Senate Bill 38 Summary

• Amends oyster and clam transplanting regulations to allow seed transplants from aquaculture operations in restricted or conditionally approved waters under a permit system, with specific size limitations.

• Reduces financial assurance requirements for construction and demolition debris landfills from $2 million to $1 million while maintaining the $2 million requirement for other sanitary landfills.

• Expands low-flow wastewater system design exemptions and removes density restrictions on expanded polystyrene dispersal media in septic systems with professional engineer certification.

• Modifies speed limit regulations in state parks and forests to allow waivers for special events with indemnification agreements and up to $3 million liability insurance requirements.

• Increases penalties for taking protected plants from $10-$50 to $75-$175 per plant offense and requires court conviction reporting to the Plant Conservation Board.

• Standardizes local well permitting programs to use state forms, establishes informal review procedures for regulatory submittals by professional engineers, and modifies various environmental permitting and reporting requirements.