February 14, 2025

Dear Friends, 

We would like to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day from Friends of Connecticut Sportsmen! Your love of all things sportsmen-related is what keeps our community going, and we cannot thank you all enough for your support!

REMINDER: The deadline for a bill to be raised for the Environment Committee is Wednesday, February 19th, and the JF deadline is March 31!

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee held a Committee Meeting on Monday, February 10th, at 10 am. 

• See the hearing agenda HERE
• Watch the full hearing on demand at the Committee's YouTube channel HERE
• For real-time updates, Subscribe to the Environment Committee HERE

The following are bills of interest that were raised at this week's meeting: 

• SB 73 AN ACT TRANSFERRING OVERSIGHT OF FARMING ON STATE-OWNED LAND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
• SB 75 AN ACT REQUIRING THE EXPEDITING OF PERMITS FOR THE REMEDIATION OF HYDRILLA IN LAKES ACROSS THE STATE.
• SB 641 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A BOAT WASHING STATION AT GARDNER LAKE IN THE TOWN OF SALEM.
• HB 5134 AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RABBIT PROCESSING IN THE STATE.
• HB 5388 AN ACT CONCERNING NATURAL FISHING, HUNTING AND AQUACULTURE RIGHTS OF CERTAIN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.
• HB  6236 AN ACT PROHIBITING WATERFOWL AND BIRD HUNTING IN SECTIONS OF THE MORRIS COVE AREA OF NEW HAVEN.
• HB 6248 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON FISHING FOR STRIPED BASS IN THE LOWER HOUSATONIC RIVER.
• HB 6249 AN ACT LIMITING APPEALS UNDER THE CONNECTICUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT.
• HB 6250 AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEVELS OF STAFFING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OFFICERS.

Environment Committee - Public Hearing 2/19

• The Environment Committee will hold a Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 19, at 10 am, followed by a Public Hearing at 12 pm.
• An official agenda for the Committee Meeting has not been posted yet. However, you can click HERE to see when it has been uploaded.
• The agenda for the Public hearing can be found HERE

Bills of interest: 

• SB 62 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE OF A NEW PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DOCK WHEN THE FORMER PERMIT HAS EXPIRED.
• SB 72 AN ACT REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S EVICTION OF FARMERS CONDUCTING FARMING ON STATE-OWNED PROPERTY.
• SB 1282 AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM QUARANTINE FOR CERTAIN DOGS AND CATS EXPOSED TO RABIES.

If you wish to speak at the public hearing on Wednesday, you can click HERE to register via Zoom. It may also be helpful to review this Guide for Testifying at Public Hearings and Reaching State Legislators.

*Please keep in mind that each speaker is limited to three minutes of speaking time. We encourage you to bring notes to help keep you on track and to speak from your own unique perspective!

If you simply wish to submit written testimony, you can click HERE and follow the steps below: 

1. Type in your first name, then your last name
2. From the drop-down menu, select the hearing date: 2/19/2025 at 12:00 pm
3. Click either "supports" or "opposes," depending on the bills you wish to testify for.
4. From the drop-down menu, select the bill (or bills) you wish to testify.
5. Click on "type in my testimony."
6. In the text box that appears below, type your testimony either supporting or opposing your chosen bill(s). 
7. Click the box "I am not a Robot."
8. Click on "Submit Testimony"

If you just want to watch the hearing, the Environment Committee will be streaming it live on their YouTube channel HERE!

Club Presidents Meeting 2/18 & 2/20

Friends of Connecticut Sportsmen are having a president meeting with other clubs and organizations relating to sportsmen's activities on February 18th and 20th!

If you are a president or are interested in attending to represent an organization or club you are a part of, please RSVP for one of the dates HERE. 

*You do NOT need to sign up for both dates!*

Endorsements of Robert Boris and Jason Perillo

Friends of Connecticut Sportsmen proudly endorsed Robert Boris (R-Groton) for the 40th House Seat and Jason Perillo (R-Shelton) for the 21st Senate Seat in a special election being held on Tuesday, February 25th. 

View Mr. Boris’s letter of endorsement HERE

View Representative Perillo’s letter of endorsement HERE

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

Visit the Friends of CT Website and Instagram!

Looking for more information about Friends of CT Sportsmen? Want to learn more about how to get involved with local sportsmen? Scan the QR code below to follow us on Instagram! you can also visit our website, friendsofctsportsmen.com! We update our pages weekly to keep YOU informed in real-time so you never miss an update. 

Have content you'd like to see on our page? Direct Message, or fill out the content recommendation form in our bio to submit or recommend any new content you would like us to share!

If you have any questions or concerns, Email us at Friendsofctsportsmen@gmail.com!

Hunting in the News

• Time for a bear hunt in Connecticut? They entered 68 homes last year.
• The Humane Society of the United States Changes its name to Humane World For Animals.
• Experts weigh in on Avian Bird flu risks in CT

Resources

• Bill Search 
• Committee deadline schedules for 2025 
• Environment Committee homepage
• Environment Committee calendar
• *NEW* Subscribe to the Environment Committee