Committee backs SB621 to clarify state rules so Oklahoma firms can incinerate medical waste

Senate Bill 621, aimed at clarifying Oklahoma rules so state‑based waste companies can incinerate medical waste, passed the Senate Energy Committee 9-1.

Senator Reinhardt, the bill's sponsor, said the measure removes ambiguity that currently prevents Oklahoma firms — which the sponsor said meet federal Environmental Protection Agency standards — from offering in‑state medical waste incineration services. "This would effectively change law, clarify, a little bit of language to allow Oklahoma based waste companies, to do what similar companies in our neighboring states, can do when it as it relates to waste incineration for medical waste," the sponsor said.

During committee questions, staff and the sponsor discussed fiscal impacts. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) estimated an average annual reduction of $346,560 in solid‑waste fee revenue to DEQ's land protection division if the bill moves these disposal activities in‑state. DEQ and members discussed that the aggregate fee reduction stems from fewer out‑of‑state disposal transactions that currently generate state fee revenue.

Senators asked whether the fiscal estimate was prepared by staff and whether DEQ would attend a follow‑up session; the sponsor indicated the committee would schedule DEQ to answer technical questions. Senators also questioned potential regulatory gaps if a federal enforcement agency were to significantly scale back activity; the sponsor characterized that hypothetical as "pretty broad and long" and declined to predict that scenario.

The committee recorded 9 ayes and 1 nay; the clerk declared Senate Bill 621 passed out of committee.