Video & Transcript Research : 'waste characterization study'
Page 108 of 500
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- going to support the interimm study going to support the interimm study amendment.<04:32:23.040>
- The motion is referred to interimm study The motion is referred to interimm study is<04:36:52.879
- is to refer to interim study.
- study committee to what that court is. study committee to what that court is.
- go to the study committee and do that. go to the study committee and do that.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Apr 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- You get very affordable studies for ...and consultants standpoint, you get very affordable studies from
- Clearly, they had the opportunity to do those studies on their own.
- Clearly, they had the opportunity to do those studies on their own.
- This study must analyze specified information and the impact.
- Again, this is a statewide study.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard three bills after temporarily postponing SB 1524. The committee first took up CS for SB 1264, a broad economic development bill covering law enforcement recruitment bonuses, venture capital tax credits, data center tax exemptions, military land transfers, Space Florida procurement exemptions, and changes to regional planning councils. An amendment was adopted to remove sections tied to emergency management shelter plans so the bill would align with another measure. The main debate centered on the proposal to repeal regional planning council statutes; supporters argued the councils are duplicative and bureaucratic, while opponents said they provide valuable regional coordination, technical assistance, and grant support, especially for rural communities. The bill was reported favorably 13-1, with Senator Sharif voting no.
The committee then considered CS for SB 1348, which streamlines motor vehicle services by expanding the role of tax collectors as DHSMV agents. Three amendments were adopted: one making the scalping of driver and motor vehicle appointment slots a misdemeanor, one increasing penalties for texting while driving and requiring a new distracted-driving course to remove points, and one allowing veterans with DV plates to use a sticker instead of a stencil or imprint. The bill received supportive testimony from tax collectors and law enforcement-related groups and was reported favorably without opposition.
Finally, the committee heard SB 936, which directs the Department of Commerce’s workforce research bureau to conduct a recurring statewide study every three years on the effects of automation, robotics, and AI on Florida’s workforce. The sponsor said the study would have minimal fiscal impact and would help guide policy recommendations. With no opposition or debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking staff and members.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, Commissioner Brown, I appreciate your steadfast commitment to get to this waste, fraud, and
- <00:47:50.599>
Fraud commitment to uh get to this waste Fraud commitment to uh get to this - Um, see, according to an updated version of a study from Toot?
- uh but the the the recent study uh but the the the recent study indicates<01:40:42.320>
that< - <01:46:33.040>
of conversation and not a total waste of conversation and not a total waste
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:09:12.080>
2.0 those studies into the net study 2.0 those studies into the net study 2.0 - The next clarifying change is we have that new background study disqualification to address fraud, waste
- The next clarifying change is we have that new background study disqualification to address fraud, waste
- The next clarifying change is we have that new background study disqualification to address fraud, waste
- The next clarifying change is we have that new background study disqualification to address fraud, waste
Keywords:
assisted living, healthcare, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (03/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We’re like ranked 49th in the entire country in our solid waste stuff.
- We are taking in Rochester 55% out-of-state waste. New Hampshire comes first.
- Solid Waste maybe we can move on Solid Waste maybe we can move on yes<00:59:19.920>
representative - It has to do with creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. Hang on.
- She said nothing is wasted.
Summary:
The committee met in a work session on several environmental bills, beginning with HP 152, which would prohibit the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to allow professional pest control use while restricting retail sales to the public. Testimony and member comments focused on animal welfare concerns, the relative humaneness and effectiveness of glue traps versus snap traps, consumer education, enforcement difficulties, and whether the bill should instead be limited to professionals. No vote was taken on HP 152 during the discussion.
The committee then turned to HB 171, establishing a moratorium on new landfill permits. Representative Gruber distributed an amendment shortening the proposed moratorium from five years to three years as a compromise. Members supporting the moratorium said it would give the Department of Environmental Services time to update rules and reflect recent landfill-siting reforms, while opponents argued that three years was too long, could tie the hands of a future legislature, and might be difficult to pass in the Senate. Others noted the House, Senate, and governor had each discussed different lengths of moratorium, making the bill a likely bargaining position in later negotiations.
Throughout the landfill discussion, members emphasized that the three-year version was intended as a middle ground between a one-year proposal associated with the governor and a six-year Senate bill. Several members said the moratorium reflected years of bipartisan work on solid waste and landfill policy and would help create time for new rules to take effect. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote or other action on HB 171 during this segment.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- our best to try to understand, based on feedback we get from clients, based on forums or any kind of study
- c> kind<01:39:25.719>
of <01:39:25.880>a <01:39:26.159>a <01:39:26.320>study - <01:39:26.760>
that forums or uh any kind of a a study that forums or uh any kind of a a study - Is that a correct characterization in terms of workflow?
- in terms of workflow so characterization in terms of workflow so and<03:30:29.160>
and <03:30:
Summary:
The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines.
A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year.
Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (02/26/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- In this case, I'm assuming many of these individuals would be either conducting a random moment study
- In this case, I'm assuming many of these individuals would be either conducting a random moment study
- A very quick question: could you kind of roughly characterize what kinds of training?
- How would you overall characterize where we are in here, and if you have any recommendations outside
- How would you overall characterize where we are in here, and if you have any recommendations outside
Summary:
The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission.
DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC.
The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- In addition, our office conducts investigations when allegations of theft, waste, or abuse come to light
- Our faculty passed the Indigenous studies course that all of our students are taking beginning in the
- <00:53:23.920>
course passed to the indigenous studies course passed to the indigenous studies - As I said, business is their most frequent discipline that they wish to study.
- development mentors work study development mentors work study internships<01:32:32.239>
and
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
AEN-HOU, AEN-EIG, AEN Public Hearings 03-18-2026
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- has documented that construction demolition waste has 200 times as much arsenic as clean wood.
- demolition waste as a renewable<00:54:33.080>
fuel, <00:54:33.880>yet <00:54:34.080> - You can't do it in Hawaii, and the studies have already been on that for a long time.
- You can't do it in Hawaii, and the studies have already been on that for a long time.
- green waste and so forth. green waste and so forth.
Keywords:
animal control, spay and neuter, pet overpopulation, sterilization, counties funding, tax designation, veterinary care, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy policy, rebate program, environmental impact, renewable fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 1737, which clarifies allowable uses in agricultural districts for farm dwellings and farm employee housing, and HB 1604 HD2, which creates an agricultural workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Testimony on HB 1737 was overwhelmingly supportive, with county agriculture officials, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union backing the measure; one witness asked for a definition of “affordable” to guard against misuse of farm housing. For HB 1604, the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, with OHA requesting disaggregated data and a seat on the working group. Committee discussion focused on housing shortages, possible misuse, affordability, and whether innovative housing models such as modular, tiny, and container homes should be considered.
The committee then took action on both measures. HB 1737 HD3 was recommended to pass with amendments that would limit farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members actively engaged in the farm operation, add a grandfathering provision for existing permitted housing, preserve county zoning authority, clarify that ag tourism must be secondary and not occur in employee housing, delete a square-footage-per-acre ratio, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. HB 1604 HD2 was also recommended to pass with amendments adding OHA and a housing-shortage organization to the working group, expanding its scope to include modular, tiny, and container homes and permitting/zoning streamlining, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. Both motions were adopted unanimously by the members present.
The joint hearing then moved to HB 1736, which would establish a spay and neuter special fund and require sterilization and declaration provisions for cats, with some discussion of dogs. DLNR and the Hawaiian Humane Society supported the bill, while Pacific Pet Alliance objected to the broader requirements and the inclusion of dogs; the Hawaiian Humane Society and American Bird Conservancy supported cat-focused sterilization and the special fund, while some testifiers opposed mandatory sterilization as too costly or intrusive. Members raised questions about toxoplasmosis, trap-neuter-release, enforcement, neighbor-island access, and funding needs, and DLNR indicated additional funding and third-party contracting would likely be needed. The transcript then began HB 1620 HD2 on energy, which would increase the environmental response energy and food security tax and shift funds from the hydrogen fueling subaccount to EV charging infrastructure; state agencies generally stood on written testimony in support, while the Tax Foundation objected to special fund earmarks and noted the bill raises only one part of the barrel tax structure.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- the day the study was conducted.
- Uh, so, obviously, we have to perform the studies, get those studies approved by the entities that require
- It wastes taxpayers' time on review.
- That mud may have already done traffic studies.
- OK, now when you do this traffic study.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Transportation Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- Abandoned waste attracts additional dumping, creates fire hazards, and blocks sidewalks.
- As a result, Oakland crews have removed 15 million pounds of waste.
- Involving hundreds of pounds of waste.
- For these reasons, And for residents to deter the displacement of waste onto public streets.
- It's people, Mostly businesses, that consistently dump waste, large quantities of waste in our neighborhoods
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 26th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This will provide those jurisdictions time to conduct a fee study and implement potential changes.
- Assembly Bill 1812 by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry and others, relating to solid waste.
- Assembly Bill 2549 by Assembly Member Zbur and act relating to electronic waste recycling. Mr.
- The CEC study will examine safety, waste management, system costs, reliability, siting, public health
- The CEC study will examine safety, waste management, system cost, reliability, siding, public health,
Summary:
The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and proceeded through a large House of Origin floor file, with the Speaker repeatedly urging members to be at their desks and keep support bills brief. Early actions included dispensing with the journal, re-referring AB 2285 to the Banking and Finance Committee, and then taking up dozens of third-reading items, with many bills passed by voice or recorded vote and others passed temporarily or retained on file.
The floor debated and passed a wide range of measures on land use, housing, labor, public safety, health care, utilities, taxation, and consumer protection. Among the bills approved were measures on land surveyor review (AB 1933), nurse midwife access for pregnant and postpartum patients (AB 1696), historic-district transit zoning flexibility (AB 2415), EV charging infrastructure fees and timelines (AB 1820), foreclosure bidding protections (AB 1957), tribal cannabis commerce (AB 2506), outdoor advertising permitting (AB 2024), commercial building permit timelines and third-party plan checkers (AB 2418), DUI penalties (AB 1685 and AB 1687), utility rate transparency (AB 1715), CalWORKs work-penalty changes (AB 1755), dynamic electricity rates (AB 1787), interior designer licensure (AB 1796), compost labeling and contamination rules (AB 1812), modular housing standardization (AB 1815), small claims limits for businesses (AB 1827), Native American Day as a paid state holiday (AB 1841), hospital staffing and maternity access bills (AB 1868 and AB 1882), protective orders tied to release dates (AB 1889), and a series of public health, missing persons, and teacher credentialing measures later in the file.
Several high-profile bills drew extended debate. AB 2624, expanding Safe at Home privacy protections to immigrant service providers, prompted sharp disagreement over free speech and alleged limits on online posting, but supporters said it protected workers facing threats and doxing; it ultimately passed 49-19. AB 2023, creating a framework for regulating AI chatbots used by children, was framed as a child-safety measure after testimony about chatbot-related harms and suicide risks, and passed 58-8. Other notable votes included AB 2208 on Medi-Cal protections against federal cuts, AB 2299 on CalFresh/SNAP losses, AB 2115 apologizing to California Native peoples for historic state harms, and AB 2311 on public hospital physician employment; the transcript ends as the Assembly continues working through the remaining file.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/28/2026)
Resources, Recreation and Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I had really hoped that we could consider this bill for interim study.
- we've done before and actually created a study report.
- <00:46:08.560>
the actually created a study report. the actually created a study report. the - :47:32.960>
study <00:47:33.440>improvements specifically asked to study improvements specifically - <05:06:12.400>
was nearly 3 years since that study was nearly 3 years since that study was
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- to carbon neutrality by 2050. transportation and waste to carbon neutrality by 2050.
- National Grid said, oh, we are in a group study on the transmission...
- National Grid said, oh, we are in a group study on the transmission.
- So another year went by, 2022, and then we went into a new group study with one other developer, which
- So then they said, okay, you don't have to do a group study. You can do the impact study now.
Summary:
The hearing focused broadly on solar policy and several related bills, especially S. 2269, S. 2270, H. 3520, H. 3521, and related measures on distributed energy resources, municipal solar caps, permitting reform, and tax credits. Testimony from the Air Force supported S. 2232, which would exempt federal military installations from renewable energy production caps and net metering limits to support energy resilience at bases like Hanscom. Most other witnesses argued that Massachusetts needs to speed up rooftop, municipal, and community solar deployment to address high electricity prices, federal tax credit rollbacks, grid reliability, and climate goals.
A major theme was streamlining permitting through automated or “smart” solar permitting, including a statewide platform managed by DOER. Permit Power, SEIA, Vote Solar, 350 Mass, and others said current local permitting is fragmented and costly, and that instant permitting could reduce soft costs and speed installations. Several witnesses also urged changes to interconnection rules, including flexible interconnection, remote inspections, and faster utility approval timelines. Some speakers raised concerns about small towns lacking staff to meet short deadlines and suggested a state-hosted platform to reduce the burden on municipalities.
Another major topic was lifting caps on solar deployment. Municipal officials from Lexington and Cambridge said the 10-megawatt municipal cap and regional caps are blocking shovel-ready projects and should be removed, including for behind-the-meter municipal solar and MBTA-community housing. Other witnesses described additional limits on project size, net metering, and residential tax credits, and called for making the state residential solar credit refundable and larger. Several speakers also supported virtual power plants, distributed energy resource targets, solar canopies, microgrids, and expanded access for affordable housing, tenants, and low- and moderate-income customers.
No votes were taken. Committee members asked questions about permitting timelines, grid modernization, the rationale for caps, balcony solar, and interconnection delays, and witnesses said they would follow up with additional information where needed. The hearing ended with broad support from industry, municipal, environmental, and advocacy groups for advancing the solar and distributed energy bills, while some witnesses opposed provisions they viewed as overly restrictive, such as mandatory SMART participation for all solar projects.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/9/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It's about responsible stewardship, reducing waste,... reducing waste, removing unnecessary red tape,
- You field of study and practice.
- I love that mess in our study plant medicine for 30 years.
- So I did also come across this weekend, and looking through the study, John Hopkins study regarding Lyme
- So I did... ...also come across this weekend, and looking through the study, Johns Hopkins study regarding
Keywords:
social work, licensure, employment titles, health occupations, professional standards, medication repository, drug donation, healthcare, Minnesota Statutes, pharmacy, public health, controlled substances, psilocybin, psilocin, psychedelic, psychedelic medicine, hallucinogen, mushrooms, magic mushrooms, therapeutic use
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Sophia Templos, and I am a senior at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley.
- My name is Sophia Templos, and I am a senior at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley.
- <00:25:59.919>
this motivated me to look and study this motivated me to look and study this - ,<01:12:02.480>
and investigating fraud, theft, waste, and investigating fraud, theft, waste - <01:20:42.719>
group participated in attendance study group participated in attendance study
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- >> It's interim study. >> It's interim study. So, there's no money. All right. Interim study.
- I move interim study. >> Motion is interim study. Okay.
- study motion. study motion.
- So, now I move interim study. Motion is interim study on House Bill 6002.
- So, now I move inter interim study. So, now I move inter interim study.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Local Government (2-25-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Sanitation districts currently run studies in order to determine where the waters flow.
- Sanitation District 1 did not even dispute, by their own studies, that the water on that property did
- one more followup in the case studies one more followup in the case that<00:43:10.640>
you <00 - This has to deal with residual waste landfills.
- is generated separately from the waste is generated separately from the Landfield<00:50:32.599>
and
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:15
Roll Call 00:25
HB 403 Discussion 02:11
HB 403 Vote 03:08
HB 555 Discussion 04:55
HB 555 Vote 08:42
HB 321 Discussion 10:55
HB 321 Vote 13:22
HB 18 Discussion 15:21
HB 18 Vote 35:10
HB 85 Discussion 39:08
HB 85 Vote 46:40
HB 371 Discussion 49:22
HB 371 Vote 52:03
Adjournment 53:48, 958, all
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and took up several bills, mostly focused on local planning, zoning, and municipal administration. House Bill 403, a simple measure giving coroners a six-month grace period to complete continuing education, was presented by Rep. Deanna Gordon with testimony from Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelson and received unanimous support. House Bill 555, a technical bill affecting audit deadlines and flexibility for small cities and certain expo center audit arrangements, was explained by JD Cheney of the Kentucky League of Cities; he said it would help about 97 cities comply with audit requirements and allow more flexibility when municipalities are making good-faith efforts. The committee approved HB 555 on a roll call vote, with one no vote from Rep. Griffee and others in favor, and reported it favorably to the House floor.
House Bill 321, also presented with JD Cheney and Rep. DJ Johnson, would expand the time for planning commission and board of adjustment members to complete orientation and continuing education, with a focus on housing supply and accessibility. Supporters said it would help recruit more members and concentrate training on land-use impacts on housing; Rep. Roarx and others discussed Louisville Metro’s planning process, while Rep. Brown and Rep. Fleming raised concerns about infrastructure and long-range planning. The committee passed HB 321 favorably after roll call, with one no vote from Rep. Griffee.
House Bill 18 drew the most extended debate. Sponsor Rep. John Hodgson said the committee substitute would create incentives for infill development in urban areas and extend a moratorium on zoning district classification changes for two more years, arguing that local elected officials should have more control over major density changes and that unelected boards were approving projects without adequate infrastructure review. Opponents, including Liam Gallagher of Americans for Prosperity Kentucky and several members, argued the bill would restrict housing development, interfere with property rights, and limit Louisville Metro’s ability to update its Land Development Code; supporters countered that the bill would not stop development but would require elected officials to weigh in and address traffic and infrastructure concerns. After discussion, the committee approved HB 18 as amended by the substitute and reported it favorably to the House floor, with several members explaining their votes and some opposing the moratorium on local zoning changes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/12/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And the net impact report—the data also lags when they do the study.
- is that we're trying to get rid of waste is that we're trying to get rid of waste where<01:12:47.480
- Cutting out waste is always a good idea, and I don't think anyone would be opposed to that.
- That would be a waste if this was duplicative information that could be found somewhere else.
- <01:17:45.840>
that saying we don't want um any waste that saying we don't want um any waste
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We waste so much money and divert so many law enforcement resources and cause so much injustice, and
- Every once in a while we see a study come out about a glass of red wine a day.
- Every once in a while we see a study come out about a glass of red wine a day.
- It wasted billions of dollars, destroyed millions of lives, and made every problem it claimed to solve
- It wasted billions of dollars, destroyed millions of lives, and made every problem it claimed to solve
Summary:
Senator Nathan Johnson presented a pair of bills he described as a comprehensive cannabis reform package for Texas. He said one bill would regulate hemp-derived THC with a 21-and-over purchase age, a 5 mg THC threshold, testing, labeling, licensing, packaging, and marketing standards, an advisory committee to report to the Legislature, and a tax structure that would direct revenue to public health, law enforcement, testing, and the Texas Compassionate Use Program. He also said the legislation reflects work by Chairman Ken King and is intended as an alternative to a total ban, which he argued would be unenforceable and undesirable.
Johnson said the second bill would decriminalize possession and personal use of up to 2 ounces of marijuana, allow limited home cultivation, and create a path to expunction for people convicted of conduct that would no longer be illegal. He argued current Texas THC laws are inconsistent, harmful, and disproportionately affect communities of color, while also diverting law enforcement resources. He said the bills aim to create a more consistent and enforceable framework and to support medical THC use.
Supportive testimony came from Shawn Salvahi, a veteran and Texas Cannabis Collective representative, who said decriminalization and homegrow would help veterans and first responders and that leaders should correct mistaken policy. Senator Molly Cook, an ER nurse, also backed Johnson’s approach and opposed SB 5, saying prohibition has failed, worsened safety, and created criminal and economic harms. In questions, Johnson said the Senate is likely to move SB 5, that the House could still change the outcome, and that he has been consistent in opposing a ban since 2018. The discussion also briefly touched on redistricting, with participants urging attention to flooding and criticizing proposed maps, but the main action was the presentation and defense of the THC bills ahead of floor consideration.