Hartford, CT— Connecticut’s legislative session begins today and runs through June 7. This year’s “long session,” in which a biennial budget will be crafted, returns to a level of in-person public access not seen since before the pandemic. While committee hearings are likely to continue to offer opportunities for virtual testimony, the Capitol and the Legislative Office Building are open to the public again, offering a much-anticipated opportunity to reconnect with elected officials in person and advocate deeply for the environmental issues that matter most.
“We have a robust and ambitious agenda this session that covers our most urgent environmental concerns,” said Denise Stranko, vice president of programs for Save the Sound. “We’re looking forward to working with state leaders on legislation that moves us closer to clean water and air and a more resilient Connecticut for all those who live and work in the Long Island Sound region.”
Climate and Energy
- Update the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) to reflect the urgency of the Climate Crisis by: requiring state agencies and regulatory bodies to evaluate climate impacts of their actions and mitigate adverse impacts; establishing regulatory authority for state agencies to develop programs and adopt regulations to address climate change; and clarifying the ability of citizens to enforce the GWSA
- Create more efficient, lower-emission buildings and improve transparency by adopting energy labeling, and establish an all-electric standard for new construction
- Accelerate increased deployment of electric vehicles and clean transportation options
Healthy Waters
- Reduce plastic waste, including polystyrene, to protect Long Island Sound wildlife
- Strengthen protections against toxins that harm human health and the ecosystem, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminants
- Protect the buffers along our rivers and streams that filter water and foster wildlife
Defending Laws, Lands, and Lives
- Defend CT’s environmental laws from rollbacks
- Strengthen CT’s Environmental Justice Law by bolstering the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) ability to reject permits in state-identified environmental justice communities, increase meaningful public notice and participation, and expand the definition of environmental justice
- Support equitable communities through sound zoning and transportation policy
- Increase public participation in state land conveyance processes
- Safeguard lands that provide wildlife habitat, water filtration, and recreation
Environmental Budget
- Clean our Sound and rivers, create jobs, and help municipalities and local stormwater authorities through robust biennial funding for environmental programs and the CT Clean Water Fund
- Increase resources for DEEP to keep enforcement strong and our parks healthy and accessible
- Leverage federal funding to improve community resilience, increase energy efficiency investment, preserve and restore wildlife habitat, and improve water quality
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Download our 2023 Connecticut legislative agenda, updated 1/4/23