Transcript Highlights:

• solid waste and sent to our local waste management facilities.
• We are open uh to working solid waste.
• out of the solid waste system.
• </c> solid waste system. solid waste system.
• So, the agency has limits on violations today for solid waste and hazardous waste.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Bills: HB2296 , HB2301 , HB2212 , HB2515 , HB2436 , HB2496 , HB2605

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, sustainability, energy policy, extended producer responsibility, paint waste management, environmental regulations, recycling, microplastics, pollution, environmental protection, washing machines, water quality, energy facilities, large energy use, regulation, state oversight, infrastructure, oil tanker

Transcript Highlights:

• So, wastes of our time. Let's move to SB 1665, Israel.
• So, wastes of our time. Let's move to SB 1665 Israel.
• Norte's incineration would have no. No. On our sheet, it says, M.C.
• Norte's incineration, vote to know. Do we know why?

Summary: The committee heard a long list of Senate bills, mostly on consent, covering appropriations, public records, workers’ compensation, state hiring, burial costs, military flags in HOAs, court-ordered treatment, mental health service of process, medical examiner authority, tribal MOUs for DCS, controlled substances scheduling, EMT privacy, mammography notices, assisted living referral disclosures, accommodation school GED eligibility, released-time religious instruction, school board and charter governance issues, firearm safety instruction, student eligibility for extracurriculars after criminal convictions, Celebrate Freedom Week, tax-credit scholarship administration, CPA and insurance licensing pathways, immigration-related arrest notifications, defamation standards, peace officer certification for veterans, mandatory child abuse reporting, attorney licensing, business emergency-call penalties, unlawful occupant removals, attorney discipline costs, fentanyl sentencing thresholds, concealed weapons on campuses, firearm muffling devices, utility-worker assault penalties, water planning, environmental review for power plants and SMRs, groundwater recovery, voter registration rules, campaign address privacy, and federal land acquisition notifications. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including SB 1078, SB 1435, SB 1567, SB 1665, SB 1184, SB 1586, SB 1741, SB 1424, SB 1475, SB 1572, SB 1142, SB 1055, SB 1099, SB 1107, SB 1148, SB 1068, and SB 1069. Members raised concerns about constitutional issues, due process, school funding, public safety, and whether some proposals were unnecessary or duplicative. Supportive comments were also made on a few measures, such as expanded pathways for students in accommodation schools, child welfare coordination with tribes, and alternative certification or licensing pathways. The discussion included notable debate on SB 1166, which would allow some 11th graders and students over 16 in accommodation schools to receive GED preparation; members split between concerns about encouraging students to leave high school early and support for youth in detention, emancipation, or unstable situations. SB 1127 on mandatory reporting was clarified to require direct reporting of known abuse or neglect to DCS rather than delegation to another person. SB 1188 on controlled substances drew questions about how federal rescheduling would be mirrored in state law. The meeting ended with announcements and an “Affordability Award” recognizing Rep. Stahl Hamilton, followed by a request for guests to leave for a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill prohibits the modification or expansion of any waste or disposal facility for solid waste or
• and residential, school, and hospital property lines applies to municipal solid waste landfill units
• </c> Relating to waste disposal facilities.
• Anyway, uh, that was our solid waste manager, Allison Freley. She gave wonderful testimony.
• We understand that municipal solid waste ash left untreated contains toxic pollutants.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several housing, landlord-tenant, and condominium-related measures. Senate Bill 62, relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, would allow HPHA-owned parcels and related areas such as parking lots to be closed to the public with posted signage; HPHA strongly supported the bill, saying it would help reduce loitering, drinking, and other problems, and no further testimony was offered. Senate Bill 822, relating to the landlord tenant code, would create a three-year working group in the Department of the Attorney General to study and improve the residential landlord-tenant code. The Judiciary supported the measure but said the scope should be narrowed; the Attorney General opposed leading the group and suggested another agency should do so; Hawaii Realtors and the Hawaii Worker Center supported the concept and suggested moving the chairmanship to the Judiciary and including Legal Aid participation. The Judiciary said it could chair the group if the bill were narrowed to matters within the court’s purview. Senate Bill 38, relating to housing, would limit counties from imposing stricter conditions, AMI requirements, or fee-waiver reductions on certain affordable housing proposals if those changes would increase project costs. HHFDC supported the bill, saying county changes after state approval create uncertainty for developers, while the Hawaii State Association of Counties opposed it as an intrusion on local authority and a restriction on county safety and infrastructure conditions. Members asked about whether existing county review periods were sufficient, and the county association said the main concern was the bill’s language limiting counties from making cost-increasing conditions. Senate Bill 146, relating to condominiums, would revise alternative dispute resolution procedures for condo disputes, including evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission said it took no position overall but supported a $150 mediation fee and asked for a similar arbitration fee; Community Associations Institute supported the bill with suggested amendments; however, most testimony was strongly opposed by condominium owners and advocates, who said the bill had been changed to the detriment of owners and would increase costs and reduce protections. The committee noted 44 testimonies on the bill, with 2 in support, 37 in opposition, and 2 with comments. Senate Bill 253, relating to condominium reserves, would require a detailed budget summary to stand on its own, remove a good-faith defense for certain noncompliant budgets, and clarify standing and the association’s burden regarding substantial compliance. Hawaii Realtors and Community Associations Institute supported the measure as improving transparency and giving owners and buyers a clearer picture of association finances. Greg Msakian also supported it, arguing it would help owners and describing problems he experienced with budget committee exclusion and budget noncompliance in his own association. The discussion ended while testimony on the bill was still underway, with additional witnesses expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, HB 969 relating to waste or disposal facilities.
• </c><01:01:25.280><c> Allison</c> Allison Freley, County of Kauai Solid Waste Division, testified in
• waste management plans.
• You wanted to redefine waste disposal site, but your testimony doesn't have a new definition of waste
• </c> of waste disposal site. of waste disposal site.

Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third of three burners at the H-Power trash incinerator actually has standards that are stricter
• actually has standards trash incinerator actually has standards that<00:35:40.599><c> are</c><00:35:
• period: because they wanted to gather more information on stack tests, continuous emission monitors, waste
• period: because they wanted to gather more information on stack tests, continuous emission monitors, waste
• </c> emission monitors waste emission monitors waste characterization<00:42:09.680><c> uh</c><00:42:09.800

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 117 on condominiums. Testifiers were split: reserve-study professionals and the Community Associations Institute opposed tying reserve requirements to assessed value, arguing reserve studies should be based on actual components and costs and that the bill could lead to over- or under-collection. Condominium owners and advocates supported the bill, saying some associations are not completing reserve studies or are failing to provide audits and adequate funding, and urging stronger fiduciary accountability. A member later asked about compliance rates, and a witness said he was not aware of any association that had failed to do a reserve study, estimating compliance at well over 95 percent, likely close to 100 percent. The committee then took testimony on HB 544 on pet insurance, which drew support from the Attorney General’s office and the Insurance Division with comments about contract-impairment issues, as well as support from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Testifiers said the bill would help consumers understand and use pet insurance as veterinary costs rise. HB 983 on certified public accountants also drew mostly support, with the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants offering conditional support and proposed amendments. Public accountants said the bill could help address a shortage of CPAs and expand pathways into the profession, while some speakers cautioned that the language needed clarification and that public accounting experience should be tied to CPA-firm work. An instructor from UH West Oahu said students cannot afford the extra credits currently required and would benefit from a more accessible pathway. The committee also heard HB 1050 on Title 24, with DCCA supporting the measure and no opposition or questions. The discussion then moved to HB 256 HD1 on environmental protection and incinerator emissions. The Department of Health offered comments, while Energy Justice Network and Climate Protectors Hawaii supported strengthening the bill, warning that it could weaken existing standards at H-Power unless amended to preserve stricter state rules and require modern pollution controls. A member questioned the Department of Health about H-Power’s permits and whether additional controls would be required if federal rules change; the department said permits are reviewed every five years and that the facility currently meets state and federal requirements, while EPA rules remain in a public comment process. Finally, the committee heard HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, with support from the Consumer Advocate, State Energy Office, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii Energy. The committee then heard HB 350 HD1 on energy, where the State Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray Corporation offered conditional comments urging any new mandated water-heating technology to meet the same efficiency level as existing solar thermal systems, and the Kauai Climate Action Coalition testified in support. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Bills: SB2102 , SB1940 , SB1625 , SB1442 , SB1623 , SB1242 , SB1949 , SB1592 , SB1913 , SB592 , SB992 , SB1241 , SB259 , SB1928 , SB1426 , SB1531 , SB1561 , SB1122

Keywords: credit card fees, merchant discounts, payment card network, interchange fees, transparency in fees, Oklahoma law, payment card, rebate, merchant, tax compliance, health insurance, mandate, impact analysis, insurance department, public health, access to healthcare, SB1442, alcoholic beverage control, ABLE Commission, liquor license fees

Transcript Highlights:

• So, wastes of our time. Let's move to SB 1665, Israel.
• So, wastes of our time. Let's move to SB 1665 Israel.
• Norte's incineration would have no... no. On our sheet, it says M.C.
• Norte's incineration, vote to know. Do we know why?

Summary: The committee heard a long series of Senate bills, mostly on third-read consent, covering education, public safety, health, courts, labor, and water. Several bills were briefly explained and then pulled from consent for further discussion, including measures on public records review standards (SB 1078), sexually explicit materials in schools/libraries (SB 1435 and SB 1567), burial costs in death cases (SB 1135), military flags in HOAs/COAs (SB 1184), court-ordered treatment guardianship (SB 1243), standardized state hiring (SB 1665), released-time religious instruction (SB 1741), firearm safety instruction in schools (SB 1424), student participation in extracurriculars after certain convictions (SB 1475), Celebrate Freedom Week (SB 1572), federal scholarship-granting organizations/vouchers (SB 1142), immigration-related arrest notifications (SB 1055), defamation standards (SB 1099), peace officer certification for military police veterans (SB 1107), mandatory reporting of child abuse/neglect directly to DCS (SB 1127), attorney licensing and discipline issues (SB 1148 and SB 1039), concealed weapons on college campuses (SB 1068), and firearm muffling devices/silencers (SB 1069). Members also raised constitutional, policy, and school-safety concerns on several of these bills, while supporters emphasized alternative pathways for students, veterans, and workers, and tighter reporting or licensing rules. Other bills were described without extended debate, including claims against the state for unpaid contracted services (SB 1097), workers’ compensation death benefits for surviving spouses who remarry (SB 1136), burial expense increases (SB 1135), state agency web pages for internal guidance (SB 1586), court-ordered treatment procedures and service of process in mental health cases (SB 1113), medical examiner authorization (SB 1123), tribal MOUs with DCS (SB 1125), controlled-substance scheduling conformity with federal classifications (SB 1188), EMT personal information protections (SB 1193), mammography notice updates (SB 1318), assisted-living referral disclosures (SB 1477), accommodation school GED instruction for 11th graders and students over 16 (SB 1166), credit enhancement board continuation (SB 1422), school district and charter school obligations related to religious release time (SB 1741), school firearm safety instruction (SB 1424), and school civics/freedom-week instruction (SB 1572). The committee also heard bills on CPA certification pathways (SB 1181), insurance adjuster licensing (SB 1415), county voter-registration rules online (SB 1040), campaign address privacy (SB 1259), federal land acquisition notification (SB 1281), water supply/demand assessments (SB 1202), environmental compatibility for power plants and small modular reactors (SB 1418), and groundwater recovery rules (SB 1785). The meeting ended with announcements and a brief recognition of Rep. Stephanie Hamilton with an “Affordability Award.” No final votes are shown in the transcript excerpt; instead, many bills were either left on consent, pulled for later discussion, or flagged for closed caucus. The chair then asked guests to leave so members could hold a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• In person, we have Heather Trim from Zero Waste Washington, and Kimberly Gets.
• I'm with Zero Waste Washington.
• So the issue is, from a zero-waste perspective, in addition to the human health in the medical setting
• , is all of that medical waste that is going into the landfill or being incinerated.
• setting, is all of that medical waste that is going into the landfill or being incinerated.

Bills: HB2384 , HB2402 , HB2505 , HB1904 , HB2145 , HB2182 , HB2211 , HB2242 , HB2247 , HB2329 , HB2339

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: continuing care retirement community, CCRC, life plan community, senior housing, retirement community, long-term care, assisted living, nursing home, actuarial analysis, solvency, financial oversight, resident contracts, entrance fee, disclosure statement, registration, insurance commissioner, DSHS, consumer protection, elder care, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Waste Fraud and Abuse and Tannif Act. Waste Fraud and Abuse and Tannif Act.
• </c> waste, fraud, or abused. waste, fraud, or abused.
• ,</c> leader in the fight to re in waste, leader in the fight to re in waste, fraud,<05:32:08.958><c>
• </c> to preventing waste, fraud, and abuse. to preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.
• And with that, I yield back. resources are not wasted, misused, or resources are not wasted, misused,

Bills: HCR84 , HR518 , HCR86 , HB7726 , HB2860 , HB8872 , HR1333 , SB254 , HB7618

Keywords: War Powers Resolution, Lebanon, troop withdrawal, U.S. Armed Forces, military deployment, foreign policy, congressional war powers, executive authority, Middle East, troop removal, concurrent resolution, defense policy, overseas deployment, Ukraine, support, foreign affairs, military aid, international relations, War Powers, military action

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law already charges the inspector general with identifying fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Governor created the fiscal responsibility program by executive order, which was aimed at eliminating wasteful
• Current law already charges the inspector general with identifying fraud, waste, and abuse.
• What this All already charges the inspector general with identifying fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Governor created the fiscal responsibility program by executive order, which was aimed at eliminating wasteful

Bills: HB1011 , SCR11 , SB41 , SB49 , SB107 , SB123 , SB224 , SB292 , SB425 , SB479

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: tax credits, higher education, workforce development, brain drain, economic incentives, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, SB49, Louisiana elections, party primary, primary elections, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, school board elections, election law, candidate qualification, ballot access

Bills: HB2992 , HB3183 , HB3464 , HB4170 , HB4338

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining, large load customer, electric rates, utility tariffs, cost causation, rate design, public power utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative, investor-owned utility, load growth, interconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• In person, we have Heather Trim from Zero Waste Washington, and Kimberly Gets.
• I'm with Zero Waste Washington.
• , is all of that medical waste that is going into the land...
• the landfill or being incinerated.
• the landfill or being incinerated.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several health-related bills. House Bill 2384 would require continuing care retirement communities that offer life care contracts to submit actuarial analyses every other registration cycle for review by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, with the Department of Social and Health Services using the review in registration decisions. The bill sponsor and residents’ advocates said it would improve transparency and protect seniors’ prepaid care promises, while the CCRC industry supported the goal but raised concerns about scope, cost, and implementation details. House Bill 2505 would exempt certain foster family homes and child-specific foster care homes from adult family home licensure when former foster youth remain in the home as adults and certain safety conditions are met; DSHS supported the narrow exemption as a way to avoid displacing vulnerable young adults. House Bill 2402 would phase out DEHP and other orthophthalates in IV solution containers and later IV tubing, with exemptions for certain blood and cell therapy products; supporters cited health and environmental risks and the availability of safer alternatives, while manufacturers and hospitals supported the goal but asked for longer timelines, supply-chain protections, and implementation assistance. In executive session, the committee took action on a series of bills. It adopted an amendment and passed House Bill 1904, which prohibits cat declawing, on a 13-3 vote. It passed a proposed substitute for House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug program on an 11-5 vote after debate over reporting requirements and the state’s authority. It rejected several amendments to House Bill 2182 on abortion medications held by the Department of Corrections, adopted an Indian health care provider priority amendment, and passed the bill on a 10-6 vote. House Bill 2211 on medically tailored meals passed 15-1. The committee also passed Substitute House Bill 2247 on veterinarian-client-patient relationships, Substitute House Bill 2329 on midwives and lactation consultants, and Substitute House Bill 2339 on nurse licensing, each with technical amendments and broad support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:37.840><c> precious</c><00:02:38.239><c> time,</c><00:02:38.959><c> breaching</c> of wasting
• </c><00:48:15.520><c> permitting</c> or our hazardous uh waste permitting or our hazardous uh waste permitting
• </c> that or send it to a hazardous waste that or send it to a hazardous waste incineration<00:59:09.440
• We have no location or site for a hazardous waste incinerator in the state of Minnesota.
• There is not a hazardous waste incinerator in Minnesota. Representative Ston chair.

Bills: HF3220

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> nourishing people while reducing waste. nourishing people while reducing waste.
• </c> food waste across our state. food waste across our state.
• </c> rid of wood waste. rid of wood waste.
• </c> rid of this waste. rid of this waste.
• </c> waste-to-energy can produce. waste-to-energy can produce.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, if one says incinerators are covered and one says incinerators aren't covered, which ones hold?
• </c><00:57:57.520><c> are</c> holds um if one says incinerators are holds um if one says incinerators
• </c><00:57:59.400><c> aren't</c> covered and one says incinerators aren't covered and one says incinerators
• </c> of them prohibit um collection of waste of them prohibit um collection of waste including<01:05:
• other wastes as feedstocks to make the so-called sustainable aviation fuel.

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress. On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns. The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Solid Waste Management plan Hiatus a new Solid Waste Management plan and<00:05:54.080><c> as</c><00:
• </c><00:06:03.479><c> waste</c> 25% by weight diversion of solid waste 25% by weight diversion of solid
• ><c> idea</c> the the solid waste management fund idea the the solid waste management fund idea was<00
• ><c> I</c> all for our Solid Waste activities and I all for our Solid Waste activities and I looked<00
• ><c> we</c> the solid waste management fund we the solid waste management fund we anticipate<00:36:57.079

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• incinerators, hazardous waste burning cement kilns, and carbon regeneration and reactivation units.
• So we're talking about hazardous waste disposal.
• For non-hazardous waste disposal. Mr. Chair, Ms.
• From the RCRA process, we deal with managing waste and waste releases, so as far as...
• That is dealing with the waste part of it.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're considering new sites for incinerator facilities, including We're running out of space.
• We're considering new sites for incinerator facilities, including sites that are near the Everglades
• If we're going to deal with our waste crisis, we need to get rid of the item that is contaminating a
• China doesn't want our waste... China doesn't want our waste anymore.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met and heard several bills on boating, anchoring, plastics, coastal resilience, and permitting. HB 735, expanding the Boating Improvement Program to fund boat-trailer parking at public ramps and offering a submerged land lease discount for manufacturers using environmental best practices, drew no opposition and was reported favorably. HB 371, a nature-based coastal resilience bill, was amended with a strike-all and then reported favorably with committee substitute. HB 287, allowing building or plumbing permits to move forward while septic system permits are still under review, also passed favorably after testimony from the onsite wastewater industry and a brief debate about construction delays and final occupancy certification. The committee also took up HB 565 on auxiliary containers, which would preempt local regulation of items like bags, cups, and bottles and maintain statewide uniformity. The sponsor argued it protects consumer choice and business consistency, while environmental groups, PTA representatives, and others warned it would worsen plastic pollution, microplastics, and local cleanup burdens. Despite opposition and a 13-5 vote with several members opposed, the bill was reported favorably. Members also discussed HB 565’s policy background, including prior DEP studies and the tension between state preemption and local environmental regulation. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 565 in the transcript’s boating context, actually HB 565 on anchoring limitations in Biscayne Bay and other heavily impacted areas. Supporters from Miami Beach and North Bay Village said derelict and anchored vessels are harming waterways, seagrass, public safety, and enforcement efforts, while cruisers and boating groups argued the bill would displace responsible boaters and fail to solve derelict-vessel problems. The committee adopted an amendment, then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by an 18-0 vote. The meeting concluded after all agenda items were completed and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It prevents new waste-to-energy or ash-producing incinerators from being built within one mile of these
• It does not impact existing waste-to-energy or ash-producing plants, and canals are expressly excluded
• Incinerators nearby create the risk of pollutants settling into surface water, wetlands, and groundwater
• And Representative Bartleman has been concerned about this incinerator for quite some time.