Video & Transcript Research : 'surface owner'

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MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Taxes Committee 2/13/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • And again, as long as the property owner can cash flow just by using the land for surface parking, they're
  • Seriously, I'm a third-generation owner of my land, and it's a legacy.
  • Seriously, I'm a third-generation owner of my land, and it's a legacy.
  • Seriously, I'm a third-generation owner of my land, and it's a legacy.
  • Seriously, I'm a third-generation owner of my land, and it's a legacy.
Keywords: 1183, house
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Water Topics Overview Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • So on our surface water rights, I'll go over that first.
  • use so it's not harming surface water when we pass this law.
  • It's not harming surface water.
  • We had a lot of surface water irrigation projects back there.
  • The Missouri River is really the only surface water in North Dakota.
Keywords: 908, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • During the investigation, they told us that they were lied to multiple times by the owner.
  • During the investigation, they told us that they were lied to multiple times by the owner.
  • During the investigation, they told us that they were lied to multiple times by the owner.
  • During the investigation, they told us that they were lied to multiple times by the owner.
  • During the investigation, they told us that they were lied to multiple times by the owner.
Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Judiciary Mar 25th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Most owners, especially those with vacation rentals, do not have deeded beach access.
  • Because the beachfront owners, they didn't care who was out there.
  • When we discuss this with beachfront owners, you know what their answer to me is?
  • The property owners filed suit saying that they didn't like the bill we passed.
  • I'm a Walton County property owner and have been for over 40 years.
Summary: The committee first took up CS for Senate Bill 304, which would address child protective investigations involving children with certain genetic or medical conditions that can mimic signs of abuse. Senator Sharif and several family members and advocates described cases in which children were removed after injuries were initially misread as abuse, and argued the bill would give parents more opportunity to obtain qualified medical opinions. The committee adopted a substitute amendment that removed language imposing analysis duties on certain medical professionals, then passed the bill favorably after testimony in support from the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and several affected families. The committee then considered SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings for terrorism victims, SB 96 on relief for Jacob Rogers, SB 382 on affordable housing rent agreements, SB 4 and SB 6 on claims bills for Patricia Armini and Jose Correa, SB 1142 on release of conservation easements, SB 658 on waiver or release of liens, SB 28 and SB 30 on claims involving South Broward Hospital District and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, SB 24 on relief for Mandy Penny Lemon, SB 72 on campaign funds for child care expenses, and SB 1622 on recreational customary use of beaches. Most of these bills were explained by their sponsors as narrow relief or technical measures, and the committee heard a mix of support and opposition from claimants, local governments, industry groups, and advocacy organizations. Several bills drew substantive debate. On SB 382, members discussed rent stability and whether the bill should better address lease language and future rent increases; the amendment and bill were both reported favorably. On SB 1142, members raised concerns about environmental and drainage impacts and whether releases of conservation easements should be mandatory or discretionary, but the bill still passed favorably. On SB 72, members questioned the scope of allowable campaign child care expenses and the need for stronger guardrails against abuse; the bill nevertheless passed favorably. On SB 1622, testimony sharply divided between supporters of restoring public beach access and opponents defending private property rights; debate continued when the transcript ended, so no final vote on that bill is reflected here.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

November 18, 2025 - 10:30 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • Rowling it down, making a nice from surface to surface because the goal is that any to will drive vehicle
  • If they are not brought back into compliance or a move by the owners, as you can see on the slide, the
  • If a vessel owners convicted 3 times within a 24 month period of any at-risk condition on their vessel
  • They'll make contact with the owner.
  • What is the charge for derelict vessels to the owner that has abandoned the mean obviously there?
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance May 14th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • to page 18, the last page of the report, LFC suggests that institutions be required to budget for owner
  • I've also just gone out to bid for general contractors, but that CMAR is supposed to represent the owner
  • us is that there might be value in institutions considering hiring firms like that to just act as owners
  • The state appropriated the funds, constructed an earthen dam and was now the owner and operator of a
  • can of the remaining groundwater resources for the future because we will need to supplement the surface
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/24/25

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:20:29.200> that studies, and while on the surface that studies, and while on the surface
  • The University immunompromised owners.
  • A cat is redirected to suitable scratching surfaces. Educating owners is key.
  • owners uh this is their solution. owners uh this is their solution.
  • co-owners is an active member of the AA. co-owners is an active member of the AA.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Apr 1st, 2025

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The House made one change in that on liability... ...to make it where the gun shop owner doesn't face
  • So when I bring it to the gun shop owner and I give it to the gun shop owner, making him not liable at
  • Senate confirmation number 145 appointing Bobby Humphrey to the Alabama Surface Mining Commission is
  • Senate confirmation number 148 appointing Rodney Sullivan to the Surface Mining Commission is referred
  • The truck owner doesn’t have to take a day off to go to court.
Bills: SJR 12, SJR 37, SB 7, SB 8, SB 16, SB 27, SB 108, SB 125, SB 207, SB 251, SB 318, SB 371, SB 379, SB 396, SB 406, SB 472, SB 503, SB 533, SB 578, SB 599, SB 608, SB 617, SB 621, SB 689, SB 707, SB 763, SB 836, SB 854, SB 856, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 906, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 988, SB 1021, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1202, SB 1207, SB 1307, SB 1321, SB 1330, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1497, SB 1498, SB 1535, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2188, SJR 36, SJR 12, SJR 37, SJR 81, SJR 50, SCR 22, SCR 12, SCR 39, SB 875, SB 318, SB 707, SB 765, SB 62, SB 666, SB 888, SB 687, SB 847, SB 1248, SB 504, SB 857, SB 305, SB 296, SB 284, SB 1497, SB 1498, SB 241, SB 304, SB 621, SB 1023, SB 371, SB 204, SB 609, SB 670, SB 850, SB 854, SB 413, SB 1346, SB 1033, SB 1220, SB 1073, SB 810, SB 1539, SB 447, SB 406, SB 985, SB 965, SB 1119, SB 1505, SB 1215, SB 1302, SB 856, SB 583, SB 673, SB 681, SB 1172, SB 608, SB 955, SB 957, SB 1021, SB 1120, SB 251, SB 541, SB 1737, SB 266, SB 1415, SB 125, SB 599, SB 1330, SB 53, SB 1352, SB 785, SB 472, SB 1450, SB 1502, SB 1566, SB 414, SB 1062, SB 578, SB 711, SB 746, SB 942, SB 1404, SB 1448, SB 1738, SB 108, SB 8, SB 507, SB 533, SB 689, SB 1026, SB 1349, SB 1355, SB 1433, SB 1434, SB 1596, SB 1403, SB 763, SB 667, SB 1059, SB 617, SB 1567, SB 503, SB 16, SB 310, SB 311, SB 396, SB 505, SB 1209, SB 1210, SB 1470, SB 264, SB 1029, SB 1185, SB 1358, SB 1364, SB 1569, SB 1376, SB 1228, SB 519, SB 878, SB 1350, SB 462, SB 1535, SB 827, SB 1585, SB 207, SB 1207, SB 1619, SB 1396, SB 920, SB 1484, SB 1273, SB 1741, SB 7, SB 927, SB 1227, SB 1229, SB 1353, SB 1366, SB 1464, SB 1709, SB 1729, SB 1733, SB 1744, SB 1772, SB 1816, SB 1841, SB 2188, SB 1147, SB 879, SB 1008, SB 1536, SB 2016, SB 1453, SB 1173, SB 1163, SB 996, SB 27, SB 568, SB 1370, SB 1321, SB 1101, SB 906, SB 860, SB 1563, SB 993, SB 693, SB 1610, SB 1537, SB 836, SB 1332, SB 1307, SB 963, SB 493, SB 922, SB 984, SB 1084, SB 619, SB 1098, SB 1122, SB 455, SB 522, SB 1057, SB 1239, SB 1254, SB 1255, SB 1259, SB 1341, SB 1664, SB 1877, SB 464, SB 1277, SB 32, SB 732, SB 660, SB 731, SB 921, SB 268, SB 1822, SB 1188, SB 1939, SB 1589, SB 397, SB 1388, SB 2230, SB 1058, SB 1036, SB 1267, SB 2112, SB 1930, SB 532, SB 1035, SB 2155, SB 508, SB 29, SB 292, SB 291, SB 901, SB 1333, SB 1436, SB 1494, SB 964, SB 779, SB 1378, SB 2312, SB 1719, SB 1386, SB 287, SB 2143, SB 1245, SB 261, SB 1247, SB 1948, SB 2406, SB 2407, SB 1882, SB 1197, SB 1814, SB 618, SB 38, SJR 37, SB 108, SB 207, SB 251, SB 472, SB 503, SB 599, SB 621, SB 856, SB 1021, SB 1185, SB 1207, SB 1330, SB 1497, SB 1535, SB 1619, SB 8, SB 16, SB 371, SB 396, SB 533, SB 965, SR 338, SR 350, SB 2076, SB 1498, SB 8, SB 16, SB 318, SB 371, SB 396, SB 533, SB 707, SB 875, SB 965, SB 2076
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 18, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • bankers as they preserve and create and enhance and restore either existing or restored wetlands and surface
  • waters. ...and restore either existing or restored wetlands and surface waters.
  • have these orphan or remnant parcels that are now, in this instance, 75% surrounded by impervious surface
  • probably have as much or more value if they're in a place that is highly developed with impervious surface
  • But the bill would authorize local governments to provide an ad valorem tax exemption to owners of single
Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard and acted on several bills related to wetlands, emergency management, fishing licenses, disaster recovery, the Florida Keys, brownfields, wastewater treatment, and spring protection. HB 1175 on mitigation banking drew the most discussion, with supporters saying it would create more predictable release of mitigation credits and help address shortages, while opponents warned it could weaken watershed-based wetland protection and allow credits to be used farther from the impact site. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment making the changes prospective after July 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 12-3 vote. The committee also considered HB 1535, a broad emergency management strike-all that would expand local storm-preparedness information, debris removal coordination, shelter planning, permitting procedures after storms, limits on post-storm fee increases and moratoria, and changes to election procedures after disasters. Members raised questions about FEMA coordination, shelter standards, impact fees, and the 100-mile post-storm land-use restrictions. After adopting the strike-all, the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute on a 17-0 vote. HB 673, which would extend the same fishing-license convenience to freshwater guides that saltwater captains already have, and HB 705, which extends a public-records exemption for disaster recovery assistance applicants, were both reported favorably without amendment. Later, the committee approved HB 995 for the Florida Keys, which combines affordable-housing incentives, a Habitat for Humanity bond exemption, an extension of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and a modest increase in hurricane evacuation time to allow additional residential permits; it was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. HB 733 on brownfields received a technical strike-all and was also reported favorably. HB 645 creating a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems passed unanimously, and HB 691 on a reclaimed-water project tied to Outstanding Florida Springs passed 16-1 after concerns were raised about cost, water quality, and whether the bill could broaden the intent of existing spring-protection law. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EEP/AEN Joint Info Briefing - Tue Jan 7, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • that piping is going up to the surface that piping is going up to the surface uh<00:23:10.960>
  • So we know that basically rain helps to drive and carry contaminants from the surface down because rain
  • So we know that basically rain helps to drive and carry contaminants from the surface down because rain
  • down because rain will seep down surface down because rain will seep down d<00:50:06.079> uh<
  • to procure land so that would owner to procure land so that would begin<01:23:04.280> uh<01:23
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process. ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field. City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (01/12/2026)

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • corporate owners who will those camps?
  • <01:29:17.360> For how often an owner sleeps there. For how often an owner sleeps there.
  • smaller business owners, if you will. smaller business owners, if you will.
  • <02:06:10.080> who families and small business owners who families and small business owners
  • to drain the surface water in that area. to drain the surface water in that area.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session - 2026-05-15 - 10:00AM

Vermont Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If surface water, from where?
  • If surface water is the source, a surface water permit will be required.
  • If surface water is the source, a surface water permit will be required.
  • surface water per day. surface water per day.
  • discharging wastewater into surface discharging wastewater into surface waters waters waters and
Keywords: 927, senate, all
VA

Virginia 2026 1st Special Session

March 06, 2026 - Regular Session

Virginia House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It amends and reenacts two sections of the Code of Virginia relating to residential property owners,
  • This legislation amends and reenacts sections of the Code of Virginia related to owners of sewage treatment
  • This legislation amends and reenacts sections of the Code of Virginia related to owners of sewage treatment
  • House Bill 1234 relates to land development and solar canopies in surface parking areas.
  • House Bill 1234 relates to land development, solar canopies in surface parking areas.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/07/26

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • A physician trained in epidemiology and also a farm owner.
  • the well owners in cities or on farms. the well owners in cities or on farms.
  • The Minnesota Well Owners Organization began 10 years ago to educate and advocate for private well owners
  • We sampled 99 wells from several hundred well owners.
  • facilities, so are going to our surface facilities, so are going to our surface waters.<02:25:21.520
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 3/24/26

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then, as I said, meeting with builders, developers, and business owners on occupying the remaining
  • on occupying the remaining owners on occupying the remaining uh,<00:23:21.160> 12<00:23:21.480
  • He said looking at land ownership in agriculture and reaching the owners, who may be a diverse set of
  • rather than the owner rather than the owner and<01:37:28.200> so<01:37:28.320> I<01
  • who may be a diverse set of the owners who may be a diverse set of people<01:37:34.760> scattered
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Transportation Committee Jun 24th, 2025

Joint Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Early communication with property owners as a nearly 30-year West Richland resident.
  • We did an outreach and educating the property owners on the project. You get two. So that was key.
  • We did an outreach and educating the property owners on the project.
  • And we held public open house meetings with not only the adjacent property owners, but the users.
  • And then the biggest thing at the end is, we talked about listening to the property owners.
Summary: The meeting began with introductions from members of the Joint Transportation Committee and a presentation from the Association of Washington Cities and the public works directors of Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and West Richland. The cities described the Quad Cities region as one of the fastest-growing in the state and outlined shared transportation priorities that align with the committee’s focus on safety, multimodal access, climate resilience, and economic development. They emphasized Vision Zero efforts, complete streets, ADA accessibility, regional trail and bike/pedestrian planning, and coordinated long-range transportation and land-use planning to manage growth. The city officials also discussed major funding and delivery challenges, including rising construction costs, project phasing, pavement preservation, right-of-way acquisition, and delays caused by state and federal permitting and review processes. They highlighted regional cooperation through the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, Good Roads, and local funding tools such as impact fees, transportation benefit districts, REET, tax increment financing, and state and federal grants. Specific projects discussed included Richland’s SR 240/Aaron Drive complete streets project and downtown connectivity work, Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard improvements and rail study, Pasco’s Court/Road 68, Sylvester Street corridor, I-182 bridge/interchange work, and a new north-south bridge study, and West Richland’s SR 224 Red Mountain corridor project, which officials said was awarded under budget and is scheduled to begin construction. Committee members asked questions about sidewalk connections to schools, state-agency right-of-way timelines, apprenticeship utilization, contractor selection, and whether complete streets requirements add burdens to pavement preservation projects. The city officials said new development is generally meeting sidewalk standards, but older infill areas remain a gap; that state right-of-way transactions can take much longer than expected; that apprenticeship requirements are common but harder for smaller contractors and local labor markets; and that low-bid contracting leaves little room to screen for performance history. They also said complete streets requirements are usually manageable on major projects but can be difficult to absorb in smaller preservation work. The committee then shifted to a JTC-funded study on transit-oriented development, presented by Urban Institute researcher Yona Freemark. The study examined TOD conditions in 33 cities in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Clark, and Spokane counties near rail and bus rapid transit stations. Freemark said Washington’s housing affordability crisis is severe, especially near transit, and found that high-cost cities have seen more development near stations but also signs of gentrification and loss of affordable housing, while lower-cost cities have had less development and worsening affordability relative to income. He identified barriers including high debt costs, land costs, infrastructure costs, zoning and parking rules, and limited subsidies for affordable housing. He recommended more neighborhood infrastructure funding near stations, stronger affordable housing investment, and better use of public land, noting that HB 1491 and related legislation are already changing some local requirements.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/17/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • They are owner-occupied and operated.
  • I'm going to get sued by the property owner.
  • The Arizona Supreme Court just heard this lawsuit last week, Cochise County versus the property owners
  • Chair and members, by way of background, owners and operators of exploration operations, mining units
  • and operators of exploration operations, mining units, and aggregate mining units who create surface
Summary: The committee began with an informational presentation from Gordon Shemp of Nemecu Analytics on Arizona transportation fuel supply and pricing. He explained that Arizona sits at the end of the pipeline system, relies on limited terminal inventories, and can experience only about a seven-day fuel supply if pipelines are disrupted. He attributed recent price spikes to constrained pipeline capacity, Kinder Morgan pressure reductions after PHMSA anomaly reviews, and recovering demand, and he also discussed California refinery closures, increased imports from overseas, and proposed new pipeline capacity into Phoenix from the east. Committee members asked about fuel formulations and pipeline logistics, and Shemp said the proposed project would not change fuel specifications, only transport capacity. The committee then took up House Bill 2758, which would allow eligible entities in La Paz County’s McMullen Valley groundwater basin to transport groundwater to AMAs under specified limits and conditions, with related provisions on fees, districts, and water improvement programs. Supporters, including Stan Barnes, Jim Downing, and Barry Arons, argued the bill follows the Harquahala model, provides needed augmentation for urban Arizona, and includes local benefits and guardrails. Opponents, including La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, Devonna Sater, and Ed Curry, said the bill would worsen groundwater decline, subsidence, and well failures in Salome and Wenden and favored outside investors over rural residents. After debate, the committee approved HB 2758 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard and advanced several other water-related bills. HB 2031, extending the deadline to apply for grandfathered groundwater rights in the Wilcox AMA from 15 to 27 months, passed 5-2 after some members said the extension was unnecessary and would delay protections. HB 2102, allowing county improvement districts in subsequent AMAs or groundwater transportation basins to use eminent domain for a well and standpipe site and water hauling, passed 4-3 after Sierra Club testimony called it a limited “band-aid” rather than a real solution. HB 2103, which would let water improvement programs accept gifts and dedicate groundwater transportation fee revenue to local residential water hauling and delivery, also passed 4-3. HB 2117, a technical cleanup bill shifting Environmental Special Plate Fund administration to the Natural Resource Conservation Board and raising education-center distributions from $5,000 to $10,000, passed 5-2 despite concerns about the fund’s administration. The committee then considered HB 2261, which changes agricultural property tax terminology and valuation rules. County assessors and the Arizona Association of Counties opposed it, warning it would effectively exempt many agricultural improvements from taxation and shift costs to residential taxpayers; the Arizona Farm Bureau supported it as a clarification that would provide certainty for agriculture. The bill passed 4-3. Finally, HB 2262, transferring the Resource Analysis Division from the State Land Department to the Arizona Geological Survey and revising geospatial advisory responsibilities, was introduced, with State Land Department staff saying they were neutral but noting the bill would need clearer statutory duties if RAD is removed.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

WTL Public Hearing 03-14-2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Association of Apartment Owners of Holani Mioko, thank you.
  • The private land owner. Yeah, okay, all right, thank you. Any questions?
  • The private land owner. Yeah, okay, all right, thank you. Any questions?
  • The private land owner. Yeah, okay, all right, thank you. Any questions?
  • the counties no the priv priv land owner the counties no the priv priv land owner yeah<01:20:29.560
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Community solar garden named for Melissa Hortman 3/3/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have about 1,500 member-owners across Minnesota, ranging from north Minneapolis to St.
  • <00:27:08.320> Minnesota, member owners uh across Minnesota, member owners uh across Minnesota
  • We're a Minnesota-based full-scale solar and battery energy storage developer and owner-operator.
  • We're a Minnesota-based full-scale solar and battery energy storage developer and owner-operator.
  • beneath the surface. beneath the surface.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: House File 3556 was presented as a bill to rename Minnesota’s community solar garden program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. The author described the measure as a tribute to Hortman’s leadership and her role in creating the program, which was said to have helped launch Minnesota’s solar industry and expand access to clean energy. The bill was moved to the general register before testimony began. Testifiers from the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, solar industry groups, clean energy organizations, and community solar developers all supported the bill. They described Hortman as the original legislative champion of the 2013 community solar law and a driving force behind the 2023 revisions that increased access for low- and moderate-income households. Several witnesses said the program has become a national model, has generated jobs and investment, and has enabled renters, small businesses, schools, nonprofits, and households without suitable rooftops to participate in solar. Witnesses also shared personal reflections about Hortman’s accessibility, preparation, and willingness to listen, saying she treated people with respect and helped shape a durable clean energy policy framework. No opposition testimony or votes on final passage were recorded in the excerpt, but the committee did act to advance the bill to the general register.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 28, 2026 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • It deals with situations where a property owner puts a conservation easement on a property.
  • less in all, at least three sides of the property the 15 acres or less are covered with impervious surface
  • Thank you so much and I think when we are talking about the impervious surfaces, is there a mechanism
  • The amendment requires property owners of land released from a conservation easement and subsequently