Melissa Osborne

One of my priorities is to address your safety when it comes to the ever-growing bear population in Simsbury and other parts of the state. Various legislators proposed a series of bills this year trying to address this concern.

The Environment Committee, where all the proposed bills on this issue are heard, drafted one omnibus bill, SB 1148. It includes parts of many bills. The Simsbury concepts of not feeding wildlife intentionally or unintentionally, that are the cornerstones of my Proposed Bill 5376 on this topic, made their way into SB 1148. 

However, this bill also permits farmers to use lethal methods to protect their crops from nuisance wildlife. It also gives a green light to a limited bear hunt in Litchfield County if it were to pass in its current form. 

 

The Legislature is holding a Public Hearing THIS Friday, March 10, and you have a chance to weigh in on this important issue up for debate.

If you are passionate about these issues, make sure that your voice is heard. You can testify in person at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford or via zoom by registering RIGHT HERE by 3 pm on Thursday. Additionally, you can send in written testimony virtually by CLICKING HERE.