January 24, 2025

Dear Friends, 

Some important information learned this week: we were informed that the bills aiming to limit or prohibit trapping are dead, Sunday hunting hearings will happen in the Environment Committee, and there will be bills to address black bears in both the Environment and Public Safety committees.

To see the full bill report for this week ending with January 24th, click the Bill Report button below.

REMINDER: The deadline for a bill to be raised for the Environment Committee is Wednesday, February 19th!

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee held a joint information session with the Energy and Technology Committee this past Wednesday, January 22nd. This informational session was about Municipal solid waste, with DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes being one of the keynote presenters on this issue. If you are interested in watching, you can click this link HERE.

Next Friday, January 31st, at 10 am, the Environment Committee is holding its first public hearings of the session. If you wish to submit testimony for the following bills, you can click this link HERE to visit the Environment Committee's written testimony submission page.

• HB 5012 - AN ACT PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF SHARK FINNING.
• SB 55 - AN ACT REQUIRING THE INCREASING OF THE BOATING SPEED LIMIT ON WYASSUP LAKE IN NORTH STONINGTON DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
• SB 59 - AN ACT REQUIRING A PLAN FOR BENEFICIAL USE DREDGING.
• SB 63 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE MITIGATION OF EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES FROM FUTURE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS.
• SB 313 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SPEED LIMIT FOR LAKE MASHAPAUG IN UNION. 

For more information, refer to this Guide for Testifying at Public Hearings and Reaching State Legislators

The Environment Committee also held a quick meeting today at 10 am, which you can watch HERE, and view the agenda.

Friends of CT Website is now LIVE!

We are so excited to share our NEW Friends of CT Sportsmen website with you all! Our new site features detailed information about our sports, direct links to donations and email signups for capitol updates, as well as an official Friends of CT Sportsmen event calendar!

Click HERE to see it for yourself!

We would also love to hear from YOU! If you have any content recommendations or events you would like us to add to the Calendar, please email us at Friendsofctsportsmen@gmail.com!

Sportsmen's Dinner Tickets

There are still tickets available for the Friends of CT Sportsmen's Dinner and raffle event on March 21st, 2025! This event will be held at the Westbrook Elks Club starting at 5:30 pm!

Ticket prices will be $80/person OR $640/table of 8.

To purchase your tickets and get more information about this event, click HERE

To purchase raffle tickets, and learn more about what you could win, click HERE

Upcoming Events

The No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Program is partnering with the City of Torrington to host the 19th Annual Winter Festival Event! This event will take place at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington on Saturday, February 1st, from 10 am to 3 pm. 

This is an entirely FREE event with a multitude of organizations and activities, including:

• Live animals
• Storytimes 
• Ice fishing demonstrations
• Bonfires with marshmallow roastings
• Furs and pelts
• And MORE! 

This is only the first in a series of events and activities that The No Child Left Inside® Program is hosting this year to celebrate 20 years of NCLI, so keep an eye out for an event near you!

For the full event listing, click HERE

Bird Flu Found in New London

Earlier this week, in a press conference, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of Avian Influenza (H5N1, Bird-flu) in a local flock of family pets in New London, CT. While no human cases have been reported in the state, and the risk of infection in humans remains low, flock owners have been encouraged to enhance biosecurity measures. 

Recommended steps to protect your flock include: 

• Keep wild birds and rodents out of poultry houses and coops.
• Don't let poultry have contact with migratory waterfowl or other wild birds.
• Wash hands and boots before and after entering the poultry area.
• Buy birds from reputable sources to receive healthy birds.
• Restrict traffic onto and off your property.
• Have a written biosecurity plan in place.

To report sick, dead, or unusual birds, contact the CT Department of Agriculture at 860-713-2505 or ctstate.vet@ct.gov or the USDA at 866-536-7593.

Other Resources: 

USDA Defend the Flock - Materials and Checklist

How to Report Dead Birds

Information on Avian Bird Flu in the US

January Environmental Monitor Notice

Click HERE to see the January edition of The Environmental Monitor. 

This contains information and updates concerning notices of proposed transfers of State Land as well as project information under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act.

Resources

• Bill Search 
• Committee deadline schedules for 2025 
• Environment Committee homepage
• Environment Committee calendar