The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a new subpart titled "Permit Processing Generally," which establishes definitions and procedures for the permit application process. Key definitions include "application period," "department," and "director," with the term "department" now referring to the entity authorized to approve or deny permits rather than specifically the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill sets a clearer framework for determining when an application is administratively complete and establishes specific processing deadlines for various types of permits. It also allows for extensions of processing periods upon applicant request and mandates that the department must approve or deny applications by the established deadlines, providing written documentation for decisions based on sufficient evidence and scientific principles.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new subpart focused on "Overburdened Communities," defining terms such as "discriminatory," "environmental justice impact assessment," and "overburdened community." It requires the department to publish a list of these communities and mandates that any permit application for facilities in these areas must include an environmental justice impact assessment, which considers existing environmental and public health stressors. The bill stipulates that a permit application cannot be deemed complete without fulfilling specific requirements, including the impact assessment and a public hearing. It also prohibits the approval of permits that would be discriminatory unless they serve a compelling public interest and requires the department to impose conditions on permits to protect public health and reduce environmental harms in overburdened communities. Furthermore, the bill mandates the establishment of implementation rules within a year and repeals certain sections of the existing act.