Transcript Highlights:

• infectious waste.
• solid waste and sent to our local waste management facilities.
• Infectious waste comes in on trucks mixed with tons of regular waste.
• </c> waste that would surprise the waste waste that would surprise the waste operators.<00:17:50.160>
• in the waste.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• By addressing this waste and finding a beneficial use... process food waste in process food waste in
• </c> our landfills and move up the waste our landfills and move up the waste management<00:05:25.919>
• Back of handle the waste this way."
• </c> to produce energy from our food waste. to produce energy from our food waste.
• </c> still need waste energy facilities. still need waste energy facilities.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• imposed by the county or the solid waste district where the solid waste is generated.
• Uh, so they're imposing a fee on the solid waste facility for the waste generated in their county.
• imposed by the county or the solid waste district where the solid waste is generated.
• Uh, so they're imposing a fee on the solid waste facility for the waste generated in their county.
• </c><00:10:43.200><c> Uh</c> solid waste of that committee. Uh solid waste of that committee.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Waste generators under the hazardous waste control law as is.
• Other recycling companies like Waste Management pick up our curbside waste products and extract...
• of the solid waste facilities.
• of the solid waste facilities.
• Waste, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard several bills focused on wildfire preparedness, industrial safety, and recycling oversight. SB 1153 by Senator Caballero would require urban retail water suppliers to add wildfire-specific procedures to emergency plans and coordinate with fire agencies; supporters said it would improve planning while recognizing water system limits, and the bill was framed as protecting ratepayers and infrastructure. SB 811, also by Senator Caballero, would create a comprehensive DTSC permitting and regulatory framework for metal shredding facilities; supporters argued it would set clear statewide standards and protect communities, while opponents said it would weaken hazardous waste protections and carve the industry out of existing law. SB 883 by Senator Umberg would impose new safeguards for facilities storing reactive chemicals such as methyl methacrylate after the Garden Grove evacuation, including backup cooling, public review, emergency planning, and state tracking; industry groups opposed the breadth of the bill and sought further clarification, while environmental and community groups supported it. SB 1010 by Senator Ashby would strengthen oversight of appliance recyclers by improving reporting, inspections, certification, and funding for enforcement; supporters said it would reduce emissions and improve compliance, while recyclers raised concerns about fees and certification requirements. Each bill drew extensive testimony from industry, environmental, labor, local government, and community representatives. Supporters generally emphasized public safety, transparency, and the need for clearer statewide standards, while opponents warned about overregulation, reduced flexibility, or unintended impacts on existing hazardous waste and recycling systems. Committee members also raised questions about transparency, liability, size-based treatment of facilities, and whether the bills were narrowly tailored enough to address the problems identified. The committee voted to advance all four measures to the Committee on Appropriations, with votes taken on call and some members voting no or not voting on certain bills. The final add-on votes showed SB 811, SB 883, SB 1010, and SB 1153 all passing out of committee, with the roll left open for absent members before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• DTSC and CUPAs have shared authority to regulate hazardous waste generators under the hazardous waste
• Other recycling companies like Waste Management pick up our curbside waste products and extract valuable
• of the solid waste facilities.
• Mandy Strella, on behalf of Rethink Waste, in support.
• Waste, in support.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• hazardous waste facility in the Kettleman Hills.
• , generates a great deal of hazardous waste.
• And finally, the hazardous waste management plan.
• How much waste can realistically be reduced or diverted?
• Trust that hazardous waste will be managed safely.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Waste Management, Municipal Association. Waste Management, Municipal Association.
• Um and the hazardous waste debt.
• </c> percentage of that waste that's paint. percentage of that waste that's paint.
• Um and that over 50% of the waste in.
• Um, and the paint is the is the waste.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Fraud and Abuse but inclusive of waste Fraud and Abuse but because<00:10:58.320><c> waste</c><00:10:
• </c><00:18:45.600><c> and</c> Doge to look over all of the waste and Doge to look over all of the waste
• </c> sufficient but these definition of waste sufficient but these definition of waste Fraud<00:26:59.039
• </c><00:47:27.800><c> and</c> $610 million do of abuse and waste and $610 million do of abuse and waste
• </c> employees who want to report on waste employees who want to report on waste Fraud<00:52:02.720><

Bills: HF23 , HF1355

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932

Transcript Highlights:

• hazardous waste facility in the Kettleman Hills.
• of hazardous waste.
• And finally, the hazardous waste management plan.
• How much waste can realistically be reduced or diverted?
• Trust that hazardous waste will be managed safely.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on the Board of Environmental Safety (BES), created by SB 158 in 2021, and on broader DTSC reform efforts, including permitting, community engagement, fee setting, and the hazardous waste management plan. Chair Connolly opened by noting the board’s original goals of improving transparency, accountability, and fiscal stability, and raised concerns about a recent board appointee later becoming a lobbyist with DTSC-regulated clients. Witnesses and members also discussed the long-delayed SB 673 regulations on facility permitting and community vulnerability protections, as well as the board’s role in approving the hazardous waste management plan and reviewing permit appeals. Community and environmental justice witnesses argued that the board has improved access by creating a public forum, ombudsperson, and appeal process, but said it remains too passive and lacks authority over budgets, staffing, and implementation. They urged more statutory direction, stronger community participation, better transparency on how comments are used, and more meaningful authority in permit and plan decisions. One witness suggested the Legislature consider a separate oversight body or stronger legislative engagement, while another called for youth representation and paid fellowships on advisory bodies. Business and regulated-community testimony was more supportive of the board’s structure, emphasizing that SB 158 was a negotiated compromise that improved transparency and accountability while avoiding politicization, and calling for faster fee analysis and clearer budget information. Board Chair Andrew Rakestra and DTSC Director Barbara Butler reported that reform has produced measurable gains: more public engagement, stronger enforcement, fewer continued permits, improved compliance, increased revenues from the generation-and-handling fee, and progress on Exide cleanup, safer consumer products, and community revitalization grants. They acknowledged, however, that the board’s authority is limited, permit appeals can be slow, SB 673 regulations remain unfinished, and public trust still needs work. Both said the board is most effective when involved early and when DTSC shares information proactively. Members asked about fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and whether the Legislature should give the board a more formal role in budget change proposals, regulatory processes, and implementation oversight. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax to assist counties in managing our waste. the partnership on waste and energy the partnership on
• The Minnesota Waste Management Act reduces risk to public health and the environment by moving waste
• </c> go to the solid for Solid Waste go to the solid for Solid Waste Management<00:15:59.000><c> this
• <00:21:23.640><c> in</c><00:21:23.799><c> our</c><00:21:24.000><c> state</c> waste in our state waste
• to address waste was originally intended to address waste problems<00:26:34.080><c> across</c><00:26

Bills: HF1359 , HF1829 , HF290 , HF1933 , HF926

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• County Solid Waste Management Agency, Western Placer Waste Management Authority, Western Placer Waste
• , as universal waste.
• , as universal waste.
• As e-waste, as universal waste, those opportunities don't exist for nicotine vapes.
• the release of hazardous waste.

Summary: The committee heard AB 839, which would allow up to three sustainable aviation fuel projects to qualify for expedited CEQA judicial review. The author and airline and airport supporters argued SAF is a key emissions-reduction strategy for aviation and that California needs to signal investment certainty after prior project litigation. Environmental Justice and Earthjustice opposed, saying the bill weakens the public’s ability to challenge polluting projects and that SAF facilities can harm already overburdened communities. The committee later took a roll call on the bill and it was held on call after a 3-0 vote, with the motion being due pass to Judiciary. Members then took up AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes in California. The author and a broad coalition of waste, public health, local government, and environmental groups said the devices create fire hazards, add lithium batteries to the waste stream, and burden local recycling and hazardous waste systems. Opponents, including retailers and business groups, argued the bill would mainly affect a small legal market while the illicit market would continue to supply most disposable vapes, and warned of unintended consequences. After discussion about illicit sales, EPR ideas, and reuse alternatives, the committee voted 2-2 on the motion to pass as amended to Revenue and Taxation, so the bill was kept on call. The committee also heard AB 907, which would compensate the six local air district representatives who serve on the California Air Resources Board the same as other board members. The author and supporters said the change would improve equity and help ensure local representation on CARB, and no opposition was presented. The chair expressed support, noting similar legislation had passed the committee previously, and the bill was held for a later vote once quorum issues were resolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• County Solid Waste Management Agency, Western Placer Waste Management Authority, County Solid Waste
• , as universal waste.
• , as universal waste.
• As e-waste, as universal waste, those opportunities don't exist for nicotine vapes.
• the release of hazardous waste.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• for transuratic waste in the website.
• Um, Emit hazardous waste and every kind of waste there is in the water in the land and, and we can't
• or known buried waste.
• And how they prioritize the waste.
• There's liquid waste, there's, um. Other than Class C waste.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The docket information, And disposal of hazardous waste.
• Docket 58016-2501 is the solid waste management rules.
• waste?
• waste?
• of waste.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• solid waste industry.
• improperly disposing their waste or to limit it from going into just traditional waste.
• waste.
• Um, so the hazardous waste that.
• </c><01:57:53.520><c> I'd</c> waste. So, um, I I see the problem. I'd waste.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• You're recognized to present HB 1089, Waste Facilities.
• means of solid waste disposal.
• they did their next solid waste Joe Kilsheimer: master plan.
• waste.
• or incineration technology to dispose of waste.

Transcript Highlights:

• storage, so long as that waste originates at that site.
• storage, so long as that waste originates, on high-level radioactive waste storage so long as that waste
• Can store their waste on site, but only at the site at which it was generated.
• I'm Charlie Fritz, Deputy Director of the Waste Permits Division in TCEQ.
• Our composting program was set up very similar to our solid waste permitting.

Bills: SB3074 , HB49 , HB2440 , HB3556 , HB3619 , HB3866 , HB4042 , HB4112 , HB4271 , HB4413 , HB4426 , HB5033 , HB49

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard and laid out several natural resources and environmental bills, with testimony focused on balancing development, public health, wildlife protection, and regulatory authority. SB 3074 would allow the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to communicate in writing with TCEQ about matters before the commission, with safeguards requiring the communication to be part of the record and allowing other parties to respond; a committee substitute narrowed it to written communications about permits only, limited legislator communications to facilities in their districts, and adjusted conflict-of-interest rules. HB 3556, as substituted, would require notice to Texas Parks and Wildlife for certain very tall structures in specified coastal counties and give TPWD a limited right to seek injunctive relief if mitigation is insufficient to prevent material harm to migratory birds; supporters said it would address ignored wildlife recommendations and protect key flyways, while opponents argued the bill was too broad, singled out wind energy, and gave one agency unusually strong enforcement power. HB 49 would expand liability protections for produced-water recycling and beneficial use; supporters said it would encourage reuse of a large wastewater stream and reduce disposal pressures, while opponents warned it could shield operators from responsibility before the science and standards are mature. HB 4413 would authorize mass-balance accounting for renewable biomass feedstocks, and HB 3866 would regulate intermediate bulk container recycling facilities near homes, with a committee substitute adding a grandfather clause and making implementation contingent on funding. The committee also heard bills affecting air and energy regulation. HB 5033 would create a trigger to end vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes to allow it; the substitute removed a Supreme Court-related trigger, and the lone public witness opposed the bill, warning it would worsen air quality and harm nonattainment areas. HB 4112 would clarify that on-site storage of high-level radioactive waste is allowed at current and future nuclear reactors and university research reactors only for waste generated at that site; the substitute clarified the language and removed an inoperative permit condition, and witnesses from environmental and nuclear groups said the clarification was needed to prevent unintended restrictions while avoiding off-site storage. HB 2440 would prohibit state agencies from using air-quality rules to ban or restrict vehicles based on energy source, including internal combustion vehicles, and no public testimony was offered. HB 4271 would require TCEQ to hold public meetings on request for composting facility authorizations; the substitute limited the requirement to future applications and was presented as a transparency measure after a denied local request and extensive public comments. Additional bills addressed landowner protections and Railroad Commission oversight. HB 3619 would require the Railroad Commission to restore surface land after plugging or replugging operations and indemnify landowners from damages tied to authorized entry; a witness supported the bill but urged fixing a separate statutory loophole that he said allowed operators to enter unrelated tracts without notice. HB 4042 would extend Railroad Commission pipeline safety and fee provisions to propane distribution systems by removing the word “natural” from the relevant definitions. HB 4426 would set a 10-year permit term for commercial surface disposal facilities, allow renewal based on compliance history, and require renewal applications 120 days before expiration. The committee took no votes because a quorum was not initially present, and each bill was left pending after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ruta Jordan, Zero Waste Kauaii, in support.
• </c> to form a working group on solid waste to form a working group on solid waste management.<00:17:
• Ruta Jordan, Zero Waste in support.
• </c><00:20:24.080><c> and</c> programs that reduce solid waste and programs that reduce solid waste and
• address solid waste management of waste<00:20:38.880><c> that</c><00:20:39.039><c> cannot</c><00:20:39.440

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health, Human Services, and Agriculture and Environment heard testimony on SR 85, which requests the Department of Health to form a working group on solid waste management, and on SCR 19, which asks the Tax Review Commission to identify ways to implement Hawaii’s long-term care financing program. SR 85 drew broad support from the Department of Health, the Board of Water Supply, environmental groups, and numerous individuals, with one commenter asking that a military representative be added to address possible landfill use of military lands. For SCR 19, testimony came in support from the Executive Office on Aging and another supporter. For SR 85, the chair recommended passage with amendments. The amendments revised landfill-location language, removed certain lines, expanded the report’s scope to include materials management policies, environmental protections, and alternative technologies for waste that cannot be recycled or composted, and changed the working group membership language to include representatives from specified sectors. The committee also agreed to add invited participants such as Zero Waste USA, the reuse and deconstruction industries, a landfill leachate expert, a unit-based pricing expert, and a military representative, and to require the governor or designee to convene the initial meeting. The committee adopted the recommendation by vote, with members voting aye and one member excused. For SCR 19, the chair recommended passage with an amendment adding reference to findings in a 1991 report on financing long-term care. The committee approved the measure with amendments by vote, again with members voting aye and one member excused. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:59.800><c> water</c><00:05:00.639><c> um</c><00:05:01.039><c> and</c> waste water um and waste
• E-waste is another big thing.
• </c> do with that that influx of waste do with that that influx of waste E-Waste<01:19:56.960><c> is<
• So we do need a solid waste permit. A landfill requires a solid waste receiving facility.
• Thank you, E-Waste, as well.

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process. ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field. City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> minerals than are in electronic waste minerals than are in electronic waste recycling<00:18:38.400
• collection site, and e-waste comprises only about 2% of our waste stream.
• collection site, and e-waste comprises only about 2% of our waste stream.
• collection site, and e-waste comprises only about 2% of our waste stream.
• collection site, and e-waste comprises only about 2% of our waste stream.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy