Video & Transcript : 'emergency operation zone' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on the Census Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Senate Committee on the Census
Transcript Highlights:
- They don't operate in the same way that the rest of the population does; they tend to be replaced by
- And then the yellow is also operated by MAPC.
- Another input is zoning and capacity for new growth, and then it allocates the households.
- A pathway that for too long has been stymied by restrictive zoning, by impact fees, by any number of
- We've written the zoning that this is allowable by right, but we've got to...
Summary:
The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion.
Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations.
Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Feb 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And we're on the path to being able to get this train operational in five to seven days.
- We know last year in these hearings, that kind of emerged as a key issue, originally slated to incur
- So what OES, the Office of Emergency Services, has done is created a pilot program, and that's That's
- I do want to point out two emerging issues.
- The emerging issue I'd like us to be aware of is brine discharge is something we could do much better
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-25 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So our emerging... Mobile response teams are included in this. So are emergency situations.
- So we have made provisions for mental health emergencies and physical health emergencies.
- or a sport and an operator.
- get to operate.
- A lot of those gaming operators, those racetrack operators, went to the horsemen, and I'm going to use
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed.
On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Independent restaurants are operating under extraordinary pressure.
- In one month, LaMora... ...operating for 22 years.
- We've also operated in New York, Mexico City, and California.
- We've also operated in New York, Mexico City, and California.
- Klinga Smith spoke to emerging payment rails in the United States.
Summary:
The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth.
A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail.
Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions.
The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> certain categories of operating costs. certain categories of operating costs.
- And we cannot forget when we are talking enterprise zone that the strategic investment zone is the job
- </c> actually stripping away local zoning actually stripping away local zoning control.<00:34:59.680>
- </c><00:35:50.240><c> uh</c> only applies to enterprise uh zone uh only applies to enterprise uh zone
- is overruled, the system, the zoning is overruled, the local<00:36:11.760><c> zoning</c> local zoning
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- They're gun-free zones. They've been gun-free zones for a long time.
- They're gun-free zones. They've been gun-free zones for a long time.
- They're gun-free zones. They've been gun-free zones for a long time.
- They're gun-free zones. They've been gun-free zones for a long time.
- They're gun-free zones. They've been gun-free zones for a long time.
Keywords:
immigration status, undocumented students, immigrant rights, K-12 education, public school enrollment, Plyler v. Doe, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, law enforcement access, ICE, immigration enforcement, civil lawsuit, private right of action, injunctive relief, mandamus, student records, directory information, parental engagement, equal access to education
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Apr 14th, 2026
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
Transcript Highlights:
- So in the alternative was to initially create default zones in the event that the wildfire-specific zones
- the burn zone, etc., etc., but they only have, that guide only has two, in essence, two zones that require
- And those zones were created in, their default zones were created in a way, starting off with the AIHA
- So that's why three zones were created: one similar to the initial zone that's technically in the guide
- zone.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Local Government Jan 27th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The exemptions are not exempt from zoning and permitting laws.
- The exemptions are not exempt from zoning and permitting laws and other regulations.
- First, governments should not operate grocery stores.
- First, governments should not operate grocery stores.
- I'm the director of the Finance and Business Operations Division for King County.
Keywords:
grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 1680, grazing agriculture county zoning. SB 1683, land ownership foreign advisory prohibition.
- SB 1714, pricing emergency enforcement Attorney General.
- SB 1779, mandatory inclusionary zoning prohibition.
- SB 1819, vertiports; design zoning. SB 1820, criminal money threshold offense classifications.
- The role of the legislature is not to design projects or operate systems.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recorded roll call showing 30 members present. The journal was approved, no guests were introduced at first, and the Governor’s signed bill HB 2022 was reported. The President also announced temporary committee substitutions for the Rules Committee on February 9.
Senator Shamp introduced licensed naturopathic physicians in the gallery and highlighted SB 1178, which would expand their authority to administer certain intravenous drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. The chamber then read a lengthy calendar of first- and second-reading bills and resolutions covering elections, education, health care, water, criminal justice, housing, taxation, and other topics, with no floor action taken on those measures during the reading.
The Senate recessed to recognize law enforcement personnel involved in the rescue of an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation. A proclamation commended Deputies Gregory Sanders and Jacob Montoya, along with Cochise County and Border Patrol personnel, for their courage and professionalism. After returning to order, members made personal privilege remarks urging the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to review $2.85 million in election-related funding for the Secretary of State, and another senator spoke about water security and the need for long-term planning.
Additional announcements included caucus and committee meeting notices, an invitation to Arizona Aerospace Day, and a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. The transcript ends as the chamber was considering adjournment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 7
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a clone bill of the bill that passed the Senate to have a comprehensive response to Operation
- Operation Metro Surge has emptied emergency departments, pediatric clinics, primary care offices, and
- Creating no-go zones creates the wrong incentives.
- </c><00:20:21.400><c> Creating</c><00:20:21.760><c> no-go</c><00:20:22.200><c> zones</c> correct answer
- Creating no-go zones correct answer.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (01/22/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> which essentially is an emergency which essentially is an emergency department<00:23:38.960><c>
- by a private operator contracted with the state, and the local zoning ordinances of this community said
- the group home had to go through and get a zoning variance. ...the local zoning ordinances of this community
- </c> operated by a private operator operated by a private operator contracted<00:45:11.680><c> with</
- </c><00:45:19.800><c> variance</c> to go through and get a zoning variance to go through and get a zoning
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
SPEED Task Force (STF) - Tue Jan 6, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:34:25.200><c> construction,</c> emerging field of offsite construction, emerging field of offsite
- </c> level while addressing this emerging level while addressing this emerging housing<00:36:16.320><
- </c> intake, validate basic parcel and zoning intake, validate basic parcel and zoning information,<04
- Thank you. administrative operations of such a administrative operations of such a large<04:05:30.960
- </c> emerging technologies. emerging technologies.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Fri Jan 10, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:20:39.640><c> budget</c> 25 general fund operating budget 25 general fund operating budget appropriation
- And then when would the school be able to be operational?
- </c><01:42:36.480><c> and</c> um for for facilities and operations and um for for facilities and operations
- </c> long-standing challenges and emerging long-standing challenges and emerging opportunities<04:49:
- </c><05:41:54.320><c> management</c> for our coastal zone management for our coastal zone management
Summary:
The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding.
Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support.
A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
CPRA Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's basically the way our agency operates.
- and gas within the coastal zone and so proper identification and coordination with these operators is
- We can get things like operators, point of contact, size of the pipe, We can get things like operators
- So CPRA doesn't get agreements with the pipeline operators ourselves if it's required by the operator
- It's coastal and marine operators. Yes, CMO? Marine operators.
Summary:
The board met on January 21, 2026, approved the agenda and minutes, and received a CPRA implementation update from Executive Director Michael Hare. Hare reported about 103 active projects, with work focused on completing existing projects and moving more into construction. He highlighted several projects, including Port Fourchon shoreline protection, Northwest Little Lake marsh creation, Sugar Ridge Pump Station, a large RESTORE-funded marsh creation project, Schooner Bayou saltwater barrier rehabilitation, Cain Bayou marsh creation redesign, West Shore river reintroduction work, Morganza to the Gulf reaches, NERDA Raccoon Island restoration, and Chenier-O-Tig ridge restoration. He also reviewed recreation and partnership projects such as Bayou Pigeon and Destrehan boat launches, Grand Bayou Marsh Creation, Highway 1 terracing, and four Louisiana projects funded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund. Hare noted the annual plan public meetings were complete and the comment period remained open through February 17, 2026. Board members asked about the Rockefeller shoreline project, and Hare said the Corps and state agencies were working through geotechnical and environmental issues and that leadership remained committed to moving it forward.
The board then heard a joint presentation from CPRA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the White Lake Conservation Area and Management Plan. Officials described White Lake as a 72,000-acre property in Vermilion Parish with major habitat, recreation, and revenue functions, but said aging infrastructure, levee erosion, limited water control structures, and maintenance costs made a master plan necessary. The plan, finalized in October 2025, recommends coastal restoration projects, lodge and facility revitalization using private dollars, revenue-generation improvements, and long-term partnerships. Proposed work includes GIWW shoreline protection, Unit 2/Caddo levee stabilization, and north shoreline protection, with about $30 million already secured for engineering and construction and total needs estimated at roughly $120 million to $130 million. Officials also discussed broader habitat management, conservation incentives for private landowners, possible land acquisition in southwest Louisiana, and coordination with federal partners and other state agencies.
Members praised the White Lake effort as a model of interagency collaboration and emphasized its importance for waterfowl habitat, public access, and tourism. Questions focused on funding sources, oil and gas revenue, and whether other agencies such as economic development and tourism should be involved. Several members also urged the state to apply similar management approaches to other refuges, including Sabine, Cameron Prairie, and Lacassine, where they said federal management has lagged. The discussion underscored a broader shift toward landscape-scale habitat management and public recreation investment.
The final major presentation covered CPRA’s marsh creation design guidelines and related construction logistics. Staff explained that marsh creation makes up a large share of the coastal master plan and that the agency is updating its 2017 design guidelines after nearly a decade of use. The updates will address survey standards, geotechnical methods, dredge production estimates, construction monitoring, and oil and gas infrastructure conflicts. A second presentation reviewed safety, access, and logistics for marine construction, including equipment access routes, pipeline identification and coordination, cultural resources, private landowners, oyster resources, and permitting. Board members asked about reducing geotechnical costs, improving land-rights coordination, considering uncontained marsh creation where appropriate, and managing pipeline impacts; staff said they would consider those suggestions as part of the guideline updates.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/20/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Every year, the governor gets $4 million to address emergencies within the state.
- Can you imagine if we have emergencies that we need to deal with and something needs to be done?
- In 2025, 52% of our violations occurred in seven school zones.
- Seventy-seven percent of residents supported photo enforcement in school zones.
- We're a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that's been operating over 75 years here in the state of Arizona.
Summary:
The committee first received a lengthy presentation from JLBC staff comparing the JLBC baseline budget with the executive proposal. Staff said the baseline shows about $577 million in available cash above statutory formulas, but that major items not included—especially tax conformity, ongoing health and school repair costs, and new federal Medicaid/SNAP administrative requirements—would significantly change the picture. The executive budget was described as about $1.1 billion larger than the JLBC baseline, driven by revenue and spending proposals including border security funding, tax conformity, higher sports betting taxes, elimination of a data center equipment exemption, short-term rental and water surcharges, SNAP administrative and error-rate costs, and several one-time items that staff argued appear ongoing. Members also discussed rising caseloads and supplementals in developmental disabilities, Medicaid/Access, and education, including concerns about declining enrollment, possible fraud in Access, and the SNAP error rate.
The committee then heard and passed SB 1032, which appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund in FY 2027 to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Testimony from the sponsor and advocates emphasized the need for independent oversight of the Department of Corrections, transparency, whistleblower reporting, and avoiding federal receivership. The bill was given a due pass recommendation on a 10-0 vote.
Next, the committee considered several transportation appropriations. SB 1064, as amended, would appropriate $3 million to ADOT for improvements along West Route 66 in Flagstaff; the mayor and local planning officials testified that the corridor is congested and dangerous, with significant growth and crash history. The bill passed 7-3. SB 1059 would appropriate $9.2 million for an additional right-turn lane at SR 87 and SR 260 in Payson; supporters cited severe backups and safety concerns, and it passed 7-3. SB 1062 would appropriate $1 million for an additional left-turn lane at US 60 and Superstition Mountain Drive in Gold Canyon; supporters said the intersection is a major bottleneck and safety issue, and it passed 6-4.
Finally, the committee began hearing SCR 1004, which would place on the ballot a prohibition on photo enforcement systems used by local authorities or state agencies for speeding and red-light violations. The sponsor and public testimony argued that automated enforcement is unpopular, unconstitutional, and prone to abuse, citing allegations of campaign money tied to ticket revenue and forged judicial signatures on citations. The transcript cuts off during public testimony, before any committee vote on SCR 1004 or the remaining bills.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/20/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Every year, the governor gets $4 million to address emergencies within the state.
- Can you imagine if we have emergencies that we need to deal with and something needs to be done?
- In 2025, 52% of our violations occurred in seven school zones.
- Seventy-seven percent of residents supported photo enforcement in school zones.
- We're a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and have been operating over 75 years here in the state of Arizona.
Keywords:
roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Tue Feb 11, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- It also reminds us about the governor’s emergency proclamation.
- It also reminds us about the governor’s emergency proclamation.
- </c><02:04:29.119><c> rent</c> possible to include emergency rent possible to include emergency rent
- </c> is um when there's a biocurity emergency is um when there's a biocurity emergency the<02:25:02.279
- </c><03:20:58.600><c> two</c><03:20:59.199><c> be</c> Wildfire Hazard zones two be Wildfire Hazard zones
Summary:
The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million.
HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries.
HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 6, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll be taking a site visit to the new State Emergency Operations Center.
- It's important for us to get out and actually see what the taxpayer Emergency Operations Center.
- Our first stop on our site visit will be to the current EOC building, where Division of Emergency Management
- At this time, let's make our way out to the vans outside the House building in the north loading zone
Summary:
The State Administration Budget Subcommittee was called to order and a roll call established a quorum. Chair Lopez noted Vice Chair Mager was excused, and members present were recorded before the meeting proceeded.
The chair explained that, unlike the committee’s usual budget work, the subcommittee would conduct a site visit to the new State Emergency Operations Center. The purpose was to see how taxpayer funding is being used and to compare the current and new facilities. The chair said both the current and new EOC are managed by the Department of Management Services and are part of the Florida facilities pool.
The chair also summarized the funding history for the project, stating the Legislature appropriated $100 million for construction in fiscal year 2021-2022 and $80 million in fiscal year 2022-2023, with additional funding for technology infrastructure, bringing the total appropriated amount to just over $200 million. Members were instructed to begin the tour by visiting the current EOC, then travel to the new EOC for a tour and questions.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee Apr 14th, 2026
Natural Resources and Water
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Feb 12th, 2026
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- And the last question I have is regarding opportunity zones, Section 70421.
- And thanks to your staff last week, I believe there's approximately over a hundred opportunity zones
- federal or state opportunity zones.
- I know the chair did talk a little about opportunity zones. Can you elaborate a little more?
- It's not like what the governor proposes for the opportunity zones, which says Massachusetts only.
Bills:
H4975