JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on Senate Bill No.
SB226
Compost Preference and Waste Separation Rules
In one sentence
This act allows local governments to give preference to locally produced compost in contracts and requires certain businesses to separate organic waste from other trash, with penalties for non-compliance.
What it does
- Allows the governing body of a locality to prefer compost or soil amendments made within such locality when there is a tie bid for such products.
- Requires large generators of organic waste to separate this waste from other solid waste and divert it from landfills through specified methods like recycling, donation, or feeding animals.
- Establishes civil penalties for businesses that repeatedly violate the separation requirements after receiving warnings.
- Encourages new public school buildings and renovations to include proper disposal systems for trash, recyclables, and organic waste.
Who it affects
- Local governments when awarding contracts for compost or soil amendments.
- Businesses and institutions that generate large amounts of organic waste.
- Public schools during construction or renovation projects.
Limits and unknowns
- The specific penalties for violating the separation requirements are outlined but may vary by locality.
- It is unclear what constitutes 'undue hardship' that could exempt generators from compliance.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Generator
- A business, school, or institution that produces a significant amount of organic waste.
- Organic Waste
- Material derived from the processing or discarding of food, including pre-consumer and post-consumer vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and meats.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Local competitive bidding for compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal infrastructure; civil penalty. Allows the governing body of a locality to give preference to compost or other products containing organic soil amendments produced within such locality in the case of a tie bid when determining the award of any contract for compost or other products containing soil amendments to be purchased for use by such locality. The bill also provides that any locality may by ordinance require that certain generators, as defined in the bill, of large quantities of organic waste separate the organic waste from other solid waste and ensure that the organic waste is diverted from final disposal in a refuse disposal system by any of a variety of specified waste diversion activities. The ordinance may also establish civil penalties for violations of the ordinance, but a locality shall first issue a warning to a generator that violates the ordinance. Finally, the bill expresses that it is the intent of the General Assembly that new public school buildings and facilities and improvements and renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities include waste disposal infrastructure, as defined in the bill, that includes a place for the disposal of trash, recyclables, and food scraps and a sink for liquid waste. This bill is identical to HB 1011.
Official activity
Bill history
- Approved by Governor-Chapter 1122 (effective 7/1/2026)Governor
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1122)Governor
- Governor's recommendation adoptedGovernor
- Signed by SpeakerHouse
- Signed by PresidentSenate
- Communicated to GovernorSenate
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026Governor
- Senate passed by for the day recommendation Nos. 2 and 3 (Voice Vote)Senate
- ReenrolledSenate
- Reenrolled bill text (SB226ER2)Senate
- Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation Nos. 1, 4 and 5 (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
- Governor's recommendation Nos. 2 and 3 passed by (Voice Vote)Senate
- Governor's amendments nos. 1, 4, and 5 agreed to (64-Y 33-N 0-A)House
- Governor's recommendation received by SenateGovernor
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Senate
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
- Signed by SpeakerHouse
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Senate
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB226)Senate
Changes
Amendments
2 stored
(SB226) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.