US EditionIvey signs legislation putting limits on new environmental regulations
The bill passed 68-34 limits state agencies from stricter environmental rules than federal ones and requires proof of direct harm before new protections, sparking debate on public health impacts.
- On Tuesday, the Alabama House approved Senate Bill 71, passing 68-34 after debate, sending it back to the Senate.
- Business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Manufacture Alabama supported the bill for predictable rules and economic growth, with Senator Donnie Chesteen calling it 'pro-business' this month.
- Under the bill's terms, state agencies must prove a `direct causal link` to `manifest bodily harm` before new rules apply, bar EPA's Integrated Risk Information System as default, and allow emergency rules.
- Opponents said thousands of Alabama residents urged lawmakers to reject the bill, Sarah Stokes called it an "impossible hurdle" and "a blank check to businesses," while Cara Horowitz warned the law limits pollution standards to a "very particular kind of science."
- Similar moves in other states, including Tennessee last year, show a regional trend to limit environmental regulations, with Alabama's law taking effect immediately after Thursday's signing.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Alabama House passes bill that could weaken state environmental protections
Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, speaks in the Alabama House of Representatives on March 19, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday carried by Stubbs that critics said could weaken state environmental protections. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that could weaken the state’s environmental laws. SB 71, sponsored by Se…
Gov. Kay Ivey signs legislation putting limits on new environmental regulations
Gov. Kay Ivey has signed legislation that restricts the state’s ability to set new environmental regulations. The measure prohibits state agencies from setting restrictions on pollutants and hazardous substances exceeding those set by the federal government. In areas where no federal standard exists, the state could adopt new rules only if there is a “direct causal link” between exposure to harmful emissions and “manifest bodily harm” to humans.…
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