February 16, 2024
REVISED LINK
Sportsmen's Capitol Update
Dear Friends:

The 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly began on February 7th. The session lasts until May 8th this year, meaning this is a "short session" with a theoretically slimmer book of business given the compressed timeframe. While most bills don't yet have specific language, so far the concept of an Ammo Tax was filed. There have been two Environment Committee meetings to raise bill "concepts," meaning general subject matter topics.

HERE is a bill report and, as you will see, there is not much detail available yet.
Ammo Tax
Representative Jillian Gilchrist, Senator Marilyn Moore and others filed a Proposed Bill to institute an ammo tax, with revenues to be used to fund grants for gun violence intervention and prevention programs and services. No tax rate was indicated in the proposed bill.

HERE is the bill.

The Finance Committee has the power to stop the bill now. Please click on the button below to send an online message to your legislators, asking them to help and Say NO to the Ammo Tax!
Environment Committee
The Environment Committee met twice so far to raise concepts for bills to be drafted, see below. There are not anticipated to be significant wildlife-related bills heard this year.

Once drafted and given a number, the bills will be published (and shared with you). The Committee will then announce a date and time for public hearing.

The Committee deadline to raise concepts is next Friday, February 23rd.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Environment Committee Meeting

  1. AAC THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES 
  2. AAC THE PURCHASE OF CERTAIN LANDS AT AGRICULTURAL VALUE 
  3. AAC DAM SAFETY
  4. AAC THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EEL GRASS WORKING GROUP 
  5. AAC TERRAMATION
  6. AAC THE USE OF NEONICOTINOIDS
  7. AAC THE SALE OF CERTAIN BALLOONS
  8. AAC THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  9. AAC THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE FARMINGTON RIVER VALLEY 
  10. AAC THE TAKING OF MUNICIPAL PARK LANDS BY MUNICIPALITIES
Friday, February 9, 2024
Environment Committee Meeting

  1. AAC MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF NIPS
  2. AA ESTABLISHING A BATTERY EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
  3. AAC THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BATTERSON PARK
  4. AAC SMOKE DETECTORS IN THE SOLID WASTE STREAM
  5. AAC THE SAFETY CAPACITY AT GARDNER LAKE
  6. AAC MINOR REVISIONS TO AGRICULTURE RELATED STATUTES
  7. AAC CERTAIN FARMING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
  8. AAC THE DIVERSION OF FOOD SCRAPS AND THE REDEMPTION OF OUT OF STATE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
  9. AAC THE AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN BUTCHER OPERATIONS WITHIN THE STATE
  10. AAC THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS AND REVISION OF
  11. CERTAIN INLAND WETLANDS PROVISIONS
  12. AAC THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INVASIVE PLANTS COUNCIL
  13. AAC THE PROTECTION OF SPINY DOGFISH
  14. AAC THE MARKING OF COSTAL JURISDICTION LINES
  15. AA REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF THE EVICTION OF FARMERS OPERATING ON CERTAIN STATE-OWNED PROPERTY
  16. AAC STANDARDS FOR THE SPRAYING OF HERBICIDES ALONG RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAYS
  17. AAC LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL
  18. AA EXAMINING THE VIABILITY OF AN EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM FOR SOLAR PANELS
  19. AA ESTABLISHING A NO-WAKE-ZONE ON THE PAWCATUCK RIVER
  20. AAC THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OVER VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
  21. AAC THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN LIENS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  22. AAC THE USE OF OUTDOOR WOODBURNING FURNACES ON CERTAIN NON-ATTAINMENT DAYS
  23. AAC THE USE OF CERTAIN RODENTICIDES
  24. AAC THE HARVESTING OF RABBITS FOR THE LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY AAC THE USE OF PFAS IN CERTAIN PRODUCTS
BIG NEWS
On Friday, February 15th, it was announced that tireless advocate for sportsmen in the Legislature, Senator Stephen Harding - 30th District, Bethlehem, Brookfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Fairfield, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Torrington, Warren, Washington, Winchester - was voted by his caucus to be the Minority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate.

Please take the time to read Senator Harding's statement on his new role HERE and when you see Steve, take the time to congratulate him!
Sportsmen's Caucus
The Sportsmen's Caucus met on Wednesday, February 14th at the Legislative Office Building. The meeting consisted largely of introductions, with the first in person meeting in years. Co Chair Senator Cathy Osten presented a new Office of Legislative Research Report on the various hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, and other credentials available to Connecticut residents and the associated fees for each under state law.

You can view the OLR Report HERE.
Upcoming Events
CCDL 15th Anniversary Dinner
March 23, 2024
The Woodwinds
29 Schoolground Road, Branford

Tickets $65.00 per person

Click on the photo for more information and to purchase tickets.
Safari Club Annual Fundraiser
April 6th
Grand Oak Villa

Contact Bob Ballas
(203) 948-3234
Buck100@aol.com
New Haven Raccoon Club

February 24, 2024
853 New Haven Road, Durham

Only a few Tickets left!
Contact Walt at (203) 376-2338

If you can't make it, consider a donation to help fund Grant v Lamont litigation
Animal "Advocacy" Caucus
The Animal Advocacy Caucus had a news conference announcing its intention to raise a bill on "Wildlife Trafficking" in Connecticut. You can watch the news briefing HERE

In an undercover investigation into illegal ivory being sold in CT, HSUS found 160 items expected to be ivory. Federal law prohibits sales of ivory across state lines. The HSUS argued that its "sting" results indicate that in-state sales of ivory are happening. HSUS claims there is a global poaching crisis and CT needs to close the gap for in-state sales.

You can access more info about the Humane Society investigation HERE.