Committee approves radon-testing amendment, earmarks $27M for public-school remediation
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Summary
The committee voted to incorporate amendment HB 2653 into HB 289, requiring five-year radon testing and mitigation in public schools and reserving $27,000,000 in a restricted account for testing and remediation. Members debated excluding nonpublic schools from the funding stream and whether the transfer could create future unfunded mandates.
The House Environmental Committee voted to report House Bill 289 as amended by HB 2653, a package that would require periodic radon testing and remediation in public K–12 school buildings and creates a dedicated funding transfer to support mitigation.
Sponsor Rep. Tim Briggs described the amendment as a 'gut and replace omnibus amendment to provide funding, remove nonpublic schools, and update reporting requirements.' Briggs told the committee the plan calls for testing every five years and mitigation when radon levels exceed EPA thresholds; he also said estimates for mitigation 'are in the tens of millions of dollars.'
Members debated scope and funding. Rep. Mahaffey and others urged that all children—public and nonpublic—should have the same protection; Briggs and Rep. Isaacson explained that the amendment aligns eligibility with an existing 'school environmental repair' restricted account and that the current $27,000,000 transfer would be reserved for public-school remediation. 'To the extent possible, the department shall prioritize reimbursements for economically disadvantaged school entities,' Evan (committee staff) read from the amendment.
Opponents and some members worried the transfer could be temporary and create an unfunded mandate if the account were not re-funded in future budgets. Chair Rader repeatedly emphasized concerns about local control and the budget process but supported seeking funding now. Rep. Pew noted mitigation costs for a large 65,000-square-foot school could exceed $150,000, and asked how the department would prioritize limited funds. Briggs and members said the amendment includes prioritization language and that the transfer must be budgeted. The committee adopted the amendment and voted to report HB 289 as amended to the full House.
Next steps include floor consideration and budget negotiations to secure the funding line; members flagged the possibility of follow-up technical fixes on eligibility and prioritization.
