Lawmaker: Bill 3403 rejects Senate amendments, shortens pilot and assigns DEQ testing duties

A lawmaker told the House committee that bill 3403 rejects previously proposed Senate amendments and makes several substantive changes, including shortening a pilot program and assigning testing and equipment duties to the DEQ.

The lawmaker, presenting for the bill, said, "we have rejected the senate amendments, and that was section g, h, and I," and added that the committee had "changed the pilot program from 5 years to 4 years." The presenter also stated that "the DEQ shall purchase the equipment," that "DEQ shall test the biosolids," and that "DEQ shall give the test results to the farmers and ranchers." These responsibilities were described as part of the revised version the committee is forwarding.

The changes cited by the presenter are procedural and substantive: rejection of specific Senate amendments; a reduction in the pilot's duration from five years to four; and explicit operational duties for DEQ (equipment procurement, biosolids testing, and distribution of test results). The presenter identified the affected parties as DEQ staff and local farmers and ranchers who would receive test results.

The Chair acknowledged the presentation and declared the bill open for further consideration. The transcript does not record a formal roll-call vote on these changes during this session, and no implementation timeline or budget appropriation for the DEQ responsibilities was specified in the remarks.

The committee moved on to other business after the presentation.