An Act to create 20.115 (7) (u) and 93.74 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for regional biodigesters, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
SB878 would create a new state grant program within the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to support planning for regional biodigesters. The bill defines the funding source as the environmental fund and appropriates $250,000 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for these grants. Biodigesters are facilities that break down organic material into gases, liquids, and solids, and the bill is aimed at helping communities or project sponsors develop regional biodigester projects.
The bill also creates a new statutory section, 93.74, directing DATCP to administer the grant program and to promulgate rules for its implementation. In practical terms, SB878 would add a specific state program for early-stage biodigester planning and would give the agency authority to establish eligibility, application, and administration requirements through rulemaking. The bill was introduced as a fiscal measure and ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 on March 23, 2026.
Impact
SB878 would amend the statutes by creating s. 20.115 (7) (u) to appropriate environmental fund dollars for regional biodigester planning grants and by creating s. 93.74 to establish the grant program and authorize administrative rules. Its effect would be to direct state resources toward renewable energy, manure management, and organic waste processing infrastructure planning, with potential benefits for agricultural producers, local governments, and project developers interested in biodigester facilities. Because the bill did not pass, it did not change current law.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable or at least supportive sentiment among the bill’s introducers, as reflected by a broad set of Senate and Assembly coauthors from both chambers. The bill was referred to the Agriculture and Revenue Committee, indicating it was treated as an agriculture and environmental funding proposal. However, no committee transcript or recorded vote is available here, and the bill ultimately failed to advance under Senate Joint Resolution 1, so there is no evidence of formal legislative consensus.
Contention
The main policy questions likely concern whether the state should use environmental fund dollars for biodigester planning grants, how broadly the program should be available, and whether the public return justifies the appropriation. Potential points of contention include the use of state funds for a relatively specialized infrastructure program, the role of DATCP versus other agencies in administering the grants, and whether biodigesters should be prioritized as an environmental and agricultural strategy. Because no hearing transcript is provided, specific objections or supporters cannot be identified beyond the bill’s bipartisan group of authors.
Crossfiled
An Act to create 20.115 (7) (u) and 93.74 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for regional biodigesters, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)