Bill > HB644

This bill amends Georgia's environmental protection laws to give the director of the Environmental Protection Division expanded authority when reviewing permit applications. Specifically, the bill allows the director to investigate and consider an applicant's out-of-state regulatory history when deciding whether to approve permits related to environmental regulations in Chapters 4, 5, 7, or 9 of the state code. The director can now deny a permit if the applicant has a history of environmental law or regulation violations, including criminal or civil penalties incurred in other states. This provision gives the director more discretion to evaluate an applicant's overall environmental compliance record, not just limited to violations within Georgia, when making permitting decisions. The change aims to potentially prevent companies with problematic environmental records from obtaining permits by allowing a more comprehensive review of their regulatory background across state lines.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70843