SB 146 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK FROM CERTAIN WILDLIFE.

SB 146 allows livestock owners to seek state permits to take wildlife (like bears) that injure or kill their animals or damage crops, after proving they tried nonlethal protections first. The bill requires owners to document using methods like fencing or guard animals, and a state agency must verify the need before issuing permits. Permits specify how, when, and where wildlife can be taken, and only apply to property owners, their agents, or tenants with written permission. It explicitly excludes federally protected species and does not permit using deadly force against wildlife except in immediate danger to people or pets.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → ENV Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and its title was expanded to include the protection of crops alongside livestock. The core policy change adds a new requirement that permits for wildlife removal will only be issued if the property owner has already tried reasonable nonlethal methods (like electric fencing) that failed to stop the damage, and if the damage is deemed excessive.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to explicitly include the protection of agricultural crops in its title and purpose, in addition to livestock and apiaries.

SCOPE

The bill title was updated to include 'CROPS' to reflect that the law protects both crops and livestock from wildlife.

REQUIREMENT

A new condition was added requiring that nonlethal protection efforts must have failed or are unlikely to succeed before a permit for taking wildlife is granted.

The text now explicitly requires that the damage caused by wildlife must be 'excessive' to qualify for a removal permit.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and punctuation adjustments were made to improve readability and consistency throughout the text.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors