2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
CVA has identified four priority issues for the 2026 legislative session. In addition to these issues, CVA is prepared to advocate for animals in other important areas including ending the practice of cat declawing, banning leg-hold traps, stopping wildlife trafficking, disrupting the puppy mill to pet store pipeline, and more.
Ban Poisons
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAR's) and neonicotinoids are commonly used commercial poisons that are extremely dangerous to both animal and human health. During the 2025 legislative session, lax laws were passed that will continue to allow the application of both these poisons.
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SGAR’s were reclassified to ‘restricted use’ which continues to allow the hundreds of licensed applicators across the state to use them.
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Neonicotinoids were explicitly permitted to be used on shrubs and bushes–areas that are vital to insects.
The danger is not in who applies the poison or where it is applied, but the poison itself. Building off of these small gains, CVA will be advocating for a statewide ban on these deadly poisons to ensure meaningful protections for our wildlife and environment.
View Connecticut for Animals Education Fund's fact sheets
Address Animal Cruelty
When CVA surveyed Connecticut residents asking them what the most pressing issue facing animals in the state is, their answer was overwhelmingly animal cruelty. There has been a concerning increase in reported animal cruelty cases in recent years, increasing roughly 37% from 2023 to 2024. These two factors make it abundantly clear that something must be done to help protect animals from cruelty and neglect.
CVA is prepared to advocate on multiple fronts to address animal cruelty, including, but not limited to:
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Preventing the use of accelerated rehabilitation in animal cruelty cases.
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Expanding the species of animals protected by Desmond’s Law.
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Creating animal abuse educational programs for a variety of stakeholders.
View Connecticut for Animals Education Fund's fact sheets
Oppose Bear Hunting Legalization
Proponents for legalizing bear hunting wrongly assume that by killing bears, human-bear conflicts would decrease, when in reality, all studies on the subject conclude that hunting would only serve to increase the amount of conflicts. Additionally, killing bears residing in their natural habitat would do nothing to curb the amount of bears entering human habitations since it is the same bears that routinely enter these spaces.
An unfortunate outcome of the 2025 legislative session was the legalization of Sunday hunting. In light of this, CVA is poised to strongly advocate against bear hunting and instead, support non-lethal solutions like public education programs that detail the true root cause of human-bear conflicts: unsecured human food waste.
View Connecticut for Animals Education Fund's fact sheets
Prevent Rabbit Farming Expansion
What’s the difference between a rabbit raised on a farm and a rabbit living in someone’s home? Nothing. The people of Connecticut made their voices heard in 2025 thanks to unprecedented levels of advocacy. 561 testimonies were submitted in opposition to the rabbit farming expansion bill compared to just 7 submitted in support. We want to continue to build off of this incredible momentum by working with grassroots supporters and legislators alike to once again kill this bill before it can be voted on to ensure that rabbits are not subjected to inhumane, barbaric slaughtering practices.
View Connecticut for Animals Education Fund's fact sheets
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How CT Votes for Animals Determine's Its Legislative Priorities
Each legislative session, CVA's Board of Directors undertakes the challenging task of determining which issues affecting animals will become the organization’s legislative priorities. While there are hundreds of pressing issues, we must narrow our focus to remain politically effective.
The Decision-Making Process
Many people ask how we decide which issues to prioritize. To make these decisions, we carefully consider a number of variables:
History and Momentum
Is this an issue we have been working on for years? Creating new legislation often requires persistence over multiple sessions. Each year, we may achieve incremental “wins,” but achieving full legislative change can take time. For example, in 2025, second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) were changed from ‘general use’ to ‘restricted use’ products. This slight change is a step in the right direction toward an outright ban. In order to achieve this goal, continued advocacy is essential.
Political Climate
What is the current environment at the state level? The budget, for instance, creates challenges for bills that require funding. In a time of fiscal constraints, any bill with a fiscal note has a much harder time moving forward. Shifts in the political landscape greatly influence our ability to advance our priorities.
Legislator Support
Which issues have backing from lawmakers? Each session, we engage with legislators who champion animal welfare and others who may have opposing views. Since all bills rely on legislative sponsors to progress (or risk being stalled), these conversations play a crucial role in shaping our agenda.
Member Expectations
What do our members expect from us? Beyond political feasibility, we aim to address issues that resonate broadly with our supporters. Their passion and advocacy are the backbone of our work.
Remaining Flexible
While we focus on long-term priorities, we also recognize the need to remain agile. Each legislative session brings unexpected bills that could significantly impact animal welfare. This year, as we continue to advocate for our established priorities, we are equally committed to responding swiftly to emerging threats and opportunities.Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint, and our success depends on strategic focus and unwavering commitment. By balancing persistence, political pragmatism, and responsiveness, CT Votes for Animals ensures we’re fighting for the most impactful changes in animal welfare. We invite you to stay informed and engaged—together, we can make Connecticut a better place for all animals.
Every voice creates a lasting impact. Thank you for joining us in shaping a future where all animals can line in peace under the protection of strong laws.
Take a look at previous year's policy agenda, testimonies, and more.