Split vote sends budget, policy bill out of environment committee

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) doesn’t expect everyone will agree on every aspect of a fairly comprehensive finance and policy bill approved Wednesday by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

“But I think we can all agree that prevention is better than cleanup,” he said.

In his estimation, the bill he sponsors could help prevent potential problems coming from neonicotinoids pesticides, concentration of polluters in specific areas, and excess packaging waste.

“It provides for jobs and provides for people,” Hansen said.

Members sent HF3911, as amended, to the House Ways and Means Committee on a 9-7 vote. Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL-Aurora) joined Republicans in voting against the bill but said he will continue to work with Hansen on issues of concern.

Rep. John Burkel (R-Badger) is troubled by language defining certain agricultural products, setting new rules for off-road vehicles and loosening rules on elk herd management, saying the people most directly affected aren’t being taken into account.

“This bill has tons of provisions that are bad for business, bad for farming and bad for people who enjoy the outdoors,” he said.

Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) believes the bill would add to the time it takes for businesses to get Pollution Control Agency permits. He said Minnesota already takes longer than any other state.

Responding to concerns that the bill could cost jobs, Hansen cited a report from the Pollution Control Agency that removing PFAS from wastewater could cost $12 billion to $25 billion over the next 20 years. Attempts to regulate the chemicals years ago were thwarted.

“They said we’ve got to have the jobs,” Hansen said. “Well now we have the cleanup.”

Before voting, the committee adopted several amendments, including some that would:

• place the rusty patched bumble bee, which is the state bee, on the state’s list of endangered species;
• establish and fund an electric lawn and snowblower rebate program, similar to an e-bike rebate program passed last year. Using $1 million from the environment fund, people could get a $1,500 rebate to buy electric equipment. Priority would be given to people living in environmental justice areas;
• clarify definitions in the Packaging Waste Reduction Act, putting an emphasis on human health;
• remove a provision regulating neonicotinoid pesticide use on soybean seeds; and
• require a Pollution Control Agency report by Jan. 15, 2025, using funds leftover from a 2023 appropriation to recommend possible strategies for manufacturers that used PFAS in their products pay the cost of removing the chemicals from wastewater.