Action Alert: Increase Funding for the Community Investment Act and Farm Bill

Ask Your Legislators to Support S.B. 1522 – Increase Funding for the Community Investment Act and S.B. 1497 – Farm Bill

Now is the time for action! The following important agricultural bills are currently before the CT General Assembly, but the session is closing soon.

 S.B. 1522 would increase funding for the Community Investment Act (CIA). S.B. 1497, along with the amendment filed as LCO #7446, would create a “Farm Bill” in Connecticut with several important provisions for farmland access and preservation. Both are awaiting a vote in the Senate. 

This year is the 20-year anniversary of the CIA’s founding. Since its inception, CIA has contributed to a variety of benefits to Connecticut’s agricultural producers and other working lands initiatives. Through CIA funds, there has been over $150 million invested in 1,500+ projects throughout the state in four sectors including:

• Land conservation and urban greenspaces;
• Farmland preservation and dairy production;
• Historic property preservation; and
• Affordable housing.

The Farm Bill amendment to S.B. 1497 includes provisions that will:

• Create a farm investment property acquisition tax credit.
• Change the assessed value of farm machinery for tax purposes.
• Allow for regulations to be adopted regarding the use of drones to apply fertilizers and pesticides by certain individuals.
• Prevent hoop houses from being classified as permanent structures.
• Establish the Farmers’ Crop Loss Reimbursement Program.
• Include the provisions from the agritourism bill (HB 6241).
• Include various aquaculture provisions.
• Establish a Manure Management Grant Program.
• Appropriate $1 million for the CT Grown for CT Kids Program.
• Appropriate $2 million for the purchase and operation of shipping container farms.
• Appropriate $5.6 million for the local food for schools incentive program.
• Appropriate $3.7 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

How to Take Action

Ask your state legislators to urge their colleagues to request a Senate vote on S.B. 1522 and S.B. 1497!

Step 1 – Find Your Legislators 

Enter your street address into this form to look up your State Senator and State Representative.

Step 2 – Email Your Legislators 

Ask your legislators to urge their colleagues to support both S.B. 1522 and S.B. 1497. Your legislator’s email address is formatted as Firstname.Lastname@cga.ct.gov. You can use the template provided below!

Bill Support Email Template

Subject: Please support S.B. 1522 and S.B. 1497!

Dear [Sen./Rep. NAME],

I am writing to ask for your strong support for Senate Bill No. 1522, An Act Renaming the Community Investment Account the Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account and Increasing Funding for Said Account and Senate Bill No. 1497 (With the Farm Bill Amendment), An Act Concerning Programming at the Department of Agriculture.

Established in 2005, the Community Investment Account (CIA) has been a dedicated and consistent source of revenue for crucial state programs benefiting every municipality in Connecticut. Funded by recording fees, it supports land conservation and urban green spaces, farmland preservation and dairy sustainability, historic property preservation, and affordable housing projects. 

A small increase in this recording fee will allow this proven and successful program to continue and expand its positive impact on our communities and the environment. 

Additionally, the Farm Bill amendment to S.B. 1497 will make several important changes that will benefit farmers, not the least of which is the creation of the Farmers’ Crop Loss Reimbursement Program which would assist farmers who suffer weather-related losses.

Please urge your colleagues to call both S.B. 1522 and S.B. 1497 for a vote in the Senate.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

[Your Name], [Organization and service area, if applicable], Municipality