Substitute Senate Bill No. 290, File No. 163, proposes amendments to environmental statutes, particularly clarifying the definition of "intentionally introduced" substances in packaging. The bill specifies that the use of regulated metals or PFAS as processing agents or intermediates, where their incidental retention in the final product is unintentional, does not count as intentional introduction, provided the packaging complies with certain sections of the law. It also allows for the use of post-consumer recycled materials in packaging without the presence of these substances being considered intentional, subject to compliance with specified subsections.

Additionally, the bill amends section 22a-6 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, increasing the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) authority and expenditure thresholds for construction or repair projects. The threshold for projects that DEEP can undertake without prior approval from the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is raised from $500,000 to $1 million, and with DAS approval, from $1 million to $3 million. These thresholds will be adjusted annually based on the Producer Price Index by Commodity: Construction. The bill also renumbers subsequent provisions and adjusts fees related to Freedom of Information Act requests and compliance monitoring. The bill has been favorably substituted by the Environment Committee and is effective upon passage, with no anticipated fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.