Transcript Highlights:

• So back in the day when the Chaffali Basin was leveed up for flood protection, a couple years later,
• Everyone to realize that the Lake Pontchartrain Basin has been talked about since probably before I was
• Congress even said that the basin supports all the Congress even said that the basin supports all the
• So there was actually a total and methyl mercury study on the basin, and why I Methyl mercury study on
• the basin.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a very important bill for the folks in Belknap County and along the Winnipesaukee River Basin
• </c><00:30:26.159><c> Uh,</c> along the Winnipegasi River Basin.
• Uh, along the Winnipegasi River Basin.
• I'm the chair of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Advisory Board. >> And Wes Hails from Laconia. >> So I
• </c><00:37:51.440><c> Advisory</c> the Winnipegasi River Basin Advisory the Winnipegasi River Basin Advisory

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 11 is technical, and Amendment 12 specifies that it is the Amite River Basin Commission that
• So we are shrinking that scope from statewide to just the Amite River Basin.
• It shrinks a statewide scope to the Amite River Basin, and that is the intention.
• A statewide scope was reduced to the Amite River Basin, and that is the intention.
• The Amite River Basin, actually the state of Louisiana—almost the entire state of Louisiana—experienced

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority, ANRA, provides raw water supply to municipal, industrial, and agricultural customers in its basin
• provides raw water supply to municipalities. municipal, industrial, and agriculture customers in its basin
• information visit www.fema.gov supply to municipal, industrial, and agricultural commerce customers in its basin
• Authority, TRA, provides raw water supply to municipal, industrial, and agricultural customers in its basin
• River Basin, Colorado River Basin back in the mid-70s and so when you're transferring bring water rights

Bills: HB1520 , HB1525 , HB1530 , HB1535 , HB2068 , HB2091 , HB2347 , HB2372 , HB2805 , HB2815 , HB2867 , HB3154 , HB3482 , HB3483 , HB3663 , HB3781 , HB3901 , HB3915 , HB4135 , HB4153 , HB4158 , HB4329 , HB4331

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• injunction to remove state-owned culverts that block fish passage in the Puget Sound and Chehalis River basins
• injunction to remove state-owned culverts that block fish passage in the Puget Sound and Chehalis River basins
• Washington culverts decision in the case area, representing Puget Sound and the Chehalis Basin, a lot
• Washington culverts decision in the case area, representing Puget Sound and the Shahelis Basin, a lot
• So our PUDs like Skagit PUD, PUD, Basin, a lot of that is PUD countries.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several bills. Substitute Senate Bill 5690 would require WSDOT to give utility owners advance notice of fish barrier removal and other projects, seek federal funding for those projects when available, and report back to the Legislature; supporters said it would help small utilities plan for costly relocations, while WSDOT said the bill would not achieve its intended effect and that federal reimbursement for these costs is limited. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5746, which would create or continue an advisory process on EV charger infrastructure property crime; the sponsor and supporters said it would help address vandalism and theft affecting charging access, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor. Senate Bill 5750 would authorize state facilities to charge fees for privately owned EVs using state charging stations and deposit the revenue into the motor vehicle fund; the sponsor said this would make charging costs fairer and recover expenses, with broad support and some questions about whether the policy could be implemented administratively without legislation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6148, which would increase the maximum term for regional transit authority bonds from 40 years to 75 years, affecting Sound Transit. Sound Transit and transit advocates argued the longer term would better match debt to long-lived assets, help accelerate construction, and reduce near-term financial pressure without raising taxes, while opponents warned it would increase long-term costs and shift repayment burdens to future generations. Committee members asked about interest costs, asset values, and examples of eligible long-lived projects such as tunnels and bridges. No votes were taken during the hearing, and each bill closed with testimony counts recorded on the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the privilege in the Coeur d'Alene-Spokane-Spokane River Basin adjudication of representing 300
• And again, this is a comprehensive determination of all the water rights in the basin that anybody thinks
• case, and it starts in 2010, although the case really started in 2008 when the Columbia Spokane River Basin
• When the Columbia Spokane River Basin adjudication began.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• THE PEACE RIVER BASIN IS HOME TO MUCH OF WHAT'S LEFT OF FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS NATURAL
• MY HOMETOWN OF WAUCHULA SITS ABOUT DEAD CENTER OF THE BASIN AND IS MARKED ON THE COIN WITH AN ORANGE.
• THE PEACE RIVER BASIN IS HOME TO MUCH OF WHAT'S LEFT OF FLORIDA CITRUS PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS NATURAL
• MY HOMETOWN OF WAUCHULA SITS ABOUT DEAD CENTER OF THE BASIN AND IS MARKED ON THE COIN WITH AN ORANGE.

Bills: SJR3 , SB5 , SJR36 , SJR3 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB5 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB372 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB764 , SB842 , SB971 , SB790 , SB767 , SB480 , SB1066 , SR44 , SR135 , SR171 , SR180 , SR185 , SR187 , SR188 , SR191 , SR197 , SR198 , SR199 , SR200

Transcript Highlights:

• The Peace River Basin is home to much of what's left of Florida citrus production as well as natural
• My hometown of Wauchula sits about dead center of the basin and is marked on the coin with an orange.
• The Peace River Basin is home to much of what's left of Florida citrus production as well as natural
• My hometown of Wauchula sits about dead center of the basin and is marked on the coin with an orange.

Transcript Highlights:

• The upper basin states don't agree with losing one drop.
• They want Arizona and the lower basin states to absorb any cuts. We missed deadlines.
• to the lower basin states.
• It sends a message to the upper basin states that we're serious, that we want to protect the water for
• the lower basin states, including Arizona.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2003, which would lower the instruction-permit eligibility age for Class D, G, and M licenses from 15½ to 15, while increasing supervised driving requirements for minors and extending the permit-holding period before licensure. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill builds on Arizona’s graduated driver licensing system and would improve teen safety based on data from other states; one senator raised concerns about parents certifying driving hours and another cited a study suggesting higher crash risk from lowering the permit age. After discussion, the bill received a do pass recommendation by a 9-1 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 2063, appropriating $1.5 million from the General Fund to the Corrections Oversight Fund, and heard emotional testimony from a mother describing her son’s mental illness, incarceration, and death in prison, along with support from advocates who said the oversight office is needed, especially in light of federal receivership over prison health care. The sponsor emphasized prison transparency, public safety, and accountability. The bill passed unanimously, 10-0. The committee also heard House Bill 2210, which would prohibit state, local, and private entities from using ADS-B aircraft surveillance data to calculate or collect landing fees. Pilots argued the technology is meant for safety and that using it for billing could discourage compliance, while airport representatives and city officials opposed the bill as an unnecessary statewide restriction on local fee-setting. After extensive debate over safety, federal law, and local control, the bill received a narrow 4-4 do pass recommendation. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2116, which appropriates $1 million to the Colorado River litigation fund. The sponsor said the money is needed to prepare for possible litigation over Colorado River cuts and to signal Arizona’s seriousness in negotiations; members discussed whether the funding should come from the General Fund or WIFA resources. The bill passed 8-0. Finally, HCM 2007, a memorial urging renaming sections of State Route 69 to honor veterans of multiple wars, was approved 5-4 after some members objected to emphasizing war memorialization. The committee also briefly noted that House Bill 2111 was held, and after the votes, a pilot and flight instructor offered additional testimony on HB 2210, reiterating safety concerns about turning off ADS-B and saying the bill addresses a real risk even though Arizona airports are not currently using the technology for fee collection.

Transcript Highlights:

• , our islands have been connected by more than The islands have been connected by more than just Caribbean
• We share a history of oppression and colonialism, linguistic heritage, cultural traditions, and Caribbean
• Uh, but there are a lot more, uh, the attack on the boat in the Caribbean just last week.

Bills: HB3838 , HR682

Keywords: nuclear deterrence, space force, military personnel, healthcare, supply chain, energy security, environmental regulations, defense budget, military funding, defense activities, appropriations, immigration penalties, Department of Defense, Department of Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• These four drying basins will process sludge and water flow so that when one basin is full, the drying
• process can begin with the new water being sent to the next basin.
• These four drying basins will process sludge and water flow so that when one basin is full, the drying
• These four drying basins will plant.
• </c><00:32:06.159><c> This</c> being sent to the next basin. This being sent to the next basin.

Summary: The committee first received several information items, including University of Kentucky reports on medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts’ planned bond issues, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues. Members then heard and approved an appropriation increase for a federally funded University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. The project will construct a terminal building and is tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school; members asked about the public funding, the role of EKU, and possible aviation expansion, and the item was approved by roll call. The committee next approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for an 85,000-square-foot facility at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead for $6.4 million. UK said the property, formerly the Rowan County Board of Education site, is directly across from UK St. Clair and will be used for multiple purposes; members questioned the quarterly payment structure and why the county preferred not to receive the full amount upfront, but the item was approved. The committee then heard three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Fish and Wildlife pump project at Ballard Wildlife Management Area and two Lake Barkley State Resort Park repair projects. Finance staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies after bids came in close to available funding, and the committee approved the action items. Janice Thomas then presented four pool projects requiring no action: HVAC upgrades at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg, geothermal and HVAC work at the Kentucky School for the Blind, a Brady Hall HVAC project at the Kentucky School for the Blind, and a renovation of Shanti Hall at Kentucky State University for the School of Engineering Technology. Members asked no substantive questions on those items. Finally, Natalie Broner presented a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the rent, the lack of other bids, and whether another county location might be preferable; CHFS said it maintains county-seat offices statewide and that the Wayne County site would replace an existing office. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing services with renovation costs largely absorbed by the lessor. Both lease items were presented for action after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds a requirement to the Basin Management plans, and any amendment to such shall become effective
• He thanked Chair Rodriguez and said he was very concerned about the 60-day delay before Basin Management
• He said that of the 24 originally impaired springs, 90 percent have gotten worse, and argued that Basin
• Senator Smith then asked how often Basin Management Action Plans are usually adopted and whether the
• Senator Smith asked for clarification on the usual adoption schedule for Basin Management Action Plans

Bills: S0912 , S1196 , S1422 , S1510 , S7034

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Environment and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several environmental bills and one appointment. SB 1422, as amended by a strike-all focused on coral reef protection and designating coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure, was reported favorably after support from Audubon Florida was noted. The committee then considered SPB 7034, a DEP rule ratification related to minimum flows and levels for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and associated recovery strategy; witnesses from the Florida Springs Council and local river advocates criticized the plan as too delayed and too dependent on a single future water project, while committee members raised questions about funding and utility responsibility. Despite concerns, the committee approved the bill as a committee bill, with Senator Smith voting no. The committee next heard SB 1510, as amended, which made technical changes to DEP-related provisions including B-MAP notice and timing, septic system requirements in Florida Springs areas, biosolids, fees, land acquisition, and rulemaking procedures. The main public testimony came from the Florida Springs Council, which opposed the 60-day delay for B-MAP effectiveness as harmful to spring restoration, while DEP and others supported the measure. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 1196, a targeted siting bill restricting new ash-producing incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities within two miles of large federally authorized water impoundment areas, with an amendment narrowing the practical effect to Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Supporters, including the City of Miramar, argued it would protect water resources and communities; opponents from the Florida Waste-to-Energy Coalition argued it would limit local waste-disposal options and could force more landfilling. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 912, the Safe Battery Collection and Recovery Act, which would require battery stewardship organizations and related recycling plans to keep batteries out of the waste stream. Industry and recycling representatives supported the bill, citing growing battery volumes and fire risks at recycling facilities. The committee also recommended confirmation of Gary Jennings to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. All measures were approved favorably except that Senator Smith voted against SPB 7034; the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2029: Roy Heield of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Arkansas Drainage Basin
• Karen Wglin of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Yampa White drainage basin
• 28.240><c> as</c><00:36:28.400><c> a</c><00:36:28.560><c> representative</c><00:36:28.960><c> with</c> Basin
• and as a representative with Basin and as a representative with experience<00:36:29.520><c> in</c><00
• representative of the Yampa White as a representative of the Yampa White drainage<00:36:35.760><c> basin

Transcript Highlights:

• Certainly something the Big Horn Basin.
• </c> at CO2 EO in the Big Horn Basin. at CO2 EO in the Big Horn Basin.
• Basin. Basin.
• Wyoming Arrow Basin, Conway Creek. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Massive.
• Wyoming Arrow Basin,<01:26:08.159><c> Conway</c><01:26:08.639><c> Creek.</c> Basin, Conway Creek.

Bills: HB0075 , HB0128

Committee: Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Johns Basin? People immediately say, well, it's agriculture.
• The most population increase is not in the Suwannee Basin; it's in the St. Johns Basin.
• Johns Basin. People immediately say, well, it's agriculture.
• The most population increase is not in the Suwannee Basin; it's in the St. Johns Basin.
• I live in the Ichetucknee Basin, about five miles from the spring.

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: nursing title, advanced practice registered nurse, advertising, professional standards, disciplinary action, candidate qualifying, federal office, election integrity, regulatory compliance, political candidacy, veterinary medicine, telehealth, veterinary professional associate, animal health, public safety, access to veterinary services, payment bond exemption, Habitat for Humanity, Florida Forever Act, land acquisition

Transcript Highlights:

• Across the state, the water board and water users are working to address water challenges in every basin
• All we need to do is look beyond our borders to the Colorado River Basin to see what happens when these
• You will hear first from water users in the Boise River Basin, who are working to get ahead of water
• here is to improve water management by leveraging improved data collection throughout the Boise River Basin
• This is what our snow water equivalent for the Boise River Basin is today.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, the basin was designed as a spillway, and what we found out is that we're introducing so much
• So nevertheless, I do know that Senator Kleinpeter's heart is with the Chafalai Basin and doing what's
• in the best interest of the Chafalai Basin and the people that live there within.
• Thank you. ...basin and the people that live there within.
• It just corrects the spelling of Basin Keeper. 2726. 22. Amendment set 5722. Any questions on it?

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 319, which would tighten and standardize voter identification rules at polling places. Senator Presley and Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the bill replaces the current “generally recognized” photo ID standard with a specific list of acceptable IDs, removes the affidavit-only option, and allows voters without a photo ID to cast a conditional paper ballot at the registrar of voters office or during early voting if they later provide approved documentation within two days after the election. Supporters argued the bill improves consistency, election integrity, and poll-worker guidance while still preserving access through alternative documents and free state IDs; opponents warned it could create confusion and burden seniors, students, homeless voters, and others without easy access to the required documents. After debate, the committee reported SB 319 favorably by a 7-2 vote. The committee then approved Senate Bill 202, which adds one day of compensated meeting time for parish boards of election supervisors in certain elections, and Senate Bill 25, which revises the compensation schedule for registrars of voters and related staff. SB 25 was amended to remove outdated step references and make conforming technical changes, and supporters said the pay structure has not been updated since 2007 despite increased duties and workload. The committee also adopted and reported favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, creating a legislative study committee on water quality in the Chafalalaya Basin, and House Concurrent Resolution 85, creating a task force on illegal dumping, both with technical amendments. In addition, the committee advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution 63, which asks the legislative auditor to review how fiscal notes are prepared during session, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 33, which creates a work-based learning coordination task force to improve alignment among education, workforce, and employer partners. SCR 33 was amended to change the appointing authority for two members. The committee also approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and House Resolution 196, which creates a study committee on the impact of fallen trees on residential property and insurance issues. Several of these measures were supported by agency representatives or outside groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments where needed before reporting the bills and resolutions favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local groundwater basins are coming back into balance.
• So there was a lot of grants going out to critically overdrafted basins in 2021, $7.6 million.
• We've seen the return of some basins that we sent to the board through their process; their deliberation
• resolved issues and have returned basins back.
• So I think it's going to be a natural process where we may have basins throughout the implementation

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Permian basin is not far from ah We have permanent basin in New Mexico.
• and also in the San Juan Basin.
• It's more with um the Permian Basin.
• Or even the pilot program that was funded for the Permian Basin, I think it was for Lee County, those
• I'm also thinking that when we go to the Permian Basin, Permian Basin, it's so dry, we have so much solar

Transcript Highlights:

• So back in the day when the Chafalaye Basin was leveed up for flood protection, a couple years later,
• Everyone to realize that the Lake Pontchartrain Basin has been talked about since probably before I was
• Congress even said that the basin supports all the Congress even said that the basin supports all the
• So there was actually a total and methyl mercury study on the basin, and why I ...methyl mercury study
• on the basin.

Summary: The committee first considered several local property-transfer and wildlife/fisheries bills, including SB 229 (Bojeur Parish property transfer), SB 71 (Lafayette Parish property transfer), and a series of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries measures. SB 203 simplified possession rules for fish on multi-day trips and remote camps; SB 429 created an administrative path to register “orphan” boats with lapsed registrations; SB 204 removed a residency-based restriction on certain commercial fishing gear licenses; SB 205 reduced duplicate registration requirements for federally documented boats; SB 213 clarified titling rules for vessels and outboard motors; and SB 257 removed Social Security number requirements from certain commercial fishing tags. Each of these bills was reported favorable, generally without objection, after brief explanations from sponsors and department counsel about reducing red tape, improving enforcement, or modernizing records. The committee also heard SB 214, which would allow the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District to stop pumping during an imminent flood threat identified by the National Weather Service or GOSEP, addressing liability concerns and giving local officials more flexibility in emergencies. SB 274, as amended, required lead hazard risk assessments for certain child care, early learning, and pre-kindergarten facilities and required hazards found in assessments to be addressed before licensing. Both bills were reported favorable. SB 379, a technical reorganization bill for the Department of Conservation and Energy, received two amendment sets: one changing investment language and another standardizing judicial-review procedures and online notice requirements; it was reported favorable after those amendments. The committee then adopted HCR 62, urging FEMA to review flood maps every five years instead of every ten and to better account for local flood-protection projects, with members discussing the burden of flood insurance and the need for FEMA to recognize levees, pump stations, and elevated homes. HCR 78 was also reported favorable, memorializing Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 in support of Louisiana’s seafood industry. HB 662, as substituted, was reported favorable after being rewritten to codify the department’s internal protocol for seized sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, prioritizing release, rehabilitation, placement, and euthanasia as a last resort. Finally, the committee considered two more contentious items. HR 216, which urged repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan of 2022, drew extended debate over whether the plan had been adopted without legislative input and whether it could affect permits or future policy; after discussion, the sponsor voluntarily deferred the resolution to return with a revised approach focused on a legislative hearing or review. SCR 24, dealing with chronic wasting disease rules, was introduced with amendments that would raise the prevalence threshold, cap samples, allow zone removal after three years without new detections, and lift baiting/feed prohibitions above a higher prevalence level; the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.