Confined feeding operations.

Added a mandatory pre-application meeting process where applicants must submit engineered designs for manure treatment, control facilities, or animal feeding structures, and the department must review them within 30 days.

Clarified that if the department fails to make a determination within 90 days, the applicant is entitled to a fee refund and the department must continue reviewing the application.

Added specific criteria the commissioner must consider when denying an application, including the nature of past violations, the responsible party's cooperation with investigations, and their history of self-policing.

Changed the meeting process from a 'preconstruction meeting' to a 'preapplication meeting' to clarify the timing and purpose of the interaction between applicants and the department.

Added a requirement that applicants who receive approval during the preapplication phase must still file a formal application under Section 2 to obtain a permit.

Established a refund process for application fees if the department fails to make a determination within 90 days, ensuring applicants are not penalized for departmental delays.

Updated the timeline for departmental determinations and fee refunds to align with the new preapplication process and refund provisions.

Updated the list of affected citations to reflect the broader changes in the bill's requirements and procedures.