Transcript Highlights:

• The order relative to the membership and matters currently before the Joint Committee on Agriculture
• adopted as follows: Ordered, that all matters that are currently before the Joint Committee on Agriculture
• so established shall hereby be the members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.
• The current members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture so established shall hereby be the members
• of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, and the current members of the Joint Committee on

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House received a gubernatorial message requesting certain fiscal year 2026 appropriations before final action on the general appropriation bill, and referred it to the Committee on Ways and Means. It also adopted several congratulatory and honorary resolutions, including recognitions for retiring members and public servants, and later welcomed a number of guests and honorees to the chamber. The main legislative business was House Bill 423, establishing a sick leave bank for James Caruso of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. After the Public Service Committee reported the bill ought to pass, the House suspended the rules, gave it a second reading, and ordered it to a third reading. Later, the House also took up House No. 1590, a sick leave bank bill for Eric Inakwick of the Trial Court, adopted an amendment adding an emergency preamble, and passed it to be engrossed as amended. A major action of the day was adoption of the conference committee report on the joint rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing reforms intended to improve transparency, public access, committee notice, live streaming, posting of votes and summaries online, and more efficient handling of legislation. The report was adopted by roll call, 147-2. The House also approved an order transferring matters from the Joint Committee on Agriculture to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, and from Elder Affairs to Aging and Independence. The House briefly questioned quorum several times, then recessed and later adjourned to meet Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session. The chamber also recognized the retirement of Chief Court Officer Gene DePersio, with remarks entered into the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a world leader in agriculture, engineering, and STEM, and that is the area that I think the
• We also have agriculture there, and so this is a really good fit, and it's going to make a difference
• It's also a very good placed area for A&M because if you go back to A&M, it's agricultural and what?
• Because of that, we need growing career programs and job opportunities that relate to the agricultural
• Agriculture, engineering, and medical are the three primary areas that I feel are very important to us

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to call Meeting 3 of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture to order.
• It just sets the parameters for how these funds will be allocated through the Department of Agriculture
• :38.319><c> that</c><00:02:38.560><c> I</c><00:02:38.640><c> will</c><00:02:38.840><c> turn</c> Agriculture
• uh and with that I will turn Agriculture uh and with that I will turn it<00:02:39.239><c> over</c><00
• Um, I am Jonathan Shell, the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, and just really appreciate the opportunity

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by guest Bob James of Barren County. The chair recognized visiting groups, including the Kentucky Leadership Program and the Kentucky Cattleman’s Leadership Program, before turning to the day’s only agenda item, Senate Bill 28. The committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 28 by motion and second, with no opposition recorded. The chair explained that the bill creates the framework and parameters for distributing $5 million in economic development funding included in the 2024 budget through the Department of Agriculture. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified in support of the bill and described it as enabling legislation to help Kentucky attract more end users, processors, and further-processing operations. He highlighted the importance of existing agricultural processing in the state, especially poultry, citing growth in agricultural cash receipts from $3.1 billion in 1996 to $8.3 billion more recently, with poultry rising from 5% to 25% of the total. He also pointed to major processing facilities, job creation, and the broader impact on farmers and corn markets, including examples from Hopkinsville and other regions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and then our WHMAs would be taxable under the agricultural value, so to speak, um, that's spelled
• agricultural agricultural value,<00:05:04.240><c> so</c><00:05:04.400><c> to</c><00:05:04.639><c> speak
• They are taxed at the agricultural rate for the land and the buildings are taxed as any other building
• They are taxed at the agricultural rate for the land and the buildings are taxed as any other building
• Um, I personally don't for agricultural.

Bills: SF0024

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Agriculture and livestock HB 1751 by Manuel leading to the candidate's application for a place on a ballot
• operations or for the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock HB 1965 by Lopez of Bay relating to the
• under certain grants awarded by the Department of Agriculture for the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock
• Refer to the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock HB 2119 by Garcia Hernandez.
• disease and pest outbreak for the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the concerns of the agricultural the concerns of the agricultural industry<00:38:34.960><c> and<
• </c><00:39:14.640><c> the</c> of the Department of Agriculture the of the Department of Agriculture the
• </c> groundwater resources for agriculture groundwater resources for agriculture also<02:06:55.800><c
• No water, no agriculture; no agriculture, no food. We support this measure. Thank you.
• No water, no agriculture; no agriculture, no food. We support this measure. Thank you.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. On HB 211 relating to stream maintenance, DLNR supported the intent but requested amendments to clarify that responsibility for removing abandoned property rests with the entity that has jurisdiction or ownership of the stream, and asked for appropriations to help cover cleanup costs. Members discussed existing county authority to clean streams and then seek reimbursement from private owners, and the City and County of Honolulu’s written testimony was noted as arguing the bill conflicts with a federal court stipulation requiring notice and storage of personal property before disposal. On HB 502 relating to land use, OPSD and the Land Use Commission supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the short timeline and the need for rule changes, with OPSD recommending a more permanent county plan-based district boundary amendment process instead of a temporary one. The Department of Agriculture asked counties to make concurrent revisions to ordinances and rules affecting agricultural land partitioning. Testimony also noted the bill is aimed at legacy agricultural subdivisions and would require Land Use Commission rulemaking. On HB 510 relating to declaration of water shortage and emergency, DLNR and the Board of Water Supply strongly supported the measure, saying it would give CWRM a more timely tool to respond to emergencies outside designated water management areas and would require rulemaking, permit classifications, and criteria for declaring shortages. In response to opposition concerns from the Land Use Research Foundation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, DLNR said the rulemaking process would allow public input and that permit classifications could help balance agricultural and other water uses. On HB 511 relating to public lands, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported removing the survey requirement before setting aside public lands between state agencies, saying it would speed Act 90 transfers and save time and money, though one testifier cautioned against misuse of agricultural lands. No votes were taken during the excerpted portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the new chair of the agriculture committee.
• Um, also Department of Agriculture.
• </c> both the Departments of Agriculture both the Departments of Agriculture Departments<00:23:19.360
• Agriculture and I'm going to say this Agriculture and I'm going to say this wrong<01:44:06.400><c> now
• </c><01:57:52.320><c> for</c> with why Department of Agriculture for with why Department of Agriculture

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate agriculture committees met on January 17, 2025, for an informational briefing on biosecurity and invasive species; Chair Kahaloa opened by noting there would be no public testimony. Members introduced themselves, and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) program manager Chelsea Arnot outlined the purpose of the briefing and the statewide impacts of invasive species, citing examples such as coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coquí frogs, albizia, and mosquito-borne disease. She emphasized that biosecurity requires coordinated action across state departments, counties, federal agencies, universities, and communities, and highlighted HISC’s role in funding interagency projects, island invasive species committees, research, outreach, and early detection efforts. Arnot and HISC representatives described major funding and program needs, including a requested $4.25 million increase to HISC to raise its baseline budget to $10 million, support island committee operations, research, biocontrol, marine biosecurity, surveillance, and staffing. They also requested $500,000 for the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, saying it is critical to invasive ant research and little fire ant response. The briefing also noted HISC’s leverage of federal dollars, including a $4.6 million REPI award with HISC providing the match, and cited successful collaborative eradications and responses, including veiled chameleons on Maui, axis deer on Hawaiʻi Island, and a 2023 coconut rhinoceros beetle response on Maui that prevented further spread. Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture officials then discussed implementation of updated administrative rules effective January 20, 2025, which permanently restrict movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle host material and give the department stronger authority to stop movement of infested material. They reported 2024 import activity of about 50,000 ship and aircraft arrivals, inspection/clearance of 20 million pieces, and 16,000 interceptions, with additional staffing from Act 231 expected to increase interceptions. They also described Act 231 funding and current spending status: about 65% obligated and 52% encumbered, with some funds tied to contracts for CRB and little fire ant response, plus an $800,000 green-waste hauling RFP that had to be reissued because of a flaw. The department said 580 Oʻahu homes and 290 Hawaiʻi Island homes are slated for little fire ant treatment, while Maui and Kauaʻi will focus on survey and outreach. Members questioned how homes are selected for subsidized treatment, whether HISC and the island invasive species committees received Act 231 support, and whether the state should direct how contracted funds are prioritized. Representative Martin raised concerns that the RFP limited eligibility to private pest control companies and excluded more experienced entities such as the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab. Department officials said they would follow up on prioritization and funding details, and noted that emergency proclamations and procurement flexibility could help with rapid response and hiring during invasive species emergencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment.
• I'm the new chair of the Agriculture Committee.
• </c> Response Team Department of Agriculture Response Team Department of Agriculture Maui<00:12:50.839
• Agriculture so of the the funding you Agriculture so of the the funding you got<00:25:23.760><c> last
• </c> my program is an agricultural biocurity my program is an agricultural biocurity program<01:44:34.760

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• homeowners insurance policies in the state and is subject to the Colorado Division of Insurance statistical
• People I represent often work in agriculture, construction, transportation, energy, manufacturing, ..
• .People I represent often work in agriculture, construction, transportation, energy, manufacturing, and
• back to the original language for the stay after a conviction, because only when looking at the statistics

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Agriculture designates as a food desert... ...in a geographic area that the U.S.
• Department of Agriculture designates as a food desert or a low-income census tract that is at least one
• This is not a statistic any of us should find acceptable.
• This is not a statistic any of us should find acceptable.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that those statistics are what I gave, you know, our national statistics.
• And that those statistics are what I gave, you know, our national statistics.
• And those statistics are what I gave, you know, our national statistics.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go through the bill and look at that, there are essentially statistical circumstances where the
• And there is a second statistical scenario in there where it's the second- break down the aggregate.
• And there is a second statistical scenario in there where it's the second-highest number, but they're
• They would instead certify certain statistical information about the packets to the Lieutenant Governor's
• information about the packets to the lieutenant governor's office. statistical information about the

Committee: Joint Government Operations Interim Committee

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the Wednesday, February 25th House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• First, it requires the Department of Ecology instead of the Department of Agriculture to calculate the
• First, it requires the Department of Ecology instead of the Department of Agriculture to calculate the
• All right, we are going to call back to order the February 25th meeting of the House Agriculture and
• And, you know, in our agriculture community, you know, really cares about being green.

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the Wednesday, February 25th House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• First, it requires the Department of Ecology instead of the Department of Agriculture to calculate the
• First, it requires the Department of Ecology instead of the Department of Agriculture to calculate the
• All right, we are going to call back to order the February 25th meeting of the House Agriculture and
• And, you know, in our agriculture community really cares about being green.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met on February 25 and received briefings on two bills before taking a short caucus break and reconvening in executive session. Substitute Senate Bill 5971 would create a green fertilizer incentive program for low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production and use in Washington. The committee also reviewed amendment H-3672.1, which shifts the greenhouse gas emissions calculation role to the Department of Ecology, aligns the calculation with the Clean Fuels Program, and ties incentive payments to an 80% lifecycle emissions reduction standard. Members and the chair described the amendment as agreed-to language, and the bill was supported as a pragmatic, bipartisan step to reduce emissions and support jobs. The committee adopted amendment H-3672.1 and then voted to report Substitute Senate Bill 5971 out of committee with a due pass as amended recommendation by voice vote, with 11 ayes and 0 nays. The committee then considered Substitute Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible participants in the Conservation Futures Program. Supporters said the change would strengthen conservation partnerships and help preserve open space, farmland, and forests, while one member noted concerns about the scope of land involved but said he would vote yes after discussions with the prime sponsor. Substitute Senate Bill 6097 was reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation on a roll call vote of 7 ayes and 4 nays. The chair then announced that this was the committee’s last policy meeting of the short session, previewed a final interim-planning meeting, thanked members and staff, and recognized Chairman Leonard Forsman of the Suquamish Tribe before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, HB 827 directs the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research to conduct a statewide
• The work will be led by the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research, which operates within
• The work will be led by the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research, which operates within

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 567, a broad transportation bill by Rep. McFarland. The bill, as explained, covered a range of transportation policy changes including higher speed limits, local regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters, parking accommodations for pregnant women, advance land acquisition for DOT projects, changes to FDOT contracting, elevation of roads in capacity projects, MPO quality metrics, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Two amendments were adopted: one added a prohibition on driving too fast through flooded roads and creating excessive wake, and another updated language to allow for future technology in traffic management systems. The strike-all removed several items from the original bill, including utility-right-of-way language, private-public-use airport funding, and an electric vehicle tax redirect, and added MDX board changes. The bill then passed favorably on a recorded vote. The committee next considered CS/HB 1535, also by Rep. McFarland, a lengthy hurricane recovery and preparedness measure. It requires local governments to post storm-preparedness and recovery information online, expands special needs shelter information, mandates emergency management training, improves debris removal planning, and adds provisions for fiscally constrained counties. It also addresses shelter access, rebuilding rules, permitting timelines and fees after storms, homestead rebuilding limits, and election flexibility after disasters, including a process for supervisors of elections to request emergency changes through the Secretary of State. Members asked several questions about local rebuilding ordinances, election “super sites,” and the request/approval process. The bill drew support from several groups, including disability advocates, builders, waste and recycling interests, crane owners, and restaurant and lodging representatives, and it passed favorably. The committee then heard CS/HB 561 and CS/HB 563 from Rep. Cobb on manufacturing. HB 561 would elevate a chief manufacturing officer within the Department of Commerce, create a voluntary Florida manufacturing promotional campaign, and require biennial reporting on manufacturing efforts; an amendment removed the grant portion of the program, and the bill passed favorably with support from industry groups. HB 563 established an annual fee, capped at $100, for participants in the voluntary manufacturing promotional campaign and also passed favorably. Finally, Rep. Spencer presented HB 827, which directs a statewide study on the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on Florida’s workforce, to be updated every three years and developed with business, academic, and local input; it too passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned with notice that the subcommittee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are now moving on to HB 773, HD 1, SD 1, relating to agriculture, for the House conferees.
• And we're moving on to our last House measure, HB 984, HD 2, SD 1, relating to agricultural loans.
• For HD 2-SD 1 relating to agricultural loans.
• We also know that helping get more ag loans to the agriculture community is important, so we're just
• So we worked with the Department of Agriculture to get their permission to remove the increase in the

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , conservation practices on land permitted by the Department of Agriculture, conservation practices on
• included farmers, builders, environmentalists, pretty much everybody that had any stake in the Agriculture
• large, but it's also pretty evenly divided between environmental and preservation interests and agriculture
• The Farm Bureau appreciates the inclusion and clarification of agricultural exemptions within the bill
• In addition, we really value the representation afforded to agriculture through the seats allocated to

Bills: SB9

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met to consider two Senate bills. SB 321, with Senate Amendment 1, would change community solar billing so subscribers receive one consolidated utility bill instead of separate bills from the utility and the solar provider. Supporters said the bill would simplify enrollment and payment, improve customer retention—especially for low-income customers—and include safeguards such as guaranteed savings and an escrow mechanism to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers. After public testimony from solar developers, the Public Advocate, the Sierra Club, and others, the committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, so the vote was circulated to absent members and the bill was later reported out for floor action. The committee then heard SB 9, with Senate Amendment 1, a long-negotiated wetlands protection bill. The sponsor and DNREC explained that it would create a state non-tidal wetlands program with exemptions for certain agricultural, conservation, and routine activities, general permits for some lower-impact projects, and individual permits for higher-value wetlands. Witnesses described the bill as a compromise among environmental, agricultural, development, and local government stakeholders, while some members raised questions about flooding, landowner impacts, wetland delineation, and the role of the regulatory advisory committee. Public testimony was broadly supportive from environmental groups, the Farm Bureau, builders, engineers, and affordable housing advocates. The committee then voted to release SB 9 from committee. At the end of the meeting, members offered thanks and remarks recognizing the chair’s service and leadership on environmental and energy issues. Both bills were ultimately released from committee and reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the Agricultural Committee here on the Senate side.
• They're taking part in an agricultural policy class.
• It also supports and encourages agricultural sales at farm stands, ranches, and from farms and producers
• After three years of administering and implementing the water quality program for agriculture, or WQPA
• After three years of administering and implementing the water quality program for agriculture, or WQPA

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 1:30, so we call this meeting of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee to order.
• Scott Livesley from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. The floor is yours.
• And it’s driven up to our lab at the Department of Agriculture campus down there off of... ...to the
• And it’s driven up to our lab at the Department of Agriculture campus down there off of Warm Springs.
• Furthermore, that database where they’re transmitting those numbers to the Department of Agriculture

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So at this time, we will start with the Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Ag Blaine Arthur.
• We have about 10 different divisions that make up our entire Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food
• We also held our fifth agriculture conference for young ladies, high school and college age, that have
• We've also had growth in just ...ultimately helping students understand what agriculture is and how it
• So I wanted to ask a little bit about kind of the intersection of agriculture and... guess.

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.