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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & NUMBER OF LEGISLATION: In a legislature that holds a supermajority of Republicans, it became very evident that out of the gate it was the intent of leadership to cut the budget down in case of a shortfall due to economic uncertainty and to compensate for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Legislature passed a FY 2027 General Fund budget of $5.62 billion in general fund spending, which is slightly lower than the previous budget. Approximately 1,033 drafts of legislation became Routing Slips of which 724 were introduced in a committee. 349 bills passed both houses during the 2026 legislative session.

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KEY 2026 LEGISLATIVE ACTION

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VETERINARIANS: Idaho is in desperate need of large animal veterinarians to assist producers in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. There are approximately 50 cattle veterinarians working in 16 counties across Idaho and fewer veterinarians proficient in sheep medicine. Even more concerning is that 24% of cattle veterinarians are over 60 years old. Not only are veterinarians spread sparsely, but they are quickly aging toward retirement. These statistics are solely around cattle veterinarians; sheep have different diseases and issues that affect them. Due to this environment, veterinarians are not able to cover nearly the number of calls that a small animal veterinarian is able to attend to. S1335 will help us change this course and set sideboards around which students receive state funding. S1335a specifically set out that students receiving state funding for tuition will have to practice part of their time in large animal agriculture. Per S1335a, agricultural animal shall be defined as cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. Additionally, there will be a minimum number of hours that a veterinarian student will need to complete on a per year basis to meet the requirements. Veterinarians are a necessity for the livestock industry to succeed.

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ENDOWMENT LANDS: Senate Joint Resolution 103 proposed a constitutional amendment outlining how Idaho would manage public lands if they were ever transferred from federal ownership to the state. This is a proactive approach in response to the Senator Mike Lee proposal to sell off public lands last summer. The resolution would require those lands to be placed in a new lands trust that would prevent them from being sold. For producers who rely on federal grazing allotments, this measure is significant — even if no transfer is immediately pending. Our main purpose in intervening on this issue is to make sure there is language to preserve federal grazing permits so that those can be maintained in a transfer, gift, or purchase. After much discussion, the board of directors landed neutral on this legislation. This is proactive legislation, but there is quite a bit of speculation around whether lands will actually be given to the state to manage in the future. SJR103 was brought by Senator Ben Adams from Nampa. House Joint Resolution 10 was on the other side of the rotunda and would amend Idaho’s Constitution to significantly change how state endowment lands are managed. Currently, those lands must prioritize maximum long-term financial returns for beneficiaries such as public schools. HJR10 would have allowed consideration of long-term sustainability that prioritizes revenue-generating activities that specifically call out grazing. It also highlighted the calling for public access. The livestock industry has long maintained that responsible grazing improves land productivity and wildfire resilience. HJR10 was brought by Representative Britt Raybould and Representative James Petzke. While none of these resolutions moved forward, they added gasoline on a fire that has been burning and will likely continue to grow.

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DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER COMMERCE ACT: Many livestock producers sell directly to consumers in their local communities. Those shares are normally split by whole, halves or quarters. The passage of S1283 allows an animal share to be sold in any size or portion as long as the ownership interest of each animal is established prior to slaughter. Additionally, slaughter must be conducted through a USDA certified or custom exempt butcher facility. Overall, this is a positive step forward in providing local communities with locally raised, real protein from livestock producers in those communities.

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MERGERS & EFFICIENCIES: Livestock operators utilize the services provided by the Office of Species Conservation and did not want to see those services diluted through a merge with another agency. We were involved in discussions in the past several months involving the merger between OEMR and OSC. Those services include but are not limited to maintaining and taking a coordinated stance on enhancing federal and state collaboration and advocacy related to species on the Endangered Species list. Additionally, OSC has made a tremendous effort in coordinating federal grants to assist producers in depredation losses due to wolves and to assist with prevention control measures. Additionally, OSC keeps and maintains the data related to types, locations, and amounts of depredations that occur across the state. This is essential data for livestock producers. Furthermore, late in the session, the State Historical Preservation Office was merged into the new SMEC office. Another merger that occurred dealt with the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission move from Idaho State Department of Agriculture to the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This merger occurred after quite a bit of thorough and thoughtful preparation before hitting prime time. Additionally, a resolution was passed to continue reviewing and following the merger through the process.

 

PRIVATE PROPERTY & PUBLIC LANDS: Property rights are always top of mind in Idaho, and that definitely showed up again this session. S1326a codifies longstanding 4th amendment protections into Idaho statute, marking a clear win for landowners. It clarifies that government employees generally cannot enter private land not open to the public without a warrant, landowner consent, or exigent circumstances. The bill also creates a civil penalty for violations and requires federal agents to notify the county sheriff before executing a warrant on private land. Existing exceptions still apply, including emergencies such as hot pursuit and other lawful duties. The legislature sent a pretty clear message this session with SJM111 that Idaho’s public lands are highly valued and should remain public. The memorial reinforces what most Idahoans already believe and will likely be helpful in pushing back on any future efforts to transfer or sell large amounts of federal land. It also helps shift the conversation toward how public lands are managed, rather than whether they should stay public. There were also a couple of constitutional amendments that didn’t make it across the finish line, including proposals around how transferred lands would be managed and changes to how endowment lands are prioritized.

 

WATER: For water users, the 2026 legislative session was a success. On the domestic side, S1222 builds on last year’s domestic exemption legislation. The bill provides targeted clarifications to ensure the law is applied as intended. It defines a “subdivision” as five lots for purposes of the exemption and clarifies that the new requirements only apply to projects filed on or after July 1, 2025, helping avoid retroactive impacts. Cloud seeding was a major topic this year. S1269 passed, adding definitions, transparency, and reporting requirements for cloud seeding programs. At the same time, more restrictive proposals, including H669, which would have fully repealed cloud seeding in Idaho, and H977, which would have placed significant limitations on operations and shifted oversight to the legislature were introduced but ultimately held in committee. Other water related bills this session included S1304, which clarifies ditch easement rights, making it easier for operators to maintain and manage irrigation infrastructure without additional landowner approvals. On funding, the legislature continued investing in water infrastructure, including $30 million annually for water projects (S1363) and ongoing support ($1 million) for research through Idaho Water Resource Research Institute (IWRRI). Lastly, H789 was signed into law finalizing the Coeur d’Alene Tribe water rights settlement and providing long-term certainty for water users in North Idaho while protecting existing rights.

 

IMMIGRATION / ILLEGAL ALIEN FOCUSED BILLS: The Idaho Legislature considered more than a dozen immigration- related bills during the 2026 session, ranging from mandatory E-Verify requirements to proposals creating penalties for employing unauthorized workers and expanding law enforcement reporting requirements. While several of these bills advanced, only one S1260 made it to the Governor’s desk. The bill primarily updates Idaho’s existing illegal entry law to better align with federal law, broadening the definition of illegal entry while adding clarifications rather than significantly expanding enforcement. Several late-session efforts to advance more aggressive immigration policies ultimately did not make it across the finish line.

 

NEW LARGE LOADS: As data centers and other large electrical loads become a much bigger part of the conversation in Idaho, lawmakers passed H911 to establish a clear framework for managing that growth while protecting existing customers. H911 requires the public utilities commission to ensure these projects do not negatively impact current ratepayers and places responsibility on developers to cover the cost of any needed infrastructure, rather than shifting those costs onto others. H911 also strengthens oversight and planning around future large-load growth, aiming to support economic development without increasing rates for agricultural, rural, and residential customers.

 

TRANSPORTATION: Two transportation bills signed into law this session have direct implications for agricultural operations and how equipment and trucks move on Idaho roads. H664 removes separate speed limits for trucks and passenger vehicles on state highways, based on research showing that differences in speed between vehicles are a major contributor to crashes. By allowing traffic to move at more consistent speeds, H664 aims to reduce frequent passing, lane changes, and congestion that can increase both the likelihood and severity of accidents. S1224 clarifies when slow-moving vehicles are expected to pull over, allowing drivers to use reasonable judgment when a safe turnout is not available, and confirming certain exemptions for vehicles actively performing their duties.

 

CLOSING: We hope you have found the communication related to legislative issues complete and valuable to understanding what happened in Boise from January through March. Our weekly Capitol Review is designed to inform you each week about issues that impact the agriculture and surrounding natural resource industries. If you have specific questions related to the legislation discussed in this report, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

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This review is provided by Association Management Group (Waitley Associates, Batt Associates, LP Associates & Agriculture, and Rooks Associates).  https://www.amgidaho.com/

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OREGON

 

The 2026 Legislative Session adjourned sine die late Friday afternoon, two days before the constitutional deadline. Compared to the 2025 Session, this year’s short session concluded largely without disruption. There were two brief Republican floor boycotts in the House and Senate, each lasting only one day, but neither prevented the legislature from completing its major business. As explained below, from a business perspective, we avoided some very negative bills, made small improvements to permitting, updated some existing economic development incentives, but passed a controversial tax bill that many argue set the state back in improving Oregon’s already dismal business climate.

 

Democrats succeeded in advancing most, if not all, of their priorities for the short session. Major actions included disconnecting from portions of the federal tax code, balancing the state budget, including the Oregon Department of Transportation’s transportation budget, moving the statewide transportation tax referral from the November general election to the May primary, establishing a potential path to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland through a Moda Center renovation package, and passing a modest economic development bill intended to complement Governor Kotek’s “Prosperity Agenda.”

 

Another notable theme of the session was a coordinated legislative effort by majority Democrats to position Oregon in opposition to potential policy changes from the Trump Administration. Lawmakers advanced a series of bills reinforcing Oregon’s sanctuary laws, expanding anti-discrimination protections, strengthening privacy protections for health care providers and patients, limiting state cooperation with certain federal enforcement actions, and of course disconnecting from certain tax benefits provided for under HR 1 (“The One, Big, Beautiful Act”).

 

While these actions provided clear political messaging for the majority caucus, the session produced relatively little legislation broadly viewed as improving Oregon’s economy, cost of living, or overall business climate. Entering the session, there appeared to be growing recognition that Oregon’s business environment needed improvement because it consistently ranks near the bottom nationally and has an unemployment rate well above the national average required attention. However, rather than pursuing meaningful reforms to address the tax and regulatory challenges facing the state’s economy, legislators largely deferred those discussions for another year.

 

Beyond the session itself, Oregon faces significant fiscal challenges. State budget writers project a $5.5 billion gap in the state’s roughly $40 billion budget for the 2027–2029 biennium. Work to close that gap, through spending reductions, new revenue, or some combination of both, will begin in earnest soon. That conversation will unfold at a time when Oregon’s economic competitiveness and business climate remain major concerns, increasing the likelihood that lawmakers will debate both spending cuts and potential tax increases.

 

At the same time, the grassroots campaign currently working to refer the transportation tax package to voters may signal a broader trend. If successful, future tax increases could increasingly face voter referral efforts, adding another layer of uncertainty for lawmakers attempting to address the state’s fiscal challenges.

 

In addition, please find a description of the issues from session that may be of interest:

 

Transportation

 

SB 1599 - Transportation Referral to May (passed): SB 1599 moves the statewide referendum on the controversial gas tax and transportation fee increases from the November 2026 general election to the May 19, 2026 primary ballot. Supporters, primarily Democratic lawmakers and the Governor, argue that holding the vote earlier allows the state to address transportation funding shortfalls more quickly. Critics contend the change undermines the expectations of more than 250,000 petition signers who believed the vote would occur in November and may reduce voter participation due to typically lower primary turnout. Opponents have filed two lawsuits challenging the law, arguing that changing the election date after signatures were certified violates the referendum process and burdens voter rights, setting up a potential court battle.

 

ODOT Budget: During the 2026 short session, lawmakers confronted a significant funding shortfall at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Following the successful referendum on the state’s $4.3 billion transportation tax package, projected transportation revenues declined, creating a roughly $200 million gap in ODOT’s 2025–27 biennial budget. Without new revenue, the Legislature and the Governor worked to stabilize the agency through budget adjustments and temporary measures aimed at avoiding major service disruptions and layoffs while longer-term transportation funding debates continue. Most of the fixes involved shifting funds from programs such as Safe Routes to Schools and Connect Oregon into ODOT’s core operations and maintenance budget.

 

HB 4007 – Milk Trucks (passed): As part of a small transportation omnibus bill, sections 26-29 of HB 4007 directs ODOT to implement a five-year pilot program for allowing commercial motor vehicles up to 129,000 pounds to transport fluid milk products on select highways in Oregon. The bill ultimately passed and we will track implementation.

 

Budget

 

The Legislature used the short session to rebalance Oregon’s overall budget for the 2025–27 biennium after updated revenue forecasts showed the state would bring in less money than previously expected. Lawmakers directed agencies to reduce spending and adopted targeted cuts and delays to ensure the state maintained its constitutional requirement for a balanced budget. The approach relied primarily on modest agency reductions and program adjustments and raised approximately $300 million in new revenue by disconnecting state tax benefits from federal tax cuts. The good news is that FFA and OSU Statewide funding did not lose any ground this session. Overall, agency budget cuts were minimal and the legislature effectively kicked the can on major issues until the 2027 session.

 

Tax

 

SB 1507 - Disconnect (passed): The House passed SB 1507 that departs from federal tax conformity by curtailing Section 179 bonus depreciation, removing the state car-loan interest deduction, and disconnecting from the qualified small business stock deduction, resulting in higher near-term taxes on Oregon businesses and consumers while discouraging investment and major purchases in the state. This disconnect will raise roughly $300 million in revenue for the current biennia. In response, Representative Ed Diehl, who successfully referred the gas tax passed last fall to the ballot, announced he would work with the same Oregonians to refer this tax package as well. 

 

This bill did include a small jobs tax credit that would provide a $1,000 tax credit for businesses that create new jobs in a calendar year. The tax credit was later modified by HB 4084 and would only apply to advanced manufacturing.  Business Oregon is tasked with developing the tax credit application and details of how to apply for this credit are forthcoming.

 

Economic Development

 

HB 4084 - Governor’s Economic Development Bill (passed): HB 4084 establishes a Joint Permitting Council to coordinate and administer a new fast-track permitting program intended to speed up approvals for large economic development projects. It directs several state agencies to publish, within 120 days of the bill taking effect, a catalog of permits related to economic development that their agencies can issue. The goal is to provide greater transparency and streamline the permitting process for businesses seeking to invest or expand in Oregon. The measure also updates the enterprise zone program, including new requirements and eligibility thresholds, while also placing restrictions on the use of enterprise zone benefits for data centers. In addition, the bill included an appropriation to the Oregon Business Development Department for the Industrial Site Loan Fund.

 

Labor

 

HB 4147 – Shame List (failed): This bill was intended to develop a list of businesses (shame list) with employees that utilize the Oregon Health Plan subsidy, with the goal to make those companies pay fees to cover the cost of the healthcare subsidies.  Although amended to prohibit naming companies and instead report the top 20 businesses by NIACS code, the bill died before session ended but previews a fight in 2027 over potential new business fees and taxes to help fund the lost federal funds for Medicaid.

 

HB 4111- Immigration Status (passed): This bill was designed to protect employees’ immigration status from federal immigration enforcement. The bill generally renders an individual’s immigration status inadmissible in a civil proceeding unless such status is an essential element of a party’s claim. It establishes two employment-claim exceptions, allowing the introduction of immigration status–related evidence through a confidential post-trial filing: 1) for a final removal order in an immigration proceeding solely to calculate damages for future wage loss, and 2) for a federal work authorization if the party was awarded reinstatement to a position. This bill passed largely on party lines.

 

HB 4089 - Criminalizing Wage Theft (passed): This bill was originally drafted to criminalize wage theft across different industry sectors.  It was narrowed to focus on construction contractors and subcontractors and clarifies when a person commits the crime of theft of services and establishes that a direct contractor or subcontractor who knowingly hires an unlicensed construction labor contractor commits a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class C felony for subsequent offenses. Criminalizing employment law violations is disturbing but we were happy to see this get significantly narrowed to certain issues that go beyond just employment law violations.

 

Environment and Permitting

 

SB 1541 - Climate Superfund (failed): The Senate Natural Resource and Wildfire Committee took testimony on SB 1541 that would have established a “Climate Superfund” program to recover the costs to the state associated with climate change from oil and gas producers. The bill passed out of committee but did not pass out of the Ways and Means Committee and died on adjournment.

 

HB 4102 - Receipts Authority (passed): The legislature heard loud and clear that Oregon’s permitting process takes too long and discourages private investment.  HB 4102 was designed to improve DEQ’s existing “receipts” authority allowing a private company to pay the agency to use third-party consultants to expedite permit approvals. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support.

 

HB 4020/HB 4021 – Permitting and Regulatory Reform (passed): HB 4021will require agencies to provide notice of regulatory changes before they can go into effect, giving businesses at least some time to prepare for new compliance obligations. HB 4020 requires DEQ (and some other agencies) to provide the statutory or regulatory authority for denying an application for a permit, provide guidance on how to contest the denial, and provide time limitations for a contest. It also requires these agencies to develop new performance measure by July 1, 2029, on the timeliness of permit and permit renewal processing and issuance, and to provide a description of what slows permit processing and issuance and what steps take the most time. These are modest improvements, but a recognition that Oregon’s permitting processes need significant improvement.

 

EPR (future uncertain): HB 4030 was introduced to create exemptions from Oregon’s EPR program.  However, during session, a U.S. District Court judge in Portland has issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act, also known as DEQ’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, for certain parties. In granting the injunction, Judge Michael Simon raised questions about whether the law complies with the Due Process Clause and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling currently applies only to the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and its members, allowing those entities to pause compliance with the program while the case proceeds.

 

In response, an Oregon industry coalition is exploring legal options to ensure the injunction is applied more broadly across all regulated sectors until the court reaches a final determination. A hearing on the merits of the case is scheduled for July 13, and the outcome could have significant implications for the future of Oregon’s EPR program and its implementation timeline. The bill was unable to advance due, in part, to this uncertainty.

 

Meat Labeling

 

SB 1577 failed to advance early in session.  The bill would have created new labeling requirements for plant-based protein and lab grown meat.  Food labeling continues to get attention from legislators.  Bills like these can create issues for growers and food companies depending on the label requirements. We expect this issue and potentially others to come back in 2027.

 

Campaign Finance Reform

 

The legislature also approved HB 4018, a bill making technical fixes to Oregon’s 2024 campaign finance reform law, which established the state’s first limits on political contributions and expanded disclosure requirements. The bill was intended to address implementation issues for the Secretary of State and the Elections Division as they prepare to roll out the new system. However, the measure became politically contentious, with critics arguing the changes could weaken elements of the voter-backed reforms. Some opponents are exploring a potential referral of the bill to voters, highlighting the ongoing political divide around campaign finance regulation in Oregon.

 

Elections Filing Deadlines

 

The filing deadline for the May primary election is Tuesday, March 10. Incumbents were required to file one week earlier, and by next week we will know the full slate of candidates. Attention will then quickly shift to the 2026 campaign season. We will provide a full campaign preview in the coming weeks.

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This review is provided by Romain Freese, LLC. https://www.rflawlobby.com/

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WASHINGTON

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Washington State legislators completed the 2026 legislative session on Thursday evening. The Legislature adjourned its regular session, Sine Die on March 12, at 8:25pm. Over the course of the 60 days, legislators focused on a 9.9% income tax above $1 million and expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit to support the lower-income households in the state. The week was filled with drama right down to Thursday afternoon when the fire alarms went off and interrupted floor votes in the Capitol building. Legislators rushed for the exits and fire trucks surrounded the building.

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The income tax bill was the real drama. SB 6346 was brought to the House floor for debate starting on Monday at 5:30pm. After about 80 floor amendments, 6 were adopted, the final vote was called for on Tuesday at 6:30pm. There were no extended breaks during the 25-hour debate and House Republicans spoke for 3 minutes each, on all the amendments and final passage. The bill passing was a foregone conclusion and when the dust settled 8 Democrats voted with the Republicans. Final tally was 51 to 46 with 1 excused.

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The new income tax would impact an estimated 30,000 taxpayers and generate $3.5 billion annually for state programs. Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged to sign the bill, marking the state’s first income tax since 1933. Tax collections would start in 2028. There will be legal challenges and ballot initiatives to try and repeal the new tax.

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Following passage of the income tax, Legislators approved a partial rollback of last year’s increase in the state’s estate tax rate, currently the highest in the nation, the Senate voted 39 to 10 on Thursday to concur with the House on the bill that would soften the increase enacted in the 2025 session. Last year, Legislators raised the top estate tax rate to 35%, well above the roughly 20% rate in Hawaii, with the highest rate applying to estates valued above $12 million after a $3 million exemption. The estate tax has generated about $535 million annually over the past five years, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue, and budget writers projected the higher rates could push collections above $600 million per year. The changes and lowering the rate back down will likely keep that revenue about the same.

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The $80.2 billion supplemental operating budget adds more spending to the $77.8 billion 2025–27 biennium budget. Budget writers made some light reductions in state spending with cuts of $143 million to childcare programs, $27 million to the Transition to Kindergarten program, and $22 million in administrative cuts, while major increases in the budget included $956 million in liability payouts and $71 million for Medicaid.  Legislators also moved $4 billion from police and firefighter pensions to replenish state reserves and tapped $880 million from the Rainy-Day Fund.

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Before adjourning, Washington legislators approved the $889 million capital budget and a $16.6 billion transportation budget. The transportation budget moves additional funding up to the current years for the PCC short line railroad. This change will protect the money from being swept into mega transportation projects that will likely become underfunded in future years.

Other priorities this session included funding education and behavioral health, improving housing affordability, public safety, transportation, climate and clean-energy initiatives, and updating drug possession and treatment laws following the Blake v. Washington ruling. As the session closed, legislators finalized budget adjustments and remaining priority bills before sending them to Ferguson for signature. There were 1,675 bills introduced this session and 267 bills passed the Legislature.

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The Governor has 5 days, when the Legislature is in session, or 20 days (Sundays don’t count), since the Legislature has adjourned, to act on any bill passed by the Legislature. If the Governor does not sign a bill that has passed, the bill is automatically implemented. The Governor can veto parts of bills but that rarely happens.

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High Priority Bill Updates

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SB 6346- Establishing a tax on millionaires. Imposes a 9.90% tax on individuals on the receipt of income exceeding $1 million beginning in calendar year 2028. Passed the Legislature, headed to the Governor for signature.

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SB 6244- Extending an existing hazardous substance tax exemption until January 1, 2038, for certain agricultural crop protection products that are temporarily warehoused but not otherwise used, manufactured, packaged, or sold in the state of Washington. The bill was on the House floor calendar waiting for a vote for 9 days. Constant, daily encouragement is what got the bill a vote. The bill was briefed in the House Democrat caucus on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning leadership called me and said the bill would get a vote. Then the fire alarms went off and delayed all work in the House and Senate. The bill was moved to third reading and final passage at 6:15pm. It was one of the last bills voted on before the House finished voting and went into Sine Die procedure. The final vote was 79 to 18. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.

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HB 2279- directs the Washington State Department of Agriculture to evaluate the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. DEAD

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HB 2409- Placing agricultural employees under the jurisdiction of the public employment relations commission for the purpose of collective bargaining. DEAD

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SB 6045- Extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington by placing them under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). DEAD

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HB 2471- Concerning collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act. Passed the Legislature, headed to the Governor for signature.

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SB 6045- Extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington by placing them under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). DEAD

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SB 6117- Concerning collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act. DEAD

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HB 2516- Placing a moratorium on the use of certain rodenticides. This bill would ban the use of all rat and mouse treatments. DEAD

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HB 1607- Bottle Recycling Program. DEAD

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HB 1630- Recording and regulating methane emissions from cattle. DEAD

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HB 2271- Concerning postconsumer recycled content requirements for plastic products. Establishes new minimum postconsumer recycled content (PCRC) requirements applicable to specified types of plastic products and plastic packaging. Amends existing PCRC requirements applicable to plastic trash bags, plastic household and personal care product containers, and plastic beverage containers. DEAD

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SB 5360- Concerning environmental crimes. The bill would apply to violations of the state Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Hazardous Waste Materials Act, elevating certain offenses from misdemeanors to felonies and converting some civil infractions into criminal violations. The proposal mirrors federal law at the state level but does not include comparable individual liability protections. It also revises the statutory definitions of “knowingly” and “negligent” and grants prosecutorial authority to the Attorney General’s Office. DEAD

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SB 5852- Concerning immigrant worker protections. DEAD