Transcript Highlights:

• violation of this rule, any information gathered from that would be considered fruit of the poisonous tree
• violation of this rule, any information gathered from that would be considered fruit of the poisonous tree
• ><00:05:08.680> of<00:05:08.759> the<00:05:08.840> poisonous<00:05:09.199> tree
• considered fruit of the poisonous tree considered fruit of the poisonous tree and<00:05:09.520><

Keywords: Roll Call 00:32 Approval of Minutes 01:38 HB 20 Discussion 02:08 HB 20 Vote 06:00 HB 188 Discussion 07:07 HB 188 Vote 10:10 Administrative Regs 11:09, 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting’s minutes, and heard two House bills plus several Transportation Cabinet regulations. House Bill 20, sponsored by Rep. Hodson, would restrict the retention and sale of automated license plate reader data, limit storage to 60 days, and prohibit nonconsensual tracking devices such as micro-trackers and subcutaneous trackers. Hodson said the bill was aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy and noted it had passed the House previously; members asked about enforcement and deletion responsibility, and one member suggested criminal penalties might be worth considering in the future. The committee voted to report HB 20 favorably. House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Duvall, addressed driveaway plate businesses that transport vehicles for others. Duvall said Kentucky law had created confusion about how many vehicles could be on the road and had driven up insurance costs, hurting a Warren County business; the bill would let such companies purchase the exact number of plates needed, which he said would reduce exposure and premiums. He emphasized the bill would not affect dealer tags or trailer transport and said he was working on a floor amendment to make that clear. The committee reported HB 188 favorably as well. The committee then reviewed five administrative regulations, including Transportation Cabinet rules allowing technology to be used in title examinations, extending an off-road vehicle pilot program to July 2026 and updating the definition of local government, aligning truck weight-mass rules with statute, adopting the MUTCD traffic control manual, and an emergency Kentucky State Police regulation adjusting a TSA-related hazardous materials endorsement fee because the federal change came too quickly for the normal regulatory process. Members asked whether the title rule covered rebuild titles, and staff said it applied to all titles. The committee noted the regulations had been reviewed and then adjourned, with the next meeting tentatively set for the following Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Agricultural Experiment Station, located in East Brunswick, have been hard at work breeding hazelnut trees
• A few years ago, they achieved that goal, and as they successfully developed trees that are not only
• The importance of recognizing this achievement lies in the fact that these hazelnut trees are the most
• same promise for a hopeful future that each of us felt when we grew up in the very place that these trees
• These trees are proof of the reality that no matter how much time has passed, that here in New Jersey

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a carbon emitter right now because we have dead and dying trees, growing, you know, brush that's
• Forest Service has over 200 million dead trees in the High Sierras. they understand that we as a body
• Clover Valley is a vital part of my community, filled with ancient oak trees and threatened species.
• It is home to thousands of oak trees and years of tribal artifacts.
• goals that those multi-million dollar mansions won't devastate Clover Valley and all the beautiful oak trees

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sprayed on the bark of the tree from four and a half feet down to the base of the tree.
• Uh are there trees flower also.
• <01:07:53.839> Thank of tree. So those three questions. Thank of tree.
• <01:23:08.000> Fun threats to tree to tree species. Fun threats to tree to tree species.
• . trees. trees.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She was clinging onto a tree, maybe 15, 20 feet away.
• She was kind of hanging on to the backside of a tree.
• They both made it to trees—little scraggly trees—hanging 20 feet up.
• She climbed trees. She ran faster than the boys her age.
• The tree. I heard rustling in the bushes next to me. Mr.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have 200 trees for you.
• And even if you don't plant a tree, if you can get a kid to plant a tree, it'll help out our state, our
• trees. So, we have 200 trees for you. trees. So, we have 200 trees for you.
• , have a white oak tree, have a white oak tree, an<03:34:39.960> American<03:34:40.480>
• Uh, these are all great looking trees. Uh, these are all great looking trees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem, then established a quorum and approved the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine business including second readings of several Senate files, first readings of House files 5067 through 5073, and messages from the Senate transmitting bills and requesting concurrence on House File 3437 and House File 1410. The House concurred in Senate amendments to HF 3437, a commerce bill with a technical cross-reference correction, and passed it 133-0. It also concurred in Senate amendments to HF 1410, a public safety bill on correctional officer procedures, and passed it 132-2 after members described the changes as clarifying and balanced for labor and management. The chamber then took up House File 3404, which increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer. The bill would raise the base offense from a gross misdemeanor to a felony, create aggravated offenses for impersonation involving unauthorized access, misleading orders, law-enforcement-style vehicles, or possession of a firearm, and add a duty for officers to identify themselves while protecting undercover work. Supporters, including the author and several members, tied the bill to the June 14, 2025 killings and said it was needed to restore public trust and protect both the public and legitimate law enforcement. The House passed HF 3404 134-0 after a moment of silence. The House also passed House File 3155, which closes a loophole in gift card fraud law by allowing prosecution based on the value stored on the card rather than just the plastic card itself. Supporters described organized retail crime schemes in which stolen gift cards are drained after activation and said the bill would help retailers, consumers, and law enforcement. The bill passed 134-0. Senate File 3958, which changes the deadline for a disaster assistance contingency account report from January 15 to January 31, also passed 134-0. Finally, the House considered House File 3875, the judiciary policy bill. An author’s amendment removed a section that had been unintentionally left in the bill, and members then discussed provisions allowing courts more flexibility in publishing notices, streamlining some notification requirements in dissolution cases, and making restitution orders permanent unless rescinded by court order. The transcript cuts off during discussion of the bill, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do not chop down my papaya trees. Do not chop down my ulu trees. No more.
• Do not chop down my papaya trees. Do not chop down my ulu trees. No more.
• I will try to keep this short, so I believe that this bill is necessary to save our coconut trees.
• I understand that save our coconut trees I understand that we<01:39:56.679> do<01:39:56.880><
• that have lost all their coconut trees that have lost all their coconut trees and<02:38:25.240><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, trees are really just big carbon vacuums.
• When a tree is harvested, we use the round part of the tree.
• <00:57:22.319> is things like that when a tree is things like that when a tree is harvested
• It's the lignin of the tree. It's a waste material.
• It's the lignin of the tree. It's a waste material.

Bills: HF1126, HF967, HF1066, HF1669, HF926

Keywords: property tax, Indian Tribe, tax exemption, Minnesota, public charity, property tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, unorganized territory, federally recognized, soil conservation, water conservation, local government aid, environmental funding, Minnesota legislation, tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, tobacco

Transcript Highlights:

• uh, and on top of that, people aren't doing enough to address the problems, i.e. getting rid of the trees
• uh, and on top of that, people aren't doing enough to address the problems, i.e. getting rid of the trees
• uh, and on top of that, people aren't doing enough to address the problems, i.e. getting rid of the trees
• uh, and on top of that, people aren't doing enough to address the problems, i.e. getting rid of the trees
• uh, and on top of that, people aren't doing enough to address the problems, i.e. getting rid of the trees

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How would it be if we could no longer have coconut trees or native bird species?
• in biocontrol agents from Africa to control the pest, saving these willy-willy trees.
• Thank you. coconut trees or native bird species? A coconut trees or native bird species?
• <00:43:01.599> were short while ago, willy-willy trees were short while ago, willy-willy trees
• I was asked why I willywilly trees.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Agency to identify large trees along evacuation routes and trim, spray, or remove large trees having
• Agency to identify large trees along evacuation routes and trim, spray, or remove large trees having
• Agency to identify large trees along evacuation routes and trim, spray, or remove large trees having
• The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is required to identify large trees along evacuation routes and
• trim, spray, or remove large trees having a potential to obstruct an evacuation route.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 540, which would make the most recent state building codes supersede county codes beginning in 2028 and limit county changes without State Building Code Council approval. Grassroot Institute testified in support, while IBEW Local 1260 strongly opposed the bill as written, warning it could let counties weaken state minimum standards and create problems for fire code and sprinkler requirements. Members discussed the need for consistency in building codes and the impact of the State Building Code Council’s status, and the chair said the measure would be deferred indefinitely. The committee also heard SB 626 on disaster preparedness, which would prohibit planting large trees along evacuation routes and require HEMA to identify and remove obstructive trees. Testimony included comments from DLNR, HEMA, and others, with HEMA opposing the measure. The chair said more coordination was needed between DLNR and HEMA and deferred the bill. SB 692, regulating retail and wholesale spray paint sales and assigning jurisdiction to the Department of Law Enforcement, drew opposition from the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi, which said the bill would impose costly storage and reporting burdens on small retailers and raise identity-theft concerns. The committee deferred that measure as well. In a separate decision-making segment, the committee considered SB 9 on fireworks and recommended passage with amendments. The amendments narrowed or removed several sections, increased certain penalties from $500 to $1,000, adjusted forfeiture allocations, accepted an Attorney General amendment, added an appropriation for community safety education programs, and changed the effective date to July 1, 2077. The motion to pass with amendments was adopted by a vote of 2-1. Later, in a joint hearing, SB 1102 on the aircraft rescue firefighting unit drew support from DOT but opposition from the Hawaiʻi Firefighters Association, which asked that the bill be held. SB 41, establishing Hawaiʻi Disaster Drill Day on August 8, received support from HEMA and a public testifier. SB 1570, addressing Molokaʻi air service disruptions and a possible runway expansion, drew strong public support from Molokaʻi residents and service providers, while the Attorney General raised separation-of-powers concerns about the emergency declaration language and DOT noted the high cost and feasibility issues of runway expansion.

Transcript Highlights:

• flood, When land is allowed to stay bare after a flood or we're not able to restore natural grass or trees
• the land that is managed by state and federal government has between 250 to 300, in some cases, 800 trees
• than the land that they're already managing, when it has sometimes five to six times the density of trees
• And when you take these forest acres, when we should have 25 to 50 trees, and in some of these places
• we have 1,100 trees, I don't care how many airplanes you put in the air.

Bills: HB2, SB193, SB132, SB35, SB145

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that fish in private lakes and ponds belong to the owner just like farm animals, fruit trees,
• Can you imagine someone coming onto your property and telling you that if you have an apple tree, you
• , trees, trees, vegetables<00:05:11.440> in<00:05:11.680> your<00:05:11.840> garden.
• <00:05:18.880> have<00:05:18.960> an<00:05:19.120> apple<00:05:19.360> tree
• ,<00:05:19.680> you you that if you have an apple tree, you you that if you have an apple

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:37 SB 39 discussion: 04:10 SB 39 vote: 26:35, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a quorum and first heard a brief presentation from Vice Chair Frommeyer on a resolution recognizing January as Kentucky Mentoring Month. She highlighted mentoring as important for personal, academic, and professional development and cited partnerships such as Northern Kentucky University’s Norse Network Hub and local community mentoring efforts. The committee then took up Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senator Gary Boswell, which would treat fish in private lakes and ponds as the property of the landowner and allow landowners to extend fishing rights by written or electronic permission. Boswell and supporter Jason Kenner argued the bill would strengthen property rights, reduce burdensome regulation, support selective harvest and stocking decisions, and could boost tourism, local economies, and aquaculture. Kenner also described bass fishing’s economic impact, youth fishing growth, and examples of tournaments and habitat projects in Kentucky. Boswell said the bill does not change fishing license requirements and does not alter invasive species rules except to clarify that largemouth bass, including F1 Florida bass, are not invasive. Commissioner Rich Storm and other members raised concerns that the bill’s language could affect the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fee-based funding, federal grant eligibility, enforcement authority, and creel-limit cases, especially if written permission on private waters were interpreted broadly. Senator Webb said she supported the idea of bass stocking but wanted more guardrails and a pilot approach. Senator Howell asked whether Boswell would consider further work on the language, but Boswell declined to accept a committee substitute or amendment at that time. The committee then voted 8-1 with one pass to report the bill favorably, and the chair announced the bill would be reported with favorable expression that it should pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• But here we see in 2024 we had about 370 line clearance tree trimmers, 280 substation technicians, and
• We're looking at about 50 more tree trimmers, 20 substation technicians, and 150 line workers.
• So we're looking at an additional 240 tree trimmers, 320 substation techs, and over 1,500 additional
• So we're looking at an additional 240 tree trimmers, 320 substation tax, and over 1,500 additional line
• can cost upwards of $5,000, and you need a Class A for line workers and Class B for line clearance tree

Summary: The Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience opened by electing Senator Shoemake as chair and Representative Alex Ibarra as vice chair. Members then moved into a series of work sessions focused on data centers, transmission, and workforce needs tied to Washington’s clean energy and grid planning challenges. Kate Bruns and Glenn Blackman presented preliminary findings from the governor’s Data Center work group, created under Executive Order 25-05. They said the group met for six months, received more than 1,000 public comments, and included representatives from agencies, industry, tribes, labor, utilities, environmental groups, and research institutions. The presenters emphasized that data centers are expected to be the largest source of load growth over the next five to ten years, creating concerns about grid capacity, ratepayer impacts, forecasting, water use, backup generation, and compatibility with Washington’s energy and climate laws. They described nine recommendations, including protecting existing energy and climate policy, improving forecasting, seeking more clean power and transmission, and encouraging flexible data center operations. A proposed tax incentive change that would have expanded eligibility while tying the exemption to new clean electricity sources narrowly failed in the work group. Members asked about tribal consultation, cooling technologies, and local benefits from data centers; the presenters said tribal consultation was ongoing and a final report would follow. Keegan Moyer of West Tech then outlined a regional transmission study showing major strain on the Western grid from load growth, electrification, resiliency needs, and limited transmission capacity. He said the 10-year study identified about 12,000 line miles of needed projects across the West, with roughly $56 billion in estimated costs, including planned projects, reliability upgrades, and new interregional transfer projects. He stressed that many projects are upgrades within existing rights-of-way, but new corridors are still needed, and he previewed recommendations on permitting, equipment procurement, cost allocation, and project sponsorship. In response to questions, he discussed the difficulty of crossing jurisdictional “seams,” the role of federal coordination, landowner compensation, eminent domain as a last resort, and the limited role of public financing beyond a federal GRIP grant. Stephanie Scott of Commerce presented the transmission workforce study, which focuses on substation technicians, line workers, and line clearance tree trimmers. She said current workforce levels are far below what will be needed under a clean energy expansion scenario, and that active projects are essential because apprenticeship training depends on thousands of hours of hands-on work. She highlighted barriers such as high upfront CDL and pre-apprenticeship costs, the need for wraparound supports, and the importance of expanding access for women, people of color, and tribal communities. Members asked about tribal utility apprenticeship programs, utility-run training pipelines, and whether the study included funding sources; Scott said the report would include an inventory of apprenticeship programs and tribal considerations, but revenue ideas were outside the study scope. Finally, Brant Johnson of Grid United described the North Plains Connector as a case study in large transmission development. He said the project, a 420-mile, 3,000-megawatt HVDC line connecting Montana and North Dakota, has relied on early stakeholder engagement, route changes, tribal consultation, and coordinated federal and state permitting to reduce risk and shorten timelines. He said the project aims for permits by the end of 2026 and construction beginning in 2028, with an earliest commercial operation date of 2032. In response to questions, he discussed the challenges of crossing regional seams, interconnection queues, land acquisition and compensation, eminent domain, and financing, noting that the project is primarily privately financed with a $700 million federal grant covering a portion of costs.

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:

• During certain competitive field trial events where individuals and their dogs track, locate, and tree
• this for 40 years, and I've never been to a field trial where the dog took game, game's going up the tree
• Climbing trees so they can't get to it.
• Uh, there's also hound breeds, uh, redbones, walkers, black and tans, English, several types of tree

Transcript Highlights:

• I see the coconut trees without the fronds where the coconut rhinoceros beetles have devastated those
• 14:12.160> coconut they're terminated I see the coconut they're terminated I see the coconut trees
• 13.440> the<00:14:13.600> fronds<00:14:14.399> where<00:14:14.560> the trees
• without the fronds where the trees without the fronds where the coconut<00:14:15.160> rhinoceros<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They knock trees. They cause flooding where colonies are kept. But there is significant aftermath.
• pollinators, bees and other pollinators, could provide the pollination services needed for the wild-growing trees
• So it will capture that bee, fly to a tree limb... and probably soon to work its way here.
• So it will capture that bee, fly to a tree lamb, ...thorax, the middle ball.
• So it will capture that bee, fly to a tree limb, bite off the head, bite off the abdomen, and chew up

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard two informational presentations before taking up legislation. Tracy Dean of Conservation Florida described the organization’s work protecting wild and working lands, especially ranch and timber lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and argued that agricultural conservation easements are essential to preserving habitat, water resources, family farms, and the corridor itself. Senators discussed how conservation easements can help family operations remain viable across generations, and Dean emphasized strong demand for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and Florida Forever funding. Dr. Jamie Ellis of the University of Florida then gave a detailed presentation on honeybees, their role in pollination and Florida agriculture, and major threats such as Varroa mites, queen quality, nutrition issues, hurricanes, and the yellow-legged hornet; senators asked about colony losses, pollination alternatives, and the economic importance of beekeeping in Florida. The committee then considered SB 210 on animal cremation, sponsored by Senator Harrell. The bill was described as a response to a case involving mishandled pet cremation and would require crematories to provide clear disclosures about services, prohibit false or misleading information, and authorize civil penalties enforced by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. Next, the committee took up SJR 318, a joint resolution by Chair Truenow creating a proposed ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property used in agricultural production or agritourism on agricultural land and owned by the landowner or leaseholder. Several industry and agency representatives appeared in support, and the resolution was also reported favorably by unanimous vote. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment motioned by Senator Rouson.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you know that forest fires are burning more than twice as much tree cover today as two decades ago
• Do you know that forest fires are burning more than twice as much tree cover today as two decades ago
• And then we also have some funding in here for tree plantings for our side of the aisle.
• Uh parks and<02:15:00.320> trees.
• We have some significant and trees.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not talking about healthy trees here.
• We're talking about over 150 million dead and dying trees and small underbrush that accelerates wildfire
• opposition: we're going to hear that AB 706 is attempting to facilitate or ease the harvesting of trees
• From opposition, we're going to hear the 706 is attempting to facilitate or ease the harvesting of trees
• And I think the bill focuses mostly on the dead fuel that is there, the dead trees that have been eaten

Keywords: 987, senate, all