Transcript Highlights:

• And I think Representative waste.
• If I toxic and corrosive carbon waste.
• </c> waste, not carbon dioxide, carbon waste waste, not carbon dioxide, carbon waste across<00:15:04.079
• </c> deserve a voice when a permanent waste deserve a voice when a permanent waste facility<00:32:19.840
• high-pressure waste injection.

Bills: HB61, HB176, SB12

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every day in this state, we are wasting perfectly good water.
• systems work and what changes would save money and reduce waste.
• Massachusetts is facing a growing waste capacity problem.
• It comprises a quarter of the solid waste that we dispose of every year.
• real cost relief while reducing waste and its environmental damage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record. Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language. Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the solid waste manager for the City of Seattle.
• I will say, Senator Wellman, we were on a great trip where we talked about waste-to-resource or waste-to-energy
• There is a wonderful waste-to-energy plant there.
• I'm Heather Trim with Zero Waste Washington.
• Heather Trim with Zero Waste Washington.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with SB 5965 on retail bags. Staff explained that the bill would prohibit single-use plastic and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge from 8 cents to 20 cents, exempt certain assistance-program customers from bag charges, and add manufacturer/distributor penalties. The sponsor and supporters, including environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma, county solid waste representatives, and health advocates, argued the current law has led to thicker plastic bags and more plastic pollution, microplastics, and recycling contamination. Opponents from hospitality, grocery, retail, paper, and plastic bag industries said the bill would raise costs, create checkout confusion, burden food delivery and takeout operations, and amount to a de facto ban on paper bags as well; several urged waiting for more data on the current 12-cent fee. The hearing ended with a reported 1,240 non-testifiers on SB 5965, with 541 pro, 695 con, and 4 other. The committee then heard SB 6030 on plastic bags. Staff said the bill would allow film plastic and paper carryout bags if they meet recycled-content standards, keep the paper bag fee at 8 cents, reduce the plastic bag fee from 12 cents to 8 cents, and remove the minimum thickness standards for reusable film plastic bags while retaining recycled-content requirements and the SNAP exemption. No public testimony was taken on the bill, and the chair noted 208 non-testifiers, with 192 pro, 11 con, and 5 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 5975 on lead in cookware. Staff described it as a third-round update to the state’s cookware lead law, narrowing covered cookware, delaying the 10 ppm lead standard to 2030, and allowing compliance through FDA or European testing methods. Supporters, including some industry representatives, said the current law is unclear and difficult to enforce, that a workable test is still being developed, and that the bill would provide certainty and avoid unintended coverage of safe products. Opponents from Ecology, Health, environmental groups, and consumer advocates argued the bill would weaken Washington’s existing protections, create broad exemptions, and allow high-lead cookware to remain on the market; they also criticized shifting from total-content testing to leach testing. The hearing closed with 609 non-testifiers on SB 5975, with 54 pro and 552 con.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every day in this state, we are wasting perfectly good water.
• We need to make smart decisions about recycling and waste reduction.
• systems work and what changes would save money and reduce waste.
• Massachusetts is facing a growing waste capacity problem.
• cost relief while reducing waste and its environmental damage.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a hearing on S. 2542, the Mass Ready Act, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s environmental bond bill. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper and Undersecretary Jen Sullivan described the bill as a $3 billion resilience package to protect drinking water, farms, fisheries, roads, bridges, parks, and communities from flooding, heat, drought, wildfires, and other climate impacts. They highlighted major authorizations for flood and coastal resilience, DCR infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, open space and land protection, food security infrastructure, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund for low-cost loans to municipalities, tribes, and water districts. Committee members asked about project lifespans, flood and salt marsh permitting, wastewater and combined sewer overflow funding, parkway maintenance, land acquisition priorities, Quabbin stewardship, and how the revolving fund would be capitalized and administered. The administration said the fund would be modeled on the Clean Water Trust, use existing trust resources rather than new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds; they also said the bill would streamline certain permitting and improve flood-risk disclosure and climate-related building standards. Many witnesses urged the committee to strengthen the bill’s funding levels or add related policy provisions. Labor, contractor, and plumbing groups supported creating a water reuse and graywater recycling commission, saying it could conserve water, reduce stormwater and sewer burdens, and create skilled jobs. Boston Harbor Now asked for higher authorizations for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and resilient coast work, plus permitting reforms for nature-based and waterfront projects. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance backed the bill but also urged inclusion of drought-management legislation, a water reuse commission, a statewide flood buyout program, and more support for community resiliency. Environmental justice advocates from Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements in schools and public housing, while conservation and tree advocates sought larger investments in urban forestry, local nurseries, and workforce training, along with clearer language to ensure municipal reforestation funds go to cities and towns. Agricultural and food system witnesses emphasized the importance of the bill’s food security and farmland provisions. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative supported the $125 million food security infrastructure grant program, saying it has funded critical facilities and equipment for farmers, fishers, processors, and food access organizations, but warned that without the bill there could be a funding gap in fiscal year 2027. They also supported farmland protection and asked for more funding for agricultural capital programs, used-equipment eligibility in grant programs, and a next-generation farmer fund. Water utility representatives said the bill still falls short of the state’s long-term drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs, citing EPA estimates of nearly $37 billion in needed investments over 20 years and urging dedicated recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This work is absolutely critical, but we must figure out sustainable ways to use forest biomass waste
• Without using this waste productively, it will be piled and burned or left to decay as kindling during
• This bill is about making sure we have the resources to use forest waste in ways that are beneficial
• Inundate their communities, realize all the leftover waste that's there.
• So we're on track to create a lot of forest biomass waste.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of natural resources and water bills, beginning without a quorum and then proceeding after quorum was established. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass from wildfire mitigation in environmentally beneficial ways. Supporters said it would help reduce wildfire risk, avoid open burning, improve air quality, and support energy reliability; opponents from environmental groups raised concerns about biomass impacts and sustainability. The bill passed the committee 5-0 and was sent to Energy, Utilities and Communications. The committee then took up AB 2026, also by Aguiar-Curry, which would streamline permitting for groundwater recharge and allow more flexible diversion permits during wet periods. Support came from local water agencies, counties, and water associations, which argued the bill would help capture flood flows, reduce costs, and improve groundwater sustainability. Opponents, including Defenders of Wildlife, salmon and environmental groups, and several irrigation districts, argued the bill could harm fish, public trust resources, and downstream users by allowing diversions based on broad wet-year criteria. Members discussed the bill at length, with some supportive of the recharge goals but urging more safeguards; it passed 4-0 and was sent to Environmental Quality. Other measures included AB 2216 to expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area to additional portions of several counties and add Lake County, which supporters said would improve habitat, climate resilience, and watershed-scale conservation; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. AB 2075 would clarify fire-safety equipment requirements for land-clearing operations and make employers responsible for compliance; farm and cattle groups sought more flexibility for rangeland, and the bill passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 1960 would allow Cal Fire wildfire prevention grants to fund community-level home-hardening projects and was sent to Emergency Management. AB 1808, dealing with Western Joshua tree conservation and local permitting/fee issues, drew support after opposition groups withdrew concerns and passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. The committee also heard AB 550 on incidental take permits for species not yet listed, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Detail to share about how we combat fraud, waste, and abuse at the department.
• And again, identifying fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Before November, Before November 2025, we had no fraud, waste, and abuse policy for the department.
• So written policies and procedures: we finally have that fraud, waste, and abuse policy in place.
• We are launching our all-staff fraud, waste, and abuse training this month.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the minutes from its January 21 and January 22, 2026 meetings. It then heard a presentation from AARP Idaho on aging issues, focusing on the growing 50-plus population, caregiving, fraud and scams targeting older adults, housing and health care affordability, and the importance of policies that support aging in place. AARP urged lawmakers to consider age-friendly planning and noted its community grant program and fraud education efforts, including scam-jam events and outreach with law enforcement. The committee next received a detailed update from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on program integrity, fraud, waste, and abuse prevention. She described efforts to build a department-wide culture of compliance, including a new fraud, waste, and abuse policy, an anonymous reporting line, standardized staff training, and a new impact-review process for evaluating whether programs and contracts are effective. She also outlined existing teams for internal audit, welfare fraud investigations, Medicaid provider fraud, and self-reliance integrity, and said the department is working to improve data tracking, reporting, and recovery of overpayments. A major focus of the discussion was the Idaho Child Care Program, where DHW is conducting a 360-degree review of 775 providers after concerns about compliance and fraud. Sharon said the department has terminated nine providers so far, with more under investigation, and is seeking additional staff and legislative changes to codify the program and strengthen requirements such as Secretary of State registration. Senators also asked about recovery of overpayments, public access to fraud reports, Medicaid fraud recovery rates, and the use of technology and AI to improve oversight. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second level of waste, or tenant waste, manifests when the agency does not fill the space that it
• Total waste is the summation of these two levels of waste, multiplied by the space allocation standard
• This level of waste equals 198 unused offices.
• This computes a second-level waste totaling 1,225,152 square feet.
• This means that the combination of OMES waste and tenant waste totals 2,949,984 square feet, which could

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It drastically reduces existing hazardous waste protections for communities. Please.
• Hazardous waste and other pollutants from this facility get into San Francisco Bay.
• Local governments, as has been said, are charged with managing solid waste and household hazardous waste
• We run local household hazardous waste collection facilities.
• Mandy Strella on behalf of Rethink Waste in support.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality heard four bills focused on environmental regulation and public health. SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would extend a CEQA exemption to child care facilities in residential zones, with committee amendments adding guardrails to exclude sites on natural/protected lands and within 3,200 feet of oil wells or refineries. Support came from child care, planning, local government, and county groups, while one wildlife/plant organization opposed. Members emphasized the need for more child care access and noted the bill was a narrow fix to last year’s CEQA legislation. The committee later voted the bill out on a 7-0 vote. SB 58 by Senator Padilla would update California’s hydrogen sulfide standards and response framework, citing outdated rules and monitoring gaps in the Tijuana River Valley and Salton Sea areas. Testimony from UCLA and community advocates described health impacts and undercounted exceedances, while air district representatives and business interests raised concerns about the scope and timing of the proposal. The committee accepted amendments and advanced the bill on a 7-0 vote. SB 811 by Senator Caballero would establish a regulatory framework for metal shredding facilities, clarifying DTSC enforcement authority and incorporating prior negotiated environmental justice and fire-safety amendments. Supporters included the recycling industry and labor groups; opponents from community, environmental, and local government organizations argued the bill was too deregulatory and did not adequately protect nearby communities. The bill passed 5-0. SB 501 by Senator Allen would expand the state’s battery extended producer responsibility program to include medium-format batteries such as those used in e-bikes and portable power systems. Supporters said the change would improve collection, reduce fire risks, and shift disposal costs from local governments to producers; one battery recycler expressed interest in working on implementation details. The bill was amended and advanced on a 5-2 vote. After quorum was established and votes were taken on call, all four bills were reported out of committee and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Airs to the Ocean, Zero Waste in San Diego, The Last Plastic Straw.
• from think waste.
• I am the executive director of rethink waste rethink waste is a Public joint powers authority a public
• Disposal, education, and treat these products as hazardous waste.
• In my view it's important to continue to reduce the source of hazardous waste before it enters the waste

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• E-waste, we have not fully recycled or reconciled e-waste in that fund condition, but SCO reports indicate
• So the more waste you generate, the more you pay.
• So Waste generation data to our department.
• How are the LA fires impacting generation of hazardous waste?
• So fees are not paid on the waste generated.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• is itself somewhat wasteful.
• is itself somewhat wasteful.
• We have a problem with with waste.
• is itself somewhat wasteful.
• </c> should keep the name waste in the title. should keep the name waste in the title.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:16:00.360><c> Fraud</c> protection for reporting of waste Fraud protection for reporting of waste
• </c> uh they're quick though is fraud waste uh they're quick though is fraud waste and<01:20:18.400><
• </c> dollars being wasted on waste Fraud and dollars being wasted on waste Fraud and Abuse<01:31:31.040
• </c><01:38:36.679><c> fraudulent</c> the fight against wasteful fraudulent the fight against wasteful
• </c><01:41:04.119><c> publicly</c> dollars have been wasted publicly dollars have been wasted publicly

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So in order to do that, they chose that we would have a 23% franchise fee on solid waste.
• I'm the governmental affairs director for Waste Management of Texas.
• This legislation will promote transparency in municipal solid waste contracting.
• It seeks to protect current waste service providers from...
• municipal authority to contract with solid waste service providers.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1904, which would classify intentionally released helium balloons as litter and create criminal penalties for balloon releases. The author and supportive witnesses argued that balloon releases harm wildlife, livestock, waterways, and infrastructure, and that the bill would close a loophole in current litter law. Several members questioned whether criminal penalties were appropriate, and the author said he was willing to work toward civil penalties and fines instead. No vote was taken, and HB 1904 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably to the full House, including HB 3249, HB 3866, HB 4112, HB 1768, HB 1499, HB 573, and HB 464. These measures dealt with topics such as TCEQ contested-case procedures, outdoor storage containers, high-level radioactive waste, concrete plant permitting and grants, unannounced concrete batch plant inspections, and a scrap tire grant program. Most were adopted with substitutes and passed on recorded votes, generally with unanimous or near-unanimous support. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3997, which would create expedited permitting timelines for LNG facilities and related wastewater permits. Industry witnesses said the bill would provide certainty for multibillion-dollar projects without eliminating public participation, while environmental groups opposed parts of the bill that they said could limit contested-case participation and be unrealistic for SOAH timelines. TCEQ staff described the current wastewater permitting process and said some of the bill’s timing provisions could be workable, especially with an expedited fee. The bill was left pending after the author said he would continue working on committee substitute language. The committee also heard HB 1237 on extending the renewal window for expired TCEQ occupational water licenses, and HB 4519, a TERP consolidation bill that would combine several clean transportation grant programs into fewer programs. HB 1237 was left pending without testimony, while HB 4519 drew broad support from environmental and industry witnesses who favored simplifying the program, though some asked for stronger emphasis on particulate matter and hydrogen funding. The committee withdrew the substitute on HB 4519 and left it pending. Finally, HB 5033, which would eliminate the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program if federal authority changes, drew opposition from environmental and inspection-industry witnesses who warned it would weaken air-quality protections and could remove an important enforcement tool. The author said the bill was intended as a trigger mechanism and would be refined, and HB 5033 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 1227 on municipal solid-waste franchise fees and private-provider access; the author said he would bring a substitute after hearing concerns from cities, and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Heather Trim with Zero Waste Washington.
• And they have these huge rollers that go in the landfill and roll all the waste down.
• Heather Trim with Zero Waste Washington.
• Clothing and textiles are a fast-growing part of our waste stream, and the impacts of that waste are
• part of our waste stream, and the impacts of that waste are an increasingly serious environmental concern

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held public hearings on two producer-responsibility bills and then a work session on consumer electrical equipment. On SB 6271, which would create an extended producer responsibility program for mattresses, staff explained the bill’s requirements for a producer responsibility organization, collection and recycling targets, reporting, and enforcement. Senator Hunt said the measure would reduce landfill burden and illegal dumping while creating recycling jobs. Local governments, a recycler, and environmental advocates testified in support, citing landfill capacity concerns, high disposal costs, and the potential to recover most mattress materials. Retail and industry groups said they support the goal but opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it differs from existing state models and could create unnecessary cost and administrative burden. The hearing closed with 459 signed in support and 172 opposed. The committee then heard SB 6174, a proposed substitute on textile producer responsibility that would first require a needs assessment and the creation of a coordinating organization. Supporters, including the sponsor, environmental advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and a student testifier, described textiles as a fast-growing waste stream with major landfill, pollution, and global labor impacts, and said the needs assessment is an important first step. Opponents from retail, business, apparel, and hospitality groups said they support continued stakeholder work and the needs assessment concept, but raised concerns that the bill still presumes a future EPR program, could impose fees and penalties, and may sweep in retailers and company uniforms in ways that create burdens for small businesses. The hearing closed with 1,253 signed in support and 364 opposed. In the work session, Jeremiah Miller of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory briefed the committee on codes and standards for grid-connected and portable solar equipment. He explained how the National Electrical Code, UL certification standards, and IEEE interconnection standards work together, and described newer supplemental standards such as UL 3141 for power control systems and UL 3700 for portable or plug-in solar. Members asked about safety, certification timing, and how Washington could allow these products while ensuring proper installation and consumer protection. Miller said UL 3700 is very new and not yet widely certified in the market, but that the current code framework can accommodate certified products while standards continue to evolve. The committee took no votes and adjourned after the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should all be focused on how do we make sure we don't have the fraud, waste, and abuse in our programs
• them loopholes, but I think when you talk to the average Minnesotan, they're going to call it fraud, waste
• So, you've mentioned waste, fraud, and abuse as a way to kind of help shore up the system for now, at
• , fraud, and abuse, and um waste, fraud, and abuse, and um re-evaluating<00:09:54.520><c> the</c><00:
• ><c> fraud,</c><00:10:15.160><c> and</c> So, you've mentioned waste, fraud, and So, you've mentioned

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:38.480><c> Coalition</c> of the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition of the Minnesota Zero Waste
• </c> Reuse Minnesota and the Zero Waste Reuse Minnesota and the Zero Waste Coalition<00:53:46.720><c>
• </c> accurate solid waste tax definitions. accurate solid waste tax definitions.
• </c> waste stream. waste stream.
• </c> residential donations from the waste residential donations from the waste stream<00:57:20.600><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it does not appear the water department transferred the payments received to the solid waste
• and over $65,000 in the general fund for '23 and '22 respectively, the general fund owed the solid waste
• However, it does not appear the water department transferred the payments received to the solid waste
• Additionally, $3,600 due to the street fund from the solid waste fund as of December 31, 2023, excuse
• And then on the solid waste billing, we have reached out to the county regarding those five businesses

Summary: The committee approved the February 12 minutes and then received updates on delinquent municipal water and sewer reports, noting substantial progress in bringing cities back into compliance. Several items were deferred at the request of local officials, including Fargo’s municipal accounting code report, Jericho’s misuse of street funds matter, Biggers, Holly Grove, Gilmore, and several private water and sewer reports lacking proper responses. The committee also filed a number of reports with no questions or with resolved findings. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on repeat audit findings and management responses. The City of Strong’s mayor described corrective steps on undeposited funds, improper use of solid waste funds, unsupported spending, IRS payroll tax issues, accounting controls, restricted fund transfers, and budget overruns; the committee commended the city’s efforts and filed the report. Calhoun County’s report, involving improper county spending for an appreciation banquet and altered receipts in the collector’s office, was also filed after discussion about educating local officials on constitutional spending limits. Other reports filed included Salem, Briarcliffe, Compton Water Association, and Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority, while several private water reports were deferred or referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The committee reviewed a major regional solid waste management districts report, with significant findings for Pulaski County and Faulkner County involving unapproved payroll items, missing documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, lack of competitive bids, and weak internal controls; Benton County had fewer issues, and several districts had no findings. On motion, the Pulaski County report was deferred so district representatives could answer questions. The committee also heard from Nevada County, where unauthorized withdrawals and interlocal landfill agreement problems were discussed; the county judge said the issues were being corrected, and the report was filed. Later, the committee heard from the City of Grubbs about long-standing IRS debt and from Cross County Rural Water System about overdue audit posting and water quality problems; both witnesses described corrective efforts and ongoing funding or infrastructure projects, and the committee filed the reports after extensive discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those detail wasteful spending.
• That doesn't mean we should sit back and let waste and abuse take place.
• But here in New Mexico, we have no idea what that level of waste and fraud is.
• There's a lot more that we can find here that is wasteful spending.
• We have over about 300 active cases of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• So while the aerobic systems... ...is high carbon, and the last one is more waste.
• So we've also been monitoring the bio-waste production rate.
• process is making only negligible bio-waste.
• So we can reduce more than 90% of the bio-waste production rate by having our system.
• So with this improvement in the energy and bio-waste sectors... ...system.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time. The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• But when you want to ...seek out waste, fraud, and abuse in state government.
• But when we see the implementation now, it is not that. ...in fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Fortunately, this bill is a waste of time.
• I'm a Floridian myself that has a lot of time on my hands to waste.
• This is a waste of time. This legislative session so far has been a waste of time.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard several measures focused on government structure, oversight, and public policy designations. The most debated bill was HJR 1325, which proposed a constitutional amendment to create a statewide Commissioner of Government Efficiency, abolish the lieutenant governor office and the Government Efficiency Task Force, and eliminate the constitutional requirement for an Auditor General appointment. Sponsors said the new commissioner would be a watchdog over waste, fraud, and abuse across state and local government, while opponents raised concerns about cost, single-subject issues, lack of implementation details, and whether existing oversight structures were sufficient. After extensive debate, the resolution was reported favorably by a recorded vote. The committee also approved HB 575, which redesignates the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in Florida statute, and HB 1445, which requires certain state officials and agency heads to have stronger ties to Florida and, for some positions, to live in the county where their agency headquarters is located. HB 1445 drew questions about practicality and whether a proximity standard would be better than a strict county requirement, but the sponsor said he would continue working on that issue. Both bills were reported favorably, with HB 1445 passing unanimously. In addition, the committee unanimously approved HB 259, designating August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day, with supporters emphasizing the need for public education about fentanyl overdoses. The committee also passed CS/HB 29, the public records and meetings bill linked to the social work licensure compact, which creates confidentiality and meeting exemptions needed for the compact to operate. Public testimony on that measure was supportive, and it too was reported favorably without opposition.