Connecticut Invasive Plants Bill Sees Close Senate Vote

The Connecticut State Senate voted 22 to 16 last month to approve Senate Bill 590, which would let towns ban invasive plants, after vigorous debate.

The Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association noted that the state’s green industry requested that the bill not be killed, but amended to extend the law preventing towns from adopting their own plant bans.

Representative Mary Fritz vowed to amend the bill when it reaches the House floor to change the minucipal preemption language, which currently would let towns begin banning plants Feb. 1. The bill may have to go through yet another legislative committee – Planning & Development – before being voted on by the house. The Senate has already approved the bill, but would take it up once more if the House changes it in any way.