Video & Transcript Research : 'environmental engineering'

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DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026

Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'd like to ask Matt Bowen, Delmarva Power engineering, to come up as an expert witness.
  • So I'm not an engineer, and so I can't speak to that, but what I can say is based on the engineers who
  • I mean, that kind of run your engine. And so I totally respect your thoughts on this.
  • , and have now a licensed professional engineer in the state of Delaware.
  • It's my own hard work, supporting our customers, and the engineering practices that we use.
Bills: SB287
Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Feb 12th, 2025

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Justin Hardy, the County Engineer in Lee County, and I've got serious concerns with this bill.
  • I talked to the engineers, and this... ...Roads.
  • I talked to the engineers, and this is my visual aid.
  • Director for Operations at Alabama DOT, here speaking on behalf of myself, Director Cooper, and Chief Engineer
Bills: SB110, SB64, SB42
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • selling in Oklahoma to develop and implement battery storage plans submitted to the Department of Environmental
  • company to establish, through the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and through the Department of Environmental
  • They currently hire engineers and consultants for many projects and for the statewide water comprehensive
  • This would just exempt them from going through OMS to hire some of those engineers and consultants.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Energy REVISED Apr 9th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • that we just move regulations over to, and then we cite fires we fight, we cite regulatory or environmental
  • Then, in addition to that, the infrastructures as the Department of Environmental Quality promulgates
  • , it's just to say that these will be developed and adopted through the Oklahoma Department of Environmental
  • It will allow the Department of Environmental Quality to set up a program that is highly requested by
  • And also, put a plug in for Oklahoma Baptist University, who just started their new engineering program
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/24/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • She's a law student—well, not a law student now—studying environmental issues, and she's going to want
  • Nguyen thinks this is more of an environmental bill than anything else, right? Right. Okay.
  • Nope, let's have Matt from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality come on.
  • Relaxing our environmental standards in the name of a temporary emergency...
  • For the record, Matt with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Summary: The Natural Resources Committee approved the March 17 minutes and then took up a long calendar of bills, holding HCR 2038. HB 2787, which would bar the state and its political subdivisions from using personnel or financial resources to enforce, administer, or cooperate with the Mexican wolf reintroduction program, drew opposition from Sierra Club and Humane World for Animals/Animal Defense League of Arizona, who argued it would hinder wolf recovery and undercut science-based wildlife management. The committee nevertheless gave HB 2787 a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2055 on a Brackish Groundwater Recovery Program Fund and HB 2782 on disclosure requirements for regulatory assets in utility rates. Testimony on HB 2055 raised concerns that brackish groundwater is still groundwater and that pumping it could cause localized impacts, but the bill initially received a do-pass recommendation before a later vote failed on reconsideration. HB 2782 prompted discussion about Corporation Commission authority and utility regulation, but it ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 2781, a solar energy decommissioning and financial assurance bill, with testimony from environmental groups, industry representatives, and a local official; an amendment by Senator Sundareshan to strengthen financial assurance and remove the remediation fund failed, and the underlying bill also failed on a tied 4-4 vote. Later, the committee approved HB 2975, which would suspend use of solar scoring maps on state trust lands and require new mining and housing scoring maps, despite opposition from environmental groups and neutral comments from the State Land Department that the solar map is only a guidance tool. HB 2696, as amended, passed after the committee adopted amendments shifting the Arizona Commerce Authority’s fuel-price mandate and creating a fuel resiliency task force; testimony focused on fuel supply, pipeline capacity, refinery access, and whether the ACA was the right agency to lead the effort. The committee also passed HCM 2009 urging Congress to require legislative approval for new national monuments and to streamline mining and land-swap processes, and HB 2889, which funds ADEQ monitoring of uranium contamination and creates a statewide registry and tribal partnership program. Finally, the committee approved HB 2763, which would require legislative approval before the Arizona Game and Fish Commission could close a shooting range. Supporters said it was meant to protect facilities like Ben Avery and preserve safe shooting locations, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing review steps already exist and there was no imminent closure threat. The committee also heard testimony on the bill from Game and Fish, which said the measure would add another layer to an already extensive closure process and that the department was neutral on the proposal.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Feb 10th, 2026

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • property, unnecessary burden on our fire rescue resources, and preventing larger-scale fires and environmental
  • It would also reduce the loss of additional property and limit the environmental impact from the copious
  • It would also reduce the loss of additional property and limit the environmental impact from the copious
  • So it is an environmental issue, and it's a health issue when people cannot hook up to sewer and they
Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm also an engineer.
  • Are you in favor of environmental regulations for development?
  • SB819 advocates for environmental protection of wildlife.
  • A dozen environmental and technical studies.
  • Man, that's an engineer. Thank you. Thank you.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, the concern that they have is a lot of the environmental properties of this area.
  • Uh, the environmental impact of this may be significant, and there's a lot of concerns about this.
  • But what we are trying to do is make sure that the environmental impact of these are studied.
  • <00:13:57.680> impact make sure that the environmental impact make sure that the environmental
  • I think they would have the authority to make sure that the environmental impact studies are done, to
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:23:10.799> of execute an engineering demonstration of execute an engineering demonstration
  • It says that 50% must be in environmental justice areas.
  • Environmental justice, statewide, to do?
  • <01:08:43.920> It<01:08:44.080> says environmental justice areas.
  • It says environmental justice areas.
Bills: HF4059, HF76
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/10/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Transcript Highlights:
  • an existing thermal electric generating unit with an SMR without seeking a new certificate of environmental
Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water held a brief meeting and considered several water and energy measures. Senate Bill 1202, which would require the Arizona Department of Water Resources director to include additional information about each groundwater basin in the five-year water supply and demand assessment, was described as similar to a bill vetoed in a prior session. After a motion for a do pass recommendation, the committee approved it on a 6-3 vote with one absence. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1418, which limits county regulation of small modular nuclear reactors in certain circumstances, expands the definition of “plant” for siting purposes, and allows replacement of existing thermal units with SMRs without a new certificate of environmental compatibility in specified cases. Members noted that parts of the bill were similar to previously vetoed measures. The committee passed the bill 6-3 with one absence, with some members explaining their votes and one member saying they would support it for now but might reconsider on the floor. Senate Concurrent Memorial 1007 urged Congress to divest the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the San Carlos Irrigation Project Electric System and fund a system study and improvements. Supporters said the system is old, unreliable, and difficult for the federal government to manage, and that local public power entities could do a better job if divestiture were authorized. The memorial passed unanimously, 9-0 with one absence. Finally, Senate Bill 1785, which would codify a one-mile area-of-impact safe harbor for certain recovered stored water wells unless a separate hydrologic study is submitted, received testimony from a water attorney and an ADWR representative describing it as a codification of long-standing department policy. The committee passed SB 1785 on a do pass recommendation by a 9-3 vote with one absence.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Feb 12th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to no longer issue or reissue permits for
  • application becomes disposal, it is enforceable under Chapter 403 in the Florida Department of Environmental
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government met with a quorum present and first took up confirmation votes for appointees on tabs 2 through 6, which were recommended favorably without public testimony. The committee then heard CS/SB 1474, which would direct DEP to stop issuing or reissuing permits for Class B biosolids land application when a wastewater treatment facility is reasonably accessible within 50 miles, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1708, which removes a timing requirement for veterinarians licensed in good standing elsewhere to qualify for Florida licensure; it received support from Americans for Prosperity and the ASPCA and was reported favorably. Members then considered CS/SB 204 on illegal slot machine operations. An amendment was adopted that set the baseline penalty at a second-degree misdemeanor, elevated violations involving six or more machines or repeat offenses to a third-degree felony, and made violations by a person of authority involving six or more machines or multiple prior convictions a second-degree felony. Testimony supported the bill’s effort to target larger illegal operations while protecting veterans’ organizations and other lawful users from felony exposure; the bill as amended was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all for CS/SB 1294 addressing Class AA biosolids, requiring agronomic-rate application, recordkeeping, IFAS guidance, and application of fertilizer-related requirements to bulk land application products, with an effective date of November 1, 2026; it was reported favorably after limited questions about oversight and IFAS’s role. Later, CS/SB 772 was heard to allow portable electronics limited licensees to sell “iware” insurance and define that term, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1504 updated pre-licensure education for the 440 customer service representative license so a high school student completing a half-credit insurance and personal finance elective can apply upon turning 18; it received supportive testimony from industry groups and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to CS/SB 540 creating cybersecurity program requirements for mortgage and money service businesses, extending oversight to certain investment advisers, clarifying emergency suspension authority for anti-money laundering violations, extending payment deadlines for examination costs, and adjusting director experience requirements for financial institutions; the bill as amended was reported favorably. Senators McClain and Truenow requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on tabs 11 and 13, and the committee adjourned at the end of the agenda.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Feb 7th, 2026 at 09:04 am

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • both produce electricity with zero carbon emissions, should our energy policy judge them by their environmental
  • I'm the executive director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, and I am here to express
  • in her home state, classifying nuclear energy as renewable would only open up the state to more environmental
  • Additionally, there is no guarantee that new power plants will be environmentally safe.
  • They are no longer legally required to disclose potential environmental harms under NEPA.
Bills: SB47, SB195, SB196, SB197, SB198, SB78
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Energy and Environment Cabinet Department for Environmental Protection 401 KAR 63:020 and 401 KAR
Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met for its January meeting, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and welcomed the new regulations compiler. The first item was a repealer from the Council on Postsecondary Education, 13 KAR 2:111, which was explained as necessary because Senate Bill 77 from the 2025 session removed the regulatory authority for advanced practice doctoral degree programs at comprehensive universities. No questions were raised, and the repealer moved forward without objection. The subcommittee then reviewed a large package of State Board of Elections regulations with staff-suggested amendments. The package would update definitions and election procedures, require e-poll books to be ready before polls open, change the standard and timeline for removing an election officer, add oversight by a State Board appointee on election days, recognize the Kentucky party, require voter registration records to be added to electronic voter records, require ballots to fit all races and questions on a single sheet, adjust precinct consolidation petition deadlines, and update incorporated forms and identification references. The package was approved without objection. The Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Regulatory Relief also presented multiple regulations with staff amendments, covering funeral planning declarations, cemetery companies, pre-need cemetery merchandise and funeral/burial contract sellers, and crematory contract sellers. These changes were described as adding specificity, streamlining forms and reporting, and bringing the regulations into compliance with KRS Chapter 13A; they were approved without objection. The Board of Examiners of Psychology presented several regulations, including compact rules, grace-period extensions, and significant fee increases for applications, renewals, reinstatements, exam retakes, and reciprocity. Board representatives said the increases were needed because many fees had not been raised since 2002, the board was operating at a deficit, and legal and administrative costs had risen sharply after the termination of state legal services. Members expressed concern about the size of the increases, but the chair said he would not hold the matter up and would raise the issue with the committee of jurisdiction. The subcommittee also approved staff amendments for the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s air quality regulations and the Education and Labor Cabinet’s education regulations, which updated nontraditional instruction procedures, waiver requests, instruction topics, superintendent assessment requirements, and academic standards. The meeting ended with the next meeting scheduled for February 9 at 1 p.m., and the agenda was adjourned without further objection.