Committee Hears Bill Narrowing Asbestos Definition for Aggregates, Citing Cost and Safety Trade-offs

House Bill 2,605 would raise the statutory threshold for defining asbestos-containing building materials from 0.1% to 0.25% by weight or area and exempt certain commercial aggregates, asphalt and concrete at or below 0.25% from labeling and some prohibitions; sponsors said the change reduces construction costs and supports local quarries, while witnesses said worker protections must remain in place.