HB 2516

ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2547, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, declare that it is the policy of this state to plan for sufficient landfill capacity to dispose of solid waste that is not recovered or recycled. Present law requires each municipal solid waste region to develop a plan for a ten-year disposal capacity, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. This amendment, instead, requires each solid waste region to develop a plan that includes a narrative identifying where waste will be disp osed and managed for the next 10 years, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. Such a plan must be updated and resubmitted to the department at least every 10 years. Present law requires each solid waste region to submit its plan to the department of environment and conservation. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 90 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the department must state in detail the reasons for such disapproval, and the region must resubmit a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days. This amendment requires each solid waste region to submit a new or revised plan by July 1, 2028. The department must notify the region within 30 days whether the plan includes all necessary information, or identify what additional information is require d. If the department determines the plan is incomplete, the region must submit all additional required information within 60 days. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 120 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the region must resubm it a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days, or the region may file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the letter of disapproval. RULEMAKING This amendment requires the underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board to promulgate rules to effectuate this amendment, including promulgating rules to establishing criteria for review of regional plans by December 31, 2027.