Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agency Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adopts amendment to allow CPI adjustments as it backs DEQ fee increase bill
Summary
Lawmakers adopted an amendment to HB 7 58 to add statutory fee maximums and permit CPI‑based adjustments; sponsor said the increases aim to align DEQ fee revenue with expenditures and reduce reliance on the state general fund.
The House Natural Resources Committee voted to adopt an amendment and report House Bill 7 58 favorable. The bill would update Department of Environmental Quality fees for the first time since 2016, the sponsor said, to recover program costs and reduce pressure on the state general fund.
Representative Brass presented the measure on behalf of the agency and described fee changes that vary by media (air, water, waste) and a fiscal note projecting increased fee revenue in coming years. Amendment set 21‑38 was adopted; amendment 4 adds statutory maximum fees by media and allows periodic adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index so the department can maintain revenue sufficiency without returning annually to the Legislature.
Staff and the undersecretary explained the amendment is intended to align fee caps with constitutional language and permit CPI adjustments. Committee members asked about fiscal notes and confirmed the bill’s goal is to decrease general‑fund dependence. After brief discussion the committee reported the bill favorable by voice vote.
