Transcript Highlights:

• We are working with MPCA to deliver three water treatment technologies, two for sulfate, one for PFAS
• We are working with MPCA to deliver three water treatment technologies, two for sulfate, one for PFAS
• We are working with MPCA to deliver three water treatment technologies, two for sulfate, one for PFAS
• We are working with MPCA to deliver three water treatment technologies, two for sulfate, one for PFAS
• We are working with MPCA to deliver three water treatment technologies, two for sulfate, one for PFAS

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the PFA's priority list does not allow us to prioritize PFAS; it predates the PFAS consideration
• ways that we can spend the revolving funds and the additional money from the federal government for PFAS
• given to the agency to pass through to MDH around biomonitoring in firefighters who are exposed to PFAS
• We certainly know more about PFAS today than we did 10 years ago, and health risks associated with that
• We certainly know more about PFAS today than we did 10 years ago, and health risks associated with that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We moved this before and I appreciate you moving it again with the proliferation of PFAS and other emerging

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, chaired by Senator Salazar, met with Senators Harckham, Murray, and Bailey present, and considered 10 bills related to correctional policy, reentry, victim services, and public health in facilities. Measures discussed included educational access for incarcerated individuals, a phone call before transfer, expanded substance abuse programming for non-English speakers, commissary/canteen issues, a reentry pilot program, SNAP screening before release, discharge planning for wrongfully convicted individuals, public water testing transparency in correctional facilities, evidentiary standards in disciplinary hearings, and notification to victims about the address confidentiality program. The committee also corrected the record on one bill title during the meeting, clarifying that S. 1645 was actually a human trafficking assistance priority bill. Members generally expressed support for the bills, with brief comments highlighting the importance of reentry services, public health, and victim protections. Senator Harckham spoke in support of the water testing bill, citing PFAS and other contaminants, and Senator Murray praised the address confidentiality program bill. Most bills were moved by motion and seconded without substantive debate. All bills were reported out of committee, with several specifically reported to Finance. Senator Murray cast negative votes on some measures, while the rest were approved by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are monitoring requirements for PFAS that are currently in those permits.
• The wastewater treatment facilities have issues more basic than PFAS. They’re aging.
• “PFAS and emerging contaminant issues is just one of the issues.”
• PFAS and emerging contaminant issues is just one of the issues.
• The witness said, “PFAS and emerging contaminant issues is just one of the issues.”

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PFA does not have funding for state match beyond that.
• I would say, you know, we're really talking the PFA really serves very small communities, so you might
• I would say, you know, we're really talking the PFA really serves very small communities, so you might
• <00:47:13.359> really<00:47:13.640> talking<00:47:14.000> the<00:47:14.160> PFA
• you know we're really talking the PFA you know we're really talking the PFA really<00:47:14.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislator in Texas history, Helen Kirwan, raised my sisters and me by herself in that small town, and PFAS
• You told me About your mother's agenda as a Texas State Representative on the issue of PFAS, and I should
• When you told me about the work she did, the work on PFAS.

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to see what the baseline PFAS level is on agricultural land. the moratorum. Number one.
• The combination of the baseline PFAS and PFAS, which is present in the biosolid, obviously needs to stay
• PFAS compounds, but this particular method looked at 36 of them. So that's the sum of the 36.
• Precursors are the building blocks of PFAS, and those building blocks are in sewage sludge.
• >> It depends on the PFAS compound.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• projects in here that go to the University of Minnesota to advance scientific research, to address PFAS
• clears throat] scientific research, to [clears throat] um<00:31:46.240> address<00:31:47.160> PFAS
• um address PFAS mitigation and testing. um address PFAS mitigation and testing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• statute looking for mattresses and we have laws requiring crib safety and we have laws about how much PFAS
• laws<00:34:45.960> about<00:34:46.200> how<00:34:46.280> much<00:34:46.440> PFAS
• <00:34:48.040> Um laws about how much PFAS is in it.
• Um laws about how much PFAS is in it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, we have also had studies out there regarding PFAS.
• Currently, we have PFAS bills that we're trying to address.
• So we're working towards those goals right now, including having some PFAS-free bunker gear, and hopefully
• Firefighters and female firefighters are having PFAS-free bunker gear and decontamination procedures

Bills: HB35, HB4490, HB4454, HB2188, HB3078, HB4743, HB2556, HB46, HB5342, HB4783, HB3785, HB5278, HB1639, HB2581, HB4224, HB4070, HB4099, HB4882, HB3794, HB46

Keywords: peer support, first responders, mental health, confidentiality, emergency services, disclosure, next of kin, public information, deceased persons, privacy rights, patient solicitation, marketing practices, healthcare regulation, task force, deceptive advertising, nurse aide, certification, Texas Board of Nursing, healthcare workforce, nursing standards

Transcript Highlights:

• environmental hazards. labor leader because I think he recognizes all these environmental hazards, cancer, PFAS
• We worked really closely together on reducing PFAS in firefighting gear because there's a recognition

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journals, and took up several gubernatorial appointments. Senators confirmed Clint Kellum as Director of the Cannabis Control Department, Jennifer Osborne as Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, Dr. Trinidad Solis and Dr. Gerald Tolbrook to the Medical Board of California, with roll-call votes showing broad support. The chamber also adopted a request to remove SB 830 from the inactive file for return to the Assembly. A major portion of the session was devoted to Senate Resolution 97, recognizing May as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting AAPI contributions to California, histories of exclusion and discrimination, solidarity with other communities, and the importance of visibility and representation. The resolution was adopted 39-0. The Senate also recognized numerous AAPI community honorees and guests, including leaders in advocacy, education, business, and public service. Members then adopted several awareness resolutions: SCR 168 designating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, SCR 148 declaring May 23, 2026 as GM1 gangliosidosis awareness day, SR 95 proclaiming May as ALS Awareness Month, SCR 156 recognizing Stroke Awareness Month, and SR 110 marking National Hospital Week in California. Each measure was supported by personal testimony or remarks from members and guests, often tied to lived experience or advocacy work, and each passed unanimously or by unanimous consent. The Senate also honored retiring California Professional Firefighters president Brian Rice and heard additional floor recognitions before adjourning until May 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the next question I have is on line 99, and that is the PFAS.
• this isn't really the place for it, but that money that's going to the Environment Department for PFAS

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe someday we'll start, you know, again, my ideal bill would be a PFA bill for $300 million every

Bills: HF719, HF2484, HF2486

Keywords: safety, school transportation, infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, library construction, education funding, early childhood, child protection, funding, bonds, education facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• December 31st, it became unlawful to basically manufacture or otherwise distribute products that have PFAS
• Another significant change for PFAS was the EPA rule that was issued in April that will establish maximum
• contamination levels for six particular PFAS and had new requirements for public water systems.
• We ourselves conducted a study of PFAS in wastewater, leachate, and also at the sites of certain known

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Council and a technical panel of scientific experts on the effects of the land application of PFAS contaminated

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 20, the PFAS firefighting gear, is just a movement of $175,000 from the PCA to the Department of
• 148, and these create exemptions to the prohibition on selling items containing intentionally added PFAS
• The exemptions would apply to items that have PFAS only in electronic components or internal components

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The working group on the Omnibus Environment Bill opened with remarks from House and Senate co-chairs describing the agreement as a compromise with wins and tradeoffs for both sides, and thanking nonpartisan staff and administration agencies for helping negotiate the package. Staff then walked through the finance spreadsheet, explaining that the agreement met the group’s general fund target by combining new spending with cancellations and fund shifts across the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, BWSR, Metro Parks, the Zoo, the Science Museum, and other entities. Major fiscal items included PCA operating and permitting-efficiency funding, PFAS-related and mercury-related provisions, county feedlot reductions, closed landfill and remediation fund changes, groundwater and aquatic invasive species fee increases, DNR groundwater and AIS spending, ATV trail grants, watercraft enforcement, and several one-time appropriations and extensions for specific water quality and conservation projects. The policy walk-through covered Article 3’s community grants changes, including a requirement that grants benefit all regions of the state, permission to use some funds for trail maintenance and AIS management, prohibitions on awards to certain entities, and a DNR reporting requirement. Article 4 contained a range of natural resources and environmental policy provisions, including abandoned watercraft seizure and forfeiture authority, higher watercraft AIS surcharges, disabled veterans license fee reductions, a county-based replacement for the shotgun zone, a one-year crossbow extension, a continuous bass season, increased water use permit fees, PFAS sales exemptions for certain products, creation of the Sustainable Foraging Task Force, and a moratorium on DNR foraging rules shortened to July 1, 2026. Article 5 addressed state lands, including an additional Cass County land sale authority. Article 6 focused on PCA permitting reform, requiring more emphasis on complex Tier 2 permits in annual reporting, giving applicants five business days to fix deficiencies, allowing the PCA to decline expedited permitting when it lacks capacity, and letting the agency retain certain fees if expedited permits are completed early. It also included changes to environmental review procedures, feedlot permitting, and EQB rules. During member questions, Senator McEwen asked about the $952,000 ATV trail appropriation and whether projects must have permits before receiving funds; DNR Assistant Commissioner Bob Myers said no project list had been finalized and that grants would go through the existing process, with environmental review and readiness considered, but he said he would need to verify the exact permitting policy and follow up with the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have PFAS in their wells. They do not have fire service or police service. It is dire.
• And actually, the PFAS in their wells are connected to one elementary school, as you know, and we're

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on natural and working lands, carbon sequestration, and related provisions in Governor Healey’s $3 billion Mass Ready Act. EEA officials described the bill’s investments in flooding, land protection, tree planting, wetlands restoration, biodiversity, dams, seawalls, and coastal resilience, along with permitting reforms intended to speed ecological restoration projects. They also outlined current programs on resilient lands, healthy soils, forest climate solutions, forest reserves, and urban tree planting, and said the administration expects natural and working lands to offset up to 7 million metric tons of residual emissions by 2050, while acknowledging that additional strategies will be needed to close the gap to the state’s 10-million-ton offset target. Committee members pressed EEA on the cost of reaching the 30% conservation-by-2030 goal, the loss of a federal USDA grant of about $22 million, the adequacy of current sequestration estimates, and whether the state should consider regional approaches or statutory changes. EEA said current state conservation spending has been about $35 million to $40 million annually, that the Mass Ready Act is intended to help double the pace of conservation, and that federal funding remains uncertain. Senators also raised concerns about PILOT payments for state-owned land, the management of state forests, and the proposed Chapter 91 general license for restoration projects. EEA said the bill’s forest reserve language is meant to create a more durable designation process while still allowing limited active management. Advocates from The Nature Conservancy and Mass Audubon supported stronger investment in land conservation and restoration, saying natural and working lands are a cost-effective climate strategy that also provides biodiversity, water quality, and public health benefits. They urged passage of legislation to increase funding, improve PILOT equity, and strengthen land-use planning and mitigation requirements. They also backed removing Chapter 91 licensing requirements for ecological restoration, arguing that the current process adds cost and delay. In a later panel, a forest scientist and an urban forestry advocate emphasized the carbon and cooling benefits of mature trees, called for greater protection of older forests, and supported bills to expand municipal reforestation and modernize public shade tree law. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• PFAS has been confirmed at 55 sites and is suspected at another 40, and this number is likely to increase
• And we've seen this when we think about pesticides and PFAS in particular, most recently.

Summary: The committee first heard updates on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and related funding. Department of Ecology staff explained how MTCA and the hazardous substance tax support cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and local assistance programs, but said forecasted revenues have declined while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require underspending to stay balanced this biennium and that the problem is ongoing, with further reductions possible if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup program, noting there are more than 14,500 cleanup sites in Washington and that new sites continue to be discovered faster than they are cleaned up. A question from Representative Lee raised the long-term issue of declining fossil-fuel-based revenue, and Ecology agreed that this is a future structural concern even though the current shortfall is driven more by forecasts and transfers than by fuel-use decline. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency described its underground storage tank and heating oil programs, saying it has modernized from a reinsurance model to a financial assurance model with stronger state oversight and cleanup milestones. Russ Olson said the agency’s dedicated petroleum tax account is in strong financial condition, but emphasized the importance of preserving that funding source. He also discussed the loan and grant program for historic commercial releases and a new heating oil loan/grant program, while noting the agency is working on equity concerns where liens can be disproportionate to property values in smaller communities. Practitioners and advocates then offered differing views on MTCA’s performance: one attorney urged a collaborative review process to make cleanups faster, less expensive, and more certain, while another consultant argued the program is too conservative and process-heavy and should focus more narrowly on actual exposure and realistic cleanup standards. Environmental and community groups countered that MTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, and that it is especially important for environmental justice communities such as the Duwamish Valley. Port and city representatives stressed that MTCA grants and cleanup funding are critical for large redevelopment projects, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can slow projects and jeopardize commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation, including requirements for utility wildfire mitigation plans, creation of a wildfire mitigation standards work group, authorization for captive insurance by local governments and PUDs, securitization authority for disaster costs, and the existing wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy described extensive mitigation efforts such as vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced operating settings, public safety power shutoffs, and community outreach. Both said wildfire risk is rising and insurance costs are increasing, and Chelan PUD asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner said a 2022 utility liability market study found insurance availability is tightening as perceived risk rises, and reported that a 2025 work group recommended restoring community resilience funding, requiring insurers to share wildfire risk scores and mitigation steps with property owners, and creating a grant program based on insurance industry wildfire standards. A PNNL scientist added that wildfire probability is increasing in parts of Washington and that mitigation requires long-term, landscape-scale coordination. The final speaker began describing California’s approach to wildfire risk, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Showing up to a shift means being exposed to deadly, potent carcinogens, diesel fuels, PFAS, asbestos

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• important to the district 47A that they really cared about the environment, especially clean water, with PFAS

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The transcript is an interview with Shelley Buck, a newly elected Minnesota House member for District 47A, who introduced herself as Dakota, a member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, and president of a nonprofit working to restore land at Owámni/St. Anthony Falls. She said her prior 12 years on tribal council, including six as president, motivated her to run because she wants to help people and bring that same kind of service to her new district. Buck said constituents in her district emphasized affordability, especially housing and health care, along with environmental protection, clean water, PFAS concerns, gun safety, and the impact of the current ICE occupation. She described herself as a champion for working families and the environment, citing her own working-class, single-parent upbringing and the importance of postsecondary education and state support programs. On policy priorities, Buck said she wants to focus first on the ICE occupation issue, while also addressing affordability, health care, housing, and environmental protection. She framed her environmental views through a Dakota worldview that treats plants, animals, land, and water as relatives and stressed protecting the Boundary Waters and other natural areas.