Connecticut moves closer to a law that bans neonics. Congratulations and thank you to the scores of advocates who spoke out on this important issue.

Connecticut’s birds rely on insects for food, especially during breeding season. Species like the Barn Swallow are likely to benefit from the new neonics ban. Connecticut Audubon photo.

May 29, 2025—Connecticut is just a step away from banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on 300,000 acres of lawns, golf courses, and other areas of turf grass.

Yesterday, the State House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 9, an important climate change, pesticides and rodenticides bill. The Senate passed it two weeks ago. It will now go to Governor Ned Lamont.

If it becomes law, Connecticut’s birds, butterflies, bees, and more, will be protected from neonics, a category of commonly-used pesticides that are considered to be 7,000 times more toxic than DDT.

It will also restrict the use of a category of rodent poisons that is inadvertently killing and injuring hawks and owls throughout the state.

Many people and organizations played an important role in the bill’s passage, including members of Connecticut Pesticide Reform.

But we want to single out Connecticut Audubon members who consistently wrote and called their elected officials to express support for this bill.

The bill passed with strong bipartisan support. The House was 115-33; the Senate vote last week was 28-8.

You can find links to the roll call vote in each chamber, and much more about the bill, on this webpage.

The bill bans neonics on 300,000 acres of lawns, golf courses and other areas of turf grass, but it allows neonics to be used on ornamental shrubbery and trees.

That’s unfortunate because it means that the places where birds nest and forage for insects can be a target of neonics.

In addition, the neonics ban takes effect on October 1, 2027. Advocates pushed for a January 1, 2026, effective date, but that idea was rejected.

Connecticut Audubon will be meeting soon with other members of Connecticut Pesticide Reform to plan the next steps.

For now though there’s reason to be happy. Connecticut has taken an important step toward getting these dangerous chemicals out of the environment.