Committee Summary for House Environment and Agriculture (05/13/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB302 2024-1453h 00:09:17.040 - 9:09:43 AM	Public Hearing	requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners.	Pearl, Howard (R)[C+]2024

SB302 2024-1453h: Representative Patenza Support00:09:17.040 - 9:09:43 AM; Representative Patenza introduced a non-germane amendment to SB302. The amendment aims to ensure that the solid waste facility site evaluation committee (SEC) proposed by the governor in the budget bill (HB2) has its own standalone bill. The rationale is to preserve the extensive work and language developed for the SEC, which spans 13 pages and includes critical components such as moratorium language and public benefit information. This amendment is crucial to prevent the loss of this language if the budget bill does not pass, ensuring the SEC's establishment and functionality.
SB302 2024-1453h: Adam Finkele, North Country Support00:13:44.800 - 9:14:10 AM; Adam Finkele, a national expert in environmental science and a New Hampshire voter, expressed strong support for the non-germane amendment to SB302. He emphasized the importance of the SEC in evaluating public harms and benefits of landfill projects. Finkele highlighted the need for a three-year moratorium to address deficiencies in landfill applications and to develop better waste management strategies. He also suggested improvements to the SEC's composition, including the necessity of a scientist on the panel and addressing potential conflicts of interest by considering past financial relationships.
SB302 2024-1453h: Henry Veu, Waste Management, Rochester Support00:39:47.280 - 9:40:13 AM; Henry Veu, representing Waste Management, supported the amendment but sought clarification on its language to ensure that expansions within already permitted landfill areas do not trigger a review by the SEC. He explained that their current operations in Rochester are expected to last until 2036, and any future expansions would maintain the same annual throughput without increasing pollution. Veu proposed specific language changes to the amendment to clarify that permits for constructing and operating new cells at existing facilities would not require SEC approval if they do not increase the annual throughput by over 100,000 tons.
SB302 2024-1453h: Tom Tower, Whitefield, Vice President North Country Alliance for Balanced Change Support00:57:15.119 - 9:57:41 AM; Tom Tower expressed gratitude to the committee for their efforts in pushing forward the SEC through the amendment to SB302. He emphasized the urgency and importance of establishing the SEC outside of the budget bill due to uncertainties in the legislative process. Tower did not delve into the specifics of the SEC or moratorium but focused on the committee's proactive approach in ensuring the SEC's progress.
SB302 2024-1453h: Mike Whimsat, Director of Waste Management Division, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Support01:00:04.480 - 10:00:30 AM; Mike Whimsat expressed support for the governor's policy goals regarding the solid waste facility site evaluation committee as outlined in the HP2 trailer bill. He noted that changes were made to the bill in the House Finance Committee and offered to answer any questions from the committee.
SB302 2024-1453h: Representative Germana Information Only01:01:02.240 - 10:01:28 AM; Representative Germana thanked Director Whimsat for his work with the committee on language from HB215 concerning net public benefit, which was incorporated into the governor's proposal. He raised a question about potential tension between references to 'substantial public benefit' on page three and 'net public benefit' on page 14 of the proposed amendment, noting they refer to different RSAs.
SB302 2024-1453h: Mike Whimsat, Director of Waste Management Division, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Information Only01:02:21.359 - 10:02:47 AM; Mike Whimsat responded to Representative Germana's question, clarifying that the language on page three is existing statutory language that is part of SB302 and unrelated to HP2. He explained that the language is being slightly amended to address background investigations. He did not see a tension between the two public benefit terms, explaining the statutory public benefit determination under 149-M:11 and its relevance to capacity need.
SB302 2024-1453h: Representative Germana Support01:04:36.480 - 10:05:02 AM; Representative Germana expressed relief and support for the clarification provided by Director Whimsat. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the language from SB302 passes through a committee of conference, as he intends to be a member of that committee and will work to ensure the original intent of the bill is maintained.
SB302 2024-1453h: Mike Whimsat, Director of Waste Management Division, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Support01:04:36.480 - 10:05:02 AM; Mike Whimsat reiterated full support for SB302, a bill requested by the department and sponsored by Senator Pearl. He emphasized the importance of the statutory provisions for conducting federally authorized background investigations and assured the committee that the intent is not to block or kill the bill but to ensure its key provisions survive in a committee of conference.
SB302 2024-1453h: Representative Bixby Information Only01:05:43.839 - 10:06:09 AM; Representative Bixby raised a question about the judicial review section on page 12, line 17 of the amendment, asking if RSA 541 should be RSA 541-A. Mike Whimsat acknowledged the question's validity and suggested the committee consult with the Office of Legislative Services to ensure accuracy.

Aron, Judy(Chairman)(R)[A]2024	King, Seth(Clerk)(R)[A]2024	Barbour, Liz(V Chairman)(R)
Gruber, James(D)	Bixby, Peter(D)[CT]2024	Sofikitis, Catherine(D)[D-]2024
Freeman, Lisa(R)[B+]2018	Comtois, Barbara(R)[A]2024	Scully, Kevin(R)[A-]2018
Howard, Molly(D)[F]2024	Wheeler, Jonah(D)[D+]2024	Haskins, Linda(D)[CT]2024
Potenza, Kelley(R)[A]2024	Kenny, Catherine(R)[B+]2024	Germana, Nicholas(D)[CT]2024
Miner, Laurence(R)