2011 Legislative Recap

Here is the 2011 Legislative Recap from Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation and Conservation Advocate:


Open Space and Forest Conservation Finds Some Success:

HB 6157 – Establishment of a Timber Harvest Revolving Fund

This Bill allows DEP to recoup a portion of the revenues from timber sales on State Forests for reinvestment in forest management.

HB 6557 – Recreational Land Use Act

This Act now provides liability protection to municipalities and political entities, such as water companies,  that open their properties to public recreation.

SB 1242 – Authorization to Bond for Open Space Program

This Bill provides $5 million in each of the next two fiscal years for open space funding in the bond package.

HB 6263 – 10 Mill Program
This bill allows an owner of forest land who is currently enrolled in the “10 Mill Program” to enroll in the Forest Preservation Program without penalty.  What this means is that Connecticut landowners who own more than 14,000 acres of forest and made a 100 year commitment to protect their land will not see a 20-fold increase in their property taxes.