Transcript Highlights:

• sharing or manage their supply based on factors that may not be adequately. ...represented in the USDA
• USDA?
• It's not just USDA; it's the only professional in the state.
• due to these drought conditions, then the drought conditions can now be designated not only by the USDA

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no special class for it as long as you follow the USDA manual and you don't have to have a special
• disease, uh, that's widespread is because the prophylaxis, effect we've had over 100 years of the USDA
• Uh, because of the work that's done by USDA, TDA and the association. So I'm not against the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• to bring 13 million into um MDA had USDA to bring 13 million into estate<00:41:47.480> over<00
• And I really, you know, I'm a farmer, and I understand the work that USDA does with farmers, with meat
• million dollar with meat<01:13:12.120> processing<01:13:12.560> at<01:13:12.880> USDA
• c><01:13:13.880> way<01:13:14.199> back<01:13:14.560> last meat processing at USDA
• way back last meat processing at USDA way back last year<01:13:15.159> before<01:13:16.000>

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, everybody who does apples now has to follow USDA.
• It so the first thing we follow USDA.
• Uh, eggs, for instance, all eggs now go through the USDA process. They're graded in a specific way.
• <00:36:25.520> They're<00:36:25.760> graded through the USDA process.
• They're graded through the USDA process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee convened after briefly waiting for a quorum, approved the minutes and consent agenda, and then moved through several agency rule items. The Department of Transportation’s outdoor advertising rule filing was approved after staff noted the department had addressed substantive comments, though the rules had been expired since 2021 and the agency said it had been operating under statute. Members asked about a denied digital sign proposal, and DOT said that decision was based on statute rather than the rule. The Department of Safety’s administrative license suspension item was postponed with a waiver so the agency could submit conditional approval materials and resolve issues between its forms and rules. The Board of Architects item was conditionally approved, with the condition that the board later approve updated incorporation-by-reference materials at its April 3 meeting or the matter would return as a preliminary objection. The Department of Agriculture’s expired rules prompted extended discussion. Staff and committee members questioned why the department was seeking to adopt rules that had been expired for many years and whether the statutes already provided enough authority to operate without them. Agriculture officials said they were working through a broader modernization effort, focusing on statutes that use mandatory language and updating outdated rules to match current practices, federal standards, and current products such as apples, cider, eggs, and other agricultural commodities. They said the rules before the committee were part of that effort and recommended approval, but members remained concerned about whether some rules were unnecessary. The committee ultimately granted a waiver and postponed the agriculture item for one month so staff could review the underlying statutes and determine whether rulemaking is actually required. Under other business, the committee took up an emergency Department of Safety rule to update DMV forms to reflect statutory fee changes enacted in the 2025 budget. DMV officials said the new fees were already in effect, but the corresponding forms still showed old amounts, causing confusion for customers and elected officials who were fielding complaints. They argued the forms needed immediate updating because the affected forms are widely used, and they said the department had already tried to treat the changes as editorial before being told full rulemaking was required. The department emphasized it was trying to follow the process while avoiding continued use of incorrect fee forms, and asked the committee to allow the emergency rule to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I mean, it could be FDA, it could be USDA, it could be, it's not unusual.
• If the Food and Drug Administration or the USDA says that one ingredient on this list is not bad, then
• I believe that as long as USDA inspects for human consumption and for retail sale, I believe that that
• It protects families living in USDA-designated food deserts.
• This amendment ensures that, number one, the department identifies food deserts using USDA data.

Bills: SB835, SB3070, SB22, SJR59, SB926, SB1494, SB251, SB456, SB500, SB1307, SB2615, SB2995, SB2321, SB973, SB974, SB865, SB506, SB781, SB1522, SB1558, SB510, SB667, SB763, SB2073, SB1858, SB1660, SB505, SB2900, SB1433, SB1540, SB1964, SB1300, SB1644, SB2217, SB2373, SB2431, SB1758, SB2480, SB3039, SB3047, SB3073, SB2920, SB2781, SB826, SB766, SB2460, SB527, SB1946, SB2885, SB1243, SB2610, SB2595, SB857, SB37, SB8, SB10, SB227, SB261, SB12, SB15, SJR27, SB552, SB835, SB3070, SB22, SJR59, SB25, SB57, SB127, SB293, SB441, SB3059, SB512, SB241, SB1718, SB140, SB2055, SB2075, SB2018, SB1534, SB1567, SB785, SB1233, SB1580, SB1663, SB413, SB447, SB519, SB467, SB1579, SB1191, SB1021, SB1838, SB2807, SB2835, SB546, SB2121, SB2167, SB2035, SB2024, SB1032, SB1049, SB1266, SB1400, SB1302, SB401, SB1596, SB1281, SB1242, SB1343, SB310, SB1346, SB2753, SB2703, SB2221, SB1719, SB2177, SB800, SB790, SB748, SB571, SB1957, SB1923, SB1896, SB1760, SB1335, SB2368, SB2477, SB2587, SB2972, SB2986, SB2965, SB1563, SB1467, SB1164, SB1137, SB614, SB705, SB961, SB918, SB955, SB869, SB850, SB863, SB1610, SB1055, SB2206, SB457, SB2337, SB1362, SB926, SB1494, SB251, SB456, SB500, SB1307, SB2615, SB2995, SB2321, SB973, SB974, SB865, SB506, SB781, SB1522, SB1558, SB510, SB667, SB763, SB2073, SB1858, SB1660, SB505, SB2900, SB1433, SB1540, SB1964, SB1300, SB1644, SB2217, SB2373, SB2431, SB1758, SB2480, SB3039, SB3047, SB3073, SB2920, SB2781, SB826, SB766, SB2460, SB527, SB1946, SB2885, SB1243, SB2610, SB2595, SB857, SCR9, HB5560, HB762, HB 107, HB 114, HB300, HB138, HB4386, HB2495, HB581, HB3348, HB5323

Keywords: sexual abuse, nondisclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, public policy, victim rights, lottery, bingo, regulation, Texas Lottery Commission, Department of Licensing and Regulation, criminal offenses, state administration, audits, transfers, Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota and according to<00:03:26.519> the<00:03:26.799> 2024<00:03:27.799> USDA
• <00:03:28.519> wildlife<00:03:29.040> services<00:03:29.799> wolf to the 2024 USDA
• wildlife services wolf to the 2024 USDA wildlife services wolf conflict<00:03:31.000> in<00:03
• <00:20:52.520> emty<00:20:53.080> technicians epidemiologists USDA emty technicians
• epidemiologists USDA emty technicians our<00:20:54.240> case<00:20:54.559> manager<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's about 80% from the USDA, is that correct? So how much money is that, though?
• 43.799> the response team that's about 80% from the response team that's about 80% from the USDA
• is that correct so how much money USDA is that correct so how much money is<00:51:46.839> that
• <00:52:47.920> I the dollars that we get from USDA I the dollars that we get from USDA I think
• nifa National Institute of through USDA nifa National Institute of feed<00:55:24.319> and<00:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were awarded a USDA LFPA land.
• We were awarded a USDA LFPA contract<01:11:30.880> in<01:11:31.199> the<01:11:31.360>
• It is safe and thoroughly reviewed and regulated by both the USDA and FDA.
• both USDA-approved terms are recognized and accepted.
• That's why I think there is a small fiscal note, and then with the food code we would adopt the USDA

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot require the USDA free and reduced form to be filled out.
• You cannot require the USDA free and reduced form to be filled out.
• Lastly, I just want to identify our department that we do currently administer 12 USDA Child Nutrition
• USDA holds fast hard to that rule that they don't want families to be forced to fill out that free and

Summary: The Legislative Management Committee met to address the fiscal impact of Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 3, which would require public schools, public school districts, and public charter schools to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to students and allow reimbursement from the state, with implementation beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The committee first filled a vacancy created by Representative Jared Hagert’s resignation by appointing Representative Berg to the committee. Legislative Council and DPI staff explained the measure’s requirements, including federal reimbursement participation, possible use of the legacy earnings fund if other funding is unavailable, and the authority of the Legislature and superintendent of public instruction to clarify implementation details. Linnell Johnson of DPI testified that the estimated fiscal impact for the 2027-2029 biennium is between $124 million and $134 million, based on participation assumptions, federal reimbursement rates, and the extent to which schools continue to collect applications or use community eligibility/provision 2 options. She also noted a likely additional administrative cost of about $300,000 for DPI to operate the program. Members asked about school participation, Title I implications, special diets, staffing, and whether the measure could reduce federal reimbursements if families stop applying. Johnson said the estimate is uncertain and could be higher if applications decline, but that schools would still have incentives to participate in federal programs because of reimbursement and other funding ties. After discussion, the committee adopted a motion to report a fiscal impact range of $124,300,000 to $134,300,000 per biennium to the Secretary of State. The committee then received an informational update from Legislative Council attorney Dustin Richard on the ongoing redistricting litigation. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Eighth Circuit’s ruling and sent the case back for reconsideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais, while the district court-imposed map remains in effect for now. No action was taken on that update, and the meeting adjourned after members noted minutes from the prior meeting were not yet available for approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are moving forward with funding through USDA, and Sam will cover that.
• Our project has been accepted by USDA and is in underwriting right now, and Sam will cover some of that
• we're looking for in a bonding request was $9 million, but we're in the process now of working with USDA
• Like Kurt said, we are actively pursuing funding from USDA Rural Development.

Bills: HF2418, HF1666, HF232, HF344, HF402, HF431, HF468, HF547, HF583, HF1476, HF1711, HF2787, HF2788, HF3207

Keywords: capital investment, political subdivisions, state assistance, funding, project grants, child care, Slayton, state bonds, economic development, extended time revenue, school funding, state aid, career and technical education, CTE, STEM, secondary credit, after-school programs, summer school, learning year program, extended day

Transcript Highlights:

• , we just learned that the ramifications of the Trump-Musk chainsaw cuts to the Forest Service and USDA
• , we just learned that the ramifications of the Trump-Musk chainsaw cuts to the Forest Service and USDA
• we just learned that yesterday that the ramifications of the chainsaw cuts the Forest Service and USDA
• the chainsaw cuts the forest<00:06:47.759> service<00:06:47.919> in<00:06:48.080> USDA
• that caused the forest service in USDA that caused the closure<00:06:49.199> of<00:06:49.360>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• know that indirect land use score is very exaggerated for Minnesota farms, as we are, according to USDA
• Treasury Department and from USDA before the inauguration, and I think there is concern and questions
• Treasury Department and from USDA before the inauguration, and I think there is concern and questions
• Treasury Department and from USDA before the inauguration, and I think there is concern and questions
• Treasury Department and from USDA before the inauguration, and I think there is concern and questions

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard testimony on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Minnesota’s efforts to build a SAF industry. Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because it could benefit agriculture, forestry, clean energy, and rural economies. She highlighted the 2023 state SAF tax credit and sales tax exemption for facility construction, describing the credit as a nation-leading incentive designed to stack with federal IRA credits and attract producers and blenders to Minnesota. Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines said aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s best available tool to reach net-zero goals by 2050. He explained that SAF is a certified drop-in fuel that can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and infrastructure, and he cited growing global demand and limited supply. He said Minnesota has many potential feedstocks, including used cooking oil, corn, soybeans, and camelina, and praised the state’s SAF tax credit and the Minnesota SAF Hub as important steps toward making Minnesota a leader in the sector. Peter Fros of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building an industrial-scale SAF value chain in Minnesota. He said the state has key advantages, including airport demand, corporate partners, research institutions, and agricultural inputs, and estimated that three SAF biorefineries could create tens of thousands of jobs and significant emissions reductions. He also said the Hub is working on blending infrastructure, private demand commitments, a winter camelina expansion study, and efforts to secure additional refineries before 2030. Members raised questions about how sustainability is measured, and Fros said the Hub relies on the federal GREET model but wants a clearer, transparent, and standardized national method that also accounts for issues like water quality and biodiversity. Amanda Bellik of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association said corn-based ethanol is a strong fit for SAF production through the alcohol-to-jet pathway because it is abundant, affordable, and supported by existing infrastructure. She said SAF development could create a new value-added market for corn without requiring new acres, but emphasized the need for significant capital investment, stable tax policy, and efficient permitting. She also said the group has worked with a consultant on third-party sustainability assessments of corn production practices to help fill data gaps and support the carbon-intensity requirements tied to SAF incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Health, $600,000 per organization would be about the amount that we had been getting through USDA
• So, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. ...through USDA.
• amount that we had been getting um amount that we had been getting um through<00:25:40.000> USDA.
• 41.679> you<00:25:41.840> thank<00:25:42.000> you<00:25:42.080> for through USDA
• So would you thank you for through USDA.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 18, 2026, and heard four bills. HB 2519 would shift University of Hawaii funding toward block appropriations, a stabilization fund, limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, performance-based metrics, and annual reporting. UH supported the bill, saying line-item budgeting hampers systemwide efficiency across its 10 campuses; the State Procurement Office commented on the procurement exemption. The chair proposed amendments to address concerns from Budget and Finance and procurement, including capping UH’s retained funds at 10%, requiring lapse after three fiscal years, removing CIP-to-operating transfers, narrowing procurement exemptions while keeping Chapter 103B principles, shifting performance metric-setting to the Board of Regents, and requiring annual reporting. The committee then voted to pass HB 2519 with amendments. HB 2409 would establish the Hawaii Geological Survey in Hilo and designate its director as the state geologist. UH Hilo supported the concept but said it would need sufficient general-fund support, estimating roughly $200,000 to start. DLNR and the Attorney General offered comments, with the AG calling it a matter of statewide concern. The chair said the DNR testimony raised public safety concerns and that UH Hilo had not identified a firm funding amount, so the committee voted to defer the bill. HB 2141 HD1 concerned state enterprise zones and would expand eligible business activities and allow DBED to designate up to two areas as enterprise zones with gubernatorial approval. DBED, the Tax Foundation, and other organizations submitted support or comments. After discussion, the chair said the current version no longer fit the higher education committee’s focus and recommended reverting to the original bill, which would limit the zone to Kakaʻako Makai for a biomedical health innovation hub near JABSOM and the Queen’s Cancer Center, with a defective date. The committee voted to pass HB 2141 HD1 with amendments. HB 2233 HD1 would appropriate funds to continue the SNAP-Ed program through UH and the Department of Health. DOH supported the bill and said it had been working on nutrition education and environmental changes; it estimated about $600,000 each for DOH and SEAR, or $1.2 million total. Testimony in support also came from several organizations and individuals, including a senior advocate who described the program’s practical benefits. The chair said the committee would reflect the $600,000-per-entity estimate in its report, and the committee voted to pass HB 2233 HD1 as is before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a grant from the USDA Forest Service to make an award to Central Arkansas Water to acquire
• They have a grant from the USDA Forest Service to make an award to Central Arkansas Water to acquire
• It goes through the USDA. Secretary Rollins has to approve these.
• It goes through Congress, it goes through the USDA.
• know, this goes through the, on the president's budget, it goes through Congress, it goes through the USDA

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• USDA and now 43 other states recognize routine livestock mortality composting as proven, safe, and effective
• USDA and now 43 other states recognize routine livestock mortality composting as proven, safe, and effective
• USDA estimated that California currently has more than 3 million birds who are being bred for cockfighting
• As far as the avian flu, there are zero reports from the state or the USDA stating that cockfighting
• As far as the avian flu, there are zero reports from the state or the USDA stating that cockfighting

Summary: The Assembly Agriculture Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then adopted its committee rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session by a 5-0 vote. The committee heard a series of agriculture-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and moving forward. AB 1142 by Assemblymember Hoover would raise the fee thresholds for small public horse events that are exempt from equine medication monitoring rules; supporters said the current limits are outdated and hurt small riding clubs, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 411 by Assemblymember Papin would allow ranchers to compost livestock carcasses on-farm; supporters cited cost, environmental, and predator-control benefits, while rendering industry representatives asked for amendments to protect existing services and limit the bill’s scope. The bill passed to Natural Resources. AB 482 by Assemblymember Solache would modernize the California Table Grape Commission law and raise assessment caps without increasing assessments themselves; it passed to Appropriations. AB 312 by Vice Chair Alanis would shorten the holding period for ag theft property from six months to three months; it also passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 937 and AB 947 by Assemblymember Connolly. AB 937 would make technical changes to the Organic Transition Pilot Program to improve access to organic transition support, with testimony from a farmer who said the program helped him pursue organic certification; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 947 would expand and refine technical assistance under the Healthy Soils/Climate Smart Agriculture programs, including training, grant writing, matching funds coordination, equipment sharing, and outcome monitoring; supporters said the changes would help small and organic producers access state climate programs, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1486, presented by the chair, would use Proposition 4 funding to start grants for public postsecondary agricultural research farms focused on climate resiliency; members praised the role of CSU and UC research farms, and the bill passed to Natural Resources as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on AB 928 by Assemblymember Rogers, the California Cockfighting Cruelty Act. Supporters argued the bill would help law enforcement target cockfighting and rooster trafficking, reduce avian disease risks, and protect public health and animal welfare; opponents, including poultry hobbyists, breeders, and 4-H-related participants, said it would overreach into lawful poultry keeping and harm heritage-breed and youth programs, urging instead that cockfighting penalties be increased to a felony. Committee members echoed concerns about unintended impacts on legitimate poultry owners and requested continued work on exemptions and language. The bill passed to Judiciary on a 5-2-1 vote, with one no vote and one abstention, and the chair noted that further committee review would continue as the bill advances.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, since receiving recommendations from both the Government Accounting Office and the USDA
• Today, even after USDA approves assistance, farmers are often forced to pay costs upfront and wait for
• USDA programs are only as effective as the workforce responsible for getting that help to farmers on
• But we can ensure USDA has the staffing capacity necessary to get assistance out the door quickly and
• Let's give USDA the tools they need to meet this big challenge.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we controlled and we had it really under control in about three days' time, and we were Supplying USDA
• We're working with USDA.
• veterinarian attends meetings and they're flying all over the United States and working closely with USDA
• another couple of years as they finish getting the Food Safety Inspection Service approval through the USDA

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• difference between food safety and food quality, and in eggs particularly there are many studies by either USDA
• difference between food safety and food quality, and in eggs particularly there are many studies by either USDA
• Um, so the American Egg Board and USDA AMS requires that those eggs are refrigerated and they continue

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The USDA Rural Development funding for small cities and municipalities seeking grants must be listed
• Rural Development funding for the USDA Rural Development funding for small<00:46:50.599> cities
• As an anecdote, our partners in USDA Rural Development told us yesterday that as of last Friday they
• As an anecdote, our partners in USDA Rural Development told us yesterday that as of last Friday they
• And I know USDA has been a great supporter of these programs, and I hope they stay in there.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that might be USDA on the error rate, but I'll double check for how you might start to work towards
• Moving on, you all are well aware of the recent decisions for part of the contingency funds from USDA
• USDA—I’ve talked a little bit about the SNAP.
• And they were one of over 40 different entities that submitted a letter to USDA asking them to consider