As spring marches towards summer state governments are rushing to settle their business before their legislative session close for the year.
Twenty-eight states will have adjourned by the end of the month with seven more wrapping up in June, though several states have had to call their legislatures back for special sessions to deal with budget shortfalls and other issues. However, just because a bill fails this year doesn't mean it's dead; in half the states, bills are automatically carried to the next session in a two-year cycle.
Curious what's passed or pending in your state? We've listed a few nail-biters below, but you can always check ISRI's State Legislative Tracking System for the latest, or view links to current law and newly passed bills impacting the industry on the State-Specific Resources page; you can access both from ISRI's State Policy page. Please note, due to the fast pace of changes in the states some of the bills below may have already passed or failed between the time of writing and when the article is published!
Tires have been a surprise headliner of the 2015 session, with bills introduced across the country to ban synthetic turf or create an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for tire recycling. Vermont HB 36 and Connecticut SB 869 both would have put tire manufacturers in charge of the recycling stream, dismantling the current market-based systems in the state and mandating the production of certain products, all without input from recyclers. ReMA submitted testimony in both states and spoke at the January Tire Stewardship Dialogue Meeting in Connecticut, pointing out the effectiveness of the current system in reducing legacy tire piles and the danger that EPR would distort the market without impacting illegal tire dumping. In response CT SB 869 was amended to a study bill that currently awaits passage before the session adjourns, and VT HB 36 did not move out of committee after its hearing. However, both states could take the issue up in 2016; the CT study bill explicitly mentions EPR as a possibility, and VT's bill will be automatically carried over.
Bills banning the installation of synthetic turf on public lands and/or requiring health studies arose from news stories attempting to link cases of cancer in some high school soccer players and other young athletes to the processed rubber used in the turf. While California, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, and Virginia all introduced legislation, only the bills in New York are still active and they have not received a hearing.
Metals theft amendments continue to be debated. Kansas SB 11 could greatly change the state's definitions, exemptions, recordkeeping, payment restrictions, and other provisions, and require reporting to the state attorney general's office; the bill last received the House Judiciary's recommendation for passage. Texas has several bills proposing major changes to its payment restrictions and other provisions. Currently HB 2187, requiring that sellers apply for a "cash transaction card" that they can show as identification to receive payment by cash or debit card, has passed the House and awaits a final decision in the Senate before the session deadline. Michigan SB 304, clarifying the special payment requirements on transactions for certain items of $25 or more, quickly passed the Senate and awaits a hearing in the House. Utah HB 84, Arizona HB 2288, Georgia HB 461, and Arkansas SB 459 passed with amendments to the state laws, and Ohio implemented rules to begin reporting and enforcement of its state and local Do Not Buy lists; all these changes are reflected in the State Specific Policy Resources pages and the ISRI Metal Theft Law Database.
Want to find out more about these or any other bills being considered this year? Interested in what resources we have available or would like a tour through the State Legislative Tracking System? Just contact
Justin Short and he'll be happy to help.