requiring public benefit and community impact assessments from the department of environmental services.

HB 1170 requires the Department of Environmental Services to conduct public benefit and community impact assessments before approving permits or projects under specific state titles. The bill mandates that the department actively engage with local and neighboring communities to gather input and identify both positive outcomes and potential negative effects of proposed developments. To measure success, the commissioner must establish specific indicators that can be tracked through surveys, interviews, and other tools, ensuring that human safety and environmental concerns are properly weighed. If passed, the department would need to adopt new rules to implement these assessment requirements within 60 days of the law taking effect.