Transcript Highlights:

• development is.
• supply service areas related to water utility and planning, and to assist public water systems to meet
• , right pressure, even water.
• In areas where there’s going to be sufficient water, right pressure, even water districts having water
• and the cost of that development.

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we rely on Sonoma Water for about 93% of our water supply.
• quality because we don't want to have then a water quality issue with our whole water supply.
• The other thing that I will say is that water companies, and especially mutual water companies where
• A previous person mentioned mutual water companies, and I have served on the board of two mutual water
• So mutual waters.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Development and maintenance of community infrastructure includes water systems, wastewater systems, roads
• In terms of water, that was the first method of governance of water.
• primary water administrator.
• Entities that seek to profit from development and buying water rights for that profit motive.
• to water transfers.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the Wyoming Water Development Commission.
• We're going to begin with Jason, director of our Water Development Department, and ask you to just walk
• <00:01:02.399> development me, director of our water development me, director of our water
• projects for new development. projects for new development.
• level two new development projects. level two new development projects.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental protection, economic development, water use, and public health needs of their state are
• To expedite project development and deployment while maintaining real safeguards for drinking water.
• Drinking Water Act.
• meet some criteria for serving public water supply, but they will never be a public water supply.
• not economic to develop, or that formation won't produce enough water to be a drinking water source.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you know, you talk about water, water, now I, the term escapes me, but precisely the need to reduce
• Communities are facing challenges regarding water issues as well as water supply.
• The road to be developed is about 50 miles, and it's $60 million that a private developer Submitted,
• and brackish water, as well as recycling and reuse of water, generates a lot of data.
• You say that as a singular developer, is that correct? Is there just one developer?

Transcript Highlights:

• because water will movement.
• So I'm an engineer, and as water and wastewater engineers, we develop solutions for municipalities and
• It leaches out into the water.
• Those are drinking water sample protocols that they anticipate the water to be very clean, not have a
• Those are drinking water sample protocols that they anticipate the water to be very clean and not have

Summary: The meeting focused on the use of biosolids on farm and ranch land, with testimony from Oklahoma State University experts, a conservation official, and an engineering representative about the benefits, risks, and regulatory implications. Dr. Lusk described OSU’s long history of soil fertility research and said biosolids can provide nutrients and organic matter, but also may carry contaminants such as PFAS, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and pathogens. He emphasized that many questions remain unanswered, especially about contaminant uptake into soil, crops, livestock, and humans, and said existing EPA and Oklahoma DEQ regulations address some treatment and application standards but may not fully cover PFAS. Dr. Arnell expanded on nutrient management, explaining that biosolids can function similarly to manure as a fertilizer source, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus, but should be tested, incorporated into soil, and applied under permit conditions to reduce runoff and other losses. He said PFAS testing methods are not yet standardized and that more research is needed to determine sampling protocols, movement in soil, and long-term effects. Committee members asked whether farmers and ranchers should be notified of risks, whether PFAS is currently tested, how many counties use biosolids, and what research would be needed for a dissertation-level study. The witnesses generally agreed that landowners should be informed of known risks and uncertainties, but said the science is still developing. Dr. Arnell said a unified testing method is needed before reliable PFAS monitoring can be done, and suggested that a multi-year study would be required to understand soil movement, crop uptake, and livestock impacts. Greg Scott of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission framed the issue as a waste-management problem, noting that human waste streams contain contaminants and that soil type affects how pollutants move; he said sandy soils pose greater movement risks than clay soils and that current best practice is incorporation, careful timing, and avoiding steep or sensitive sites. He also said PFAS are widespread and not naturally occurring in the way some other compounds are, and that liability and cleanup costs are major concerns. Mary Elizabeth Mock of Garver Engineering focused on the practical and financial consequences of a possible moratorium on land application, saying most of Oklahoma’s biosolids are currently land applied and would otherwise have to go to landfills. She warned that many landfills are nearing capacity, tipping fees could rise sharply, and cities such as Tulsa and Norman could face large increases in disposal costs, which would ultimately be borne by ratepayers and taxpayers. She also said septic system maintenance costs could rise if land application options shrink, potentially leading to deferred maintenance and system failures. Mock urged a tiered, data-driven approach to PFAS regulation and said advanced treatment technologies may help in the future, but they are still emerging and expensive. No votes were taken; the session consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We love the water. We respect all parts of the water. We are not the problem.
• We love the waters.
• I have been aggressive with people on the water.
• Again, you have a water meter in your house.
• But the water would filter into it.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a long time for a clam to be out there in the water.
• My personal facility took nine and a half feet of water.
• Not to mention the water just tastes good here. The water is what makes the oyster taste good.
• our extension strategy, taking the great research that's been developed, and that... ...developed our
• FDACS Office of Ag Water Policy and the water management district certainly have been integral in those

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard three presentations focused on Florida aquaculture, agricultural nutrient reduction, and land preservation. First, clam farmer Tim Solano of Cedar Key described the economic and environmental importance of the state’s clam industry, noting Florida’s strong national production, the industry’s recovery role after the net ban, and the severe damage caused by recent hurricanes and red tide. He said the Dislocated Workers program helped farmers return to work and asked that existing state programs be written more broadly to include aquaculture. Oyster producer Canaan Greg of Pelican Oyster Company then discussed the growth of off-bottom oyster farming, the losses his industry suffered from Hurricane Michael and the pandemic, and the need for better access to recovery loans, student internships, local seed production, and waterfront protection. Members asked questions about leases, production, predators, and storm resilience, and the presenters emphasized that aquaculture is a sustainable, year-round industry that filters water and supports local economies. The committee next heard from UF/IFAS regional extension agent Dr. Bob Hockmouth on education, research, and extension efforts to reduce nitrogen in the Suwannee Valley Basin Management Action Plan area. He explained that the region’s agricultural load reduction target has increased from about 4.2 million to 5.8 million pounds of nitrogen, and that extension programs are helping farmers adopt practices such as precision fertilizer placement, soil moisture sensors, controlled-release fertilizer, petiole sap testing, and irrigation automation. He highlighted corn and watermelon as major examples, saying on-farm demonstrations and cost-share programs are essential because the equipment and technology are expensive. He reported substantial reductions from participating farms and said growers are generally cooperative when funding is available. Finally, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented an update on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program acquires development rights through voluntary conservation easements to keep working agricultural lands in production, protect water resources and wildlife habitat, and preserve taxable land without transferring ownership. The presenter said the program has expanded rapidly in the last two years, with more acreage acquired, faster application review, and more properties in the Florida wildlife corridor. He noted new online application and monitoring tools, a shortened review timeline, and stronger partnerships with federal and defense-related programs. Committee members asked about long-term maintenance responsibilities and the Board of Trustees approval process, and the presentation closed with support for continued funding and efficiency improvements before the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• state, as well as managing water quality for the state's water system.
• EPA granted us primacy to enforce drinking water standards and we regulate over 7,000 and public water
• Committee and this legislature does for water and produced water will be very, very important for the
• to deal with water in this state, and particularly flow back. water is really important to this to this
• of continued development development of LNG facilities to move that into the global marketplace is just

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The developer and home builder.
• lack of any water in New Mexico.
• Development projects were being confronted, usually at the last minute of a development project, being
• Infrastructure and development, the actual cost to move dirt, water lines is up, you know, 4-inch water
• The water issue? No, I'm not going to address that. We do have some water issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• The water Infrastructure is going in now. The Navajo Gallup Water Project.
• water that they're asking for because again, water is life in our area.
• water that they're asking for because again, water is life in our area.
• and the water reuse.
• the water reuse.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• water supply and potable waterable water supply and wastewater<00:36:28.240> system<00:36:28.560
• If a developer wishes to connect their new construction to municipal water and sewer lines, they must
• First, they worked on developing a general permit for water and sewer connections, which I'll explain
• First, they worked on developing a general permit for water and sewer connections, which I'll explain
• First, they worked on developing a general permit for water and sewer connections, which I'll explain

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's our water plant. Okay.
• We deliver the water.
• the water plant?
• That 10% that they charge on the water bill is for water utility.
• Remember, the water plant is in Miami Gardens. The water plant's there.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 84 creates a voluntary water conservation program for water users in Wyoming's portion of
• Projects cannot injure other water rights, promote interstate water marketing, or harm the public interest
• Is this coming out of Water 1, 2, 3?
• will come as as this program develops. will come as as this program develops.
• <00:14:09.080> water we're talking about irrigation water we're talking about irrigation water

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. 2,000 breaths versus a couple of liters of water, and usually filter your water before you
• Imperial Beach deserves clean water.
• We also oversee drinking water regulation.
• We also finance a lot of water projects in the state, and importantly as well, we oversee water quality
• And within six months, we had really clean water. We had the cleanest water we could have.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• center development.
• Lincoln Avenue Water Company ...receive water primarily from one of three companies: Lincoln Avenue Water
• Company, Rubio Canyon Land and Water Association, and Los Flores Water Company.
• And my only issue is water is... ...water is our most important asset.
• Shirley Lane residents this past year reported their mutual water company for illegal water shutoffs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has helped to restore our degraded waters and even remove waters from the impaired waters list, and
• So again, in terms of knowing more about our waters and being able to use that information to develop
• Restore waters, protect waters, and make a difference for drinking water across the state.
• length of the water systems. length of the water systems.
• water use? water use?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Jennifer Capitolo, California Water Association.
• Brothers Water Company, they're up in the South Lake Tahoe area.
• The water utility needs a whole host of other insurance products, too.
• And we have about 600 water suppliers that rely on us.
• In my day job, I permit and develop composting facilities.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda focused heavily on housing, local government, Brown Act teleconferencing, and public agency administration. Early bills included AB 39, which would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning for EV charging and building decarbonization; AB 76, which clarifies Chula Vista’s university innovation district housing requirements; AB 259, AB 409, and AB 467, which extend or modernize Brown Act teleconferencing provisions for local agencies, community college student bodies, and Los Angeles neighborhood councils; and AB 428, which would let water corporations join joint powers authorities for pooled insurance. Supporters emphasized climate planning, housing access, public participation, safety, and cost savings, while several bills were amended to address stakeholder concerns. Most of these measures advanced on bipartisan votes, generally 6-1 or 7-0, and were left open for additional members to add on later. The committee also heard AB 632, which would strengthen local enforcement tools for serious code violations, fire hazards, illegal cannabis operations, and unsafe housing by allowing unpaid administrative fines to be converted into money judgments and liens. Local government and code enforcement groups supported the bill as a way to improve compliance and reduce costly litigation. AB 670 would let local governments count investments in preserving naturally occurring affordable housing toward housing element reporting and require broader reporting of demolitions and replacement housing compliance; supporters argued preservation is essential because many unsubsidized affordable homes are at risk. AB 761 would allow Monterey-Salinas Transit to place a future sales tax measure on the ballot with approval from two-thirds of its board, rather than separate approval from each member jurisdiction, to preserve transit funding for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. These measures also moved forward, with the committee noting amendments and sending them to the next committees of referral. Another major item was AB 810, which would require special districts and joint powers authorities to migrate public-facing websites and email addresses to .gov or CA.gov domains by 2031. The author argued the change would reduce fraud and improve public trust, especially after emergency-related scams, while opponents from special districts and IT organizations said the transition would be costly and difficult for smaller agencies. Several school-related opponents withdrew after amendments, and committee members discussed possible aliases and tribal-government language. The bill passed 7-1 to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. Finally, AB 1206 proposed a pre-approved design catalog for single-family homes and small multifamily developments, modeled on a prior ADU bill, to speed rebuilding and reduce design costs; supporters from Habitat for Humanity and housing advocates said it would help both wildfire recovery and broader housing production, and the bill drew at least one opposed-unless-amended position as the committee moved into further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• aquatic invasive species and water aquatic invasive species and water protection<00:10:05.839>
• So just as an example, the first water use fee tier is up to 50 million gallons of water per year.
• Watershed based approach to water Watershed based approach to water management<00:23:55.039>
• the overall goals of the Clean Water the overall goals of the Clean Water fund<00:24:24.720>
• , assessing waters to make sure they are not impaired and meeting standards, developing plans when standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all