Preserving and Protecting our Environment
HB77: Environmental Justice
House Bill 77 aims to reduce the harms of environmental pollution by giving affected communities a voice in the matter. If an environmental permitting decision may affect the air and water quality around your home, this bill would give you a chance to express your thoughts at a public hearing. The bill also gives the related department the option and the choice to protect you from harmful permitting decisions. The department could deny an environmental permit if there would be a disproportionate harmful impact on a low-income community or a minority community.
HB293: Marine Stewardship Act
Industrialized octopus farming practices create issues of animal welfare, threats to coastal ecosystems, and potential economic impact to fisheries. Octopi are highly intelligent, curious creatures that suffer under confined, unnatural conditions.