Transcript Highlights:

• You have dead trees. Your cities have dead trees that they need to get a cost to take down.
• You have dead trees. Your cities have dead trees that they need to get a cost to take down.
• You have dead trees. Your cities have dead trees that they need to get a cost to take down.
• You have dead trees. Your cities have dead trees that they need to get a cost to take down.
• You have dead trees. Your cities have dead trees that they need to get a cost to take down.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.<00:51:12.720> You
• > is Again, farming and ranching is Again, farming and ranching is susceptible<00:51:44.880>
• Hawaii Farm Bureau in support. >> Hawaii Farm Bureau will stand on its written testimony in support.
• Hawaii Farm Bureau in >> Thank you. Hawaii Farm Bureau in support. support. support.
• Um, Hawaii Farm Bureau in Thank you. Um, Hawaii Farm Bureau in support. support. support.

Bills: HB1183, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1663, HB1664, HB1859, HB2116, HB2271, HB2276, HB2335, HB2360, HB2387, HB2472, HB1805, HB2469, HB1815, HB1860, HB2117, HB2118, HB2437, HB2438, HB2604, HB1590, HB2156, HB2268

Keywords: retirement, pension, law enforcement, public safety, Hawaii Revised Statutes, indebtedness, salary recovery, employee compensation, deductions, financial management, collective bargaining, employee relations, impasse procedures, arbitration, public employment, HB1661, cafeteria plan, Section 125, Internal Revenue Code, flexible spending account

Transcript Highlights:

• We're made up predominantly of farm We're made up predominantly of farm fields,<00:40:03.840>
• You get a tree, you get a tree, we all get a tree. I'm dressed up as a tree.
• and tree planting. and tree planting.
• It supports dairy farm viability and growth.
• :07.960> and supports dairy farm viability and supports dairy farm viability and growth.<01:09

Bills: HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852

Keywords: infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• responders' issues would be, as well as the environmental impacts if these battery farms... ...happen
• This is an image of the decision tree, or at least the part of the tree that would fit on the slide,
• We are aware that this is a large and complex document, and tools like the decision tree represent our
• This tree takes both developers and CEPA lead agencies through a series of steps with yes-no responses
• We have a wind farm in Montana that just came online.

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• With multiple watering sites for livestock and dry land farming.
• It established the Red Willow Farms in 1870.
• Irrigation water to the Red Willow Farms.
• years, and we replaced this Red Willow Farm sign that you see.
• Can you guys pick up some trees? Can you guys move some rocks?

Transcript Highlights:

• So, now he's stuck with uh farm field.
• Turns out that's not the case. solar gardens or farms however you want solar gardens or farms however
• We're putting it all over our farm farm farm fields.<02:10:14.560> And<02:10:14.800> even
• What's it cost to drag away a dead tree? What's it cost to drag away a dead tree?
• Um, I'm told that it these trees."

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those trees need to be removed.
• There are millions of trees that need to be replaced and grown.
• Then you start having some trees, which provide cover and shade.
• Okay, let's start putting some trees back. I thank Mr.
• When you plant the tree, I mean, what is the percentage of that tree is going to survive?

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, whenever, like, I've had my farm and my ranch sold for going on four years now.
• Oh, did I skip the New Mexico Farm Facts? I apologize.
• Our traditional farming and ranching practices have also been affected.
• That's the other thing: when it comes to farming and ranching, how we do farming is different from community
• He lives in Bosque Farms. How did you do that? He lives right by the canal. Thank you, Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• My wife and I own the farm and operate the farm, and I am support, in support of House Bill 5339.
• the way that we currently farm.
• That was not supportive of small farms. That was big farms, get bigger, get out.
• So all they have is a small farm.
• Texans don't farm just one way.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I I want to our South Farm facility.
• So, thank you for your time. that live on those farms so that they that live on those farms so that they
• The second phase is the new farm serve.
• > of<01:04:23.760> the out of the farm animal area of the out of the farm animal area of
• Extension reached nearly 40,000 farm Extension reached nearly 40,000 farm families<01:34:05.040>

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Mississippi State University officials testified in support of the university’s separately funded agricultural, forestry, and veterinary units, emphasizing their economic impact, research output, and need for continued state support. Keith Cobalt, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said the division generates a $1.7 billion impact on Mississippi, but warned that state and local funding has not kept pace with federal dollars or inflation. He argued that global competition, especially from China and Brazil, is hurting row crop and forestry producers, and highlighted a Vision 2030 study finding about $10 billion in agricultural and forestry value leaves the state through value-added processing. He also raised concerns about rural depopulation and proposed rural innovation hubs to help retain population and jobs. Nick Frank, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said state appropriations make up about 25% of the college’s operating budget and are needed to support salaries, staffing, and service capacity. He described the college’s education, diagnostic, and clinical missions, including disease surveillance and responses to threats such as avian influenza, screwworm, and equine herpes virus. Frank said the college is expanding facilities with $18 million in 2024 state funding for a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, but still needs additional support for equine and small animal renovations. He also requested support for rural veterinary scholarships and said inflation and salary competition from other schools and private practice are making retention difficult. In response to committee questions, Frank said the college enrolls about 118 to 119 students per class, with roughly 54 to 55 in-state students and tuition of about $29,900 for in-state and $53,000 for out-of-state students. He clarified that the “vet assistants” program is a four-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary medical technology, not a certificate. He also explained that staffing growth has largely been in the hospitals to address clinical shortages and improve care. Dr. Westberger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said Mississippi’s forests support a $19 billion economic impact, 84,000 jobs, and a $4.5 billion payroll, while also providing environmental benefits. He said the college and research center are nationally recognized, including an NSF ranking placing Mississippi State 10th in natural resource conservation research expenditures for a small university. Westberger highlighted research on forest management, pest detection, mass timber, wildlife disease surveillance, and value-added bioproducts, including efforts to attract mills and manufacturing. He said Mississippi has added 10 mills or mill expansions in five years with more than $1.5 billion in investment and over 1,000 high-paying jobs, and noted the college is planning a new mass-timber annex to address capacity and showcase the material. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and grandmother probably farmed uh back in before um.
• Uh, I had a cottonwood tree, a huge, beautiful, I don't know, 100-foot cottonwood tree just fall over
• And it was a perfectly healthy tree, and I called him up and I said, are cottonwood trees just falling
• Can you tell me, is this tree diseased because it looked perfectly healthy.
• It just fell over what looked like a perfectly beautiful, healthy 100-foot tree.

Transcript Highlights:

• The development can't proceed yet, but farming must stop.
• These invasive trees are an environmental and ecological disaster.
• These invasive trees are an environmental and ecological disaster.
• I farm in the Arlington area, which is right above the Gillespie Dam.
• It's going to go out on the farms, not just my farm, but a bunch of families in Arlington.

Bills: SB1137, SB1176, SB1287, SB1335, SB1336, SB1445, SB1677

Keywords: underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from the Arizona Water Banking Authority by Dr. Rebecca Burnett. She explained the authority’s role in storing Colorado River water as long-term storage credits, its funding sources, and its obligations to provide backup supplies for CAP municipal and industrial subcontractors, the Hualapai River Indian community, and Nevada. Members asked about future firming for CAP users, recovery of credits, water quality issues, and whether municipalities banking water themselves affects the authority’s supply. Burnett said the authority has no current firming policy for CAP M&I subcontractors, is waiting on Colorado River guidelines, and does not have excess water to bank because no surplus is available. No action was taken on the presentation. The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 1445, as amended, allows small municipalities to test bacteriological samples on site with EPA-approved equipment; the sponsor and a rural mayor argued it would save money and improve responsiveness, while some members questioned whether the change was already possible under existing law. The bill passed 6-4. SB 1137, with a Taylor amendment, modernizes Arizona’s 811 call-before-you-dig system by adding large-project coordination meetings, an interactive positive response system, and related procedures; it passed unanimously 10-0. SB 1287, which expands an existing groundwater use allowance for irrigation grandfathered rights from initial AMAs to all AMAs, passed 9-1. The committee also considered SB 1335, as amended, which in its final form addressed a temporary continuation of irrigation tied to the Ag-to-Urban program and groundwater savings credits; DWR said the amendment was still a placeholder and needed cleanup, while supporters said it would help manage timing issues for farmers and developers. It passed 5-4. SB 1336 reauthorized the State Land Department through 2030 and added oversight, reporting, and planning requirements; the department was neutral but raised concerns about the proposed oversight committee and implementation details. After debate over the need for another board and the length of reauthorization, it passed 5-4. Finally, SB 1677 appropriates $3 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management for salt cedar mitigation along the lower Gila River corridor. Supporters from Audubon Southwest, the City of Buckeye, and local landowners said the invasive trees increase flood and wildfire risk, consume large amounts of water, and crowd out native habitat; some members raised concerns about herbicide use and wanted more detail on the mitigation plan. The bill passed 9-0. The chair then thanked staff and members, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few years ago, they achieved that goal, and as they successfully developed trees that are not only
• promising engine for economic development offered to farming communities in decades.
• These trees are proof of the reality that no matter how much time has passed, that here in New Jersey
• You know, in Chesterfield, there's a company called New Jersey Nut Farms.
• That's District 8, which stands to be potentially hurt. called New Jersey Nut Farms.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:11.200> that Coffee Farms and many coffee farms that Coffee Farms and many coffee farms
• or surrounding farms.
• livestock farming.
• livestock farming.
• livestock farming.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• to help keep their whole farm more sustainable.
• or adjacent to farms?
• Many of our farmers have off-farm... ...many of our farmers have off-farm income already.
• So it's just an opportunity to help them keep their farm as a farm because they're getting that consistent
• Farms need power to be able to operate.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 3256, a bill stemming from the Massachusetts Cranberry Revitalization Task Force that would remove Chapter 61A barriers for certain renewable energy projects on non-producing agricultural land. Supporters said the bill would let farmers separate adjacent land from Chapter 61A without a municipal right of first refusal, avoid rollback and advance tax penalties, and use small solar or other renewable projects to generate supplemental income while keeping the farm in operation. Testimony emphasized that the proposal is intended to be “farm-first,” limited to marginal or accessory land, and could also produce local tax revenue for municipalities. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill should be limited to solar, the appropriate project size, impacts on other agricultural sectors, and whether future sales or conversion back to other uses should trigger local rights of first refusal. Witnesses said the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and noted that similar projects typically involve 20-year leases with extensions. The committee also took testimony on S. 2009, which would authorize regional transportation ballot initiatives. MAPC and Transportation for Mass argued that the bill would give municipalities and groups of municipalities a flexible tool to raise local revenue for transportation projects such as transit, roads, bridges, bikeways, and pedestrian infrastructure, with sunset provisions so the revenue ends when the project ends. They said the measure would not raise taxes on its own, but would allow local voters to decide whether to adopt a revenue source, and pointed to examples from other states where similar initiatives funded major transit and infrastructure projects. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony was also heard on S. 1922, which would create a Massachusetts fund allowing voluntary taxpayer donations to the UN Least Developed Countries Fund or related 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting climate-vulnerable communities. Climate Reality Project representatives said the bill would let Massachusetts residents support climate resilience projects in the world’s poorest countries at no cost to the Commonwealth, and could serve as a model for other states. Senators questioned how recipient countries and nonprofits would be selected, what safeguards would exist regarding countries such as Yemen, and how taxpayers would know where donations would go; witnesses said the fund would be administered through the UN system and that they would provide more clarification. Rep. Michelle Ciccolo also testified on H. 3051, seeking a one-year deferral of the higher interest rate that applies when deferred property taxes become due after the death of a senior or veteran, saying the current jump to 16% can burden heirs and discourage use of the deferral program. The hearing concluded without any votes or committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carrillo, an act relating to Western Joshua Tree. Members, if I could have some decorum, please.
• The Western Joshua Tree is an an iconic species in California that is both ecologically and culturally
• Western Joshua trees span across a large portion of California's desert.
• The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act allows the department to enter into an agreement with a county
• We have a very diverse perspective on the Joshua Tree.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because you and I, you know, I know our dispute, which is I represent a farm that has taken land that
• The grapes actually use less water than the farm uses for chili and everything else by flood irrigation
• Less water to grow grapes than we would have been using if we were actually farming it as a row crop.
• So, when the ditch comes full, then you just water your trees or your fruit trees in my case.
• Just water your trees or your fruit trees in my case. So how is that measured?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have Hawaii Farm Bureau.
• Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, thank you. The Farm Bureau will stand on testimony in support. Thank you.
• Next we have Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau is down on its testimony in support.
• Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.
• Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 65,000 farms in Minnesota, over half of the farms have a female working on their farm.
• ,<00:21:15.919> farming repercussions, turkey farming, farming repercussions, turkey farming
• on farm safety.
• Farming can be a on farm safety. Farming can be a dangerous<01:38:16.000> occupation.
• <01:41:33.760> and our farms and with farm safety and our farms and with farm safety and mental

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FARMING INNKEEPER DUE TO GROWTH AND ARE WILLING TO SELL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO KEEP THE FARM FARMING
• ONE OF THE BEST THING ABOUT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IS WE ARE KEEPING THE FARMS FARMING
• I KEPT BEES AND MY GRANDFATHER'S FARM AND I WILL SHOW YOU A FEW. IT WILL BE FULL OF A QR CODE.
• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> Senator Truenow: THIS IS SAVE OUR FARMS.
• TRIP HUNTER WITH FLORIDA FARM BUREAU WAVING IN SUPPORT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all