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SF3216 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Sulfate water quality standards site-specific modifications approval during pendency of related rulemaking provision, reactive mine waste storage provision, and additional unemployment insurance benefits provision

Related bill: HF3030

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to address environmental regulation and provide economic support in the iron ore mining industry. It seeks to facilitate environmental compliance and offer financial assistance to workers affected by industry-related layoffs.

Main Provisions

  • Site-Specific Modifications to Sulfate Standards: The bill allows for the approval of site-specific modifications to sulfate water quality standards during ongoing rulemaking processes. This would enable industries to adapt more quickly to current environmental regulations.

  • Management of Reactive Mine Waste: It provides measures for the storage of reactive mine waste, ensuring proper disposal and environmental safety practices.

  • Unemployment Benefits for Laid-off Workers: Additional unemployment benefits are made available to workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry and related sectors due to significant workforce reductions. Benefits are extended to those laid off between March 15, 2025, and June 15, 2025.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Unemployment Insurance Extended: The bill introduces a program offering extended unemployment benefits up to 26 weeks for eligible workers who have exhausted their regular benefits.

  • Non-impact on Employer Tax Rates: Unemployment benefits distributed under this program will not affect the future unemployment tax rate of employers, except for those direct employers in the mining industry.

  • Federal Assistance Interaction: Workers eligible for federal Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits will not qualify for these additional state unemployment benefits.

Relevant Terms

  • Sulfate water quality standards
  • Reactive mine waste
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Iron ore mining industry
  • Trade Readjustment Allowance

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toEnvironment, Climate, and Legacy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional unemployment benefits program specifically for those laid off from iron ore mining."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references section 268.07 in relation to establishing a benefit account for unemployment benefits.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "268.07",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provisions to extend benefits for up to 26 weeks."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill modifies eligibility requirements under section 268.069, subdivision 1, related to additional unemployment benefits.",
      "modified": [
        "Eligibility requirements for additional benefits tied to regular unemployment benefit stipulations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "268.069",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  }
]

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