Protect Public Lands in CT? Not in 2017

Fight for Your Public Lands Moves to 2018

Advocates of a constitutional amendment that would ensure appropriate public input before the General Assembly could sell, swap, or giveaway state lands say they are disappointed that the General Assembly failed to take action on legislation (SJ 39) before its mandatory closing on Wednesday, but said there is one more opportunity next year to get the question on the 2018 ballot.

“Amending the state constitution is often a multi-year effort to get the approval of two General Assemblies before a question can go to the voters on a statewide ballot,” Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of the CT Forest & Park Association said. “It is disappointing that we were not able to get a vote this year, as we did in 2016, but we can still meet our goal to give the voters of Connecticut a voice in this process if we get legislative approval in 2018.”

The 2016 General Assembly approved the same constitutional amendment resolution by a simple majority. State law requires the resolution to gain approvals by two successive General Assemblies, even if it doesn’t get votes in consecutive years, before it can be placed on the 2018 ballot.

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