Chambana Sun

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) opposes a bill that eases recycling regulations for the state fair that apply to private businesses. 

 Barickman expressed his doubts regarding the bill to Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Highwood) as the bill seeks to exempt the state fair from certain regulations involving recycling. Barickman's main issue with the legislation is that it is not holding the state to the same standard it is attempting to do with private business owners.

"For clarity here, there is a mandate component to this," Barickman said. "But my point is you've carved on the state fair that creates discrepancies. I would encourage a no vote."

Barickman also questioned why the fair would be exempt from banning the usage of single-use plastic while not exempting state contractors. "Why exempt them? It seems like you would want to go about it the other way. The State Fair is an extension of the state and it seems like you're telling the industries to do yourself what you think the state should do," Barickman said.

Morrison replied that the exemption was made at the request of the Department of Agriculture. "They felt that this would be too onerous of a burden for some of the smaller vendors that come in for just once a year to sell their food," Morrison told Barickman. "Hopefully, this is something we will be able to add next year, but I think it's important to start small and chip away at the bigger issue."

The bill passed the Senate with 32 Yes votes and 13 No votes. The bill had several Senate committee and floor amendments while it was in the Senate. It now goes to the House for a vote. Thirteen senators – both Republicans and Democrats – did not vote on the bill.