Legislative Session Recap
2024 Legislative Session Recap
August 20, 2024
Overview
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators works with an extensive network of legislators across the country. Through individual outreach, various working groups, regional events, and more, NCEL works to provide resources for legislators’ interests.
Each year, NCEL staff produces a Legislative Session Recap showcasing trends and milestones in state-level environmental policy from that year. Now more than ever, the action of states in the fight for a healthy environment and thriving communities is crucial.
The U.S. Congress remains gridlocked on many key issues and the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back key environmental protections, such as excluding wetlands from federal protection under the Clean Water Act in Sackett v. EPA, and overturning the Chevron Deference earlier this year which weakens the ability of federal agencies to implement environmental regulations. As the federal landscape becomes more uncertain, states remain the backstop for the health of our environment and are continuing to implement high-impact legislation.
Below are some of the major legislative trends and successful policies that states passed in 2024.
Jump to a section: General Trends | Transmission & Utilities | Emerging Energy Technologies | Decarbonizing Transportation & Electric Vehicles | Invasive Species | Pollinators & Pesticides | Outdoor Engagement | Habitat Connectivity | Plastic Pollution & Zero Waste | Toxic Chemicals & PFAS | Cumulative Impacts | Sustainable Agriculture & Water (Mississippi River) | Offshore Wind
Most of the sections in this recap contain non-exhaustive lists of enacted legislation. You are encouraged to follow the link at the bottom of each section for a complete list of enacted legislation.
General Trends
Fees on Fossil Fuel Companies
As climate change continues to deepen costs for local communities, more states sought to make fossil fuel companies financially responsible for their contributions to climate change in 2024. Vermont passed the Climate Superfund Act to require major fossil fuel polluters to pay the costs of damages associated with their emissions, while New York considered similar legislation, and Colorado created the Clean Transit Enterprise to finance sustainable transportation projects funded by fees on oil and gas producers in the state. These acts would set an important precedent that “polluters pay” and are responsible for their contributions to climate change on the state level.
Right to Repair and E-Waste
As states seek ways to reduce waste sent to landfills, there has been an increased focus on addressing waste from electronics by ensuring consumers the right to repair their electronic devices. The U.S. produces 6.9 million tons of e-waste annually, with only a small fraction properly recycled. Right to Repair legislation – which was considered by 21 states in 2024 – promotes a circular economy by extending product lifespans, reducing e-waste, empowering consumers, supporting small businesses, and promoting sustainability and consumer rights. Oregon became the fourth state to enact such legislation this year, but the first to prevent “parts pairing” which will allow consumers the ability to use unauthorized, third-party parts to repair their devices. Colorado also enacted legislation in 2024 which includes repair rights for electronics, appliances, and other products.
State-Federal Engagement on Ocean-Based Solutions
2024 has marked a time of historic federal investment in coastal communities and coastal resilience. The federal government began distributing funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for state-level projects benefiting coastal communities, coastal resiliency, and community-based environmental justice initiatives. The Biden-Harris Administration also released numerous ocean-related federal strategies – such as the Ocean Justice Strategy, National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy, and the U.S. National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy – all of which emphasize the importance of cross-governmental and Tribal coordination to address the climate crisis and protect the ocean, with specific call-outs to the role of states in this work.
Transmission & Utilities
Addressing the climate crisis requires a focus on improving the transmission of the power grid and the modernization of the electric utilities that oversee the nation’s power systems. Outdated utility regulations are keeping fossil fuels online and energy costs high, while the power grid is in desperate need of increased transmission capacity to improve reliability and the transition to renewable energy.
In recent years, more states have introduced policies to update utility regulations, improve oversight and transparency, and enhance transmission infrastructure to support clean energy integration and lower energy costs. Some of the 2024 highlights include Colorado which enacted legislation to improve utilities’ planning for modernized energy distribution and a just energy transition, as well as Minnesota which passed an omnibus energy and environment bill that includes new requirements for the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to maximize the capacity of existing transmission lines.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 34 states introduced 233 bills to reform electric utilities and modernize the power grid. A total of 34 bills were enacted into law across 15 states.
Transmission & Utilities Legislation
Utilities
- Colorado S.B.24-218 – Encouraged forward-looking investment by tying the utility’s Distribution System Planning (DSP) directly to cost recovery; creates a virtual power plant program.
- Maryland H.B.1393 – Required utilities to create a pilot program to compensate owners of distributed energy resources for services they provide to the grid. Mandates the PSC to report on projects related to greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, and energy system resiliency, along with requiring the PSC to adopt regulations for pursuing federal funds and investing in demand-side reliability and efficiency improvements.
- Minnesota S.F.4942 – Mandates the PUC to establish standards for sharing utility costs for system upgrades, ensuring fair cost-sharing and advancing state renewable and carbon-free energy goals along with provisions for energy conservation programs for low-income households
Transmission
- Colorado S.B.212 – Provides resources to local governments to assess, site, and permit utility-scale renewable energy projects, including transmission facilities, while setting best management practices to avoid, minimize, and mitigate wildlife and land impacts.
- Minnesota S.F.4942 –
- Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider locating a route for a high-voltage transmission line on an existing high-voltage transmission route and using parallel existing highway right-of-way.
- Requires transmission owners to identify areas of congestion over the past 3 years and the next 5 years, the increased cost to ratepayers as a result of that congestion, the technical feasibility and cost of installing GETs to address congestion, and propose an implementation plan to install GETs at such points. Allows the Commission to approve cost recovery mechanisms for GET investments.
- Virginia H.B.862 – Requires an electric utility to include in electric distribution grid planning (i) a comprehensive assessment of the potential application of grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors and (ii) if applicable, a detailed explanation of why such technologies or conductors are not included in such plan.
Emerging Energy Technologies
Emerging energy technologies like hydrogen, geothermal, and energy storage are increasingly recognized as essential tools for building a resilient energy system that can address climate change, especially in hard-to-decarbonize industries like heavy-duty trucking.
In 2024, state legislators continued to leverage federal funding, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to advance these technologies further, while taking steps to ensure the technologies are truly sustainable and supply chains are developed with care and transparency. Maryland now requires large gas companies to develop pilot programs for geothermal energy networks, and Rhode Island enacted legislation to promote the use of energy storage systems.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 23 states introduced 98 bills to explore or advance emerging energy technologies including energy storage, geothermal energy, and hydrogen energy. A total of 14 bills were enacted into law across 11 states.
Emerging Energy Technologies Legislation
- Maryland H.B.0397 – Creates funding opportunities for pilot geothermal heating projects, especially in underserved communities. Requires large gas companies to develop plans for a pilot geothermal energy network system(s) by October 2024.
- Minnesota S.F.4942 – Creates the Geothermal Planning Grant Program which provides financial assistance to examine the technical and economic feasibility of installing geothermal energy systems. Also mandates the creation of a thermal energy working group that will investigate the regulatory benefits and challenges for gas utilities to create TENs.
- Rhode Island S.B.2499/H.B.7811 – Supports Rhode Island’s clean energy transition by providing funding, targets, and incentives for energy storage infrastructure development. The Act creates cumulative energy storage goals starting with 90 mW by 2026, 195 mW by 2028, and 600 mW by 2033. It also empowers the Public Utilities Commission to oversee and implement this energy storage program.
- Washington H.B.2131 – Promotes the creation of thermal energy networks (TENs). Allows electric and gas utilities to sell thermal energy. This bill also creates a pilot program which will award grants to gas companies looking to create TENs.
Decarbonizing Transportation & Electric Vehicles
As transportation remains the nation’s leading source of climate-harming pollution, state lawmakers are continuing to pursue policy solutions to deploy zero-emission electric vehicles. There has been increased awareness in recent years however that decarbonizing transportation cannot rely solely on electric vehicles; states are increasingly recognizing the need for comprehensive solutions that make the entire transportation system more climate-friendly, accessible, and equitable. These solutions include transit-oriented development, public transportation improvements, and e-bike incentives.
Some of the major transportation wins from 2024 include New Mexico which enacted a law similar to those in California, Oregon, and Washington establishing a low-carbon fuel standard, and New Jersey which created a new dedicated funding source for its public transit system.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 36 states and Washington D.C. introduced 387 bills to decarbonize the transportation system. A total of 37 bills were enacted across 16 states.
Decarbonizing Transportation & Electric Vehicles Legislation
- Colorado H.B.24-1173 – Introduces a simplified administrative review process for permit approvals to expedite the development of EV charging systems; requires the Colorado Energy Office to publish an EV charger permitting model code by 2025.
- Colorado S.B.24-230 – Imposes new fees on oil and gas production and directs revenues to clean transit projects through the Clean Transit Enterprise.
- New Jersey A.4700 – Creates a corporate transit fee: a 2.5 percent tax on corporations with over $10 million in profits to help fund NJ Transit.
- New Mexico H.B.41 – Authorizes the Environmental Improvement Board to establish fees for a clean transportation fuel standard; aims to decrease the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by at least 20% below 2018 levels by 2030 and 30% by 2040.
- Vermont S.254 – Amends Vermont’s battery stewardship program to include rechargeable batteries and battery-containing products; requires a feasibility assessment, to be conducted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, of establishing end-of-life management programs for electric vehicle batteries.
- Washington H.B.2321 – Changes minimum density requirements for residential lots within 0.25 miles walking distance of a major transit stop must be applied to any bus rapid transit stop under construction; forbids cities from requiring more than one off-street parking space per unit for middle housing, etc.
Invasive Species
Invasive species, present in all 50 states, are one of the primary drivers of the biodiversity crisis, responsible for destabilizing natural ecosystems and causing upwards of $138 billion in damages each year. Increases in invasive species are often driven by illegal wildlife trafficking as well as the intentional or accidental release of invasive wildlife, seed contaminants from non-native plants, or the release of organisms from ship ballast water.
In response to the threat posed by invasive species, states have taken various policy approaches in recent years including funding for research and management, market-based tools, and public education. In 2024, states from Utah (funding studies) to Maryland (requiring the creation and maintenance of a list of invasive species) enacted policies to prevent the introduction of these species and mitigate the impact of those already present on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 25 states introduced 96 bills to address the threat of invasive species. A total of 17 bills were enacted into law across 11 states.
Invasive Species Legislation
- Florida C.S./S.B. 1638 – Establishes funding for Environmental Resource Management including invasive species management, and improved Tribal Nation relations.
- Hawaii H.R. 14 – Requests the Department of Agriculture create a plan to develop an invasive pests placard program and assess the resources needed to implement the program.
- Maryland S.B. 0915/H.B. 0979 – Altering the regulatory approach for controlling invasive plant species in the State, including repealing certain provisions of law relating to a two-tiered regulatory approach and requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a list of prohibited invasive plants.
- Maryland S.B. 0854/H.B. 0929 – Requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a program to use a new biological control to manage nuisance insects in the State.
- South Dakota S.B.172 – Allows a person to temporarily take responsibility of a feral cat or dog for the purposes of sterilization.
- Utah S.B.270 – Commissions a study examining Great Salt Lake enhancements which requires removing invasive plant and animal species, benefitting the lake.
- Utah H.B.5 – Reauthorizes funding for invasive species mitigation projects.
Pollinators & Pesticides
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, are responsible for at least one-third of our food crops and contribute billions to the global agriculture industry. However, these species are facing rapid declines due to habitat loss, lack of forage, and pesticide exposure.
To address the threats facing pollinator species, more states enacted legislative measures in 2024 to protect pollinator habitats and regulate harmful pesticides like neonicotinoids, with Vermont and Washington enacting some of the nation’s strongest laws to limit pollinators’ exposure to pesticides. States such as Colorado, Maryland, and Utah also implemented laws to directly protect pollinator species and their habitats.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 24 states and Washington D.C. introduced 126 bills to protect pollinator species and limit the use of toxic pesticides. A total of 21 bills were enacted across 14 states.
Pollinators & Pesticides Legislation
- Colorado H.B.24-1117 – Adds invertebrates (which includes pollinators) to species that can be studied and conserved under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
- Maryland S.B.0178/H.B.0022 – Requires the State Highway Administration’s pollinator habitat plan to include policies and procedures regarding the use of pollinator habitat areas along State highways as well as tracking of pollinator habitat funding.
- New Mexico S.B. 275 – Provides corporation business tax credit to public utilities that develop qualified native pollinator habitat in their rights of way.
- New York S.8300D – Funds the Food Monitoring program Account for food testing services related to food testing for pesticides.
- Utah H.B.5 – Reauthorizes $352,000 for the pollinator protection program.
- Vermont H.706 – Prohibits the agricultural use of neonicotinoids for seeds of soybeans or any crop in the cereal grains group, the outdoor application to any crop during bloom, and the outdoor application to leafy and petiole (such as celery or rhubarb) vegetable crop groups harvested after bloom.
- Washington S.B. 5972 – Prohibits a person from using neonicotinoid pesticides on outdoor plants, requires neonicotinoid pesticides to be designated as state restricted use pesticides under certain conditions, and allows the Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture to authorize the use of neonicotinoid pesticides when applicable.
- Washington H.B.2147 – Expands invitations to serve on emergency pest management advisory committees to include federally recognized Tribes.
Outdoor Engagement
Countless studies continue to show that time outdoors results in a long list of health, educational, and economic benefits for humans of all ages. However, the majority of Americans currently spend less than 4% of their time outdoors, with communities of color and low-income areas especially likely to live in neighborhoods with little or no access to nature.
Recognizing the immense benefits, states across the country have been introducing high volumes of bills in recent years that promote engagement with the outdoors and reduce barriers to nature access. In 2024, enacted outdoor engagement bills fell into four broad categories: (1) improving outdoor access and equity, (2) expanding environmental education and outdoor learning programs, (3) enhancing outdoor recreation infrastructure and trails, and (4) boosting outdoor governance. Stand out bills came from Iowa (promoting disability accessibility in state parks), Puerto Rico (integrating climate education as required curriculum for all ages), and New Mexico (promoting stronger relationships with Tribal nations on outdoor recreation funding).
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 46 states and Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico introduced 358 bills to increase outdoor access and equity. A total of 75 bills were enacted across 34 states and territories.
Outdoor Engagement Legislation
- Colorado S.B.24-078 – Provides for outdoor preschool licensing and requires the Department of Early Childhood Development to create guidelines for outdoor learning facilities and staff training by December 2025.
- Iowa H.F. 2364 – Directs the Natural Resources Commission to research and develop recommendations to improve state park accessibility for disabled people. Iowa also appropriated over $1 million towards park accessibility improvements.
- Iowa H.F.35, Oregon S.B.1576, Tennessee H.B. 2859/S.B.2827 closed loopholes in public recreational use liability protections that could otherwise close recreational sites.
- Maryland H.B. 420 – Requires newly constructed public play areas to include communication boards.
- New Jersey A.2374 – Establishes a Parks and Open Space Foundation to equitably enhance and supplement improvements to state parks and public lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
- New Mexico S.B.169 – Improves Land and Water Conservation Fund access and equity by prioritizing Tribal nation funding requests, expanding rural community eligibility, and funding state and local assistance programs to provide outreach and technical assistance for applications.
- Puerto Rico R.S.0854 – Directs the Education Commission and Secretary of Education to integrate climate resilience, mitigation, and justice into curriculum and ensures compliance with a 2018 climate education curriculum mandate.
- South Carolina H.B.3121 – Creates an income tax credit incentive for property owners that establish a perpetual recreational trail easement on their property.
- Virginia H.B.1186 – Establishes a two-year all-terrain power wheelchair pilot program to develop guidelines and processes for providing all-terrain power wheelchairs in state parks.
Habitat Connectivity
The fragmentation of wildlife habitats by roadways and other infrastructure poses a severe threat to wildlife by disrupting migration routes, limiting access to essential resources, and making collisions with vehicles more likely.
As more awareness has been built around the importance of habitat connectivity for biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in recent years, there has been a steady increase in states considering habitat connectivity legislation (see the State of the States report for more). States have been implementing solutions to improve habitat connectivity, such as through wildlife crossings which help maintain ecosystem resilience and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. In 2024, states such as Utah, Washington, and Florida enacted laws to unlock new funding for such projects, while others – such as Maryland and New York – introduced laws to improve planning for enhanced habitat connectivity.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 20 states introduced 47 bills to improve wildlife habitat connectivity. A total of 15 bills were enacted into law across 11 states.
Habitat Connectivity Legislation
- Colorado S.B.24-212 – Requires the Director of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, at the request of a local government or Tribal government, to provide technical support concerning wind, solar, energy storage, and energy transmission projects including identifying project-specific habitat impacts and high-priority habitats.
- Florida C.S./S.B.1638 – Designates $100 million in gambling compact revenue to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor and land management services.
- New Mexico H.B 2 – Allocates $5 million for the wildlife corridors fund.
- New Jersey S.3916 – Expands eligibility for wildlife fencing programs to include farmers leasing farmland; clarifies eligibility and provides for uniform funding levels for grant recipients.
- Rhode Island H 7358A – Broadens reporting requirements for wildlife-vehicle collisions to include all wildlife, not just deer, to improve wildlife population monitoring.
- Utah S.B.6 – Appropriates $1 million in non-lapsing funding for wildlife crossings.
- Virginia H.B.309 – Requires the development of a Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan and identifies priority conservation areas with the highest priority given to wildlife corridors or large continuous blocks of forest.
- Washington H.B.2134 – Appropriates $1 million to match funding from the federal highway administration’s wildlife crossings pilot program.
Plastic Pollution & Zero Waste
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to both public health and the environment, with plastic production polluting local communities, microplastics contaminating food supplies, and large amounts of plastic waste entering oceans annually.
To tackle this crisis, states adopted comprehensive policies in 2024 that focus on reducing waste at all stages of the plastic lifecycle. Maine will enhance material recovery processes through its new truth in labeling policy and Minnesota enacted legislation to promote a circular economy through an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 20 states introduced 169 bills to reduce plastic pollution. A total of six bills were enacted across six states.
Plastic Pollution & Zero Waste Legislation
- California S.B.1113 – Authorizes up to 10 limited-term recycling pilot projects, subject to certain requirements, that are designed to improve redemption opportunities in unserved “convenience zones,” and deems a convenience zone that falls within the area of an operational, department-approved pilot project to be served.
- Illinois S.B.2960 – Establishes that by 2026, all hotels in Illinois may not provide small single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products to customers.
- Maine L.D.295 – Incentivizes the labeling of packaging material to reduce consumer confusion, including by incentivizing accuracy in recyclability claims displayed on packaging material and creating other incentives consistent with generally accepted industry standards.
- Minnesota H.F.3911 – Includes a modified version of Minnesota’s EPR bill, the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act.
- Vermont S.213 – Bans the sale of dock floats, mooring buoys, or anchor or navigation markers made, in whole or in part, from expanded polystyrene foam that is not encased within a more durable material. Mandates proper disposal of encapsulated and unencapsulated polystyrene used for flotation.
- Washington H.B.2301 – Addresses waste material management with a focus on improving outcomes related to organic material management systems, including setting food waste reduction goals, reducing plastic contamination and pesticides in organic waste, standardizing waste bin labeling, establishing standards for compostable products, and restricting misleading labeling.
Toxic Chemicals & PFAS
PFAS chemicals – used in everyday products from cooking pans to raincoats – pose significant health risks, including cancer and immune system damage, due to their persistence in the environment and the human body.
States are taking action by passing legislation to ban PFAS in products and setting strict regulations on their use and disposal. These efforts aim to reduce exposure and protect public health, particularly in vulnerable communities. PFAS protections remained a priority for many states in 2024, with Maryland taking an innovative approach by banning the use of PFAS on playgrounds, and states like Rhode Island and Virginia improving processes for monitoring PFAS in public drinking water.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 31 states introduced 164 bills to limit the use of PFAS chemicals. A total of 27 bills were enacted into law across 12 states.
Toxic Chemicals & PFAS Legislation
- Colorado S.B.24-005 – Finds that preventing the placement of nonfunctional and artificial turf – which often contains PFAS that escape into the environment – is in the public interest.
- Colorado S.B.24-081 – Phase out ban starting January 1, 2026 for the sale and distribution of a range of products that contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals, including outdoor apparel, cookware, dental floss, textile articles, and artificial turf.
- Maryland H.B.1147 – Prevents a person from installing, supplying, selling, soliciting, or offering for sale playground surfacing materials that contain a certain concentration of lead or a component product, material, or substance to which PFAS chemicals were previously intentionally added.
- New Jersey A. 4125 – Prohibits the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firefighting foam containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
- New Jersey A. 2326/S. 1041 – Requires the Department of Environmental Protection and Drinking Water Quality Institute to perform a study concerning the regulation and treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
- Rhode Island H.B.7356/S.B.2152 – Enacts the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024, prohibiting the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances of PFAS in products offered for sale or manufactured in the state as of January 1, 2027.
- Rhode Island S.B.2809 – Clarifies that starting June 1, 2025, all public water systems in the state shall conduct monitoring of raw, untreated drinking water for the maximum number of PFAS detectable from standard laboratory methods.
- Vermont S.25 – Regulates consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or other chemicals. Also, it will regulate cosmetic and menstrual products containing certain chemicals and chemical classes and textiles and athletic turf fields containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
- Virginia S.B.243 – Establishes testing and review infrastructure for PFAS in public water sources.
Cumulative Impacts
Cumulative impacts – the negative effects on human health occurring from intersecting sources of pollution over time – are a major threat to environmental justice as they disproportionately affect BIPOC, low-income, and limited English proficiency communities and are difficult to regulate at the federal level.
States have been stepping up to address these compounded effects and protect environmental justice communities via policy approaches like broadening the scope of environmental regulations, considering multiple pollutants simultaneously, and incorporating socio-demographic and health disparities into assessments. In 2024, Colorado was among the states that passed comprehensive cumulative impacts legislation.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 16 states and Washington D.C. introduced 35 bills to address the cumulative impacts of pollution. A total of three bills were enacted into law across two states: Colorado and Washington.
Cumulative Impacts Legislation
- Colorado H.B24-1338 – Creates the Office of Environmental Justice (Office) in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and requires the Office to oversee a process to develop at least 2 environmental equity and cumulative impact analyses (EECIAs) for specific geographic locations in the state.
- Colorado H.B.24-1346 – Requires adoption of rules related to permitting and regulation of direct air capture facilities. When reviewing an application for a direct air capture facility, the Commission must consider whether a setback of the direct air capture facility from certain areas is necessary and reasonable to protect and minimize cumulative impacts–adverse impacts to public health, safety, and welfare; the environment; and wildlife resources.
- Washington S.B.5955 – Includes investigation and monitoring of aircraft noise impact and resources for noise mitigation and transaction assistance in port districts.
Sustainable Agriculture & Water within the Mississippi River Basin
The Mississippi River is a crucially important watershed spanning 10 states that provides drinking water to millions, generates billions of dollars in annual revenue, and supports hundreds of species of fish and wildlife. As the Mississippi faces ongoing threats such as nutrient pollution and climate change, state lawmakers – including members of NCEL’s Mississippi River Legislative Caucus – have been working in recent years on holistic policy approaches to improve the health of the river in ways that can also enhance agriculture, soil health, and the resiliency of local communities against severe flooding.
In 2024, Illinois passed a suite of bills aimed at building awareness and improving participation in River-based solutions, Wisconsin and Tennessee established new programs to help fund natural disaster mitigation, and Minnesota allocated new funding that will help to improve conservation, research, and recreation along the Mississippi River.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least four Mississippi River states introduced 35 pieces of legislation to improve soil health, reduce nutrient pollution, promote sustainable agriculture, and increase flood resilience. A total of ten bills were enacted across the four states – Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Sustainable Agriculture & Water (Mississippi River Basin) Legislation
- Illinois S.R.0702/H.R.0169 – Designates September 2024 as River Clean Up Month in Illinois to acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of Illinois rivers to Indigenous peoples and their role in the state’s history. Encourages local organizations and communities to participate in cleanup activities.
- Illinois H.R.0630 – Declares March 3 through March 9, 2024 as Illinois Soil Health Week. Encourages the celebration of Soil Health Week and its related activities to increase the awareness of Illinois farmers, eaters, and those involved in agribusiness of the importance of their air and water quality environment.
- Illinois S.R.0705 – Declares April 21 through April 27, 2024 as Green Infrastructure Week in the State of Illinois. Encourages individuals, businesses, and local and state governments to pursue Green Infrastructure initiatives.
- Minnesota H.F.3377 – Allocates $79,644,000 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, and 2025. Its primary goal is to bolster environmental conservation, research, and recreation across Minnesota through various initiatives. These include native plant community data collection, historical wild rice research, youth environmental stewardship programs, PFAS soil level determinations, and the Voyageurs Wolf Project. The bill emphasizes aquatic and terrestrial wildlife research, pollinator habitat evaluation, sustainable agriculture, conservation grazing, water quality improvement, innovative wastewater treatment, and climate change mitigation, with a significant inclusion of Indigenous perspectives.
- Tennessee S.B.2082/H.B.1684 – Establishes the “Resilient Tennessee Revolving Loan Fund Act,” to enhance disaster mitigation and resiliency. The fund is designed to provide financial assistance to local governments and other eligible entities for projects that mitigate natural hazards. The fund will be financed through various sources, including federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, state appropriations, and other contributions.
- Wisconsin S.B.222 – Establishes a pre-disaster flood resilience grant program. This program provides grants to local governmental units, including cities, counties, and Tribes, to identify flood vulnerabilities, improve flood resilience, and restore hydrology in flood-prone areas.
Offshore Wind
The U.S. offshore wind industry has been expanding in recent years, providing states the opportunities to generate immense amounts of renewable energy, while growing local economies and preserving marine environments. All coastal states have different offshore wind needs, stakeholders, and geography, but will be crucial partners in achieving the federal government’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
With the nation’s first offshore wind farms coming online in recent years and more under construction, coastal states ramped up policy efforts in 2024 to increase community engagement, incentivization, funding, fair labor practices, and generation goals. For example, Oregon now requires the state to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted organizations, communities, and Tribes.
- 2024 Policy Impact: At least 12 states introduced 33 bills to advance the offshore wind industry. A total of 11 bills were enacted into law across eight states.
Offshore Wind Legislation
- California S.B.108 – Appropriates $3.6 million to the state’s Ocean Protection Coalition for the purpose of offshore wind environmental research, monitoring, and adaptive management strategies.
- California S.B.286 – Establishes the California Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Working Group – comprised of relevant state and federal agencies, representatives from commercial and recreational fishing industries, and representatives of California’s Native American Tribes – for the purpose of developing a statewide strategy for ensuring that offshore wind energy projects avoid and minimize impacts to ocean fisheries to the maximum extent possible.
- Connecticut S.B.385 – Enables the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to enter into offshore wind contract agreements for terms up to 30 years, rather than 20 years, if the solicitation is coordinated with at least one other state and officials from that state select a proposal. The bill also adds requirements to the existing offshore wind procurement authorization related to employing state commercial fishing licensees for offshore wind lease or transmission area scouting and support services.
- Louisiana S.R. 84 – This Resolution highlights the economic development and workforce potential of Louisiana’s involvement in the offshore wind industry supply chain and encourages the state to support the industry.
- Maryland H.B.1296 – Requires the Public Service Commission to open a revised Round 2 proceeding to evaluate certain offshore wind projects to reach capacity goals.
- Oregon H.B.4080 – Declares a state policy to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted organizations, communities, and Tribes.
- Rhode Island H.B.7225 – Allocates $15 million for infrastructure projects that will support the continued growth and modernization at the Port of Davisville to help accommodate offshore wind project cargo and logistics staging.
- Virginia H.B. 6001 – Authorizes $775,000 to the state Office of Offshore Wind to coordinate amongst state agencies on strategies to reduce barriers for deployment of offshore wind; allocates additional funds to support career access and training and opportunities in the offshore wind industry.