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Committee sends H 555 to the floor with recommendation to centralize solid waste regulation under DEQ
Summary
H 555 rewrites the Idaho Solid Waste Facilities Act to place primary regulatory authority with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rather than health districts, aiming for consistent statewide oversight; the committee sent the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
Representative Weber presented H 555 as a comprehensive rewrite of the Idaho Solid Waste Facilities Act that would place the primary regulatory authority with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) instead of maintaining authority split with health districts. Weber said the change was intended to create a single accountable authority, improve accountability, reduce red tape, and modernize code while protecting public health and the environment.
Nate Francisco, representing Southern Idaho Solid Waste, told the committee centralization would allow more specialized expertise and reduce county-level conflicts of interest where counties both own landfills and fund local health districts. "Centralizing this authority to one agency allowed for more expertise in the area," Francisco said. Vice Chair Bjerke asked whether DEQ had the bandwidth and funding to take on the responsibility; Francisco said industry-funded user fees would fund the additional responsibilities. Senator Harris moved to send H 555 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and the motion carried by voice vote.
