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Committee adopts study‑style amendment to bill after lawmakers flag medical‑waste safety concerns
Summary
The Ways and Means Committee adopted a DE amendment turning House File 40‑17 into a study of medical‑waste separation failures after sponsors and members described safety and operational disruptions at regional waste centers; the bill was referred to the general register.
Chair Torkoson moved House File 40‑17 before the committee and asked Representative Johnson to explain the DE amendment.
Representative Johnson said the DE converts the measure from prescriptive requirements into establishment of a study to determine why medical waste separation failures are occurring and how best to address them. He described incidents in the Twin Cities and at regional waste and energy centers where medical waste — including syringes and contaminated materials — had been found in general trash, creating safety hazards and temporary shutdowns for cleanup and investigation.
"This is a safety issue," Representative Johnson said, noting worker safety incidents and the operational and financial burdens of cleanup and investigations. He told committee members the study would examine how much waste is mis‑sorted, who needs education and whether enforcement or other remedies are necessary.
The chair moved adoption of the DE amendment; the committee adopted DE‑1 by voice vote and referred House File 40‑17, as amended, to the general register.
