Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House committee hears sharp debate over bill letting DNR sell ecosystem services on trust lands
Summary
Supporters say HB 2,170 would give the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tools to diversify trust revenue and meet climate goals; opponents — counties, school districts and timber groups — warned 125‑year ecosystem contracts could reduce timber supply, harm mills and threaten local budgets without stronger safeguards.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard hours of testimony on Jan. 28 on House Bill 2,170, which would authorize the Department of Natural Resources to enter carbon and other ecosystem-services markets on public trust lands.
"We are asking for the authority to diversify revenue streams through ecosystem services to provide another tool," Kate Dean, policy director at DNR, told the committee, stressing the department sees market participation as an option, not a mandate. DNR staff said projects could include carbon sequestration, water and air filtration, and that Board of Natural Resources oversight would be required for contracts and minimum payments.
Supporters told lawmakers that existing carbon markets and registry models provide examples to study. "Only a handful of projects have…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
