensitivity of such 
species  to  proposed  herbicide  treatments  and  other  containment  or 
eradication methods. 
(2)  The  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experiment  Station's  Office  of 
Aquatic  Invasive  Species,  in  consultation  with  the  Department  of 
Energy  and  Environmental  Protection,  shall  develop  a  state  rapid 
response  protocol  for  hydrilla.  Such  protocol  shall  clearly  define  the 
roles,   responsibilities   and   response   actions   for   the   Connecticut 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station's  Office  of  Aquatic  Invasive  Species 
and   the   Department   of   Energy   and   Environmental   Protection. 
Additionally, such protocol shall establish a coordinated framework for 
interagency  response  that  identifies  lead  and  supporting  functions 
throughout the response process and that outlines next steps to contain 
or  eradicate  new  hydrilla  populations.  Such  steps  may  include  public 
education and outreach, containment strategies, trea