Fwd: SB 9 passes. It's not perfect but it is way, way better than nothing.

[Al Gatti]

Good Morning - Here is the update on SB9 from Connecticut Audubon.  Thank you for supporting this initiative. 

Al Gatti

Begin forwarded message:

From: Joyce Leiz & Tom Andersen/CTAudubon <tand...@ctaudubon.org>

Subject: SB 9 passes. It's not perfect but it is way, way better than nothing.

Date: May 16, 2025 at 2:19:55 PM EDT

To: alga...@gmail.com

Reply-To: tand...@ctaudubon.org

SB 9 passes in the Senate. Even with a weakened neonics provision, it sets a course for the State to ban neonics on 300,000 acres. May 16, 2025 Dear Alfred, We're disappointed — but there are enough bright sides to the SB 9 vote yesterday that we're not discouraged. True, the version of SB 9 that the State Senate passed (28-8) excluded trees and shrubs from its neonics ban. But SB 9 is far from a disaster.  The bill has many important provisions regarding climate change. It restricts the use of rodenticides that are killing hawks and other birds of prey. Significantly, a proposal to allow the use of pesticides on school grounds never even made it into draft form. Those are important gains. We are proud to be working with you and with Connecticut Pesticide Reform to help achieve them. And although SB 9 excludes trees and shrubs, it bans the use of neonics on approximately 300,000 acres in Connecticut.  That's the amount of turf grass in the state. A neonics turf-grass ban of that size will help protect birds, butterflies, and pollinators. And of course no one is obligated to use neonics, so we hope you will join us in generally discouraging their use. You deserve credit and thanks for sticking with the issue for as long as you have, and for speaking out. Thank you! But to quote the philosopher: It ain't over til it's over. SB 9 now moves to the House (although it's not clear when). Assuming it passes, it will go to the Governor's desk. We probably will call on you again for both of those. For now, consider this a victory for Connecticut's birds. Not a perfect victory but a pretty good one. Thank you sincerely.  Joyce Leiz Executive Director Tom Andersen Communications Director The Connecticut Audubon Society P.S. On the topic of Connecticut's birds, the past couple of days have been amazing for bird migration. We're halfway through our annual Migration Magic bird celebration. Five of our best young birders will doing a Big Day on Monday — scouring the state to raise money for conservation, including advocacy like the neonics work.  Their goal is to see 170 species and raise $10,000. Please consider making a donation! Thank you! Contribute to the Big Day team HERE!

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