Connecticut State Flower: Mountain Laurel
Updates in 2023:
HJ013/HJ037 [LS/LS] Resolution Proposing An Amendment To The State Constitution To Provide For An Environmental Rights Amendment; includes “individual right to clean and healthy air, water, soil and environment; a stable climate; and self-sustaining ecosystems; for the benefit of public health, safety and the general welfare” – in committee at adjournment
Updates in 2022:
SB243 [LS], An Act Concerning Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices; “(1) Provide technical assistance, (2) distribute grant funding to producers, (3) coordinate training programs, (4) coordinate projects that pilot or demonstrate conservation practices, (5) create tools that help reduce barriers to accessing assistance for conservation practices on farms, (6) establish equipment sharing programs, or (7) other activities that will increase the number of farmers who are implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices”; the climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices includes many soil health practices – reported favorably by committee, became part of state budget HB5506 [LS] – signed by Governor 5/7/2022
Updates in 2021:
SB467, To include soil health as part of soil conservation — rolled into HB6496
HB6496, An Act Concerning Certain Soil-related Initiatives; includes soil health as part of soil conservation — passed 6/5/2021, signed by governor 6/28/2021HB6441, An Act Concerning Climate Change Adaptation; includes definition of “ecosystem services” that includes “supporting services such as soil formation and nutrient cycling”, which should include support for soil health — passed 6/7/2021, signed by governor 7/6/2021
Legislative Information
Date:
Its first public hearing was held on March, 13th, 2019. Did not pass out of committee.
Legislation:
Act H. 6647: An Act Establishing a Regenerative Agriculture Program
Sponsors:
Representative Fred Camillo of the 151st District
Agencies Involved:
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Rule Making Processes:
To be determined
Program Summary
Description:
The Act’s intention is to establish a regenerative agriculture program in the state that will improve soil health, conservation, rainwater absorption, drought resiliency and water quality throughout the state of Connecticut.
Independent healthy soil policy consultant Steven Keleti wrote the initial draft of the CT bill in collaboration with the CT branch of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA) for the 2018 session. Helen Silver helped with legislative research. Jeff Cordulack and Bill Deusing with CT NOFA played a crucial role, particularly in building partner support for the legislation. Lou Burch with Citizens Campaign for the Environment and others also were involved. The bill did not get on the docket for 2018, due to a backlog of bills.
Soil Health Definitions:
As defined by the NRCS Connecticut, “… the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans”
Stated Goals:
To improve soil health, conservation, rainwater absorption, drought resiliency, and water quality in the state.
Program Required Measurements:
To be determined
Tools & Guidance:
To be determined
Funding Sources
Founding Source/s:
To be determined
Funding Type/s:
To be determined
Practices Eligible for Funding:
To be determined
Lessons Learned
- Connecticut has predominantly forested land, and land under private ownership. Reforming lawn care and individual landscaping efforts, towards organic, soil-healthy methods, is therefore a huge goal of all CT advocates.
- A few changes were made, the most significant change being changing “regenerative agriculture” to “healthy soils.”
- As in other Northeast states, the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) was in an excellent position to advocate for healthy soil legislation, as the region’s longstanding lead organization of the organic agricultural movement. Their staff was trained well for the advocacy, and the group has existing capacity to provide soil management assistance to farmers, which can be offered in assistance to the state.
Legislative Committees
House Committee:
Senate Committee:
State Universities & Researchers
University of Connecticut: Land-grant university
Agricultural Organizations & Technical Assistance
N/A
Education & Advocacy Groups
CT Association of Conservation Districts
Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development
CT branch of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA). CT NOFA held the first in a series of Soil Health Field Days across the Northeast.
Helen Silver, JD, of Silver Sustainability strategies assisted with legislative research
Jeff Cordulack and Bill Deusing with CT NOFA played a crucial role, particularly in building partner support for the legislation
Lou Burch with Citizens Campaign for the Environment and others also were involved
Media & Additional Resources
N/A
Last Update: 01/12/2024