Transcript Highlights:

• Our coalition of environmental and environmental justice organizations oppose this bill because it undermines
• Our coalition of environmental and environmental justice organization, respectful opposition to AB-839
• Our coalition of environmental and environmental justice organizations oppose this bill because it undermines
• So we support the environmental goal.
• Susan Little on behalf of the Environmental Working Group, in support.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Materials and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
• Science is driving environmental protections.
• We have invested in our environmental chemistry lab.
• Also bear a lot of similar environmental concerns.
• supporting environmental justice or EJAC for much longer.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on the Board of Environmental Safety (BES), created by SB 158 in 2021, and on broader DTSC reform efforts, including permitting, community engagement, fee setting, and the hazardous waste management plan. Chair Connolly opened by noting the board’s original goals of improving transparency, accountability, and fiscal stability, and raised concerns about a recent board appointee later becoming a lobbyist with DTSC-regulated clients. Witnesses and members also discussed the long-delayed SB 673 regulations on facility permitting and community vulnerability protections, as well as the board’s role in approving the hazardous waste management plan and reviewing permit appeals. Community and environmental justice witnesses argued that the board has improved access by creating a public forum, ombudsperson, and appeal process, but said it remains too passive and lacks authority over budgets, staffing, and implementation. They urged more statutory direction, stronger community participation, better transparency on how comments are used, and more meaningful authority in permit and plan decisions. One witness suggested the Legislature consider a separate oversight body or stronger legislative engagement, while another called for youth representation and paid fellowships on advisory bodies. Business and regulated-community testimony was more supportive of the board’s structure, emphasizing that SB 158 was a negotiated compromise that improved transparency and accountability while avoiding politicization, and calling for faster fee analysis and clearer budget information. Board Chair Andrew Rakestra and DTSC Director Barbara Butler reported that reform has produced measurable gains: more public engagement, stronger enforcement, fewer continued permits, improved compliance, increased revenues from the generation-and-handling fee, and progress on Exide cleanup, safer consumer products, and community revitalization grants. They acknowledged, however, that the board’s authority is limited, permit appeals can be slow, SB 673 regulations remain unfinished, and public trust still needs work. Both said the board is most effective when involved early and when DTSC shares information proactively. Members asked about fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and whether the Legislature should give the board a more formal role in budget change proposals, regulatory processes, and implementation oversight. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality... Good morning, everyone. Welcome.
• The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality is now in order.
• Scott Sadler, on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund.
• Good morning, Scott Sadler, on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund.
• Many were built long before modern environmental laws existed.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to talk about the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements.
• I'm here to talk about the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements.
• Most environmental reviews are done by cities and counties.
• A programmatic environmental impact statement, or PEIS, is a type of environmental review done under
• And I'm going to be offering the environmental perspective today.

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Materials and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
• Science is driving environmental protections. These are good.
• Science is driving environmental protections.
• We have invested in our environmental chemistry lab.
• supporting environmental justice or EJAC for much longer.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're convening as the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.
• Facilities must also undergo the California Environmental Quality Act review process.
• With the state's environmental policies and goals.
• Joseph of Orange, Central California Environmental Justice Network, and Environmental Defense Fund, in
• Environmental Justice Network and Environmental Defense Fund in support. Thank you. Good afternoon.

Summary: The committee heard SB 404 on metal shredding facilities, SB 601 on water quality protections after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, SB 682 on phasing out PFOS in certain consumer products, and later SB 646 on prenatal vitamins and toxic metal contamination. SB 561 had been pulled from the hearing. In each of the measures, the authors and supporters emphasized environmental and public health protections, while opponents raised concerns about overregulation, implementation, and unintended economic impacts. The committee also spent time on the policy details of each bill, including how smaller operators would be treated under SB 404, how “nexus waters” would be defined under SB 601, and whether alternatives and testing standards were adequate under SB 682 and SB 646. For SB 404, Senator Caballero said the bill would create a permitting and enforcement framework for metal shredding facilities, with operational standards for fire prevention, stormwater, and releases of shredder residue, while supporters argued it would bring needed certainty to a critical recycling industry. Opponents, including small recyclers and community/environmental advocates, said the bill was either too broad or not strong enough, with some warning it would burden smaller facilities and others arguing it would fail to protect overburdened communities. The committee approved SB 404 on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, with recorded support from the chair and some members and opposition from others. SB 601 sought to restore state-level protections for waters that lost federal Clean Water Act coverage after Sackett, using a “nexus waters” framework and revised enforcement provisions after amendments removed the private right of action. Supporters said California needed to preserve protections for seasonal streams and wetlands and avoid backsliding, while opponents from business, agriculture, water districts, and local governments argued the definition remained too broad and could create uncertainty, costs, and unintended consequences. The committee also approved SB 601 on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, again with split votes. SB 682, which the committee also advanced, would phase out intentionally added PFOS in six product categories, including cleaning products, cookware, dental floss, ski wax, food packaging, and juvenile products, with an amendment delaying cookware implementation until 2030. Supporters framed it as a source-control measure to reduce PFAS contamination and lower long-term water treatment costs, while manufacturers and cookware interests argued the bill was overbroad, lacked workable testing standards, and could push consumers and businesses toward uncertain alternatives. The committee chair recommended an aye vote, and the measure passed to Appropriations. SB 646 was then introduced on prenatal vitamins, with supporters saying it would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, while the opposition said disclosure must be handled carefully so as not to confuse consumers or undermine confidence in prenatal supplements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> office and other environmental office and other environmental stakeholders<00:29:52.360><c> for<
• </c> these days to bash environmental these days to bash environmental standards standards standards
• </c> moving these facilities environmental moving these facilities environmental review<00:47:40.800>
• review from the environmental impact review from the environmental impact statements<00:47:42.640><c>
• </c> the A5 Amendment on the environmental the A5 Amendment on the environmental review<01:10:21.440>

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation.
• Conservation, after consultation with the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Department of
• Conservation, after consultation with the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Department of
• The next bill, 1733, Senator Harckham: an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in relation
• Our third bill, 1833A by Senator May: an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law and the State

Committee: Senate Environmental Conservation

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation met with a quorum via voting sheets and considered a 12-bill agenda focused on water quality, stormwater reporting, algal bloom prevention, safe drinking water infrastructure, coastal and marine protection, housing and land-use, animal welfare, and solar access. Chair Pete Harckham noted several members were delayed by weather and other committee meetings, and welcomed participating senators and staff. Most bills were described as measures the committee had seen before, with little debate beyond motions and seconds. Bills approved included Harckham’s stormwater expenditure report bill (S.1609), a municipal water-quality assistance bill for lake associations (S.1733), the harmful algal bloom monitoring and prevention act (S.1833A), the safe water and infrastructure action program (S.1850A), the Whale Awareness Act (S.2292B), inland waterways additions for waterfront revitalization (S.2646), the Sustainable Affordable Housing and Sprawl Prevention Act (S.3492A), a bill on traveling animal acts (S.3629A), the Big Five African Trophies Act (S.5014), marine and coastal debris prevention (S.6307), and whale strike protection policies for large vessels (S.7718A). The solar bill (S.6570A), the Solar for Affordable Power Act, was also approved by the committee but was referred to the Energy Committee rather than advanced on the environmental conservation calendar. Several measures were referred to the Finance Committee, including the stormwater report bill, the lake association water-quality bill, the harmful algal bloom bill, and the safe water and infrastructure bill. Other bills were advanced to the calendar, and the meeting concluded without recorded opposition on most items, aside from a few members voting without recommendation on some bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm from Environmental Working Group.
• , Central California, Environmental Justice Network.
• I specialize in children's environmental health at Children Now.
• Alex Lumer, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Information Center, the Environmental Law Foundation
• and environmental justice groups.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1795, which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, remediation, and insurance handling of wildfire smoke damage in homes. The author and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the bill is needed because survivors face inconsistent claims practices and no enforceable standards for determining when homes are safe. Supporters included the City of Los Angeles and a wildfire survivor who described health problems and disputed remediation results; opponents from the insurance industry said the bill could create broad new exposure and worsen affordability, though they continued to negotiate amendments. The committee recommended the bill do pass with urgency, and it passed on a 4-0 vote, with the roll held open for additional votes. The committee also heard AB 1612, which would create a centralized process for law enforcement to transfer seized controlled substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin to the Department of Justice for disposal after the state’s last in-state incineration facility closed. The author said the bill would address unsafe storage and inconsistent disposal pathways. There was no opposition in the room, and the committee sent the bill to the Assembly Public Safety Committee on a do pass vote. AB 2322 would standardize the definition of commercial, industrial, or institutional sites for municipal stormwater permits by tying it to assessor land-use codes and excluding residential parcels. Supporters said the bill would reduce patchwork enforcement and improve consistency, while stormwater and city representatives asked to keep working on regional flexibility concerns. The committee approved the bill 4-1 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 2245, a producer responsibility bill for vehicle lubricant products and their containers, intended to expand collection and recycling using existing household hazardous waste and used oil infrastructure. Supporters said it would reduce landfill disposal and align with existing EPR frameworks, while retailers and industry groups raised concerns about overlapping obligations, unclear definitions, and compliance costs. The author said negotiations would continue, and the committee sent the bill to Natural Resources on a do pass vote. The committee also heard AB 1603, which would phase out PFAS-containing pesticides over time and require disclosure and permitting for their use. Supporters argued PFAS pesticides contaminate food and water and pose health risks; agricultural and chemical industry opponents said the bill could remove many products from the market and lead to harmful substitutions. The chair expressed support for reducing PFAS but raised concerns about replacement chemicals, and the bill was sent to Appropriations on a do pass vote. Finally, AB 2034 was introduced to increase transparency around food additives and GRAS ingredients by creating a state database of chemicals that bypass FDA premarket review; supporters said it would close a federal loophole, while consumer brands opposed a duplicative state system and warned of costs and confusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> environmental fund. environmental fund.
• </c> the general fund to the environmental the general fund to the environmental fund<00:25:25.080><c
• </c> application uh before environmental application uh before environmental review<00:36:53.240><c>
• </c> produce a scoping environmental produce a scoping environmental assessment<00:37:06.720><c> worksheet
• </c> environmental impact statement. environmental impact statement.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. Good morning, everyone. Welcome.
• The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality is now in order.
• Good morning, Scott Sadler, on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund.
• Many were built long before modern environmental laws existed.
• Raquel Mason with the California Environmental Justice Alliance in strong support.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on environmental, climate, transparency, water affordability, recycling, and refinery transition issues. SB 1087 would modernize SB 375 regional climate and transportation planning by extending planning cycles, clarifying target-setting and review processes, and reducing time spent on modeling and CEQA-related work; it drew strong support from MPOs and environmental groups with some opposition from clean air, housing, and industry advocates concerned about VMT, housing impacts, and agency authority. SB 1239 would require CARB to update its standardized regulatory impact assessment when major regulations are materially changed; manufacturers and business groups supported the transparency measure, while the chair opposed it as adding delay and inefficiency to rulemaking. SB 1125 would create the framework for a statewide low-income water rate assistance program; it received broad support from utilities, environmental justice groups, local governments, and community members, and the committee advanced it on a 3-1 vote. SB 1180 would set rules for spending from the plastic pollution mitigation fund created by SB 54, with broad support from environmental justice and conservation groups and opposed-unless-amended positions from industry groups seeking tighter limits and more oversight; it advanced on a 3-0 vote. SB 1161 would require CARB to present household-level cost impacts of regulations in plain language, and it advanced on a 4-0 vote despite late opposition from environmental groups. SB 955, updating beverage container recycling and redemption requirements, passed 5-0, and SB 1259, requiring refineries to disclose cleanup liabilities and decommissioning information to aid long-term planning, drew strong support from environmental and local government witnesses but firm opposition from petroleum, labor, and business groups; the committee began discussion but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of my favorite Bond movies. Actually, yeah, but he throws a gold bar on the golf course, right?
• :45.520><c> favorite</c> finger I I do one one of my favorite finger I I do one one of my favorite Bond
• Bond Bond movies<00:17:48.039><c> okay</c> movies okay movies okay actually<00:17:51.320><c> yeah</c
• I added line 26: Environmental Protection as one of the considerations because there's thoughts around
• That's a fraud on New Hampshire owners of stocks and bonds.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up several bills and repeatedly chose to retain or table them rather than advance them. House 167, dealing with past wax, was voted ought to pass; House 312 was retained because members said NCAA-related advertising and uniform policy issues were still unresolved; House 434, requiring insurers to provide rental cars for at least seven days, was voted inexpedient to legislate; and House 454, on biodegradable packaging claims, was also voted inexpedient to legislate after members said the proposal lacked a workable enforcement mechanism and would likely be only a symbolic state-by-state measure. House 721, making gold legal tender, was retained, with members saying the bill needed more work and that the issue was less compelling in New Hampshire because the state has no sales tax. The committee then discussed House 310, which was amended to create a study commission on blockchain and related regulatory issues. The amendment expanded the commission’s charge to include legal, regulatory, financial, technological, and environmental considerations, added review of federal developments, included blockchain-based trust and stable token issues, broadened membership, and extended the repeal and report dates by a year. Members said the commission would help New Hampshire develop expertise and a report for future legislation, while also noting that federal action could affect the state’s role. The amendment was adopted 8-1, and the bill itself was then retained. Finally, the subcommittee heard a revised amendment to House 406 on business filings and registered agents. The Secretary of State’s office explained that the amendment, drafted with input from the Business and Industry Association, narrows the bill to address fraudulent or unauthorized entity filings after a written complaint and sworn statement, sets minimum requirements for registered agents, bars use of commercial mail-drop addresses as registered offices, and allows removal or cancellation of fraudulent filings with penalties for false filings. Members asked about which entities must maintain registered offices and how the rules would affect home-based businesses; the sponsor said most New Hampshire business entities must have a registered office, with some exceptions such as domestic nonprofits and trade names. The discussion emphasized concerns about synthetic entities, identity misuse, and the need for a physical in-state registered agent address.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have no coverage on bonds.
• /c><03:30:53.680><c> no</c><03:30:53.840><c> coverage</c><03:30:54.239><c> on</c><03:30:54.560><c> bonds
• </c> on stocks we have no coverage on bonds on stocks we have no coverage on bonds but<03:30:56.520><
• So how does the Environmental Services Agency engage with these programs in other states?
• <05:32:03.558><c> Services</c><05:32:04.280><c> Agency</c><05:32:05.000><c> engage</c> Environmental

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• make certain attestations, and consent to conditions related to jurisdiction, maintaining a surety bond
• duplicative system with extra reporting, would cost manufacturers money, and wouldn't have any real environmental
• entities with distinct statutory responsibilities to protect public health, system capacity, and environmental
• Environmental factors such as housing instability, family conflict, discrimination, and school pressures
• Environmental factors such as housing instability, family conflict, discrimination, and school pressures

Bills: HB2675 , HB2681 , HB2714 , HB2688 , HB2481 , HB2116 , HB1408

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, HB 2714, caseload forecasting, food assistance, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance, budget forecasting, caseload forecast council, caseload forecast supervisor, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• 343, the environmental impact statement law, and it states that the Environmental Advisory Council's
• , the environmental impact statement law, and it states that the Environmental Advisory Council's mission
• and environmental quality by discussion between members that represent education, business, and environmental
• The Environmental Advisory Council that can ensure that our environmental disclosure law protects our
• <00:49:30.720><c> Advisory</c> Environmental Advisory Environmental Advisory Council<00:49:33.440><c>

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> folders describing um the environmental folders describing um the environmental response<00:22:52.000
• </c><00:24:22.080><c> response</c> and now the, uh, environmental response and now the, uh, environmental
• </c><00:30:58.559><c> helped</c> environmental response fund grant helped environmental response fund
• fund</c> Countyy's environmental response fund Countyy's environmental response fund frequently<00:31
• Thank you so much for the time. the Environmental Response Fund also the Environmental Response Fund

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the chief strategy officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, or MCEA.
• I'm the chief strategy officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, or MCEA.
• I'm the chief strategy officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, or MCEA.
• I'm the chief strategy officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, or MCEA.
• I'm the chief strategy officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, or MCEA.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First up is the Environmental Advisory Council on Zoom. Dawn Eggernaut Blum.
• </c> confirmation to the Environmental confirmation to the Environmental Advisory<00:16:14.640><c> Council
• It's the Exemptions Committee of the Environmental Advisory Council.
• And then on GM 772, Michelle Lefever to the Environmental Advisory Council.
• </c><00:25:43.440><c> Advisory</c> to uh the Environmental Advisory to uh the Environmental Advisory

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate AEN committee heard and considered four gubernatorial nominations. GM 511 was for Harry Purdy III to the Moloka‘i Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board; testimony in support came from DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, and Moloka‘i community members, and Purdy described his long background in Moloka‘i homestead farming and the challenges facing new farmers. GM 676 was for Denise Kuano to the same board; the committee noted support from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and it was reported that Kuano could not testify because of a family emergency. GM 771 was for James Gomes to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council strongly supported him, citing his long agricultural experience, advocacy, and prior board service, and Gomes emphasized ag crime enforcement, land access, water, and support for farmers and ranchers. GM 772 was for Michelle Lefebvre to the Environmental Advisory Council; the Environmental Advisory Council and OPSD supported her, and Lefebvre discussed her work on the council’s exemptions committee and the need for better public understanding of the environmental review process. Members asked nominees questions about barriers for young homesteaders, ag crime enforcement, prior board service, environmental stewardship, and public engagement in environmental review. Gomes said the biggest challenges include lack of experience for new homesteaders, weak enforcement against ag crimes and drug activity on ranches, and the need for more land and resources for agriculture. Lefebvre said the environmental review process often falls short in public understanding and that comments are not a vote but part of an analytical process. After testimony, the committee reported support counts for each nomination and then voted to recommend advise and consent on all four measures. GM 511, GM 676, GM 771, and GM 772 were each adopted unanimously by the members present, with some members excused. The chair then announced the committee would move on to the next agenda item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, everyone, we're convening as the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee
• Our neighborhoods become environmental dumping grounds.
• Chair and members, Chris Bauer on behalf of Clean Harbors Environmental Services.
• Marquis Mason, California Environmental Voters in support, also on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund
• Joseph of Orange, Central California Environmental Justice Network, and Environmental Defense Fund, in

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor's environmental fiscal year 2026-2027 budget recommendations.
• My name is Kim Kramer, and I'm the Environmental Policy Coordinator for Governor Ron DeSantis.
• The Florida's first budget reinforces the governor's steadfast commitment to environmental protection
• by recommending over $5.8 billion to environmental issues.
• by recommending over $5.8 billion to environmental issues.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Keywords: 999, senate, all