Environment

HF 2527 would limit legal liability for businesses in agriculture, oil, or renewable fuels if sued over climate impacts from their greenhouse gas emissions. It blocks civil or criminal lawsuits claiming damage from emissions unless the business violated specific state emission rules or permits. Plaintiffs must prove clear evidence of direct harm from such violations, not just general climate effects. The law applies to all climate-related claims but does not create new legal rights to sue.

This bill modifies the duties of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) concerning air quality. It adjusts the timeframe for DNR's annual greenhouse gas emissions report to align with federal EPA inventories and allows the federal report to fulfill this requirement. The bill also updates administrative rule references for air emission and operating permit fees. Furthermore, it repeals state mandates for DNR to create a greenhouse gas inventory and a voluntary registry, and removes a provision requiring rules for solid waste incinerator operator certification.

HF 860 prohibits state and local governments from enacting regulations on fuel-powered equipment. Specifically, it prevents these governmental bodies from creating rules based solely on the equipment's fuel source. This means state and local authorities can no longer implement policies that differentiate or restrict machinery because of the type of fuel it consumes.