Committee takes straw poll to endorse Environment Committee amendment to S.124; state agencies oppose

A legislative committee held a straw poll Thursday indicating support for the Environment Committee’s amendment to S.124, but the panel took no formal vote and did not take live testimony before signaling its intent to advance the amendment.

The panel’s informal show-of-hands produced what members described as seven members in favor and one abstention; a named participant, Greg, said he would “abstain… I don’t feel like I have quite the information” after joining the meeting late. The committee chair said advocates may submit written testimony and the panel would revisit the amendment the following morning.

The result came after Michael Grady, a committee staff presenter, “walked us through that amendment from an house environment,” according to participants. Committee member Michelle said she did not believe the changes were substantial and offered support: “I don’t feel like the changes are that substantial. I support the amendment as it is.”

Committee members noted they had received a joint letter from the Agency of Agriculture and the Agency of Natural Resources opposing the amendment. One member told colleagues to check their email and the committee page for the agency letter; committee members described water advocates as likely supportive based on earlier testimony in Environment Committee proceedings.

Aaron, speaking on the committee record, summarized the agencies’ posture on cross‑jurisdictional standards, saying the Secretary of Natural Resources “has always had the opportunity to be above… never below” federal requirements such as the Clean Water Act, language committee members raised while discussing state-agency authority.

Members also discussed an unrelated measure, S.45, on nuisance protection, which the committee added to its docket for discussion and said it planned to vote out of committee before adjournment the next day if scheduling allowed. The chair asked members to monitor texts and said the committee expected to be on the floor at 9:30 a.m. and to hold any brief committee action before that time if needed.

Next steps: the committee will accept written testimony on the S.124 amendment, reconvene the following morning for further consideration, and aims to hold a formal committee vote after reviewing written submissions and any additional input.