April 2024 Legislative Update
With just a few more weeks remaining in the 2024 legislative session there's still a lot of work to do. CVA’s top priority bill to ban the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (HB 5217), died in the Appropriations Committee, but all hope is not lost. New language has been filed as an amendment to a bill on herbicides (HB 5219) which contains the necessary language addressing rodenticides and needs your active support. Please contact your State Rep. and ask them to VOTE YES on HB 5219!
Second-generation rodenticides (SGARs) are powerful poisons that stay in tissues and organs of rodents for months, making it easy for predators that naturally eat rodents – such as owls, eagles, and hawks -- to get a lethal dose of toxins. In this way, the use of SGARs is counterproductive to rodent control by poisoning, harming, and killing the very animals that naturally regulate rodent populations throughout Connecticut.
Tragically, unintentional secondary poisonings from SGARs are increasing at an alarming rate and victims include wildlife, pets, and children. Anticoagulant rodenticide poisons work by preventing blood from clotting. The second-generation class was created to be more toxic and last longer than the first-generation class. SGARS not only kill raptors, foxes, raccoons, coyotes and more, but they also weaken and sicken them too, making them vulnerable to other causes of death such as car accidents.
Another CVA's priority is blocking passage of a bill permitting the harvesting of rabbits for the local food supply (SB 196). This measure, proposed by the State Department of Agriculture and passed by the House, would facilitate the slaughter of rabbits for food consumption in the state. The bill is awaiting action in the Senate, so please contact your State Senator to ask them to VOTE NO on SB 196!
Regarding the rabbit farming bill, the USDA does not include rabbits in its definition of livestock; therefore, they are not protected by their laws and regulations. The dual categorization of rabbits as both companion animals and animals raised for food leaves rabbits raised for meat unprotected and the industry unregulated. With little oversight, rabbits raised for slaughter are unlikely to receive any humane treatment.
On the “good news” front are: (1) the bill banning dog racing in Connecticut (SB 132), which passed the senate and is awaiting final action in the House; (2) the bill which bans shark finning (HB 5224), which was also passed by the House and is awaiting action in the Senate; and (3) language which would have changed the definition of "animal” — and disastrously removed existing protections from certain animals — was removed from a Department of Agriculture proposal (HB 5223).
Unfortunately, some bills protecting animals died in committee including a bill restricting the use of Neonicotinoids (SB 190) and a bill on the sale of certain balloons (SB 291). We are hopeful that we can make better progress on these concepts next year. We will also be keeping our eyes open in the remaining weeks for amendments that could hurt our state’s animals to make sure they don’t pass.
So far, your voices have made a huge difference. Please keep up the great work!