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Legislation/Action Report

CFNews August September 2023

Just a quick list of some Environmental Bills that passed this Session, and some that didn’t:

Passed:

  • Tree removal on Properties controlled by DEEP
  • Restoration of Eel Grass
  • Harvesting of Horseshoe Crabs
  • Limiting nighttime lighting of State-owned buildings at certain times for the protection of birds
  • Managing waste and creating a waste authority
  • Authorizing the establishment of a Seabird and Shorebird Protection Program
  • Authorizing certain killing of Black bears, Prohibiting Bird Feeders and other unintentional feeding

Failed:

  • The use of certain Rodenticides
  • Use of Neonicotinoids
  • Greenhouse Gas emissions
  • Zero carbon emissions
  • Intentional release of certain balloons
  • The State Plan of Conservation and Development
  • Financial Incentives for certain Streamside River buffers

Note on Pesticides: Senate Bill 963, a bill banning of neonicotinoids, and Senate bill 962, which sought to restrict the use of deadly rodenticides, were critical measures for protecting our pollinators and bird populations. The Senate co-chair of the Environmental Committee refused to raise these bills in his chamber, and both failed.

The bill on banning release of helium balloons, but only after removing the fine!  More work needs to be done on this bill. We must continue to press for NO RELEASE.

— Gerri Giordano, FGCCT Legislation Chair

Legislation/Action Report

CFNews June 2023 - July 2023

I have three issues that need your attention.  Please tell your members to notify their legislators and especially the Environmental Committee about the issues:

The Bill banning the release of balloons:  now they want to remove the fine for releasing balloons.  Please tell them we don’t want ANY balloon releases.  This is the time of the year, Graduations, Weddings, Celebrations, that people tend to release balloons.  If you know of any releases, please try to stop them.  You can also call the police because there are laws on the books to prevent them.

Artificial Lighting:  Please tell your members about Light pollution.  It is the easiest pollution to fix.  It confuses migrating birds.  This bill would require the state of Ct. to shut off the lights at all state office buildings between 11 pm and 6 am during spring and fall migrations.  You can help also by dimming or shutting off your lights at night.  Make sure lights are not pointed skyward.  This is especially critical at this time of year.

And again, those little nip bottles.  The 5-cent deposit that is being returned to the towns where the nips are purchased so they can use the money for cleanup is not working.  Please ask your legislators to make them a returnable item and get them off our streets, parking lots, parks, etc.  The current plan IS NOT working, just take a walk!!!

We have to keep up our efforts on these three issues.  Please do your part.

Respectfully submitted,

Gerri Giordano, Legislation Chair

Legislation/Action Reports

CFNews February/March 2023

In the new legislative session, 2023, there is another bill, HB5050, meant to protect birds and other wildlife creatures from a slow and panful death calling for banning the intentional release of even one lighter-than-air balloon.

The existing law limits releases to fewer that 10 per person in one day. Violators may be fined $35 plus fees that bring the total cost per violation to $75. They are talking about increasing the fines. We want them stopped.

Representative Irene Haines, co-sponsored by David Michael, has introduced a bill HB 5050 that would ban ALL releases. HB 5050 is an act Prohibiting the release of Helium balloons. That is section 26-25 of the General Statutes be amended to prohibit release of ANY lighter-than-air balloons.  This bill has been introduced many times and has failed to make it out of committee, partly because some legislators believe it is not enforceable. Businesses that sell balloons and promote balloon releases have stymied the proposal.

Let’s bombard the Environmental Committee with phone calls, emails and letters.  Let them know how we feel for the sake of our wildlife and for our Long Island Sound and waterways.  Please contact the Environmental committee or Irene Haines @: irene.haines@housegop.ct.gov and ask them to pass HB 5050.

I need your help getting this bill passed.  It only takes an email and if we all send one….well…we can only hope it will pass.

Gerri Giordano, FGCCT Legislation/Government Action Chair

Legislation/Action Reports

CFNews - December 2022/January 2023

The following list of Bills and Acts were passed into Connecticut law in October 2022.

  • PA-22-29 HB 5201: An Act concerning public health concerns in the acquisition of water companies. (16 pages)
  • PA 22-143 SB 238: An Act concerning revisions to certain Environment related statutes. (9 pages)
  • PA 22-144 SB241: An Act concerning Boating safety. (1 page)
  • PA22-83 SB116: An Act concerning notification of pesticide applications near lakes and ponds. (1 page)
  • PA22-51 HB5141: An Act concerning the protection of certain Fish species. (1 page)
  • PA22-142 SB 120: An Act concerning the use of Chlorpyrifos on golf courses.
  • SB#00120: Passed to prohibit use of chlorpyrifos on golf courses and for nonagricultural use and to restrict the use of neonicotinoids for nonagricultural use.
  • SB#00241: Boating Laws
  • SB#00004: Reduce carbon emissions
  • PA 21-58 SB 1037: An Act concerning solid waste management. (Will be effective Jan. 1, 2023) (19 pages)

Gerri Giordano, FGCCT Legislation/Government Action Chair