Transcript Highlights:

• The department oversees many activities that do address organic waste, including food waste prevention
• They produce a lot of food waste from leftovers.
• For present-day hazardous waste operations, we oversee inspections and permits for hazardous waste operations
• they’re generating, the types of waste.
• Kayla Robinson with California Against Waste.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The department oversees many activities that do address organic waste, including food waste prevention
• So I understand that ag waste streams are often cleaner than urban and suburban waste streams.
• For present-day hazardous waste operations, we oversee inspections and permits for hazardous waste operations
• they're generating, the types of waste.
• And visibility on various waste streams.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget of 987 positions and $1.9 billion, and members focused on edible food recovery funding under SB 1383, beverage container recycling fees and infrastructure under SB 1013, plastic packaging reduction under SB 54, and composting implementation under SB 279. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has recovered more than 300 million meals but lacks ongoing funding, explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and reflect higher recycling costs for difficult-to-recycle materials, and noted that SB 54 implementation will include a pollution prevention mitigation fund for legacy plastic cleanup. The committee also discussed the need for more composting capacity and the role of volunteer cleanup groups, while public commenters urged continued funding for food recovery, composting, and landfill response. CalEPA presented its department overview and a proposal to strengthen landfill response and enforcement, emphasizing climate, air quality, water, and cleanup priorities. Secretary Garcia described the agency’s work on methane monitoring, toxics reduction, drinking water compliance, Exide cleanup, pesticide alternatives, and implementation of AB 617, while also noting the agency’s response to federal rollbacks. Members pressed CalEPA on landfill fires and subsurface elevated temperature events, especially at Chiquita Canyon, asking about authority, scientific resources, and when intervention should occur. CalEPA said it has authority to respond but needs more coordinated technical and enforcement capacity, and later presented a $5.1 million, 12-position multi-agency proposal involving CalEPA, CalRecycle, DTSC, and the Water Board to address current landfill events and improve future prevention and response. DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety presented several proposals tied to reform implementation, hazardous waste oversight, and emerging waste streams. DTSC reported progress in clearing its permit backlog, advancing safer consumer products regulations, and continuing Exide cleanup, while seeking additional resources for cost recovery and enforcement, PFAS work, recycling infrastructure for solar panels and lithium batteries, and a new statewide planning division to implement the hazardous waste management plan and consolidate reporting systems. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals process, and fee-setting authority, and said its priorities include permit appeals, hazardous waste plan oversight, and performance metrics. Members questioned whether DTSC was creating too many new subdivisions, but the department said the new structure is needed to handle growing workload and modernize regulation. Public testimony generally supported the landfill proposal, DTSC consumer product enforcement, water board staffing, and continued funding for food recovery and composting programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department oversees many activities that do address organic waste, including food waste prevention
• So I understand that ag waste streams are often cleaner than urban and suburban waste streams.
• For present-day hazardous waste operations, we oversee inspections and permits for hazardous waste operations
• they're generating, the types of waste.
• Kayla Robinson with California Against Waste.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard department budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle presented its 2026-27 budget and discussed priorities including edible food recovery, composting, beverage container recycling, and landfill response. Members asked about funding for food recovery grants, processing fees for wine and spirits containers under SB 1013, plastic packaging generation under SB 54, restaurant food waste requirements under SB 1383, and litter cleanup efforts. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has helped recover more than 300 million meals, but there is no sustained funding source; it also explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and that new producer responsibility and infrastructure investments are intended to improve recycling rates over time. The committee then heard CalEPA’s overview, including the agency’s response to climate, air quality, water, toxics, and enforcement challenges. Secretary Garcia emphasized federal rollbacks, methane monitoring, AB 617 implementation, safe drinking water progress, Exide cleanup, and pesticide reduction efforts. Members questioned the agency about regional gasoline blends, authority and technical thresholds for landfill intervention, and the growth in the Secretary’s office staffing and budget. CalEPA said the budget increase reflects expanded coordination, technology modernization, hazardous materials response, and legal capacity. The committee also discussed a proposed landfill support, response, and enforcement package for subsurface elevated temperature events, with CalEPA describing a coordinated multi-agency approach and the need for stronger early response tools. DTSC presented its department overview and several BCPs. Director Butler highlighted progress on permit backlog reduction, safer consumer products rulemaking, Exide cleanup, PFAS work, and planning for emerging waste streams such as solar panels and lithium batteries. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals, and fee-setting authority, and identified community concerns about cumulative impacts, hazardous waste planning, accessible data, and engagement. The committee also heard a proposal to expand DTSC’s Office of Policy into a statewide planning division to implement hazardous waste management plan recommendations and improve reporting systems. Members raised concerns about whether the new division duplicated existing work, but DTSC said it would fill identified gaps and improve coordination. Public testimony largely supported the proposals, especially ongoing funding for edible food recovery, composting, safer consumer products enforcement, and the coordinated landfill response package. Witnesses from StopWaste, California Against Waste, Waste Management, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and water advocacy groups urged continued or increased funding for these programs. No votes were taken; the chair held all items open and adjourned the hearing after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Waste follow EPA guidelines for the incineration of medical waste, period.
• medical waste...
• They've taken the city waste, the City of Tulsa's solid municipal waste, and they incinerate it.
• Can't the waste that they're burning, how much different is it than the waste that we would find at a
• But we're not incinerating hazardous medical waste. It's just standard medical waste. Am I correct?

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and then took up a series of House bills, most of them on natural resources, agriculture, energy, and economic development topics. House Bill 2988, dealing with efforts to address woody invasive species through a state income tax credit subject to appropriation, was explained as a response to underfunding concerns and was reported do pass unanimously. House Bill 4344 would exempt sales tax on frackwater sales; the author said it was a constituent request tied to oil and gas activity in western Oklahoma, staff indicated a minimal fiscal impact, and the bill passed 9-2. The committee then approved House Bill 3280, which raises the Homemade Food Freedom Act revenue cap from $75,000 to $300,000 to let home-based food businesses grow before facing more burdensome licensing and inspection requirements. Members asked about the fiscal impact and food-safety distinctions between perishable and nonperishable foods; the author said there would be no state fiscal impact and that existing safety limits would remain unchanged. House Bill 3917, imposing a surcharge on large-load data centers during peak demand periods and directing the revenue to a grid modernization fund, was presented as a way to protect ratepayers and passed unanimously. House Bill 4413, as amended by PCS, would require any Oklahoma facility incinerating regulated medical waste to follow EPA guidelines; the author said the measure was prompted by a Tulsa facility seeking a permit variance and argued the bill was needed to protect public health and safety. After extensive questioning about DEQ authority, EPA standards, and health risks from incineration emissions, the PCS passed 8-1. House Bill 3402 created a revolving fund for DEQ biosolids land-application research and passed 7-2, and House Bill 4476 created a community music infrastructure and events development revolving fund to support rural music festivals and local matching participation, passing 5-4. Finally, House Bill 4155, as amended by PCS, established a new economic development structure for events in Oklahoma and passed 6-3. The committee repeatedly reminded authors to provide detailed forms and Senate authors before full A&B consideration, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, a solid waste county.
• <00:08:14.000><c> Waste</c><00:08:14.319><c> Industries</c> waste being managed by Waste Industries waste
• </c> also in equipment hauling solid waste. also in equipment hauling solid waste.
• :32.240><c> waste</c><00:14:32.959><c> waste</c><00:14:33.600><c> districts.
• </c> counties, and waste waste districts. counties, and waste waste districts.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will resume the Solid Waste Task Force meeting for... ...resume the Solid Waste Task Force meeting
• So right now the only revenue that we generate as a city from solid waste or waste management at all
• Waste consolidation, MSW waste, organics, and yard waste could be placed in those.
• So waste diversion should be a top priority for a safer, greener, and sustainable waste management system
• Rural counties often lack the tax base and waste tonnage to independently finance modern, high-tier waste

Summary: The task force met to focus on funding systems and incentive structures for a proposed regional waste infrastructure effort, including how a future WIPA framework might support solid waste planning in the Willamette Valley. Staff and members heard presentations from DEQ on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, from Business Oregon on the Special Public Works Fund, and from Oregon State Treasury on state bonding capacity and the bond issuance process. Presenters explained how their programs are structured, how projects are scored or approved, what kinds of public entities and projects are eligible, and how interagency coordination and co-funding can work. DEQ emphasized that its revolving loan fund is driven by water-quality benefits and public-health criteria, while Business Oregon described a broader infrastructure loan program for public entities with no scoring system, and Treasury outlined the state’s debt-capacity process and the differences between general obligation and lottery bonds. Members used the presentations to discuss whether similar funding tools could support solid waste infrastructure, especially for transfer stations, regional hubs, and related facilities that may need to be built before Coffin Butte reaches the end of its lifespan. Several questions centered on whether public-private partnerships could qualify, whether equipment inside facilities could be financed, how repayment would work, and whether planning costs could be covered. DEQ and Business Oregon both said they could potentially collaborate on scoring or co-funding, but noted eligibility limits and the need for public ownership in many cases. Treasury said bond capacity is limited and competitive, especially for lottery bonds, and that project authorization generally runs on a two-year cycle, though unused authority can sometimes be reauthorized. In task force discussion, members debated whether the group should pursue a dedicated funding lane for the seven-county region rather than having local governments compete with other statewide needs. Some members stressed the importance of criteria to avoid stranded assets and to ensure funding is available when projects are ready, while others raised concerns about how cities and counties would generate revenue to repay debt during construction and early operations. The group also discussed flow control, system fees, and the need for regional collaboration among counties, cities, and haulers to create enough waste volume to support new infrastructure. Staff noted that pre-session filing materials for the legislature are due September 11, and the chair said the August meeting will focus on organizational structure and identifying partners. During public comment, Representative Kevin Mannix submitted written testimony supporting the WIPA concept and urging the task force to endorse it. Commissioner Bubba King of Yamhill County urged the task force to compare alternatives objectively and warned against adding bureaucracy before evaluating existing infrastructure and costs. Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Roger Nyquist of Marion and Linn counties described regional hub-and-spoke concepts, transfer stations, and intermodal options, emphasizing the need for planning, strategic siting, and collaboration with haulers and local governments.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to providing waste 1990s.
• So, as you heard, the waste-to-energy facility in Spokane provides disposal for a lot of waste as part
• The county's regional solid waste system is a significant user of the city's waste-to-energy plant.
• As the county system, we send approximately one-half of our entire solid waste volume to the waste-to-energy
• Spokane's alternative for dealing with the waste that goes to the waste-to-energy facility will be worse

Summary: The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on three bills. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with unanimous agreement of the parties, to use alternative board compositions for appeals, including a single member or other qualified environmental adjudicators, so long as one member is a Washington-licensed attorney and the panel has environmental law expertise. The bill sponsor and supporters from business and conservation groups said it was a narrow, consensus-based change intended to improve efficiency and predictability. ELUHO’s director supported the concept but flagged technical issues in the bill language about attorney and Growth Management Hearings Board member qualifications. HB 2416 would provide no-cost allowances under the Climate Commitment Act to Spokane’s waste-to-energy facility, which is not currently covered until the second compliance period. Supporters, including Spokane officials, labor, and local partners, said the facility protects a sole-source aquifer, provides waste disposal and electricity for about 13,000 homes, and faces large compliance costs that could raise rates and threaten jobs. Opponents from environmental groups and Ecology argued the bill would give the facility preferential treatment, subsidize most of its emissions through 2050, and fail to ensure real emissions reductions; AWB raised concern about market impacts if new allowances are added. No vote was taken. HB 2373 would require electric utilities to offer monthly bill discount programs with tiered income levels, expanded outreach and enrollment, and updated reporting on low-income energy assistance. The sponsor said the bill is meant to make assistance more consistent and accessible statewide, while utilities and rural co-ops warned it could create unfunded mandates and significant rate increases for non-low-income customers, especially in smaller systems. Supporters from community action agencies, Commerce, and some utilities said monthly assistance is needed because energy burdens are rising and current programs are patchwork, though several urged pairing the bill with state funding or amendments. The committee heard extensive testimony but took no final action on any of the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why is there so much yard waste?
• The pilot program from 2010 seemed a reasonable way to recycle certain types of waste, but animal waste
• Why is there so much yard waste?
• The pilot program from 2010 seemed a reasonable way to recycle certain types of waste, but animal waste
• The pilot program from 2010 seemed a reasonable way to recycle certain types of waste, but animal waste

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met to consider three bills before moving to its budget presentation. HB 843, relating to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds, was explained as a set of clarifying changes to improve budget flexibility, including use of certain trust funds for law enforcement and other conservation-related purposes. After questions about whether the bill would shift resources away from conservation, an amendment removed the sections dealing with the Administrative Trust Fund and the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund. The amended bill received support in public testimony and was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 295, which directs the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026 based on prior recycling recommendations. Supporters, including students involved in an “Ought to Be a Law” program and representatives from the waste and recycling industry, said the bill would create a roadmap for improving recycling and waste diversion. An opponent argued the state should instead enact more direct statutory changes on issues such as food waste, yard waste, and manure handling rather than study them further. Members praised the student participation and the bill passed. HB 339, creating a temporary alternative credentialing pathway for surveyors and mappers, was presented as a response to workforce shortages and an aging profession. The sponsor said the bill would help meet demand while preserving oversight, and an amendment added a four-year work requirement and adjusted renewal provisions. After brief supportive debate, the amended bill passed. The subcommittee then received its Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget proposal, which emphasized spending reductions, vacant-position cuts, and a smaller overall budget than the current year while still funding water resources, Everglades restoration, resiliency, land management, cleanup programs, agriculture facilities, and other projects. Members closed by thanking the chair for an inclusive budget process, and the meeting adjourned after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• goes in the infectious waste barrel and the other non-infectious waste can go in the general waste barrel
• </c><01:01:52.320><c> Again,</c> the hazardous waste number. Again, the hazardous waste number.
• </c> unlawful shipment of infectious waste. unlawful shipment of infectious waste.
• So, hospitals being medical waste generators are not the only people who generate infectious waste.
• waste.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And really our goal is in line with the state's waste hierarchies that we don't want to create waste,
• And really our goal is in line with the state's waste hierarchies that we don't want to create waste,
• And really our goal is in line with the state's waste hierarchies that we don't want to create waste,
• Solid waste and RDF facilities that produce RDF and recover materials out of the waste stream.
• about electronic waste.

Keywords: 1183, house

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.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• it on waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Speaker, we are wasting money in Washington State and we are not getting what we need.
• blush or balk at that, going to the general fund where I believe it will most assuredly almost be wasted
• Speaker, about all the waste in the general fund budget.
• Speaker, that, you know, we've had laws in the tax code and laws in our country to promote the nuclear

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

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.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 01:15 Member Comments 01:43 SB 29 Discussion 05:18 SB 29 Roll Call Vote 09:44 SB 49 Discussion 11:29 SB 49 Roll Call Vote 22:29, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representatives Paschal and Winter, concerning promoting workforce development opportunities in Colorado's nuclear
• plastic materials at a location that does not have a certificate of designation to operate as a solid waste

Keywords: 981, all

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.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

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.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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

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