Legislative committee backs $17.5 million omnibus water and environment funding bill

Senate Bill 33, the annual omnibus water and environment funding bill, won a do-pass recommendation from the Joint Appropriations Committee after a multi-hour presentation and public testimony from water-system stakeholders.

The bill would authorize about $17.5 million in special appropriations from dedicated funding sources for fiscal 2026, including $3 million for the state water resources management system (SWRMS) projects, $12 million for the Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, and $2.5 million for the Solid Waste Management Program. Committee members were told the funds come from statutory dedicated sources — lottery revenue, petroleum release compensation and inspection fees, loan repayments and tipping/tire fees — not the general fund.

Tina McFarling, environmental funding…