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House passes compromise hazardous-waste fee bill after long floor debate
Summary
After several rounds of amendments and lengthy floor debate, the House passed Substitute Senate Bill 25, a compromise that raises some hazardous- and nonhazardous-waste fees, adds reciprocity rules for out-of-state generators and includes a training appropriation; the measure passed the House 62–8 and will return to the Senate.
The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 21 passed Substitute Senate Bill 25, a bill that revises fees charged for hazardous and nonhazardous waste and adds new administrative provisions, after a prolonged floor debate and multiple amendments.
Representative Ellenson, the floor sponsor, summarized the measure and the technical amendments adopted on the pink sheet. He said the bill ‘‘increases the out of state waste from the current $20 a ton to $35 a ton’’ and raises the hazardous-waste fee for in-state generators with a phased approach, and ‘‘appropriates a hundred or $500,000 to the division of comprehensive emergency management division for emergency response training.’’
Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill balances environmental protection, public safety and economic practicality. Supporters argued the compromise will strengthen Utah’s ability to regulate incoming hazardous waste while preserving local cleanup projects. Critics warned higher fees could strain in-state businesses and risk illegal dumping.
Amendments and key debate: The floor adopted a pink-sheet amendment that established a tonnage-based ‘‘base’’ for nonhazardous waste receiving facilities and debated an amendment by Representative Hayman to expand fee coverage to federal facilities and to cover certain on-site burning; that proposal was defeated on a division vote. Representative Norm Nielsen offered a compromise amendment described on the floor as a middle ground between an earlier House bill and a Senate proposal; the compromise included tiered fees and grandfathering of current Superfund cleanup projects at lower rates.
On the floor, opponents argued the increases could amount to a heavy hit for in‑state industry and prompt job losses; supporters, including members who cited neighboring states’ fee schedules, said the compromise kept Utah competitively priced while improving oversight. Representative Pignanelli cautioned that excessively high fees could create ‘‘a black market’’ and illegal dumping; other members said the negotiated rates were not so steep as to produce that outcome.
Vote and next steps: The House recorded 62 affirmative votes and 8 negative votes to pass Substitute Senate Bill 25 as amended. The bill will be returned to the Senate for consideration of the House amendments.
The House’s action does not itself implement regulatory detail; affected rates, phase‑in schedules and administrative rules will depend on the final enrolled bill and subsequent rulemaking.
