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.

H.B. 5064 - AN ACT CONCERNING AN OPTION TO PURCHASE RESTRICTED AGRICULTURAL LANDS AT AGRICULTURAL VALUE

CT NOFA staff, members, and allies testified in Hartford in support of H.B. 5064, An Act Concerning an Option to Purchase Restricted Agricultural Lands at Agricultural Value.

View the full testimony here, or jump to any of the following testimonies:

Dr. Kim Stoner, CT NOFA Director of Policy and Advocacy
Kaitlyn Kimball, CT NOFA Board Member
Robert Chang, UCONN
Ella Kennen, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance Coordinator
Ellie Agerame, Connecticut farmer
Will O'Meara, Connecticut farmer

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

May Advocacy News

May 7, 2025

Several CT NOFA State Advocacy Priorities Are Ready to Move Forward in the State Senate! Read the full update for important and time critical action items.

CT NOFA Joins National Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Reorganization of Federal Government

May 6, 2025

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA), along with the six other organizations comprising the NOFA Interstate Council (NOFA I.C.) in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, joined a broad lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal government.

Show Support for H.B. 7013 to Ensure Local Food Gets to CT Schools

April 16, 2025

Urge your state legislators to support H.B. 7013, "An Act Concerning Enhancements To The Local Food For Schools Incentive Program and The CT Grown For CT Kids Grant Program," currently under consideration. This bill strengthens our state's local food incentive program and ensures continued funding for farm-to-school initiatives through the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program.

An Update on CT NOFA’s Status Amidst the Federal Funding Freeze

April 1, 2025

In our previous update, we discussed the potential effects of the federal grant funding freeze on CT NOFA’s ability to continue our full slate of programs and services. Although our pledged grant funds continue to be frozen and are without a timeline for resolution, we want to be clear about our position: while some of our programs and communications will become more limited in scope, CT NOFA is not shutting down.

CT NOFA Advocates for Environmental Rights in Hartford

March 18, 2025

CT NOFA Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Kim Stoner, was on hand in Hartford today along with Republican state senator Tony Hwang to discuss the proposed amendment that would enshrine the right to a clean environment into the Connecticut state constitution.

Federal Grant Funding Freeze and the Future of CT NOFA

March 13, 2025

Roughly two-thirds of CT NOFA’s budget for 2025 is tied to federal grant funding, primarily through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Without restoration of these previously pledged grant funds by the federal government or significant growth in grassroots donations and support, CT NOFA will be forced to cease operations and lay off all staff, beginning May 1.

H.B. 5064 Testimony

February 10, 2025

CT NOFA staff, members, and allies testified in Hartford in support of H.B. 5064, An Act Concerning an Option to Purchase Restricted Agricultural Lands at Agricultural Value. View the full…

Farmland Access Action Alert

January 27, 2025

In partnership with American Farmland Trust and the Working Lands Alliance, CT NOFA is urging concerned parties to submit written testimony and/or register to testify to support H.B. 5064, An…