Video & Transcript Research : 'developers'
Page 122 of 500
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- that we were giving the animal welfare director of animal welfare the authority to create and to develop
- welfare the authority to create<00:04:32.479>
and <00:04:32.720>to <00:04:32.960>develop - > a<00:04:33.600>
plan <00:04:33.759>to <00:04:34.000>make create and to develop - a plan to make create and to develop a plan to make that<00:04:34.320>
program. - So they pulled that out just to give her time to develop a bigger program.
Summary:
The House took up several Senate amendments and concurred in them after brief explanations from committee members. On House Bill 841, relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures, the House suspended rules, heard that the Senate had removed or revised several provisions — including a certified rabies vaccinator program, a fixed limit on breeding dogs, rescue-organization data reporting, and some advertising language — and then concurred 9-0-2 in committee and by voice vote. On House Bill 938, establishing the Vermont homelessness response continuum, members reviewed Senate changes clarifying funding eligibility, municipal grant applications, emergency assistance timing, fair-hearing procedures, rulemaking timelines, a unified housing voucher framework, and a shift of $500,000 from emergency hotel/motel spending to a Burlington day shelter; the House concurred after a question about the fiscal note was answered by noting the amount matched the governor’s budget and existing appropriations. The House also concurred in the Senate amendment to House Bill 941, which would have created a study committee on municipal regulation of agriculture, but the Senate struck that study-group language; the House committee supported concurrence 7-0-1, saying the underlying bill should move forward even without the study group.
The House then considered House Bill 957, approving amendments to the Williston charter. The committee explained that the town had voted to eliminate the office of listers and replace it with contracted professionally qualified assessors, with transitional language ending lister terms after passage or upon hiring an assessor; the committee recommended passage 9-0-2, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place the bill in all remaining stages, passed it, and voted to message it to the Senate forthwith. At the end of the session, the House noted two additional committee reports: Senate Bill 64 on optometrists was referred to Ways and Means, and Senate Bill 313 on career technical education was referred to Appropriations. The House then adjourned until May 22, 2026, at 10 a.m.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee Apr 21st, 2026 at 08:25 am
Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- , and it sounds great, but you have to be a... ...technology that a company is developing.
- , and it sounds great, but you have to be a... ...technology that a company is developing.
- We are here for the research and development purpose.
- Workforce development is a very important part of it because, as we develop this new technology, we need
- So on your first question, look at some of the fuel types we have developed.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Mar 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And then finally, professional development, which is designed to And then finally, professional development
- And then finally, for PD, or professional development, all students generate $41 per student.
- Entire student population, so all students would generate a professional development funded amount for
- So this is making up 45% of total professional development categorical funds, and we'll get into more
- And this makes up 45% of, 48% of all professional development categorical funds.
Summary:
The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS.
The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results.
After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Conservation Feb 12th, 2026 at 09:03 am
Senate Conservation
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the Governor's Economic Development Policy Advisor.
- Another U.S. senator commented, 'This is a really positive development.'
- They are developing a strong middle class.
- And then could you speak to the potential impact on economic development?
- Tesla and Rivian have developed a business model that bypasses the franchise middleman.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Nov 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Workforce development is a very important piece of how our operation is growing here in Florida.
- Workforce development is a very important piece of how our operation is growing here in Florida.
- Workforce development is a very important piece of how our operation is growing here in Florida.
- We have also developed and are using a custom-made dielectric mirror film to reduce the brightness of
- business development.
Summary:
The committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard a series of presentations focused on Florida’s space and aerospace industry. Blue Origin’s Anna Spencer described the company’s Florida operations at Rocket Park, including New Glenn manufacturing and launch activities, Blue Moon lunar lander work, workforce development, and recent booster recovery and launch milestones. Amazon’s Beth Cooley presented an update on Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), outlining the satellite broadband network, customer terminals, dark skies mitigation efforts, Florida facilities and jobs, and launch plans; members asked about RV/mobile applications, satellite counts, and the role of fiber, but no action was taken. Starcatcher Industries CEO Andrew Rush then described his company’s effort to create an orbital energy grid that beams power to satellites to extend mission life and increase available power, citing demonstrations in Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral and plans for a first satellite launch next year.
Space Florida CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace sector, citing billions in private investment, hundreds of projects in the pipeline, the leverage of state spaceport funding, workforce and university programs, and the need for additional tools and infrastructure to keep Florida competitive. He emphasized growth in launch activity, manufacturing, research, and military support infrastructure, and said Space Florida would bring forward legislative proposals. Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro delivered the strongest policy message of the meeting, warning that KSC’s aging infrastructure and relatively smaller NASA budget share could cause Florida to lose aerospace leadership to states like Texas unless the state strengthens its partnership, research investment, and infrastructure support. Members questioned her about federal restrictions on commercial investment in common-use infrastructure, the need for more state-federal alignment, and how Florida can preserve its role as the launch capital of the world. After the presentations and questions, Senator Burgess moved to adjourn, there was no objection, and the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology Oct 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Companies, educational institutions, and research and development—this is why the select committee was
- Then in 2021, California developed new DPR regulations, which went into effect in 2024.
- but in a multi-laboratory study developed methodology that already existed, modified it a little bit
- For protozoa, we have technology that allows us, and it's being developed more and more, that allows
- Then once you know it's there, you can develop cell culture techniques.
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time.
The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration.
The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 8, 2025 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- So Florida will have to come into compliance with this and we'll have to develop reporting mechanisms
- So I'm just areas, for example, like if we look at Page 13 that in October of 2029, need to develop a
- I think it would be too premature at this point to say what plans have been formulated to to develop
- So I know we're still in the process of of developing and developing the application and working on that
- And so in this test that we developed in parallel with the stakeholder meetings, you'll see that that
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant May 30th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- A lot of land grants are expressing interest in affordable housing developments.
- , cemeteries, and community economic development for their communities.
- Entities that seek to profit from development and buying water rights for that profit motive.
- , and youth education. education and development.
- On page 3, C2B is the development of land grant youth programs.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
JLARC – Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee May 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- There's also a possibility that a software vendor could develop a custom system for LCB.
- A software vendor could develop a custom system for LCB, or LCB could develop something in-house.
- This leads us to the first legislative auditor recommendation: DDA should develop and use performance
- In 2022, at direction from the legislature, DDA developed a plan to reduce the general caseload from
- So effective September 20203, we developed a So, effective September 2023, we developed an end-to-end
Summary:
At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations.
The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses.
JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a land developer and have been for 40 years in the Dallas market.
- We roll into issues then when the landowner looks to close out, the land developer looks to close out
- This has a direct impact on homebuyers as developers when they do close out.
- The agency does not currently have the in-house technical expertise to develop this format and may need
- HB 1879 provides tax incentives to grocery stores to encourage development in underserved areas.
Keywords:
redistricting, election, Texas legislature, district composition, political representation, congressional redistricting, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. House, Congressional districts, district map, district boundaries, gerrymandering, voting rights, election law, apportionment, representation, special committee, PLANC2308, redistricting plan, elections
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We feel that if this law is passed, where there is no back tax penalty for change of use, developers
- I'm a land developer and have been for 40 years in the Dallas market.
- We roll into issues then when the landowner looks to close out, and the land developer looks to close
- As developers close out, ultimately the homeowners are left to possibly deal with these rollback taxes
- Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Bills:
HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2
Keywords:
healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Developers pay the fees associated with fire code permits and inspections, which ensure structures are
- Extensive development over the last year.
- The development process in areas where there's multiple codes.
- Currently developers face challenges.
- Have you been, you know, Lubbock's seeing a lot of voluntary annexations working with developers, and
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Developers pay the fees associated with fire code permits and inspections, which ensures structures are
- This bill has undergone extensive development over the last year, benefiting from countless hours of
- The primary purpose of this bill, House Bill 1701, is to streamline the development process in areas
- Currently, developers face challenges navigating duplicate processes when working with two different
- The development would have included free on-site pre-k for residents and how to... majority support on
Bills:
HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356
Keywords:
construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Closed hearings to examine the posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States Forces Korea in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program; to be immediately followed by an ope Apr 10th, 2025 at 07:00 am
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel
Transcript Highlights:
- Overall, I was impressed with our progress, particularly the development of our partnership with the
- These relationships should inspire us to redouble the development of networks like the Quad, AUKUS, and
- Agency for International Trade, to national development, President Trump's actions serve only to push
- to develop their own capacity, including a nuclear capacity. Senator, I'm ignorant of the policy.
- If we withdrew our support from Taiwan, would that incentivize Japan and South Korea to develop?
Keywords:
Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. military strategy, China military drills, Taiwan, Philippines, North Korea, defense budget, military modernization
Summary:
The meeting focused on significant strategic discussions regarding the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and its military posture in the region. Admiral Paparo and General Brunson were commended for their services, with the Chair noting an alarming shift in the balance of power towards China. Key topics included China's aggressive military drills near Taiwan, the increasing coercion against the Philippines, and the need for the U.S. to reaffirm its commitments to its allies in the region. Concerns were raised regarding China's military modernization and its implications for U.S. forces, alongside discussions on North Korea's threats and its burgeoning nuclear capabilities. The committee emphasized the urgent need for military and defense appropriations to counteract these growing security challenges.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 19th, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I live in Terra Vista. which is a 20-year-old post-development HOA with about 3,500 homes in Williamson
- and in the development of the product.
- For the state of Texas and economic development.
- What I've been working with these committees on is driving economic development in Texas.
- We are developing a workforce. So this bill here.
Keywords:
social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, property owners' association, residential watering restrictions, vegetation, fine limitations, drought, technology, innovation, economic development, grants, Texas Economic Development, business funding, HB 1395, private passenger vehicle rental, car rental, vehicle rental
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee during the 119th Congress; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine eliminating waste by the foreign aid bureaucracy. Feb 13th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Kennedy in 1961, the United States Agency for International Development USAID has had as its mission
- A strategic position allow us to enjoy some detachment from problems in the developing world and thus
- Agency for International Development, Paul Martin, has submitted a report.
- drive economic developments, including cheap energy, infrastructure, manufacturing.
- The ways that all poor countries rise out of poverty and develop.
Keywords:
fiscal responsibility, government waste, foreign aid, funding resolution, legislative oversight
Summary:
The committee meeting addressed government spending and foreign aid, with a particular emphasis on perceived wasteful expenditures. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a funding resolution for the committee, which received unanimous support from the members present. The chair noted a quorum at the beginning of the meeting, signaling that the committee was ready to conduct its business. Discussions highlighted ongoing debates concerning fiscal responsibility and the necessity of legislative oversight, notably regarding foreign aid allocations and their implications for domestic fiscal health.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Item C is the net of new federal BEAD funding for broadband development of 1.67 billion, offset by a
- One authorizes the carry forward of unexpended balances appropriated to the Broadband Development Office
- It has to do with the local development agreement database. I'd have to ask. I'm not sure.
- Which is about the local development agreement database.
- [Senate Bill 1340](link from function call), which is about the local development agreement database.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Transcript Highlights:
- All of this will further catalyze economic development in our cities and towns.
- One of our great successes of the past five years has been the development of a thriving local restaurant
- Whenever someone has inquired about developing a restaurant here in Cohasset or another venue like a
- There is currently a major development on our harbor, which includes plans for a high-end restaurant
- Our members are proud to build careers and invest in workforce development right here in Massachusetts
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing on a wide range of alcohol, liquor licensing, and hemp-derived beverage bills. Early in the hearing, there was a procedural dispute when Senator Jacob Oliveira attempted to testify virtually on S. 279; the House chairs declined to recognize virtual testimony from a committee member, and Senator Pavel Payano instead read prepared remarks supporting the bill to return liquor license authority to municipalities. The committee then heard testimony on H. 437/S. 279 from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Cohasset Town Manager Christopher Senior, both of whom argued that local control would streamline licensing, better match modern community needs, and support downtown economic development. A Lexington business owner also supported local licensing flexibility for a paint-and-sip business seeking a beer and wine license.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on hemp-derived beverage regulation, including H. 357 and S. 222. Supporters from the Commonwealth Beverage Coalition and Theory Wellness said the products are already widely available in unregulated settings, including gas stations and smoke shops, and argued for a regulated framework with age limits, testing, labeling, and local public health funding. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild supported regulation of low-dose hemp beverages but asked that breweries be allowed to participate using their existing retail and distribution rights. The Guild also supported H. 478, which would allow limited self-distribution by pub breweries, saying it would reduce inefficiency and help small breweries grow.
Several bills modernizing alcohol licensing laws were also discussed. Representative Ruel supported H. 477, describing it as a cleanup measure that would remove the contiguous-premises requirement, add a character standard for applicants, and extend public notice periods. Representative Sangiolo testified in support of H. 3893, a local liquor-license bill tied to economic development and new businesses in Lexington, including a movie theater, coffee shop, and paint studio. Fable Brewing Company also supported the local license bill, saying the licenses are needed before they can finalize leases and open. The committee then heard opposition from the Massachusetts Package Stores Association and several retailers, who warned that the retail tier is under pressure from oversaturation, declining revenues, and expanded competition, and opposed a long list of bills they said would further weaken existing stores or the three-tier system.
At the end of the hearing, Representative McKenna testified in support of H. 437 and S. 279, emphasizing municipal autonomy and the importance of on-premises licenses for restaurants and other economic-development projects. The chairs noted that additional written testimony could still be submitted on bills that did not receive in-person testimony. The hearing concluded with a motion by Representative Sangiolo, seconded by Representative LeBoeuf, to close the hearing, which passed by voice vote.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- according to how that agency develops those.
- From there, we were able to provide professional development for teachers.
- We also have developed our AI framework.
- We've got our AI competencies for both students and teachers that we developed.
- But as you can tell, we've got lots of different fronts developing at the same time.
Summary:
The committee met on May 19, 2026, with a quorum present and first heard a presentation from Superintendent Cade Brumley on Louisiana’s recent education scorecard, which showed the state ranked first nationally in reading growth, second in math growth, and first overall in academic growth from 2022 to 2026. Members praised teachers and the department for the results. The committee then deferred SB 507 at the author’s request.
The committee reported several bills favorably. SB 484 by Sen. Abraham, as amended, transfers selected duties from the Board of Regents to university management boards and Louisiana Works, adjusts authority over certain higher-education initiatives, creates a study of LUMCON’s placement, and adds financial reporting and early-warning requirements for universities. SB 157 by Sen. Jenkins, as amended, creates six weeks of paid parental leave for eligible public K-12 employees for birth, adoption, or fostering, with a reimbursement fund subject to appropriation; testimony emphasized family support, recruitment and retention, and health benefits. SB 83 by Sen. Edmonds, as amended, requires human trafficking prevention and victim-identification training in schools and updates coordination and service language; the amendment made implementation subject to appropriation and clarified the governor’s office role.
The committee also reported SB 450 by Sen. Edmonds, as amended, requiring mandatory reporting of school threats and physical security assessments, with student witnesses and members stressing school safety and the need for funding and practical security measures. SB 132 by Sen. Klein-Peter, as amended, requires exterior master key boxes and updated school mapping data for emergency response, with an amendment exempting districts already using such boxes. Finally, Rep. Carver presented HR 251 on recess for K-3 students, citing Oklahoma’s expanded recess law and research on physical activity and learning, but said he would keep the resolution parked for further discussion rather than seek a vote.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment May 12th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- development.
- You know, we're not trying to, like, develop commercial property.
- You know, so it's, um, Really do commercial development within that time period.
- It would not allow for any new commercial development or cluster residential development along it as
- development along a designated scenic river during the time period.
Summary:
The committee took up a series of natural resources, wildlife, environmental, and infrastructure measures. HCR 79 by Chairman Butler, which memorializes Congress and the U.S. Forest Service to allow dog hunting in Kisatchie National Forest, drew testimony in support from hunters and a former NRCS official describing it as a rural Louisiana tradition, and opposition from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, which said it supported hunting with dogs generally but opposed the deer/hog hunting portions while favoring the recovery-of-wounded-deer component. The committee reported HCR 79 favorable. It also reported favorable on SB 419, allowing pre-charged pneumatic devices for deer during primitive firearms season, and on SCR 29, creating a study committee on Atchafalaya Basin water quality and sediment impacts, and SB 111, setting black bass and crappie bag and size limits in the basin, with Wildlife and Fisheries saying it would monitor the effects through sampling and creel data.
Several resolutions and bills focused on environmental management and state property. SB 174 authorized transfer of certain state property in Caddo Parish from Louisiana Tech University to the Caddo Parish School Board and was reported favorable. SB 189, a preemptive ban on intentional release or dispersion of fuels or chemicals to affect temperatures, was also reported favorable after discussion of geoengineering-related additives. SB 99, which updates DEQ communications to allow optional electronic notices for permits and public notifications, was supported by DEQ and reported favorable. HCR 104, from Rep. Coates, asked the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study and recommend improvements to subsurface data collection and access; testimony described efforts to modernize core and well-log records and build a statewide 3D subsurface model, and the resolution was reported favorable.
The committee also considered river, boating, and wildlife-related measures. SB 331 would temporarily remove portions of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for five years to allow work on the lower Pearl River, including dredging and channel realignment, while prohibiting commercial development and reservoir construction; environmental groups opposed it as a bad precedent and urged a shorter sunset, but the bill was reported favorable. HCR 54 urged a federal study of flooded corn and migratory waterfowl behavior and was reported favorable after support from the Flyway Federation and Louisiana Wildlife Federation. HCR 94 would require annual Wildlife and Fisheries reports on boating safety data, and HCR 87 expressed support for a U.S. senator’s correspondence on migratory flyways; both were reported favorable. SB 505, dealing with the Motor Fuels Underground Storage Tank Trust Dedicated Fund, was reported favorable after testimony that it would expand grant capacity, create a two-cycle application process, and address LLC-related issues.
The committee also advanced several measures on public policy and cleanup issues. HCR 85 created a task force on illegal dumping; after amendments added Keep Louisiana Beautiful and the Louisiana Police Jury Association, members discussed statewide tire dumping problems, DEQ staffing, and cleanup funding, and the resolution was reported favorable as amended. HR 216, as substituted, was changed from a repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan to a resolution authorizing the committee to hold a hearing and receive input from agencies and stakeholders on the plan; after reconsideration and adoption of the substitute amendment, it was reported favorable. One item, SB 243, was voluntarily deferred.