Advocacy and Policy
CT NOFA'S POLICY VISION
CT NOFA envisions and advocates for state policies and legislation that moves Connecticut toward the following:
- A clean and healthy environment for everyone, regardless of where they live, with special emphasis on protecting vulnerable people and communities
- Organic farming, gardening, and land care to protect human and environmental health, and as essential solutions to our climate and biodiversity crises
- Funding for rapid agricultural disaster assistance in the face of the changing climate
- Land access and opportunity for new and beginning farmers, centering racial justice
- Fresh, healthy, and locally grown food available to everyone, regardless of income, and across the life cycle, from childhood to old age
- Support for Connecticut’s unique agriculture, with smaller and more diversified farms compared to other regions of the country
CT NOFA'S POLICY PRIORITIES
Advocacy & policy events and trainings
No events currently scheduled
MAYA VAN ROSSUM - GREEN AMENDMENTS FOR THE GENERATIONS
CT NOFA was honored to host Maya van Rossum, founder of the Green Amendments for the Generations movement, at our 2024 Winter Conference.
Green Amendments For the Generations is a grassroots non-profit organization inspiring a nationwide movement to secure constitutional recognition and protection of environmental rights in every state and ultimately at the federal level. Van Rossum is also the Delaware Riverkeeper, leading the watershed based advocacy organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, for over 30 years in its efforts to protect the health of the Delaware River and its tributaries.
A skilled activist, attorney, strategist, and community organizer, she has testified multiple times, by invitation, before US Congressional Committees; was named among Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 in 2019 and one of the “10 Most Influential People of 2015” When It Comes to Energy Issues by SNL Energy; is the recipient of the 2022 PA Interfaith Power & Light Visionary Award, the 2020 River Hero by River Network, and the Giraffe Hero award, given to those who have the courage to stick their necks out for the common good.
Advocacy and Policy Updates
Advocacy News: May 2026
The Good News: CT Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill (bipartisan and bicameral) to increase funding for Agricultural Management Assistance to $30 million and to expand the eligible uses for these funds to include “soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.” Let’s thank Senator Murphy for introducing this bill!
The Bad News: The Farm Bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, despite 320 food, farm, and conservation organizations, including CT NOFA, voicing our opposition to a bill that does not fix SNAP, does not support new and beginning farmers, and does not adequately support conservation programs or organic agriculture. Now it goes to the Senate and we need to urge both of Connecticut's Senators to reject this Farm Bill.
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Our Vision for a Future of Resilient, Plentiful, Healthy and Locally-Grounded Farming and Food
In concluding its annual retreat, the Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council (NOFA IC) reaffirms the values that have grounded our work for 55 years.
Our vision is that every person is able to live their life with healthy food, clean water and air, community, livelihood, dignity, and purpose within the means of our life-giving planet. We seek that vision on every level, from our households and farms to our communities, states, bioregions, nation, and world. For that vision to be fulfilled, every person, no matter their origin or circumstances, must have all their basic human needs met without degrading the air, water, soil, ecosystems, and climate which we have been given and on which we depend for our lives.
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Advocacy Action Alert: Tell Your Representatives to Vote NO on the 2026 Farm Bill
The Farm Bill will get a vote in the House of Representatives this week. It is a terrible bill, and we need to put on all the pressure we can to stop it.
Seven years into what is supposed to be a five year process, the House Farm, Food, and National Security Act favors Big Ag, and not family farms in countless ways. Of specific interest to CT NOFA are pesticide industry provisions that would strip states and cities of their power to regulate certain pesticides and would shield the manufacturers from liability.
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Connecticut Legislative Committee Passes Constitutional Environmental Rights Proposal
On March 20, 2026, the Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) voted overwhelmingly (13 yeas; 6 nays) to advance the resolution to put the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment (CTERA) on the ballot. Proposed as SJ 37, the amendment would be added to the state constitution’s Bill of Rights and recognize the right of all the people of Connecticut to clean and healthy water and air, soils, ecosystems, environment and a stable climate.
Read More Support the CT Environmental Rights Amendment Public Hearing
This is the time to make your voice heard at the CT General Assembly in support of the CT Environmental Rights Amendment! The public hearing is when the legislators are most likely to be listening to and reading what you have to say, and then what you say goes into the public record!
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Town Halls Across Connecticut Rally Support for Environmental Rights Amendment
Representatives Matt Blumenthal and Gregory Haddad, Senator Mae Flexer, Community Members, and Activists Call for the state legislature to pass an Environmental Rights Amendment during the 2026 Legislative Session
Read More Support Staff for the Farmland Access Grant Program
On February 20, the Connecticut Appropriations Committee will hold their public hearing on Department of Agriculture funding appropriations. In the previous legislative session, they passed the Farmland Access Grant Program, which aims to help farmers overcome barriers to accessing land and create viable pathways for farm succession. However, there is currently no funding for staff to administer this program, which would effectively render the program non-operational. We urge concerned constituents to contact their state legislators - especially those who legislators also sit on the Appropriations Committee - and ask them to provide funding for these critical staff positions.
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National Leader of the Movement for Green Amendments Speaking at Public Town Halls Across Connecticut on the CT Environmental Rights Amendment
Maya van Rossum, founder and leader of the national movement for Green Amendments to state constitutions across the United States and Delaware Riverkeeper, will be speaking in a series of public town hall events across Connecticut. All of these events are free and open to the public. Light food and refreshments will be provided. Photo identification will be required to enter the Stamford Government Center. Key legislators from each part of the state are invited.
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