Senator Seminara Applauds House Passage of Critical Bear Management Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2023

Media Contact:
Hannah Lemek
860-406-1939

Senator Seminara Applauds House Passage of
Critical Bear Management Legislation

Measure enabling residents to defend against black bears awaits
Gov. Lamont’s signature to become law.

HARTFORD – Today, Senator Lisa Seminara (R-Avon) applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of S.B. 1148, the proposed bear management legislation. The push comes in response to multiple violent human-bear interactions in the northwest corner and throughout the entire state. This bipartisan legislation takes significant steps toward addressing the growing public safety issue by enabling residents to defend their families and property against aggressive black bears.

After years of failure to come to an agreement among Chambers, Senator Seminara, and her colleagues from across the aisle; helped pass the most comprehensive bear management legislation seen in state history. The legislation was amended in committee to eliminate the limited bear hunt language while keeping language that allows individuals to defend themselves, their pets, livestock, and crops.

Sen. Seminara said, “Multiple recent interactions between humans and bears in Avon, Granby, Simsbury, Torrington and New Hartford have shown the need for this critical legislation across our district and throughout the state of Connecticut. I am pleased that S.B. 1148 has now passed both chambers of the legislature. This bill will allow citizens to properly defend themselves during a bear attack and implements policies that will keep our communities safer against this growing public safety issue.”

Senator Seminara made multiple public pushes to see legislation addressing this issue. The bill, which cleared the Senate in May, awaits Governor Ned Lamont’s signature to become law.

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HANNAH LEMEK
PRESS SECRETARY
SENATE REPUBLICAN OFFICE

Cell: (860) 406-1939