Senate Bill 2649 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director to contract with persons or entities to assist with reviewing, evaluating, and processing permit and certification applications, with applicants paying all additional costs for expedited review.

• Requires annual reports to the House and Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committees detailing application backlogs, expedited permit types and pricing, contractor identities, payments made, and employee departures to contractors.

• Exempts the Department of Environmental Quality contracts under this authority from Public Procurement Review Board approval requirements through July 1, 2028.

• Sunsets the new contracting authority and related reporting requirements on July 1, 2028.