HB 89 Summary

• Establishes a county drinking water supply lake authority in counties of the third classification with specific population requirements to promote safe drinking water supplies through construction, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply lakes.

• Creates transparency requirements for state departments to make data and public records easily accessible, broadly interpreting sunshine law requests regardless of format or wording used.

• Reforms permitting and appeals processes for environmental regulations by transferring hearing authority to the administrative hearing commission while keeping final decisions with relevant environmental commissions, establishing 60-day hearing timelines and 90-day final decision deadlines.

• Modifies asbestos abatement project thresholds from 10 square feet to 160 square feet (or 260 linear feet or 35 cubic feet) and expands coverage to include regulated demolition projects.

• Extends water permit fees from December 31, 2010 to September 1, 2013 and requires affordability assessments for permits affecting combined or separate sanitary sewer systems and publicly-owned treatment works, with consideration for low-income populations.