Update: HB5388 An Act Concerning Natural Fishing, Hunting and Aquaculture Rights of Certain Native American Tribes (3/14/25)

There has been an update today to HB5388. A committee drafted bill has been published.

HB5388 An Act Concerning Natural Fishing, Hunting and Aquaculture Rights of Certain Native American Tribes

3/17/2025 Referred to Joint Committee on Environment

3/14/2025 Drafted by Committee

Committee Bill [doc]

The gist of the bill:

Proposes establishing a Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. The recognized tribes would be exempt from the state fishing and hunting licensing fee requirements when such tribe members engage in traditional subsistence or ceremonial activities. Said tribes members shall be issued at no cost a lifetime hunting and fishing license. And that such tribe members would not be subject to harassment, legal action, regulation or any penalty for engaging in any activity conducted in accordance with the provisions of such sections or any other agreement or authorization entered into pursuant to such sections of the proposed bill.

The iconic quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm that highlights the hypocrisy of power structures is: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.