By Laura Ackerman

The Lands Council is a part of the Environmental Priorities Coalition. Each year, the Executive Directors of the NGO members come together and set priorities. Two of the four priority bills passed. The two that passed were SB5323 (Reduce Plastic Pollution - a bill for a statewide ban on plastic bags) and HB2311 (Climate Pollution Limits - a bill that uses current science to set greenhouse gas limits). The Climate Pollution Limits Bill uses natural solutions, that The Lands Council has been doing for years, to mitigate climate change.

Unfortunately, HB 2957 (Clean Air Standard) and HB110 (Clean Fuel Standard) both failed. The Clean Air Standard clarified guidelines for emissions from transportation and buildings. If the Clean Fuels Standard had passed, various means of cleaner fuel would be used to reduce pollution.

Find more information on the other environmental bills that the EPC worked on that passed here.

A bill I have worked on for several years, HB1841 (Safe Train Crew Size Act) passed and awaits the Governor's signature (he has been a bit busy lately!). The bill establishes a minimum crew size on certain trains. It is of interest to us because oil trains are part of the "certain train" designation.

I also follow legislation on growth management, and especially how it relates to climate change. The experts on this are Futurewise. Find more information here.

The next legislative session starts Monday, January 11, 2021. If you have questions or comments please email me at lackerman@landscouncil.org.