CT NOFA > Programs > Advocacy and Policy

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

A Clean and Healthy Environment for Everyone

Pass the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment, which would put the individual right to clean and healthy air, water, soil, ecosystems, environment, and a safe and stable climate into the Declaration of Rights in the Connecticut State Constitution, to be protected on the same level as other fundamental human rights.
Protect Public Act 24-59, passed last in Connecticut last session, from being weakened. PA 24-59 bans the toxic group of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from a broad range of consumer goods and bans the use of biosolids or sewage sludge (which often contain PFAS and other contaminants) as a soil amendment.

Organic Farming, Gardening, and Land Care

Funding for Rapid Agricultural Disaster Assistance

Land Access and Opportunity for New and Beginning Farmers

Modify Farmland Protection programs to make preserved farmland more accessible to new and beginning farmers:
- Protect smaller parcels.
- Provide for appropriate housing and farm buildings on protected land.
- Establish an urban agriculture easement program to preserve urban farmland.
Support and fund a permanent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to make farmland, credit, grants, and other programs more accessible to farmers of color.
Decrease the match required on grants from the Department of Agriculture for farmers from historically underserved groups.

Fresh, Healthy, and Locally Grown Food for All

Expand support for CT Grown for CT Kids Grants Program and the CT Local Food for Schools Incentive Program.
Expand the capacity of school food service centers and schools to prepare locally grown food from scratch.
Explore Good Food Purchasing Programs for early childhood centers, schools, municipal and state government agencies, hospitals, senior living centers, and other institutions.
Support the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program and prepare to fill any gaps in SNAP or other nutrition programs, should they be cut by the Federal administration.

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

Support the CT Environmental Rights Amendment Public Hearing

March 1, 2026

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!

Town Halls Across Connecticut Rally Support for Environmental Rights Amendment

February 13, 2026

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

Support Staff for the Farmland Access Grant Program

February 12, 2026

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.

National Leader of the Movement for Green Amendments Speaking at Public Town Halls Across Connecticut on the CT Environmental Rights Amendment

January 23, 2026

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.

November Advocacy News

November 18, 2025

Much happened for CT NOFA advocacy on the state level last week, including a strategy session for the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment, the annual meeting of the Working Lands Alliance with the Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture, and a special session of the Connecticut General Assembly.

A More Organic Future for Connecticut Starts with You

November 4, 2025

Earlier this year, CT NOFA faced a critical funding crossroads. Well into our budgeted programming for the year, we faced sudden and substantial cuts to federally funded programming that constituted the majority of our work for 2025. But then, something moving happened.

SNAP News: Information, Resources, and Actions

November 3, 2025

Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to stop blocking the funding of SNAP using emergency funds. The Trump administration has agreed to partially fund SNAP benefits. It is not clear how much SNAP beneficiaries will receive or how long it will take to load the partial benefits onto their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards.

We Are on the Verge of a Hunger Crisis

October 27, 2025

If the Federal government shutdown continues, on November 1 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will halt for the 10% of Connecticut residents who rely on it. SNAP serves about 360,000 people in our state.