Bill Description: Senate Bill 1089 would expand the state's waste tire program and add new fees and subsidies.

Rating: -4

NOTE: Senate Bill 1089 is related to Senate Bill 1393, introduced in the 2024 legislative session. 

Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?

Senate Bill 1089 would repeal Chapter 65, Title 39, Idaho Code, currently titled "Waste Tire Disposal," and replace it with the "Waste Tire Disposal and Recycling Act." The replacement chapter would be significantly longer and include expanded definitions, more onerous regulations, new fees, a new fund, a new pilot project, and new rebates for recyclers.

Section 39-6508, Idaho Code, would establish a "waste tire recycling and remediation fund" in the state treasury.

Section 39-6509, Idaho Code, would create a pilot project for the purposes of "remediating abandoned tire piles," "providing moneys to cities and counties to enforce the provisions of this chapter," and "providing rebates to recyclers who recycle tires found in this state."

(-1)

Does it transfer a function of the private sector to the government? Examples include government ownership or control of any providers of goods or services such as the Land Board’s purchase of a self-storage facility, mandatory emissions testing, or pre-kindergarten. Conversely, does it eliminate a function of government or return a function of government to the private sector?

Section 39-6511, Idaho Code, would create a series of reimbursements for recyclers who process tires. This section would say a "recycler is entitled to" a $65 subsidy for "each ton of waste tires or material derived from waste tires converted to ground rubber, if a contract exists for the sale of the ground rubber for use as a component in an end product"; a $50 subsidy for "each ton of waste tires or material derived from waste tires recycled, other than as ground rubber"; and a $20 subsidy for "each ton of ground rubber used for a beneficial reuse."

The appropriateness and economic viability of recycling should be determined by the free market, not mandated or subsidized by government.

(-1)

Does it directly or indirectly create or increase any taxes, fees, or other assessments? Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce any taxes, fees, or other assessments?

Section 39-6507, Idaho Code, would impose a "waste tire recycling fee" of 50 cents per new motor vehicle tire sold at retail. The proceeds from this fee would be deposited in the "waste tire recycling and remediation fund" in the state treasury.

(-1)

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?

The fiscal note for Senate Bill 1089 suggests that the "waste tire recycling fee" would generate $3 million over three years, which would be used primarily to remediate waste tire piles and subsidize recyclers for processing tires. The fiscal note estimates that $520,000 of the $3 million would be spent on the "cost of administration of the act."

(-1)