Activism & Policy

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!

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.