Transcript Highlights:

• High winds and climate change-fueled drought fueled a massive, unstoppable fire that burned almost a
• High winds and climate change-fueled drought, fueled a massive, unstoppable fire that burned almost a
• When in a snow drought like we are now, we can anticipate a spring without irrigation.
• When in a snow drought like we are now, we can anticipate a spring without irrigation.
• We are active members of this community because conditions have improved, but the work is not done.

Bills: SB12 , SB36 , SB92 , SB120 , SB133 , SB151 , SB18 , SB96

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• of funding, tight grant deadlines, utility coordination, and increasingly complex construction conditions
• In that context, low-bid... ...complex construction conditions.
• And some of the other things that happened, and I want to emphasize this: this is the condition of the
• The other things that happened, and I want to emphasize this, this is the condition of the prevailing
• Yet the region faces mounting climate impacts from wildfires, drought, flooding, coastal storms, and

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The real important items for me are water security and drought and how we're gonna mitigate through climate
• And then, um, my other issues are, uh, I, I was told I can't use the word drought because that's a federally
• We, um, have federal programs that determine drought, um, which is, uh, an, and, and weather phenomenon
• So, um, The point was brought up to me that almost all our meetings are in air conditioned spaces.
• It's really traveling there, getting out of the car, and getting into an air conditioned space.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• essential uses like drinking water. ...agriculture and industry, especially important in times of drought
• I mean, we're in a drought right now, but hopefully, at some point, we won't be, and we'll be able to
• This penalty structure does little to compel operators of these facilities to improve conditions when
• Well, the violation would be... that they don't have any sanitary conditions, that they don't have any
• To your point, Senator, about 10% of them have crummy housing in crummy conditions and they don't do

Bills: SB243 , SB1586 , SB1891 , SB1959 , SB2159 , SB2568

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It never allowed more serious, complicated conditions to be treated by telemedicine.
• So it never allowed more serious, complicated conditions to be treated by telemedicine.
• The beginning mentioned about the pharmacist to test and treat people for certain medical conditions,
• or conditions existing that can constitute a danger to public health, safety, and welfare.
• or conditions existing that can constitute a danger to public health, safety, and welfare.

Bills: SB1041 , SB1088 , SB1118 , SB1128 , SB1168 , SB1176 , SB1189 , SB1207 , SB1250 , SB1272 , SB1274 , SB1286 , SB1428 , SB1457 , SB1461 , SB1503 , SB1519 , SB1537 , SB1582 , SB1618 , SB1654 , SB1713 , SB1827 , SCR1012 , SCR1020

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

Transcript Highlights:

• Principal basis for conditioning home rule authority on a shifting population threshold rather than applying
• This bill does not expand local control; it conditions it. It doesn't apply subsidiarity.
• The reason I say that is because what we're seeking, the conditions that created this, were never intended
• This is good policy because it ensures that individuals who have a chronic condition will be able to
• with any federal program, and it doesn't change eligibility requirements. it doesn't impose new conditions

Bills: SJR47 , SB1491 , SB1579 , SB1806 , SB1552 , SB483 , SB63 , SB137 , SB346 , SB514 , SB1344 , SB1360 , SB1380 , SB1437 , SB1189 , SB1217 , SB1221 , SB1262 , SB1272 , SB1325 , SB1339 , SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the bond conditions don't always provide real-time protection.
• There's no contact orders, and bond conditions are important, but they're hard to enforce in. real-time
• Excessive bail: how do we determine that mandatory GPS monitoring in every case is not an excessive condition
• I guess since one more is the legislature then mandating a specific condition of release rather than
• President, at what point does a condition of pretrial release become so restrictive that it functions

Bills: SJR47 , SB1491 , SB1579 , SB1806 , SB1552 , SB483 , SB63 , SB137 , SB346 , SB514 , SB1344 , SB1360 , SB1380 , SB1437 , SB1189 , SB1217 , SB1221 , SB1262 , SB1272 , SB1325 , SB1339 , SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Bills: HB2007 , HB2462 , HB2621 , HB2921 , HB3187 , HB3331 , HB3332 , HJR144 , HB3514 , HB3528 , HB3539 , HB3563 , HB3720 , HB3726 , HB3751 , HB3859 , HB3947 , HB4148 , HB4164 , HB4337 , HB4346 , HB4368 , HB4706 , HB4916 , HB4950 , HB4967 , HB5177 , HB5603

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, regional transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• climate change over We have seen the effects of climate change, overgrown forests, and prolonged drought
• We should not be penalized for the conditions of our neighboring lands when we are actively managing
• Tribal lands in California, like surrounding regions, face increasing wildfire, drought, and extreme
• Together, these conditions make it more difficult for tribes to execute housing development plans with
• California had experienced five years of drought with 200 million dead trees.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs met on Barona tribal land to examine rising homeowners insurance costs affecting tribal communities, with opening remarks from tribal leaders and Assembly members emphasizing tribal sovereignty, the history of forced settlement in high-risk areas, and the need for the state to recognize mitigation work already being done on tribal lands. The committee heard that wildfire, drought, and other climate-driven disasters have sharply increased insurance premiums and reduced coverage options, especially for tribes located in rural or mountainous areas that were not chosen by the tribes themselves. Cal Fire Deputy Director Frank Bigelow described the state’s wildfire response and tribal engagement efforts, including tribal liaisons on incident management teams, a Southern Region Tribal Affairs Deputy Chief, cultural burning agreements, and more than $30 million in tribal wildfire resilience grants over the last three years. Members questioned why tribal communities receive only a small share of grants, whether Cal Fire should do more outreach and budget proposals for tribes, and whether mitigation work is being recognized by insurers. Bigelow said Cal Fire is working with insurers and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety on mitigation standards, but acknowledged that more tribal outreach and participation are needed. Tribal chairpersons and fire chiefs testified that their communities are already investing heavily in fire protection through dedicated fire departments, fuel reduction, defensible space, prescribed burns, firebreaks, and home-hardening efforts, yet premiums remain high or coverage is denied. Barona leaders said premiums can range from $6,000 to $18,000 and urged insurers to assess properties individually rather than by broad high-risk zones. Soboba, Hamu, and Pechanga representatives described similar efforts and said grant rules, environmental review, and insurer practices can make it difficult to translate mitigation into lower rates. Several members suggested short-term state assistance or a tribal insurance mitigation fund, and the committee discussed the possibility of requiring insurers to better account for tribal mitigation and sovereignty in risk assessments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have to have some exceedingly brave conversations about the condition of post-secondary
• assistance to low- and moderate-income households with domestic wells in areas recently impacted by drought
• We don't control where drought is.
• And I would say that my county has regularly declared droughts.
• fact, as I look up and down the coast, and yes, believe me, that many coastal counties do declare droughts

Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Discretionary is also where we would plan if there is a drought.
• Next, as part of our update, we are monitoring drought conditions very closely.
• if the governor declares a drought emergency.
• Drought Monitor, drought continues to start to creep into western North Dakota.
• We could run into a drought and pump very little.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And who wants to live through a few droughts?
• They're in very different soil conditions.
• are today. ...and evaluating that project as the conditions are today and as the conditions of the drain
• The intent of that project is water during a drought period. We're in a drought period.
• The '80s were dry years, drought years, whatever.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met for its third interim meeting, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard a series of statutory reports from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources. Chair Hauck noted that Legislative Management had denied the committee’s earlier request for a fertilizer capacity study, and that the committee would also revisit the proposed Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger later in the day. Commissioner Doug Goring reported on several agriculture topics, including uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, irrigation expansion potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and usage in North Dakota. He emphasized that fertilizer supply depends heavily on natural gas and water, that most nitrogen fertilizer is imported, and that large-scale fertilizer plants require very large capital investments. Members discussed fertilizer storage, natural gas pipeline capacity, water availability, and the role of state infrastructure in supporting value-added agriculture. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the tool was created under 2017 legislation to help evaluate projects expected to cost $1 million or more, and that the department is proposing adjustments to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and changing hydrologic data. He said the changes would remain focused on direct, demonstrable costs and benefits, not indirect impacts, and would be implemented through guidance and operating procedures rather than statutory changes. Committee members and water users discussed whether the revisions would better reflect real-world conditions, including deferred maintenance, changing rainfall patterns, and downstream effects. A representative from the Water Resource District Association said the group was working with DWR and hoped to review test scenarios before the June meeting. The committee then received a detailed presentation on Devils Lake, its outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. State Engineer John Paskowski reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow constraints, and the purpose of the Tolna Coulee structure in limiting head cutting and preventing uncontrolled downstream releases. Members questioned whether the structure was effectively a dam, whether the lake would naturally overflow without it, the last time the outlets ran, and whether water quality in Devils Lake has improved over time. Paskowski said the outlets last operated in August 2025, that sulfate levels still limit operations, and that the lake has freshened somewhat but not enough to eliminate water-quality concerns. The discussion also touched on whether water from flooded areas or closed-basin systems could be reused for irrigation, and on the broader implications of wet cycles, inundated land, and drainage management across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...droughts. What are the costs to municipalities and the state?
• If you had a medical condition and you went, 99% of the doctors said, you need this condition.
• Eighty-one percent of the state is currently in a snow drought.
• We've already heard about our severe drought, and we're feeling it.
• President, drought, water scarcity, and rising costs have taken its toll on them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current conditions include beetles, heavy fuels, and emerging fire threats that require faster action
• underbrush and smaller trees reduces competition and strengthens the remaining stands against pests and drought
• underbrush and smaller trees reduces competition and strengthens the remaining stands against pests and drought
• Forest conditions have changed and so must our approach. Dr.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to take me a long time in a few droughts. And who wants to live through a few droughts?
• They're in very different soil conditions.
• The outlets can operate when downstream conditions allow.
• and soil condition, correct?
• The '80s were dry years, drought years, whatever.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We are distressed by the degraded conditions in our rivers, which impact the ability of our people to
• For example, the bill includes... ...droughts, emergencies, or other critical situations.
• During drought, we need stored water to provide water to communities and the environment.
• During drought, we need stored water to provide water to communities and the environment.
• We do have one remaining issue, which is on the conditions related to the Delta.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on AB 2218, which would declare state policy to recognize and address water-related inequities affecting California Native American tribes and require several state agencies to incorporate that policy into water-related decisions. The author and tribal witnesses said the bill would codify a seat at the table for tribes and build on existing consultation and equity commitments, while supporters from environmental and tribal organizations backed the measure. Opponents from municipal utilities, water agencies, cities, counties, agriculture, and business groups argued the bill was too vague, could create uncertainty for water supply and project approvals, and might invite litigation. The chair signaled support, and the author said the bill was intended as a consultation measure rather than one that would usurp agency authority. The committee then took up AB 1795, a wildfire smoke-damage bill that would establish statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke-damaged homes and create clearer insurance claim handling rules. The Department of Insurance supported the bill, saying it would bring consistency and accountability after major urban-interface fires, while wildfire survivors and advocates said current insurer practices leave families unable to safely return home. Insurance and local government groups opposed unless amended, warning about cost, implementation uncertainty, and the bill’s scope. Members discussed unresolved issues, including how the bill would interact with a separate wildfire health-and-safety bill, whether it would apply to existing policies, and how presumptions and testing standards should work. The committee voted AB 1795 out on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 1642, another wildfire-related bill, was also heard and focused on setting science-based testing and clearance standards for homes, schools, and businesses after urban and wildland-urban interface fires. The author and a Caltech scientist described contamination from lead and other heavy metals in fire-affected homes and argued for a presumption that certain contaminants found after a fire came from the wildfire, to reduce costly disputes. Survivors and many advocacy groups supported the bill, while insurers and other industry groups opposed, saying the testing regime was too broad, the geographic scope was unclear, and the presumptions could function like strict liability and raise insurance costs. Senators pressed both sides on how AB 1642 would overlap with the CDI smoke-claims task force and with AB 1795, and the author said the two bills were intended to be complementary and would continue to be reconciled. The committee also briefly heard AB 1976, which would create a CEQA exemption for pedestrian malls and limit certain local procedural delays for pedestrian and traffic-calming projects. Supporters said it would make it easier to create safer, more walkable, and more livable streets, and there was no opposition testimony. The chair described it as a narrow CEQA exemption for active transportation-related projects and indicated support. The committee then moved on to AB 2026, a groundwater recharge permitting bill, with the author explaining that it would streamline permitting so more recharge projects can capture floodwater and store it for drought years; testimony on that bill began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And who wants to live through a few droughts?
• They're in very different soil conditions.
• The intent of that project is water during a drought period. We're in a drought period.
• and soil condition, correct?
• The '80s were dry years, drought years, whatever.

Summary: The committee opened its third interim meeting with roll call, approved the November 13, 2025 minutes, and the chair reviewed prior committee work, including a denied request for a fertilizer-capacity study and a planned later discussion of the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger issue. Commissioner Doug Goring then presented Department of Agriculture updates on uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, the state’s irrigation potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and supply in North Dakota. Members asked about funding sources, fertilizer storage and availability, natural gas and water needs for future fertilizer plants, and how the model zoning website would help counties and townships apply setback and odor tools. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the department is proposing changes to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and updated hydrologic data, while still limiting the model to direct, demonstrable costs and benefits. He said the goal is to make the analysis more realistic and consistent without changing statute, and he provided examples of how project benefits could change as drains age or as rainfall and flood data evolve. Committee members and water-user representatives generally supported continued work on the proposal, while raising concerns about downstream impacts, closed-basin projects, and whether the changes would meaningfully affect project approvals. The committee then heard from John Paskowski, state engineer, on Devil’s Lake, the West End and East End outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. He reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow limits, and explained that the control structure is intended to prevent a catastrophic uncontrolled release by slowing erosion and head cutting. Members asked about water quality trends, the length of the downstream flow constraint, and whether the Tolna Coulee area had been studied for possible natural overflow or silt buildup. The discussion emphasized ongoing flooding concerns, mitigation for affected landowners, and the need to balance outlet operations with downstream water quality and infrastructure protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even the governor's response in declaring a crisis, a water drought crisis for our state, how you
• And even the governor's response in declaring a crisis, a water drought crisis for our state, how you
• Are there regions around the state where drought-driven drawdowns are already triggering irreversible
• That report will provide an overview of some of the conditions that Dr.
• Climate change and drought are worsening the conditions and putting more pressure on groundwater resources

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So does this budget, or what parts of this budget, address the groundwater crisis, the drought?
• In this bill, how do we address the groundwater crisis and the drought? Mr.
• So, you know, if you have asthma, if you have any sort of health conditions, it's not good for you.
• We all know what kind of condition our economy is in.
• We all know what kind of condition our economy is in.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and so right now the model conditions and so right now the model conditions are<00:45:53.520><c>
• </c> talking about those extreme conditions. talking about those extreme conditions. certainly<00:48:
• you're seeing what we call energy droughts, or wind and solar droughts, that expand past that four-hour
• or wind and what we call energy droughts or wind and solar<01:17:44.239><c> droughts</c><01:17:44.640
• </c> the risk you have for certain conditions the risk you have for certain conditions where<01:19:02.000

Bills: HF3296 , HF3802

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy