Transcript Highlights:

• I think they could definitely do that, but they'd have to deal with that zoning statute, or that zoning
• <00:10:26.800> ordinance, um by changing their zoning ordinance, um by changing their zoning
• zoning zoning >> Yeah.
• residential zoning. residential zoning. It's<00:15:23.400> the<00:15:23.520> Y.
• , And this clearly is subject to zoning, And this clearly is subject to zoning, the<00:15:54.920>

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The conference committee met on House Bill 69, which concerns Department of Health land transfers involving property from the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander. Members reviewed the two main pieces of the bill: a transfer of land to WYDOT for a maintenance yard, and a separate parcel intended for possible residential development. Much of the discussion focused on clarifying that the residential parcel would still be subject to zoning and likely sold through a public process, while the WYDOT parcel would remain a state-to-state transfer. A central issue was whether the City of Lander should be specifically included in the consultation language. Committee members agreed the city should be consulted on both sections, but there was debate over whether the bill should say the department is “authorized and directed” to convey the WYDOT parcel or use more permissive language such as “may” or simply “authorized.” Members noted that the city would have zoning authority over the residential parcel, but not necessarily a veto over the WYDOT transfer. The discussion also covered the practical need for a new WYDOT facility because the current yard is too small. The committee ultimately agreed to add the City of Lander to the consultation language, keep the WYDOT transfer directed, and leave the residential section permissive. They also approved a reporting requirement so the legislature would be notified when the transfers are completed. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the compromise and prepare a conference committee report for signing.

Transcript Highlights:

• for workers in those work zones.
• That TRIP report showed in Oklahoma that 110 deaths in work zones from 2020 to 2024.
• This camera would communicate to a live OHP officer at the end of the work zone.
• work zone-related fatalities.
• I would rather us as mentioned, put a trooper at the front of the work zone.

Bills: SB1220, SB1221, SB1239, SB1309, SB1349, SB1434, SB1516, SB1531, SB1538, SB1861

Keywords: memorial designation, interchange, Terry Walker, transportation, Oklahoma, driver license, tracking system, expedited delivery, Service Oklahoma, REAL ID, public safety, apportionment, state revenue, funding, vehicle registration, infrastructure, state roads, bridges, economic development, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:27.520> for talking about the shotgun zone for talking about the shotgun zone for several
• <00:21:44.760> so with rifle in some of the flat zones so with rifle in some of the flat zones
• I'm neutral on whether or not we have a shotgun zone.
• ...up to farming and hunting zones is going to have to take a look at redrawing hunting zone maps out
• And I'll just say as someone who represents a district that is split between rifle zone and shotgun zone

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses in industrial in in zone businesses in industrial in in zone zoned<02:25:30.800> industrial
• particular air zone. particular air zone.
• can have in what zone. can have in what zone.
• by zone.
• that zone. >> Okay.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Zoning Petition Reform, this bill is about property rights.
• definition or zoning boundary.
• More easily update those local zoning rules by clarifying notification requirements.
• Notifications for citywide zoning and code changes can cost over $500,000.
• Every time you send out one of those. purple cards as a zoning notification.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, zoning petition reform.
• definition or zoning boundary.
• Texas procedure for protesting zoning changes is among the strictest in the nation.
• project zoning process.
• Notifications for citywide zoning and code changes can cost over $500,000.

Bills: SB 434, SB 844, SB 898, SB 1177, SB 1214, SB 1454, SB 1920, SB 1927, SB 1935, SB 1965, SB 2010, SB 2046, SB 2068, SB 2073, SB 2183, SB 2260, SB 3034, SB 907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• and the conservation zone to allow sites outside the no-pass zone. legal path um as to to site the next
• paath Zone paath Zone there<00:13:00.600> are<00:13:01.320> two<00:13:01.600> other
• see the light blue is actually the zone see the light blue is actually the zone of<00:37:35.839>
• definition of the uh the no pass Zone definition of the uh the no pass Zone the<00:48:46.400>
• um going back to the no pass Zone um going back to the no pass Zone U<01:05:02.480> Ernie

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last type you probably may see today are project financing zones.
• Including a 1,000-foot zone around these collection sites.
• no such limitation on how many zones a municipality can establish.
• As you've already heard, Project Financing Zones...
• That's the beauty of the Project Financing Zone model.

Bills: SB1071, SB1444, SB1483, SB1556, SB1703, SB1756, SB1854, SB2036, SB2133, SB2297, SB2622, SB2779, SB2955, SB2979

Keywords: municipality, tax revenue, hotel project, convention center, economic development, hotel tax, municipal authority, local governments, local authority, convention centers, hotel occupancy tax, municipal finance, local tax revenue, tourism, hotel and convention center project, Tax Code Chapter 351, city revenue, special district, Texas municipalities, venue financing

Transcript Highlights:

• And I said municipally zoned and non-zoned because there are some towns that do not zone.
• and non-zoned area municipally zoned and non-zoned area within<01:38:20.159> municipality.
• there are some towns that do not zone. there are some towns that do not zone.
• I think we've seen zoning.
• because there is no zoning established in a municipality that doesn't have zoning.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and won't need to touch their zoning and won't need to touch their zoning ordinance<00:38:06.160
• <01:01:15.200> has large amount of land and Zoning has large amount of land and Zoning has
• I have served on zoning boards.
• I have served on zoning boards.
• <01:16:58.239> board zoning board I served on a zoning board zoning board I served on a zoning

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• zone. um safety<00:06:46.880> issues.
• ,<00:07:44.000> especially accidents in work zones, especially accidents in work zones, especially
• Stewart on the work zone safety bill? Stewart on the work zone safety bill?
• think we can't take work zone think we can't take work zone safety.<00:08:25.280> I<00:08
• zone for granted. zone for granted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conditions at the end of that zone.
• And this is just for reference; it's a table that breaks down our different zones, how many zones are
• So those will be next on the list for zone designation.
• To designate the brackish groundwater production zones.
• Of countries that have not created dead zones.

Summary: During the meeting, legislative members discussed the practice of municipalities diverting water and sewer revenues to their general funds, which impacts infrastructure maintenance and project delays. Vice Chair Sparks proposed limiting public testimony to two minutes, which was adopted without objection. The committee heard from various witnesses, including Perry Fowler from the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, who emphasized that utility revenues should primarily support water services and that transfers should be transparent and justified. He noted that many utilities face financial pressures that could hinder infrastructure projects. Larry French from the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlighted the significant financial impact of water loss and general fund transfers, estimating the annual loss at $1.5 billion. He argued that these transfers can create disincentives for municipalities to address water loss issues. Brian Butcher, Assistant City Manager of Sugar Land, defended the city's cost allocation model for general fund transfers, asserting that they are necessary for equitable service provision and operational efficiency. The committee also discussed the implications of rising construction costs and the need for better procurement processes to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars. The second part of the meeting focused on the New World Screwworm and the state's preparedness to manage potential infestations. Dudley Hoskins from the USDA outlined the federal response efforts and the importance of collaboration with state agencies. He emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance and the production of sterile flies to combat the pest. Dr. Philip Kaufman from Texas A&M discussed the historical context of the screwworm and the challenges posed by its potential reintroduction, urging proactive management strategies among livestock producers. The committee acknowledged the need for increased resources and research to effectively address the threat of the screwworm.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:26.120> board, the planning board or the zoning board, the planning board or the zoning
• right in commercial or industrial zones. right in commercial or industrial zones.
• commercial zones. commercial zones.
• When we're talking about the responsibility for the zoning board and for zoning ordinances, I would very
• <01:44:43.520> that shall be permitted in these zones that shall be permitted in these zones

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also some about uh if it's zoned also some about uh if it's zoned commercial<00:46:58.000> uh
• .<00:52:10.640> Um, zoning.
• Um, zoning.
• > of<00:53:08.079> the<00:53:08.240> city zoning the particular zoning of the city
• First of all, townships and cities all have the right to zone as they want to zone.

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are essentially buying zoning.
• There is inclusionary zoning that is subsidized and supported, and then there is inclusionary zoning
• There is inclusionary zoning that is subsidized and supported, and then there is inclusionary zoning
• :54.360> is<01:35:54.480> a zoning in this state zoning really is a zoning in this state
• communities to uh identify the zoning communities to uh identify the zoning and<01:37:42.560>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard informational presentations from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on the state of housing in Minnesota. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state has a severe housing shortage, with demand outpacing supply since the 2007-09 housing crash, and argued that Minnesota is nearly 100,000 units short of a healthy market. He said new homes are increasingly unaffordable, citing a median new single-family price above $530,000 and declining affordability in the Twin Cities metro, and he urged lawmakers to remove exclusionary zoning and other regulatory barriers that he said make starter homes and smaller-lot housing difficult or illegal to build in many growing cities. He also highlighted the group’s Housing for Heroes projects, including transitional housing for veterans and other crisis housing projects around the state. Members asked Foster about starter-home examples and his view that the committee’s top priority should be reforming residential development approvals. He said most new housing is negotiated through planned unit developments rather than built under base zoning, which he argued adds cost and reduces supply. The committee then heard from Elizabeth Wael of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, who said housing challenges outside the metro are different but equally serious. She said many Greater Minnesota cities face a lack of developers, inadequate infrastructure such as roads and utilities, and gaps in the housing continuum, especially starter workforce housing and senior housing. She thanked the committee for 2023 housing funding and said cities are contributing their own resources, updating zoning, reducing parking requirements, allowing ADUs, and partnering with developers and nonprofits. Wael also urged faster rollout of the Greater Minnesota infrastructure grant program and said the state should consider changes to the housing tax credit and housing TIF rules to make them easier to use. In response, senators said they shared frustration with the slow implementation of the infrastructure program and emphasized the need for state investment and locally tailored zoning reforms. No bills were heard and no votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on stakeholder testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• zoning.
• We'll have a comprehensive zoning briefing later in the agenda.
• It still maintains that local control when it comes to zoning. They will actually do the zoning.
• Zoning is still quite restrictive.
• I don't know the answer, but when land is zoned commercial or is zoned office, it's frequently not a

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there certain zones where this is most compatible? And zone types?
• And why I highlight this one is our 2018 zoning changes.
• including our single-family zoning.
• zoning.
• We increased the height in three of our four commercial zoning districts, not touching our downtown zone

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee work session focused first on Civic Commons’ “starter home production plan,” a statewide strategy intended to increase production of homes affordable to households roughly between 60% and 120% of area median income. Presenters said the Covenant Home Ownership program will not succeed without more starter homes, and outlined recommendations including a temporary cross-sector crisis task force, a developer network, new financing tools, public seed funding, and a multi-site demonstration program to test off-site construction and standardized designs. Committee members asked about silos in the current system, the role of off-site and modular construction, target income ranges, and where the plan would be most useful. Civic Commons said the plan is meant to be statewide, community-informed, and respectful of local context, with pre-approved plans and standardized approaches for both single-family and multi-unit housing. The Department of Labor and Industries then gave an update on factory-built housing oversight. Officials said residential factory-built structures are a small but important part of their work and described progress in prioritizing residential plan reviews, which they said has reduced review time from months to about two days. They also reported creating a plans examiner supervisor position, moving forward with rules for third-party plan review and inspection, and beginning analysis of national standards from the Modular Building Institute to see whether they align with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans, real-time tracking for applicants, and the role of state inspection in reducing local jurisdictional variation. The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays and increase housing production, but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. The labor representatives said prefabrication and modular construction can help if the workforce is protected, wages and apprenticeship opportunities are preserved, and projects use tools such as community workforce agreements. They also raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and unlicensed contractors in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor education or licensing. Committee members responded that the goal is to expand production without sacrificing safety or good jobs. The committee also heard city perspectives on local housing reforms. Olympia described its affordable housing emergency ordinance, which gives qualifying projects priority in the permitting queue, and said success depends on communication among housing staff, planners, engineers, and developers. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, reported increased ADUs, duplexes, and smaller-lot development after eliminating single-family zoning and expanding tools such as MFTE and ADU flexibility. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances in June 2025 after a lengthy public process, while Poulsbo described proactive code changes including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, manufactured home protections, expanded ADU allowances, and pre-approved ADU plans shared with neighboring jurisdictions. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• and regulating safe animal movement from an infested zone.
• So far, we have designated 31 zones in a handful of aquifers.
• some additional data, where we can go in and update our zones.
• And this is just for reference: it's a table that breaks down our different zones, how many zones are
• all of our zones that got extended in 2019.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So supersede um reasonable zoning laws.
• :52:47.040> would<00:52:47.200> take that the zoning mandate would take that the zoning
• So my so my um I said most zoning So my so my um I said most zoning requirements<00:54:52.319>
• dealing with assessments and zoning dealing with assessments and zoning issues<01:15:34.239>
• <01:20:53.920> hurdles comply with all of the zoning hurdles comply with all of the zoning

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 291, which would update religious land-use and property tax exemption rules for church-owned parsonages, parish houses, and similar properties. Senator Tim Lang, speaking for the sponsor, said the bill was intended to address situations where former parsonages are no longer occupied by clergy and are instead used for church-related purposes such as housing staff, religious education, or congregate living tied to ministry, including addiction recovery. He emphasized that the bill was not meant to create commercial rental housing and that it also preserves reasonable zoning and environmental regulations. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would be applied, especially the meaning of “religious purposes,” the six-unit limit, the “same lot” language, and whether churches could use the exemption to rent units for revenue. The sponsor said the six-unit cap was added to prevent large-scale commercial rental use, that congregate housing would be limited and defined, and that the bill was meant to cover uses like substance abuse recovery, homes for unwed mothers, and religious education, but not apartments converted for ordinary rental. He also said churches would still file annual exemption paperwork and towns could challenge claims they believed were commercial. Questions also raised concerns about whether the bill treated religious and nonreligious housing trusts differently; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at church-owned property used in pursuit of a religious mission. Several witnesses testified in support. Representative Mark Pearson, an active clergyman, said the bill would not remove additional property from the tax rolls because clergy housing allowances typically lead clergy to buy taxable homes elsewhere, while the church-owned parsonage remains exempt. Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire supported the bill as a modest expansion that could help create more attainable housing by allowing better use of existing religious land and structures, though he noted his organization would support even broader use. The hearing ended without a vote or final action, and the chair closed questions after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• provision that authorizes work zone provision that authorizes work zone safety<00:43:09.760>
• So the students learn about how to identify work zones, how to drive safely through a work zone, and
• <00:52:37.040> In collisions in the work zone. In collisions in the work zone.
• work zone, and the through a work zone, and the consequences<00:53:07.839> of<00:53:08.160>
• <00:53:30.160> safer make our construction work zone safer make our construction work zone

Keywords: 1187, senate, all