Connecticut Legislature Advances Climate Measures in 2025 Session

HARTFORD, Conn. – As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, Sierra Club Connecticut is celebrating key victories for climate, environmental justice, and public health. Among the most important bills passed this year are Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 5004—comprehensive climate legislation that will move the state closer to meeting its greenhouse gas reduction goals while centering equity and building resilience in the face of the climate crisis. 

“While there’s still much work ahead, these bills represent necessary progress toward addressing Connecticut’s climate and public health challenges,” said Samantha Dynowski, State Director of Sierra Club Connecticut. “We appreciate the commitment from lawmakers and advocates who pushed for policies that move us closer to a cleaner, more resilient future.” 

Legislative Highlights

• S.B. 9 – An Act Concerning The Environment, Climate And Sustainable Municipal And State Planning, And The Use Of Neonicotinoids And Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides.  S.B. 9 strengthens the state’s climate resilience planning, bans the use of neonicotinoids on turf grass, and restricts the use of toxic second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. It supports municipalities in adapting to climate impacts already underway. 
   
• H.B. 5004 – An Act Concerning The Protection Of The Environment And The Development Of Renewable Energy Sources And Associated Job Sectors. H.B. 5004 requires the state achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and establishes a new interim target for 2040. H.B. 5004 requires multiple studies on heat pumps, solar canopies, nature based solutions, and renter access to state energy efficiency plans, all of which could help reduce emissions. The bill also focuses on the economic side of mitigation, giving tax rebates to sustainable businesses, establishing sustainable purchasing guidelines, and establishing the Connecticut Clean Economy Council to help with workforce transition to green jobs. 
   

“After two years without significant action to address climate change, these bills represent an acknowledgment that the state must make progress,” said Steve Lewis, Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut’s Legislative Committee. “The bills’ passage enables more impactful action in the near future. ”

While these new laws are a step in the right direction, Sierra Club Connecticut emphasizes that the work is far from over. Continued advocacy will be critical to ensure the successful implementation of these laws and to push for stronger protections in the years ahead.

“We will keep organizing, we will keep building power, and we will continue to push Connecticut to lead on climate,” said Julianna Larue, Organizer at Sierra Club Connecticut. “The momentum is real, and it’s growing as the costly impacts of climate change affect the lives of Connecticut residents.”