Video & Transcript : 'conservation futures program' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 19th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The future seemed barren, we have tasted life's moisture on the lips of another.
- So perhaps a future resolution will correct that mistake.
- Senate Bill 1108 by Senator Caballero, relating to conservancies.
- Senate Bill 1108 by Senator Caballero, relating to conservancies.
- Senate Bill 1108 by Senator Caballero, relating to conservancies.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (02/10/2026)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> in the future. in the future.
- </c> our economy and our future prosperity. our economy and our future prosperity.
- conservation policy, and I, um, and in fact, an entire conservation easement course.
- </c><05:00:00.080><c> was</c> the name of the program was the name of the program was environmental<05
- /c> tracks that were important conservation tracks that were important conservation land<05:02:42.798
Committee:
House Municipal and County Government
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Higher Education and Workforce Development Apr 28th, 2026
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- So that But, Rendered in the form of employee hours donated to such programs.
- DNR administers the program. Yeah.
- In this regard, I think the return has to do with what we could see in our future.
- program of some sort.
- And I just think you have a real good future ahead of you. Thank you.
Summary:
The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Rep. Travis Wilson on behalf of Rep. Riggs. The bill would create a state income tax credit for donations to registered school robotics/STEAM programs, including cash, equipment, software, materials, and certain employee volunteer hours. The proposal was described as a 20% credit, capped at $10 million annually beginning in tax year 2027, with a six-year sunset. Committee members raised questions about whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, how volunteer hours would be valued, whether the bill should be limited to qualified coaches or employees rather than parents or general volunteers, which state agency would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Rep. Wilson said he was open to clarifying amendments and noted the bill sponsor would need to weigh changes.
The bill’s student author and witness, Sarah Waldron, a Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team CEO, testified in support. She said the bill was intended to help Missouri schools, especially under-resourced ones, access funding for robotics programs and argued that the credit would leverage private donations into student opportunities and workforce development. She clarified that the volunteer-hour provision was meant for business employees, not individual volunteers, and said she had drafted an amendment to provide higher credits for schools with higher free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Several committee members praised her work and discussed the need to target aid toward schools with fewer resources.
Arne C. A.C. Dinoff, State Public Advocate, testified in opposition. He praised the student’s initiative but argued the state could not afford another tax credit given budget deficits and said volunteerism should not be tied to a fiscal reward. He also questioned the fiscal note and said robotics support should be handled locally rather than through a state tax credit. No vote was taken, and the chair concluded the hearing after testimony.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Environment, Energy & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- it and owns it, the customers know what their future costs will be.
- Second Substitute House Bill 1833 establishes the Spark Act grant program.
- The program is permissive. Commerce may solicit input about the program from the AI task force.
- The program is permissive. Commerce may solicit input about the program from the AI task force.
- The striking amendment adds to the Spark Act grant program in the following ways.
Committee:
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee - November 19, 2025
Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- A pooled surety program for small operators works out well.
- that program might look like, how we might be able to do some outreach to enhance and expand a program
- and coordinate with county weed committees for programs across the state.
- That means the current and the future beneficiaries.
- So looking forward to all those future milestones.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 05/05/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And it is because of them, when I think about future opportunities for our future Generations, including
- It says, 'Queens is the future.'
- And that is what makes it the future.
- FUTURE.
- So, when I see that mural, “Queens is the future,” I don't hear it as a slogan.
Summary:
The Senate met on May 4, 2026, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of resolutions and floor bills. The chamber first adopted a resolution honoring Carlos Beltran on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with several senators praising his Mets career, athletic achievements, and philanthropy in Puerto Rico. The Senate also adopted resolutions recognizing the 2026 Women of Distinction, including tributes to living honorees and posthumous recognition of Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Dr. Hazel Dukes, and later adopted resolutions commemorating May Day and Panama’s Black Heritage Month. A Queens Chamber of Commerce resolution also prompted extensive remarks celebrating Queens’ diversity, small businesses, immigrant communities, and cultural institutions.
On legislation, the Senate recalled two bills from the Assembly and restored them to the third reading calendar by a 62-0 reconsideration vote. The chamber then passed a long list of bills, including measures affecting public health, agriculture and markets, insurance, criminal procedure, public officers, labor, not-for-profit corporations, and executive law. Several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, while a few drew recorded opposition, including the environmental conservation bill on animal cruelty and the public health bill on Calendar 840. Supportive floor explanations emphasized animal welfare, protections for abandoned pets, and other public-interest reforms.
The Senate also heard brief explanatory remarks on some bills, such as concerns about animals left behind in vacated housing and the treatment of wild animals in traveling circuses. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until Wednesday, May 6, at 3:00 p.m.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Substitute House Bill 1390 relates to repealing the Community Protection Program.
- It eliminates the Community Protection Program and removes references to the Community Protection Program
- to other services or programs.
- All the individuals that are currently in the CPP program to other services or programs by December 31
- It's supported by conservation groups and tribes.
Summary:
The Rules Committee considered a long series of House bills and substitute House bills, moving nearly all of them from the white sheet to the floor calendar. Topics included health care transaction notice requirements (HB 2548), waste-to-energy compliance and utility rates (HB 2416), language access for state programs (HB 2475), repeal and transition away from the Community Protection Program for developmental disabilities services (HB 1390), nursing regulation and ARNP standards (HB 2339), lump-sum payment increases for small monthly payments (HB 2124), roadway fatality risk data collection by the Traffic Safety Commission (HB 2192), statewide low-income energy assistance (HB 1903), local government tax resources and flexibility (HB 2442), permanent property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers (HB 2133), retirement benefit bargaining for Department of Corrections employees (HB 1069), collective bargaining rights for non-academic employees at Western Washington University (HB 1570), medically tailored meals in Medicaid (HB 2211), aviation funding for wildland fire response (HB 2104), port worker retirement and wage/benefit authority (HB 2179), overdose data sharing (HB 2168), real estate transaction exemptions for public-benefit acquisitions by public entities, tribes, and conservation groups (HB 2624), security measures for legislators and other elected officials (HB 2333), voter registration challenge procedures (HB 1916), limits on restraint and isolation in schools (HB 1795), jail search policies for transgender and intersex individuals (HB 1604), Attorney General investigators for wage theft and fraud (HB 2156), Transportation Improvement Board updates (HB 1823), tax treatment for land transferred to government entities (HB 2140), expanded shared leave uses for hate crime and immigration enforcement-related situations (HB 2411), collective bargaining protections if federal enforcement changes (HB 2471), labor standards for clean energy/urban area property tax exemption projects (HB 1210), employer notice and enforcement rights during I-9/immigration audits (HB 2105), tax increment financing dispute resolution for special purpose and junior taxing districts (HB 2451), AI-generated content disclosure and enforcement (HB 1170), tourism marketing assessment authority (HB 2325), defective license plate replacement fees (HB 2114), the Blue Envelope Program for neurodiverse drivers during traffic stops (HB 2323), and pre-clearance provisions under the Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1710). Most motions passed on voice votes with little or no opposition; one notable dissent came on HB 2105, where Senator King raised concerns about the bill’s private right of action. The committee also noted Senator Conway’s likely final Rules Committee meeting and thanked him for his service before adjourning with no further business.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Feb 12th, 2026
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- The ACDIF also provides caution for federal programs, including disaster recovery funding.
- The ACDIF also provides caution for federal programs, including disaster recovery funding.
- I'm a registered lobbyist for Conservation Voters New Mexico.
- We think this fund is critical for us to prevent massive fires and flooding in the future.
- And we anticipated... ...that the need would grow as Mora acequias learned about the program.
Bills:
SB193
Keywords:
SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects
Summary:
The committee heard Senate Bill 193, which would increase the recurring transfer from the Irrigation Works Construction Fund to the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund from $2.5 million to $5 million annually. The sponsor and supporters said the fund is the only recurring source for acequia infrastructure, helps complete projects efficiently through a planning/design and construction process, and has a strong completion rate. They also said the proposed increase reflects recent spending levels and growing need, especially after fires, flooding, and erosion damage in acequia communities.
Public testimony was uniformly in support. Representatives of the New Mexico Acequia Association, local acequia and water users groups, conservation advocates, and community members described urgent infrastructure needs, the importance of acequias to agriculture and local economies, and the value of the fund’s application process and project readiness requirements. Several speakers said the fund helps communities recover from wildfire-related damage and prepare for future flooding and erosion.
Committee members asked about how the money is structured, whether the bill would affect other earmarks or the irrigation fund balance, and how the $5 million figure was determined. Witnesses explained that the bill changes the recurring allocation only, that the acequia fund and other earmarks remain separate, and that the irrigation works fund has sufficient balance and recurring revenue to support the increase. They also noted that current annual spending has been in the $5 million to $6 million range and that the unmet statewide need is much larger. The committee voted do pass on SB 193, and the bill was approved.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- program.
- It's an incredible anti-poverty program.
- But in the program...
- The public assistance program, okay?
- Our program, you know, the attorneys that we have in our program and the child support workers and all
Committee:
House Judiciary
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of existing programs.
- where it protects ongoing programs.
- COLA or other program expansions for preschool, just as it does for all other Proposition 98 programs
- federal program, because the federal program is not available for every district in California.
- still cannot access these programs.
Summary:
The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s May Revision TK-12 education proposals, beginning with Proposition 98. The Department of Finance explained that the minimum guarantee rises by about $6.4 billion relative to the January budget across the three-year window, with a total of $124.9 billion in 2024-25, $125.1 billion in 2025-26, and $127.1 billion in 2026-27. Finance also described revised settle-up and reserve actions, including maintaining a $3.9 billion settle-up balance, increasing discretionary deposits into the Prop. 98 reserve, and ending with a projected reserve balance of about $10.3 billion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the overall estimates were reasonable but urged the state to fully fund the guarantee and use other budget actions or reserves to manage volatility rather than delay settle-up payments. Members questioned the rationale for leaving the $3.9 billion unsettled, and Finance said the amount reflects revenue uncertainty and the risk of overappropriating Prop. 98 if revenues later fall.
The committee then reviewed the Department of Education portion of the May Revision. Finance said the budget adds positions and state operations funding for CDE and includes trailer bill changes affecting community schools, preschool, literacy, special education, charter accountability, and other programs. The LAO highlighted concerns and recommendations on several proposals, including the size and structure of the LCFF increase, the special education base-rate increase, additional one-time community schools funding, literacy coach and math professional development augmentations, the multilingual screener, inclusive college grants, homelessness grants, and the proposed paid pregnancy disability leave mandate. CDE supported the special education increase, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, literacy and math investments, and preschool parity, while urging more support for county offices of education and clearer definitions and implementation details for some programs. Finance said the paid pregnancy leave proposal would cost an estimated $218 million annually and is intended as a recruitment and retention measure.
In the Commission on Teacher Credentialing item, Finance proposed funding for legal staffing tied to SB 848 and educator misconduct cases, plus funding and fee changes to support a statewide transcript review platform for subject matter competency and additional support for the residency technical assistance center. The LAO said it had no concerns with the staffing for misconduct and SB 848, recommended the transcript review platform and related fee increase if the platform moves forward, and recommended rejecting the residency technical assistance center expansion because current funding lasts through 2029. CTC said the misconduct workload has grown over the last five to six years and that AI would be used only as a backstop to human review in the transcript system. Public commenters were split, with unions and education groups supporting special education, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, and literacy investments, while opposing the $3.9 billion settle-up delay and the reduction to preschool COLA.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jul 22nd, 2026 at 09:00 am
Energy Development and Transmission Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I think it's a good program.
- I think it's a good program.
- program and we don't have any funding for it.
- So future growth opportunities.
- in the future?
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of existing programs.
- where it protects ongoing programs.
- COLA or other program expansions for preschool, just as it does for all other Proposition 98 programs
- federal program, because the federal program is not available for every district in California.
- still cannot access these programs.
NJ
New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Appropriations Jun 4th, 2026
Senate Budget and Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- In favor and no need to testify for all of them, a New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, New Jersey
- and put them into the administratively set ADI program, which tends to have higher rates.
- It establishes abandoned mine reclamation programs and funding in the DOT and DEP.
- In favor of the bill, and no need to testify, are AARP NJ, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters,
- New Jersey Future, and New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.
Committee:
Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Joint Memorial 115 will be referred to the Resource and Conservation Committee.
- So, in the spirit of being fiscally conservative, ...deeper.
- We're trying to be fiscal conservatives in this building, are we not?
- This is being leveraged against our... ...posterity, against our future.
- This is being leveraged against our posterity, against our future.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Your record. ...up to the standards of future growth? You recognize through the chair.
- ...up to the standards of future growth? You recognize through the chair.
- It removes language amending the department's current landscaping program.
- It removes language amending the department's current landscaping program.
- , the SCOP, and maintains current eligibility requirements for aggregate supply chain programs.
Committee:
Senate Transportation
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of transportation-related bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 532 would exempt 100% disabled veterans from paying Florida tolls. SB 1738 would allow certain counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in by maintaining current levels of service, though there were concerns about congestion and future growth. SB 1696 aimed to reduce transportation network company driver impersonation, allow transit authorities to contract with ride-share platforms, and permit those platforms to participate in state-funded paratransit trips. SB 1378, as amended, would allow courts to order restitution in standard leaving-the-scene crashes; the amendment made restitution discretionary and required that the driver caused or contributed to the crash. SB 1210 would increase penalties for red-light and stop-sign crashes and require bodily injury insurance for drivers who cause such crashes. SB 1820, via strike-all amendment, addressed dealer-manufacturer relations by requiring written explanations of performance measures, prohibiting retaliation against dealers asserting statutory rights, and limiting franchise termination or nonrenewal to substantial breaches. SB 1246 created a specialty license plate for safe coastal wildlife, with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation for conservation work and an amendment allowing up to 10% for administrative and marketing costs.
The committee also considered SB 574, which would allow Florida residents with Purple Heart license plates to pass tolls free of charge; the bill was amended to change the plate reference to a specialty plate and was reported favorably. SB 1662, the FDOT department bill, was substantially revised by strike-all amendment covering a wide range of transportation issues, including USF’s role in the Florida Transportation Research Institute Consortium, Florida Transportation Commission provisions, seaport and airport-related changes, strategic space infrastructure, sewer lines in rights of way, small county road assistance, aggregate supply chain programs, and Jacksonville Transportation Authority board appointments. Testimony on SB 1662 included support from USF and the Florida Public Transportation Association, which raised concerns about added oversight and bureaucracy for transit systems. Most bills received support from affected stakeholders, and several were amended before final favorable votes.
Roll calls were taken on each measure, and all of the listed bills were reported favorably by the committee. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on several bills, and the committee adjourned after a brief personal privilege remark from Chair Collins.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- So that certainly do that in the future.
- </c> >> clear that it's 8 months in the future >> clear that it's 8 months in the future
- </c> do in the future. do in the future.
- </c> are a guardian and a conservator. are a guardian and a conservator.
- Yet, the person guardianship program.
Committee:
House Revenue
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act succeeded in its conservation mission.
- Senators, this, again, is a good conservative bill.
- We're not creating a new agency or spinning up a new program.
- that's part of an evidence-based program for one of their treatment courts.
- The program maintenance budget is $5,457,700.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, heard prayer and the pledge, approved the journal, and received committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several bills and resolutions were moved through the calendar, including committee referrals, enrollments, and transmittals of already-passed measures. The chamber also received new first-reading bills, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, education, and endowment land leases.
On the floor, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 117 recognizing Idaho’s ties with Italy and the opening of an Idaho office in Italy. The resolution was supported with remarks about historical Italian immigration to Idaho and wartime cooperation involving Italian POW labor in Idaho agriculture. The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 30, which directs the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel to study and provide guidance on implementing comprehensive Medicaid-managed care; that measure passed by roll call, 20-10 with one absent.
The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, adding a new joint rule to limit the number of bill drafts and RSs a legislator may bring in a year, with exceptions for budget bills, amendments, trailer bills, interim committee legislation, and leadership-approved exceptions; it passed 35-0. The chamber also adopted Senate Joint Memorial 115 urging federal action on pelican impacts to Idaho fisheries, and Senate Resolution 120 honoring State Police K-9 Kimber for her service. Later, House Bill 723 on child care licensing and protections for children in residential care facilities passed 32-3 after debate focused on abuse prevention, unannounced inspections, and a bill of rights notice for children.
In the afternoon session, the Senate passed several appropriation bills, including Senate Bills 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, and 1386, covering the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Idaho State Lottery, Fish and Game, Veterans Services, Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Commission, and Pardons and Parole. Most were described as enhancement or maintenance budgets funded largely through dedicated or federal funds, with debate emphasizing small hardware purchases, program restorations, and agency operating needs. Senate Bill 1382 for Fish and Game passed 23-12, and House Bill 848, the legislative branch appropriation bill, was brought up for consideration as the transcript ended.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We've just drafted a new strategic plan for the Wildland Fire program.
- and modernize our program.
- and modernize our program.
- And we have achieved a lot of accomplishments through the program to date.
- And I mentioned some of these stats from the GNA program.
Summary:
The committee began with a brief introduction of a new Senate page, Antoine Taylor, who spoke about his interest in the legislative process, his plans to serve a mission in Paris, and his future goal of studying business at BYU-Idaho. Members then took up several routine items, including confirmation of gubernatorial appointee James Keating to the Parks and Recreation Board and approval of multiple sets of committee minutes, all of which passed without opposition.
The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Quality on the groundwater quality rule under zero-based regulation. Jerry Henry explained that the rule updates and streamlines groundwater standards, including adopting current drinking water standards by reference and adding or revising standards for arsenic, uranium, lead, and PFAS. Because of ongoing federal litigation over PFAS standards, the committee approved the rule docket with exceptions, rejecting the sections that incorporated the unresolved federal standards. The committee also heard from gubernatorial appointee Michael Leiden, whose confirmation was held for a later meeting after members asked about his extensive oil and gas background in Alaska.
House Bill 587, which would provide continuous spending authority for revenues in the Idaho Rangeland Improvement Act account, was then debated. The sponsor said the bill was needed so funds from grants and federal partners could be spent without delay, citing lost funding in the past. Several senators expressed concern about giving up legislative appropriation control, but the bill passed the committee on a 6-2 vote. The meeting concluded with the Idaho Department of Lands annual update from Director Dustin Miller, who reviewed timber, fire, and stewardship operations, described record revenue and aggressive fire suppression efforts, and warned that proposed budget holdbacks could reduce staffing, slow treatment projects, and increase fire risk and costs. He also discussed House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on the structure surcharge for improved private forest parcels to support wildfire preparedness and suppression.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-03 (12:30PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- As this august body legislates the present and future of our state, we ask you to be the guiding hand
- We appreciate you, and we'll always ride for programs that pour into our girls like this.
- have to offer for a money-back guarantee program, and that is the bill.
- Thank you for your commitment to our children and our future. Welcome to the Florida House.
- Thank you for your commitment to our children and our future. Welcome to the Florida House.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Deputy Will May of the Walton County Sheriff’s Department, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and CS for HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then took up several special-order bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, including SB 36, SB 42, SB 40, and SB 38, all of which passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief explanations that they updated or cleaned up Florida statutes.
Members also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection orders. HB 615, on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email when both parties agree in writing, passed after adoption of a tenant-protection amendment offered by Rep. Gottlieb. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance and wellness programs passed unanimously. HB 1145 on workforce education passed 100-4, expanding CAP grant eligibility to public charter schools for CTE startup/expansion and increasing minimum program offerings tied to a money-back guarantee program. HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements passed unanimously, and HB 649 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 77-30 after structured debate.
The most extensive debate centered on CS for HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill would require a $1 million bond after 25% of required signatures are collected, require petition handlers and circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose background checks and training for paid circulators, shorten petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increase penalties, add signature revocation notices, require more identifying information on petition forms, and create felony penalties for certain misconduct. Supporters argued the changes were needed to combat fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make ballot initiatives harder for ordinary Floridians to pursue. Multiple amendments sought to roll back or soften the bill’s requirements, protect personal information, restore longer deadlines, lower validation thresholds, and bar public funds from being used to advocate for or against amendments. Some amendments were adopted, but several key ones failed as debate continued.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The Nature Conservancy is here in support of the bill.
- And this is an outcome the legislature said it wanted to avoid the cap-and-trade program.
- Most of these barriers cannot be addressed directly through the cap-and-invest program.
- Simplot welcomes targeted funding for EITEs through cap-and-invest program revenues.
- And cap-and-invest program revenues.
Summary:
The Environment and Energy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2537, which would change how energy-intensive, trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) are treated under the Climate Commitment Act. Committee staff and the bill sponsor explained that the measure would require Ecology to update its post-2034 report to include proposed allowance-reduction methods, leakage-risk adjustments, and consignment recommendations, and would add new reporting and decarbonization-planning requirements for EITEs to continue receiving no-cost allowances. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 2245, a separate Clean Energy Transformation Act bill, and later voted the proposed substitute out of committee on an 11-8 vote with 2 excused, after debate over exemptions for certain utilities and market customers.
Supporters of HB 2537, including The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Washington Conservation Action, Climate Solutions, Clean and Prosperous Washington, Ecology, and some utility representatives, said the bill would provide needed clarity, better data, and a path for long-term industrial decarbonization while helping prevent emissions leakage. They argued that EITEs receive substantial public value through free allowances and should be required to document emissions sources, energy needs, and feasible reduction pathways so the state can design a post-2035 policy consistent with climate goals. Ecology said it generally supports the bill, though it recommended streamlining duplicative reporting and noted the work would require significant agency resources not included in the governor’s budget.
Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business, the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers, WISPA, the Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, Food Northwest, Simplot, Kaiser Aluminum, and Newcor Steel, warned that the bill could increase compliance burdens, expose sensitive business information, and worsen leakage risks by making Washington less competitive. They said many facilities have already made major investments and face high capital costs, limited clean electricity supply, permitting delays, and technologies that are not yet commercially viable at scale. Several speakers pointed to recent plant closures and job losses in pulp and paper, food processing, and metals as evidence that leakage is already occurring, and urged the committee to preserve flexibility, protect confidentiality, and consider targeted funding or other incentives rather than new mandates alone.