This bill addresses critical minerals.
This bill:
- facilitates faster permitting by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining;
- provides for the diversion of new growth from the mineral severance tax;
- defines terms;
- establishes the state critical minerals objectives and policy, including providing for annual reviews;
- creates the Critical Minerals Council (council), including establishing the council's operations, powers, and duties;
- addresses areas of coordination by certain council members;
- establishes a process to designate critical mineral zones, including providing for property tax differential revenue;
- provides for the creation of a clearinghouse of data to be known as the "Critical Minerals Atlas";
- addresses the creation of the Minerals for Industrial, National, and Economic Security Center;
- creates the Critical Minerals Development Account; and
- makes technical and conforming amendments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 59-2-924, 59-5-215, 79-2-201