Georgina Lambert

Testimony Against HB1440 The proposed HB1440, which mandates carbon sequestration program participants to submit detailed management plans, poses significant challenges, particularly for small and marginalized landowners. The micro-level compliance burden on these landowners could effectively exclude them from participation in vital environmental programs. This requirement, while aimed at enhancing ecosystem services, often overlooks the realities faced by those who lack the resources or technical knowledge to navigate the bureaucratic landscape. By imposing such stringent obligations, the bill risks reinforcing existing inequalities, especially for low-income families and tribal lands that may not have the same access to support systems as larger landowners. At the mezzo and macro levels, while there are clear environmental advantages associated with this bill, the unintended consequences on smaller operators cannot be ignored. The benefits to municipalities and broader ecosystem services seem to come at the cost of excluding those who could contribute meaningfully to carbon mitigation efforts. Moreover, the absence of dedicated funding to aid compliance further complicates an already burdensome process, particularly for those least equipped to manage it. The intersectional concerns highlighted by this bill require a reevaluation of its objectives to ensure that environmental protection does not come at the expense of vulnerable landowners. The need for a balanced approach is paramount to truly foster inclusive participation in carbon sequestration efforts.