To all CTPA members:
There are two bills that have been proposed in the legislature that CTPA members may be interested in. Public hearings for each of these bills will occur later this week.
The bills are:
HB 5116 – An Act Requiring the Creation of Utility Company Tree Planting Fund. This is in the Energy and Technology Committee. The Public Hearing is Thursday, 2-24.
Text of the Bill
Bill status page
SB 117 – An Act Concerning Tree Removals on Properties Under the Control of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This is in the Environment Committee. The Public Hearing is Friday, 2-25.
Text of the bill
Bill status page
The first bill, HB 5116, pretty much as its title suggests, requires each of the larger electrical distribution utilities to allocate funding for tree planting and to set up a process for distributing that funding to the municipalities in its service territory.
The second bill, SB 117, on tree removals, creates a process similar to that in the tree warden law to apply to Connecticut State Parks and campgrounds. It requires that each State Park have an arborist who is part of every decision to remove a tree in that State Park or campground and that, in non-emergency situations, that the trees to be removed be posted in advance.
Public Hearings will be held on Zoom by the associated Legislative Committee for each bill. They may be viewed as they occur via YouTube Live.
Details on Thursday’s Public Hearing for the Energy and Technology Committee, to include HB 5116, can be found at E&T Public Hearing Agenda. Those who wish to speak must register by Wednesday by 3 pm.
Details on Friday’s Public Hearing for the Environment Committee, to include SB 117, can be found at Environment Public Hearing Agenda.
