SF4935

Purpose

• The bill would appropriate funds to study critical materials in the waste stream. It aims to define what counts as “critical materials” and gather information on how these materials move through Minnesota’s economy and waste system.

Key term definitions used in the bill

• Critical materials: materials on the final 2023 Critical Materials List published by the United States Secretary of Energy in the Federal Register on August 4, 2023, as amended under the Energy Act of 2020.
• Waste stream: the flow of products and materials that become waste in Minnesota.

What the bill would do (Main Provisions)

• Funding: It would provide an appropriation from Minnesota’s general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Pollution Control Agency (PCA) to conduct the study.
• Administration: The study would be overseen by the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency.
• Timeline: The study results must be submitted by October 1, 2028 to the Chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over environment policy and finance.
• Scope of study: The study must address: 1) An estimate of the type and volume of products containing critical materials that enter Minnesota’s economy. 2) The amount of critical materials recovered from products through recycling or by using technological processes to extract and remove these materials from waste streams, with the goal of reconstituting them in a pure form for reuse. 3) An estimate of the volume of products containing critical materials present in the waste stream in the state.

Significance and expected outcomes

• The bill does not directly regulate or ban practices; instead, it seeks to quantify and map the presence, recovery, and potential reuse of critical materials within Minnesota.
• By defining “critical materials” via the federal list and Energy Act of 2020 references, the study could inform future policy decisions on resource recovery, recycling infrastructure, and materials management.

Significant changes to existing law

• Creates a new appropriation specifically for a critical materials study and assigns responsibility to the Pollution Control Agency.
• Establishes a formal reporting requirement with a concrete deadline to legislative leadership.
• Refers to federal definitions and lists for consistency in what counts as a critical material.

Reporting and accountability

• The commissioner must report results to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees that oversee environment policy and finance, ensuring legislative oversight and potential future action based on study findings.

Administrative and funding details

• Source of funds: general fund.
• Fiscal year for funding: 2027, with results due in 2028.

Notable references from the bill

• 2023 Critical Materials List (as amended)
• United States Secretary of Energy
• Federal Register (August 4, 2023)
• Energy Act of 2020

Relevant Terms

• critical materials
• waste stream
• Pollution Control Agency
• general fund
• fiscal year 2027
• United States Secretary of Energy
• Federal Register
• 2023 Critical Materials List
• Energy Act of 2020
• Minnesota economy
• recycling
• material recovery
• reconstituting (in a pure form)
• reporting deadline (October 1, 2028)
• chairs and ranking minority members
• environment policy and finance