SB 438

ON APRIL 14, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 438, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to create a 15-member advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste. The task force will be composed of the following members: (1) The gover nor, or the governor's designee; (2) The chair of the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate, or the chair's designee; (3) The chair of the committee of the house of representatives with jurisdiction over subject matters pert aining to solid waste disposal, or the chair's designee; (4) Six individuals with expertise in the subject of solid waste or a subject related to one or more processes for the disposition of solid waste, appointed by the speaker of the senate; and (5) Six individuals with expertise in the subject of solid waste or a subject related to one or more processes for the disposition of solid waste, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The full text of this amendment specifies various org anizational and procedural requirements for the task force. This amendment requires the task force to submit annual reports to the general assembly beginning in 2026 and ending in 2029, at which time the task force will terminate. This amendment does n ot appropriate funds, but expresses the legislative intent that $100,000 of existing funds in the solid waste management fund be allocated to funding the task force. This amendment authorizes TDEC to accept voluntary contributions, and apply for grants, from private companies, which may be combined with monies in the solid waste management fund, for grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting. ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 438 FOR HOUSE BILL 667, ADOPTE D AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 438, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 incorporates the changes made by Senate Amendment #1 but adds that for the respective committee chairs who will serve on the task force that, if either chair is unable to serve for any reason, then t hat chair's speaker may designate an alternate legislator of that speaker's chamber to serve as a replacement for the chair . This amendment also requires that the committee chairs serve as co-chairs of the task force and that they jointly ca ll meetings.