News

Well done, conservation advocates! The 2025 legislative session ended June 4 with some exciting wins for our conservation policy and funding priorities, thanks to the strong support we had from land trusts, legislative champions, and other critical conservation partners. 

Your steadfast advocacy and engagement with your elected officials throughout the legislative session made the difference. Thank you!

The following is a wrap-up of the 2025 Legislative Session as it relates to CLCC’s 2025 State Conservation Policy and Funding Priorities:

Funding for Land Conservation, Farmland Preservation, and Stewardship Programs

Bond authorizations for conservation programs are renewed for the next two years

• The bond package included $10 million per year in authorizations for the Open Space and Watershed Acquisition program (OSWA), which includes the Urban Green and Community Gardens program  (UGCG), as part of the Biennial Budget. OSWA is the main source of state grant funding to support land acquisition by land trusts, municipalities, and water companies. Also included in the bond package are authorizations of $3MM per year to support the Recreation & Natural Heritage Trust Program, $10MM for the Recreational Trails Program, and a new authorization for $10MM for a new DoAg farmland access program. (HB 7288)

The Community Investment Act receives an increase after nearly 20 years

• We collaborated with advocates from across the state to secure a $10 increase in the recording fee, which supports the Community Investment Account. Twenty-five percent of the funds are allocated to CT DEEP to support the OSWA and UGCG programs. The increase was approved as part of the new Biennial Budget. (HB 7287)

New farmland access program for new and historically marginalized farmers is authorized to continue Connecticut’s farming tradition

• HB 5064, An Act Establishing a Grant Program for Agricultural Preservation and Farmland Access Purposes, was passed overwhelmingly by the General Assembly. It creates a state program to provide conservation tools to encourage and retain agricultural lands for agricultural purposes, supporting new and historically marginalized farmers.

Nature-Based Solutions, Resilience, and Public Lands Protection

Major climate legislation passes, including provisions regarding nature-based solutions

• HB 5004, The Climate Action Bill codifies the use of nature-based solutions (forests, trees, meadows, wetlands, riparian buffers, healthy soils, etc.) as part of the state’s comprehensive climate action strategy.
• SB 9, The Climate Resiliency Bill provides planning tools for municipalities to address climate preparedness and response. The bill includes prioritizing nature-based solutions in municipal resiliency improvement districts. It also bans neonicotinoids on turfgrass and restricts the use of rodenticides to certified professionals.
•  HB 7174 –  Led by Rivers Alliance, The Riparian Area Bill establishes a legislative working group to examine how to better protect riverine buffers across the state, including where and how protection of vegetated riparian buffers can be incorporated into statutes and regulations to improve the health of the state’s rivers and streams. 
• Bills proposing to convey public lands
  • Defeated! Conveyance of a portion of the Mattatuck State Forest in Plymouth (HB 7282)
  • Approved! Transfer to Avalonia Land Conservancy, ~ 47 acres of floodplain land along the Shetucket River, deemed surplus property by DOT (SB 1565).

Additionally of note, CLCC submitted testimony on the following:

• Passage of HB 5013, An Act Adding Certain Plants to the Invasive Plants List, which will strengthen existing regulations surrounding movement of invasive species, while adding a number of invasive species to the Connecticut invasive species list.
• Passage of HB 5916, An Act Requiring Solar Developers to Provide Farmland Restoration Bonds for Both Petition and Application Projects Approved by the Siting Council, which prohibits the Connecticut Siting Council from approving large solar facilities on prime farmland or forest land unless the project provides a decommissioning bond to cover the costs of restoring the land.
• Passage of HB 7174, An Act Concerning Riparian Areas, The defeat of a proposed conveyance of 5 acres of the Mattatuck State Forest from CT DEEP to a private entity for purposes which would undermine state conservation goals. 
• The defeat of HB 6249, An Act Limiting Appeals Under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act, which would have led to rollbacks in environmental protections through weakening of the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). 
• The defeat of HB 7034, An Act Prohibiting the Requirement of a Donation of Land as a Condition of Subdivision Approval, which would have removed the authority for municipalities to require set-asides, compelling developers to donate part of their subdivision for open space, parks, or playgrounds.
• The defeat of Sec. 6 of SB 647, An Act Concerning Protections for Consumer Access to Affordable Electricity, which would have removed environmental regulations surrounding hydropower dams which have adverse ecological impacts on our rivers and waterways. 

Review all of CLCC’s testimony and public comments.

Thank your legislators and Governor Lamont

As of the date of this recap, all but two of the foregoing bills (HB 7174 and SB 9) are awaiting the Governor’s signature. We will advise you if there are any changes.

Please take a moment to review the bills that are important to you and send a message of appreciation to your legislators and Governor Lamont. If you need any assistance in reaching out, please contact Amy at abpaterson@ctconservation.org. 

Thank you for speaking up for the conservation of natural and working lands during this legislative session!