A bill for an act relating to water quality standards, including by providing for the regulation of animal feeding operations, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Timi Brown-Powers and 9 co-sponsors

HF 368 enhances water quality standards by enforcing stricter regulations and penalties on medium and large animal feeding operations to prevent pollution and protect ecosystems.

Introduced, referred to Agriculture.

#animalfeedingoperations #waterquality

Summary of Bill HF 368

Bill Number: HF 368
Title: A bill for an act relating to water quality standards, including by providing for the regulation of animal feeding operations, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.
Status: Introduced, referred to Agriculture
Introduced Date: February 13, 2025
Classification: Bill
Subject: Animal Feeding Operations, Water Quality

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HF 368 is to enhance water quality standards in relation to animal feeding operations (AFOs) by aligning state regulations with federal law and establishing stricter oversight and penalties for non-compliance. The bill aims to prevent water pollution caused by manure and effluent from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and to ensure that these operations adhere to both state and federal environmental standards.

Key Provisions

Definition Changes:

The bill revises the definition of an animal feeding operation to align with federal standards.
The term "medium concentrated animal feeding operation" is simplified to "medium animal feeding operation" without altering its meaning.

Regulatory Authority:

The bill removes the restriction that state rules cannot be more stringent than federal regulations regarding wastewater and manure management from AFOs.
It establishes that the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) must adopt permitting requirements for medium and large CAFOs under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.

Monitoring and Reporting:

Owners or operators of medium and large CAFOs are required to conduct effluent monitoring of pollutants discharged into navigable waters through groundwater.
Collected data must be reported to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is responsible for publishing this information online and submitting an annual report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Civil Penalties:

The bill stipulates that violations of water quality regulations can result in civil penalties.
Administrative penalties imposed by the DNR can be up to $10,000, while judicial penalties can reach $5,000.

Impact

Affected Parties:

The bill primarily impacts owners and operators of medium and large CAFOs, as well as regulatory bodies such as the DNR and EPC.
It aims to protect water quality for communities and ecosystems affected by agricultural runoff.

Environmental Protection:

By allowing for stricter state regulations, the bill seeks to enhance environmental protections and reduce the risk of water pollution from agricultural sources.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced on February 13, 2025, and has been referred to the Agriculture Committee for further consideration. The timeline for subsequent legislative actions will depend on the committee's review and recommendations.

In summary, HF 368 represents a significant step towards improving water quality standards related to animal feeding operations, with a focus on stricter regulation, monitoring, and penalties for non-compliance.