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SB 72

AN ACT REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S EVICTION OF FARMERS CONDUCTING FARMING ON STATE-OWNED PROPERTY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stephen Harding

Bill requires Connecticut legislature to approve DEEP's eviction of farmers from state property, shifting authority from executive agency to legislative oversight.

PUBLIC HEARING 0219
#agriculture #energyandenvironmentalprotection #departmentof #eviction #stateland
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Bill Summary · SB 72

Legislative bill overview

SB 72 would require the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to obtain legislative approval before evicting farmers who are conducting agricultural operations on state-owned property. Currently, DEEP appears to have unilateral authority to remove farmers from state lands. This bill transfers that eviction power from the executive branch to require legislative action.

Why is this important

This addresses a practical tension between land management and agricultural preservation. Farmers operating on state property could face sudden removal without legislative input, potentially affecting local food production and farming livelihoods. The bill represents a broader question about whether agricultural access to public lands warrants legislative oversight rather than agency discretion alone.

Potential points of contention

  • Executive authority vs. legislative micromanagement: DEEP may argue that requiring legislative approval for routine land management decisions hampers effective property administration and creates bureaucratic delays for legitimate land-use changes
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't clearly define what constitutes "farming," how long farmers can operate before eviction consideration, or what circumstances would justify removal—leaving questions about whether this protects long-term arrangements or creates indefinite farming rights
  • Fiscal and environmental concerns: DEEP might contend that some state lands serve conservation or public access purposes incompatible with farming, and that legislative approval requirements could prevent necessary environmental management or property disposition

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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