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Bill > HB1162

MS HB1162

MS HB1162
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; require to evaluate toxic air pollutants and revise air quality standards.

summary

Introduced
01/19/2026
In Committee
01/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Require The Mississippi Department Of Environmental Quality To Establish A List Of Certain Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants That May Cause The Public, Especially Infants And Children, To Be Susceptible To Illness; To Require The Department To Review And Revise Any Control Measures Adopted For The Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants Identified On Such List Within Two Years Of The Establishment Of The List; To Require The Department To Prepare A Report On The Need For Rules Or Regulations For Up To Five Of Those Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants For Which No Control Measures Have Been Previously Adopted Within Three Years Of The Establishment Of Such List; To Require The Department To Adopt Within That Same Three-year Timeframe Any New Control Measures To Reduce Exposure To Those Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants To Protect Public Health, Particularly The Health Of Infants And Children; To Require The Department To Annually Evaluate At Least Fifteen Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants Identified Or Designated By The Department And Provide Threshold Exposure Levels And Nonthreshold Health Values For Those Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants; To Require The Department To Prepare A Report On The Need For Regulations For Up To Five Of The Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants Contained On Such List For Which No Control Measures Have Been Previously Adopted, Or For At Least Five Of The Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants If More Than Five Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants Have Been Identified; To Require The Department To Promulgate Rules And Regulations To Reduce Emissions And Airborne Levels Of Such Toxic Air Pollutants And Contaminants To Comply With Certain Standards; To Provide That The Department Shall, With The Participation Of, And In Consultation With, Affected Sources, The Interested Public, And A Diverse Group Of Experts, Prepare A Report On The Need And Appropriate Degree Of Regulation For Each Substance Which The Department Has Determined To Be A Toxic Air Pollutant Or Contaminant; To Provide Certain Requirements For Such Report; To Provide That Such Report And Relevant Comments Received During Consultation With Affected Sources And The Public Shall Be Made Available For Public Review And Comment At Least Forty-five Days Prior To A Public Hearing; To Define The Term "covered Facility"; To Require Covered Facilities To Conduct Fence Line Monitoring Of Covered Air Toxics And Report The Results To The Public; To Bring Forward Sections 49-2-31, 49-17-19, 49-17-21, 49-17-25, 49-17-27, 49-17-29, 49-17-31, 49-17-33, 49-17-34 And 49-17-35, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Relate To Risk Assessment, Air Quality Standards, Public Notice Of Emergency, Adoption Of Regulations And Public Hearings, For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill requires the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to identify and evaluate toxic air pollutants and contaminants, with a particular focus on those that may make infants and children more susceptible to illness. The MDEQ must establish a list of these substances, review and update existing control measures within two years of listing, and within three years, prepare reports and adopt new control measures for up to five of these pollutants for which no controls currently exist, aiming to reduce public exposure, especially for children. Annually, the MDEQ will evaluate at least fifteen toxic air pollutants, providing exposure levels and health values, and will update its list of toxic air pollutants by July 1, 2027, and each year thereafter, continuing to develop and implement control measures as needed. The bill also mandates that the MDEQ, in consultation with affected parties and experts, prepare a report detailing the need for and appropriate level of regulation for each identified toxic air pollutant, making this report and public comments available for review and comment for at least 45 days before any public hearing. Furthermore, "covered facilities," defined as stationary sources of air pollution meeting specific U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria, will be required to conduct real-time monitoring of covered air toxics at their property line (fence line monitoring) and report these results to the public, with outreach conducted in the two most prevalent languages spoken in nearby communities, and the Mississippi Air Quality Control Commission will periodically review and potentially add new types of covered facilities and air toxics. The bill also brings forward and amends existing Mississippi Code sections related to risk assessment, air quality standards, public notice, adoption of regulations, and public hearings, and specifies that the act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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