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House passes bill exempting Department of Commerce grants and loans from MEPA review
Summary
House Bill 346 would exempt existing Department of Commerce grant and loan programs from MEPA review during application and reimbursement, a change supporters say removes duplicative environmental analysis for applicants; the House advanced the bill largely without floor opposition.
Representative Tuss sponsored House Bill 346, a measure the sponsor described as a "red tape reduction" bill supported by the governor's office and unanimous in committee. Tuss said the bill would exempt Department of Commerce grant and loan programs — including the veterans home loan mortgage program, the wood products industry loan program and workforce training programs — from MEPA review during the application or reimbursement process.
Tuss said the exemption would remove duplicative environmental analyses, save tax dollars and speed grant and loan disbursements to small communities and businesses. Representative Gist spoke in support, saying the bill reduces delays in disbursements and helps small communities complete projects.
The House adopted the measure on second reading with a recorded vote of 99 in favor and 1 opposed; the clerk recorded that "House Bill 346 has passed second reading." Supporters emphasized streamlining and alignment with a gubernatorial executive order to reduce regulatory burden; opponents were not prominent on the floor.
Why it matters: HB 346 narrows the set of state-funded programs subject to MEPA review during application and reimbursement, potentially changing timelines for projects that rely on Department of Commerce funding and affecting environmental analysis requirements for those projects.
