Video & Transcript Research : 'water code'

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MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • It ensures our water is safe to drink.
  • We have nitrogen water quality.
  • A stretch code is a type of building code.
  • of statewide code.
  • I'm grateful for the parts of this bill that address water quality, water.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing focused on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill. Administration officials said the bill would fund climate resilience, clean water, land conservation, parks, PFAS remediation, food security infrastructure, and coastal and inland flood protection, while also streamlining permitting for housing, restoration, and other resilience projects. They emphasized that the bond authorizes spending but does not itself obligate it, and said the proposal includes deauthorizations as housekeeping. Committee members asked about the new Resilience Revolving Fund, flood and drought management, MVP funding, land acquisition, Chapter 61 right-of-first-refusal changes, salt marsh carbon sequestration, and how the bill would help smaller municipalities and offset expected federal funding losses. Officials said the revolving fund would be managed through EEA and the Clean Water Trust, with criteria aimed at directing aid to communities most in need, and noted that drought issues would continue to be handled through existing DEP and drought commission tools. Several committee members and witnesses discussed specific policy provisions, including flood disclosure requirements for homebuyers and renters, expanded authority for regional planning and small-town access to grants, and permitting reforms that would exempt or expedite certain environmental restoration and priority housing projects from more time-consuming review processes. Administration witnesses defended the reforms as a way to achieve the same environmental outcomes faster and with more certainty, while some advocates argued the bill should go further, especially on Chapter 91 and restoration permitting. The administration also described investments in DCR facilities, water and wastewater systems, open space, agricultural easements, and a new focus on blue carbon and salt marsh restoration. Public testimony largely supported the bill. Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, The Nature Conservancy, MAPC, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, municipal officials, and others praised the bill’s resilience, conservation, and water infrastructure investments. Some witnesses urged additional funding for land protection, coastal resilience, buyouts, and restoration, and several called for stronger or simpler permitting reforms. Municipal witnesses from Boston, Beckett, Beverly, Conway, and regional planning organizations stressed the need for flexible financing, especially for small and rural communities facing costly infrastructure and climate adaptation projects. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the committee heard testimony and asked questions before moving on to additional panels.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (04/15/2025)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you." water. We are one of the worst PAST water.
  • Waters district who supported this bill. Waters district who supported this bill.
  • It is on water hookups in their town, and therefore there are no hookups to their water system.
  • And that's what fire code and building code demands be built.
  • So there is a discrepancy between our building code and fire code, and we have to fix that.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the Committee on Water and Land, and actually the Committee on Water, Land, and Housing, which
  • effects of development on Water effects of development on Water Resources<00:05:06.240> including
  • Resource Management to advocate for water rights and secure water reservations and water credits for
  • Resource Management to advocate for water rights and secure water reservations and water credits for
  • The Commission on Water Resource Management to advocate for water rights and secure water reservations
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first took up SB 534, a measure concerning development in Kakaʻako Makai involving the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The chairs explained that the hearing was decision-making only and no testimony would be accepted, though members could ask clarifying questions. The chair outlined amendments to clarify HCDA’s approval process, require an environmental impact statement before residential development proposals are submitted, require Department of Health documentation on hazardous substances, and specify that only OHA-owned parcels would be eligible for certain residential development with a 400-foot height limit and maximum floor area ratio of 10.0. The amendments also addressed affordability, owner-occupancy, association fees, and a special fund, while noting Attorney General concerns that the fee could be construed as a tax and suggesting further review by Judiciary and Ways and Means. Members discussed the affordability threshold, with one senator suggesting 160% AMI instead of 140% due to high housing costs and concern that essential workers could be priced out. Others raised concerns about Native Hawaiian affordability, the long-term effect of perpetuity restrictions, and whether the process would protect OHA’s interests. An HCDA representative said 140% AMI was used in existing reserve housing rules and that lower thresholds could make development economically infeasible. OHA and other supporters said the proposal was still early in planning and emphasized the need for public hearings, community input, and compliance with environmental and remediation standards. The committees voted to pass SB 534 with amendments: Water and Land approved it 4-1, and Hawaiian Affairs also adopted the chair’s recommendation, with one member excused and one voting no. The meeting then moved to SB 3, relating to water resource management. The bill would authorize the Commission on Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel, create an executive director position, allow challenges to emergency orders under certain conditions, establish fines for water use offenses, and revise emergency and shortage declaration procedures; Red Hill-related provisions were noted as removed from this version. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, the Board of Water Supply, OHA, and Sierra Club, with OHA stressing the measure’s importance to Native Hawaiian water rights and past litigation. A Department of Hawaiian Home Lands representative supported the bill with amendments and recommended explicit language directing the commission chair or designee to advocate for water rights and reservations for homelands. The chair indicated the committees would use the prior Senate-passed version as the basis for further action, and the discussion then moved on to SB 130, a search-and-rescue reimbursement bill.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we rely on Sonoma Water for about 93% of our water supply.
  • Balancing water quality and balancing the needs of water systems can provide. Thanks.
  • we don't want to have then a water quality issue with our whole water supply.
  • water capacity, in a rural area.
  • So mutual water is another thing.
Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Housing Committee (04/08/2025)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • Codes code issues best address this by requiring the building code review board to update the code to
  • There's a plumbing code, a mechanical code, electric code, and so forth.
  • So code, electric code, and so forth.
  • building code. building code.
  • take a big drink of water. take a big drink of water.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Oct 15th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • One of them is the Water Trust Board.
  • Or in 50 million, what is the total coding cost?
  • Chairman, the Water Trust Board is made up of people who care deeply about the way in which water is
  • Number seven, the Medical Board, Agency Code 446.
  • Next up, Board of Nursing, Agency Code 449.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Land & Resource Management Apr 3rd, 2025

Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we're trying to form Rodney Holmes: a water district to bring surface water into the county to help
  • and building codes.
  • supplying us water.'
  • to build that water infrastructure to provide water for any development.
  • Scott Norman Jr.: To designate water restrictions for areas that have limited water supply.
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

MS Senate Floor - 10 February, 2026; 10:00 AM

Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . water. water.
  • rural water.
  • rural water.
  • rural water.
  • rural water.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Denise Pope, and led the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including the doctor of the day, student pages, Carthage Christian Academy, Mississippi Valley State University visitors, the University of Southern Mississippi’s DuBard School and related programs, and members of the Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The Senate took up Senate Bill 2896, which revises the Department of Public Safety salary schedule for MHP and MBN officers. Senator Hopson explained it as the vehicle for possible pay raises for troopers, NBI, and MBN officers, and the chamber adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill by morning roll call. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2917, a recurring appropriations cleanup measure; its main change would allow Mississippi Valley State University to use previously designated dormitory funds for repair and renovation instead. A reverse repealer amendment was adopted before final passage by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2825, the Mississippi Health Care Industry Zone Act, was then considered. Senator Harkins said the bill extends the repealer for the health care industry zone incentive program to 2028 and noted the program has generated significant investment and jobs statewide. An amendment requested by the Mississippi Development Authority was adopted to revise eligibility language, including replacing a CON requirement with a requirement that a hospital have at least 25 acute care beds and deleting a section under current law. The bill then passed by morning roll call. Finally, the Senate considered Senate Bill 2894 on local improvement projects and the return of unexpended funds and earned interest. Senator Harkins explained that the bill would require older local improvement project funds to be returned if projects were not moving forward, require reporting to DFA and the Legislative Budget Office, allow audits, and permit limited extensions, while also withholding a portion of other state distributions for noncompliance. Senators raised concerns about projects that are already obligated or delayed by workforce and engineering constraints, and Harkins said the bill would be refined with a reverse repealer to work with LBO and avoid disrupting active projects. The bill was discussed but not finally disposed of in the portion of the transcript provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The nightmares involved water.
  • The water is clear up here.
  • The water is clear up here.
  • water.
  • Water at about 2:55.
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we rely on Sonoma Water for about 93% of our water supply.
  • And then I would say insurers really want to see the codes, the stronger building codes.
  • I want to see the codes, the stronger building codes, you know, in the counties.
  • quality because we don't want to have then a water quality issue with our whole water supply.
  • So mutual waters.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and state partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Opening remarks emphasized that catastrophic wildfire is now a statewide issue, that California has shifted more toward prevention and resilience, and that Sonoma County’s recovery has become a model for other communities. Panelists included fire, water, permitting, community recovery, and insurance experts, who described how local experience has informed broader policy discussions. Santa Rosa fire and city officials described major changes in prevention and preparedness, including stronger public education, a vegetation management ordinance, an ignition-free/Zone Zero approach, and more detailed community wildfire protection planning. They said these efforts helped reduce damage in later fires, such as the Glass Fire, and noted ongoing challenges with prescribed burning, smoke management, grant delays, and maintaining vegetation treatments over time. Santa Rosa Water described improvements in regional coordination, backup power, generator redesign, and wildfire contamination response protocols after the city became the first utility to identify wildfire-related contamination in its water system. Community recovery leaders stressed the importance of block captain networks, neighborhood organization, and trusted local information in helping residents rebuild and avoid fraud. They argued for more formal support, training, and funding for block captain programs, as well as better long-term financing for local mitigation work and utility upgrades. Permit Sonoma officials said the county tried to balance speed and safety in rebuilding by streamlining permits, reducing fees, and helping residents rebuild to stronger standards, though they noted the loss of a major BRIC grant has slowed home-hardening outreach. Insurance advocate Amy Bach said wildfire risk reduction is increasingly influencing insurer behavior, with some companies offering discounts or more favorable treatment for Firewise communities and homes meeting wildfire-prepared standards. She urged continued funding for mitigation grants, better disclosure when insurers use aerial imagery to non-renew policies, and caution against removing wildfire coverage from standard homeowners policies. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken in the hearing; it was an informational discussion intended to gather testimony and policy recommendations.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES Jan 8th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Transcript Highlights:
  • Update on the delinquent water and sewer private water and sewer reports for the year ended December
  • She said per the code, so it would be the code would be every month starting in February.
  • That's my understanding of how the code would be interpreted once you worded it per the code, and that
  • would be how the code would be interpreted.
  • I inadvertently put the wrong revenue codes in there when I set it up.
Keywords: 1204, all
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026

Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • But one thing I would say is just the management of water to get water, but also to get rid of water
  • We're incorporating water sampling for water quality.
  • And that Century Code guides how water resource districts manage those drains, protect that infrastructure
  • the guidelines for how water boards use bonding is also laid out in Century Code.
  • But we would be looking at Century Code 57-02-27.26, and that is where you find the inundated water section
Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Local Government Dec 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Every code in some way regulates form, and I've never encountered a form-based code that doesn't have
  • So you're starting to see that in form-based codes, but you see actually that's a growing trend in codes
  • Every code in some way regulates form, and I've never encountered a form-based code that doesn't have
  • codes generally.
  • Well, Clark County uses form-based codes. City of Lacey uses form-based codes.
Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Land & Resource Management Apr 10th, 2025

Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we took that feedback, updated our zoning codes to reflect that.
  • code in Chapter 49.
  • And so I think you know there is already a remedy in law in the water code that TCEQ provides, and if
  • So I think TCEQ already has some teeth allowed for in the water code, and I just don't think that making
  • So the sewer and water, etc. Uh, so it's both, uh, taxes and water and sewer rates, right?
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 19th, 2025

Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have no water. There's no water feature at all. It's a pit.
  • Fish Water Development, Water Reuse, Investigations, et cetera.
  • We have to conserve water, develop new water.
  • Storm water is not what I would call an additional source of water.
  • or rural water access.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We found that the most egregious form of water theft is through water hydrants, where we've got some
  • We estimate up to about 50 million gallons of water per year is lost because of water theft.
  • The potential damage that can be caused to the water system, both the fire hydrant and even the water
  • Alfredo Redondo on behalf of Irvine Ranch Water District and East Valley Water District, in support.
  • Jamie Miner on behalf of Santa Margarita Water District and Eastern Municipal Water District, pleased
Summary: The committee opened the June 18, 2025 Local Government hearing with housekeeping rules, noting that testimony would be in person and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. Because a quorum was initially lacking, the committee proceeded as a subcommittee and heard several bills before later taking formal votes once quorum was established. The agenda included 15 bills, with eight placed on the consent calendar and one bill pulled by the author. The bills discussed included SB 333, which would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising the local sales tax cap for transportation funding; SB 390, a district-specific measure for South San Francisco to address a Mello-Roos/CFD issue affecting properties with conservation easements; SB 394, which would increase penalties for water theft and allow local agencies to recover damages; SB 611, which would restore protections for housing projects tied to adopted community plans while CEQA litigation is pending; SB 757, which would allow nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect cleanup costs for chronic nuisance properties; and SB 489, which would require public agencies involved in housing approvals to post application requirements online. Supporters generally framed the bills as tools for infrastructure financing, housing production, transparency, public safety, or deterrence of theft and blight. Opposition was heard on SB 757, with critics warning about due process, foreclosure risk, and displacement of low-income homeowners. After quorum was called, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 757, and later approved SB 489 on a 10-0 vote. The consent calendar bills—SB 74, SB 225, SB 272, SB 409, SB 558, SB 735, SB 736, and SB 737—were approved together. SB 333 advanced on a 7-2 vote, SB 390 passed 9-0, SB 394 passed 9-0, and SB 611 passed 10-0. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after all listed actions were taken.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Governmental Oversight, Select Jun 4th, 2026

Governmental Oversight, Select

Transcript Highlights:
  • are the Penal Code and the Election Code.
  • : the Agriculture Code, Business and Commerce Code, Finance Code, Insurance Code, Labor Code, Natural
  • Resources Code, Occupations Code, and the Property Code.
  • You're talking about water breaks? Yes. Oh, okay. Water breaks. Okay, got it.
  • You know, the codes that are impacted here: Ag Code, Natural Resources Code, Insurance Code, Business
Keywords: 1184, house, all
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Energy - Room 409, 3 March, 2026; 1:30 P.M.

Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It just has code sections open.
  • :04:51.919> on<00:04:52.160> that huge water crisis going on that huge water crisis going
  • Um, if people aren't drinking water.
  • <00:05:00.080> just paying their bills and the water just paying their bills and the water
  • part of water bill. part of water bill.
Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1049, which was explained as a House vehicle used to insert two previously introduced Senate bills: the rural water oversight committee bill and a measure expanding PSC authority to reject certain certificated areas for municipalities serving customers more than one mile outside city limits, with water utilities added to the existing electric utility language. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then passed the amended bill, which was reported out. Next, House Bill 1305 was taken up. The bill would expand oversight of municipally owned electrical distribution systems by allowing the Public Service Commission to conduct audits, but it included a reverse repealer because further work was still needed. The sponsor said he wanted to ensure systems that do not need auditing are not unnecessarily included. The committee adopted the strike-off amendment and then reported the bill. The final and most detailed item was a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority. The sponsor described it as a response to Jackson’s water crisis and warned that without action the city could face bankruptcy and bondholder enforcement. The bill would create a new authority covering Jackson water and wastewater service areas, establish a board with appointments by the mayor, governor, lieutenant governor, and others, transfer operations when the court-ordered process ends, and give the authority powers over rates, contracts, bonds, procurement, reporting, and related financial matters. A committee member asked whether population-based language would capture any city other than Jackson; the sponsor said Jackson is the only city over 100,000 population and acknowledged a drafting issue, noting the reverse repealer was included because the bill was not yet perfect. After the strike-off was adopted, the committee voted to report the bill.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 12, 2026 - 09:15 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we have really bad water right now.
  • The water is safe to drink.
  • Donna Clinton: The majority of our water problems were deemed aesthetic by the Florida Rural Water Association
  • Donna Clinton: The Florida Rural Water Association.
  • They store and move fresh water, help recharge groundwater, and protect drinking water supplies.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, our building codes.
  • code.
  • The American Water Works Association estimates that the U.S. needs over $1 trillion in drinking water
  • American Water Works Association estimates that the U.S. needs over $1 trillion in drinking water infrastructure
  • costs for water treatment and other things.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee hearing focused on a broad set of climate, energy, and environmental justice proposals. Early testimony strongly supported the Climate Change Superfund or “Polluter Pays” bill (H.1014/S.58), which would assess the largest fossil fuel emitters for a one-time fee based on historic emissions to fund climate adaptation. Sponsors argued the bill is modeled on Superfund cleanup principles, would target only the largest multinational polluters, would not be passed on to consumers, and would direct a significant share of funds to environmental justice communities. Committee members asked about the number of companies covered, consumer impacts, and whether the bill would address other forms of environmental destruction; sponsors said it was limited to major fossil fuel companies with a Massachusetts footprint and did not cover other pollution sources. The committee also heard testimony on a fusion energy compact proposal (S.673) that would direct the administration to develop a framework for a New England regional compact to accelerate fusion research, workforce development, and supply-chain growth. Supporters from MIT and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities said fusion could become a major clean-energy and economic opportunity, but acknowledged the technology is not yet commercially viable and still has unresolved technical, cost, and waste-management questions. Members pressed on environmental impacts, siting, waste, costs, and whether the bill would create a compact or only a framework; sponsors said it would only create the framework and that the administration would need to negotiate with other states. Another major topic was a pilot program for nature-based climate solutions (H.971/S.??), backed by legislators, Boston Harbor Now, and UMass Boston’s Stone Living Lab. Witnesses said the bill would help speed permits for research and demonstration projects such as living shorelines, marsh restoration, and hybrid “green-to-gray” flood protections, while maintaining safeguards and protecting Indigenous and historic resources. Committee members asked how the proposal would interact with other permitting reforms and whether it could conflict with housing or wetland-related streamlining; supporters said it was complementary and aimed at making projects faster, more affordable, and more data-driven. The hearing also covered climate-safe buildings and climate adaptation funding bills. Supporters of H.1004/S.583 said current building codes do not adequately account for future flooding, heat, and wind, and the bill would add climate expertise to the building board, allow stretch resilience codes, expand floodplain standards, and create a retrofit program. Related testimony backed H.938/S.572, which would create a dedicated climate and community resilience fund financed by a small fee on property insurance premiums; advocates said it would provide stable long-term revenue for adaptation, especially in environmental justice communities, and help replace unreliable federal funding. One witness from CLF supported the climate-safe buildings and funding bills but opposed S.560/H.939 as too broad. The committee also heard testimony on airport air-quality legislation (H.997) calling for more monitoring and mitigation of ultra-fine particulate pollution around Logan Airport and Massport communities. No votes were taken during the hearing.