This bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by updating the annual water quality protection fees for registered products. The bill specifies that the fee for each product registered will increase incrementally from $324.00 in 2026 to $367.00 in 2030 and beyond. Additionally, it introduces a new fee structure for specialty fertilizers and soil conditioners, with fees starting at $120.00 in 2026 and increasing to $136.00 by 2030. The bill also outlines a late fee of $100.00 for renewal registrations received after June 30.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the fee structure for fertilizer manufacturers, changing the previous fee system to a per-pound basis, with rates starting at $0.0006 per pound in 2026 and gradually increasing to $0.00068 by 2030. It establishes that fees collected will be credited to a fund and allows for adjustments based on inflation starting January 1, 2031. The bill also includes provisions for auditing records related to these fees and suspends fee collection if funds are used for purposes outside those specified in the act.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 324.8715