Transcript Highlights:

• <00:55:01.880> plant<00:55:02.280> upgrades<00:55:02.799> can of existing plants
• plant upgrades can of existing plants plant upgrades can help<00:55:03.319> make<00:55:03.559
• <01:50:12.080> had to to get into some of their plants had to to get into some of their plants
• There were two graduate students who graduated working in our pilot plant that opened that plant and
• plant and now are plant that opened that plant and now are creating<01:51:08.400> jobs<01:51:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you have incredible native midwives.
• Down to southwest New Mexico in the Hidalgo area, we have a geothermal plant there.
• It used to be a rose plant. And have you been there, Mr. Chair?
• That plant that we're talking about, the roast plant, I know isn't Connected, but you saw that when it
• Plant that was abandoned, and so if you go out there, it's acres and acres of a lot of. A mess.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And second, it's going to promote pollinating habitats on certain state properties that are more native
• They will do much better if we require that they use local native products.
• The cannabis plant produces all of these different cannabinoids, and we now have the science and the
• ability to understand that different parts of the plant do different things.
• Some parts of the plant are psychoactive and dangerous, and I think we all share the agreement that we

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held its second hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including food security, cottage food entrepreneurship, hemp regulation, lobster industry support, pesticide restrictions, pollinator protections, pet cemeteries, and municipal land rights. Committee chairs outlined hearing procedures, noted that 19 bills were on the docket, and took testimony both in person and remotely, with several legislators testifying out of turn because of scheduling conflicts. Several speakers supported food access and local economic opportunity bills. Representative Howard and Senator Oliveira backed the Food Justice Frontline Program and a cottage food/food entrepreneur bill, arguing they would fund nonprofit food security organizations, create jobs, improve SNAP/HIP outreach, and reduce barriers for home-based food businesses. Eastie Farm representatives and a student testified in favor of the food justice bill, describing food insecurity in East Boston and the need for grants, youth involvement, and multilingual outreach. Sidney Travis of the Institute for Justice also supported cottage food reforms, saying current municipal permitting rules create unequal access and that cottage foods are generally safe. The committee also heard sharply divided testimony on hemp legislation. Senator Comerford supported S. 54 as a public health measure to ban synthetic THC products, restrict intoxicating hemp sales to licensed dispensaries, and fund local enforcement, while Laura Beiner, John Nathan, and Elizabeth Wendorf opposed the bill or parts of it, warning it would harm compliant hemp businesses and small farmers. Representative Arena-DeRosa testified in support of a related pollinator bill, and Adam Karachi opposed pesticide restrictions for schools while Deborah Smith supported them, arguing existing protections should be expanded to other child-centered locations. The committee also heard support for a bill to aid lobstermen affected by right whale protections, a bill to preserve private pet cemeteries, and a municipal right-of-first-refusal bill for agricultural and recreational land. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a Native American tribe right next door to the plant, and we work hand in hand with them and
• We have a Native American tribe right next door to the plant, and we work hand in hand with them with
• the plant.
• use when you build a plant.
• Nuclear plant sites where they had decommissioned plants, but they are looking at building new plants

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to introduce these bills to bring attention to our native pollinators, pollinators such as bees
• I give out free pollinator seeds and I encourage people to take them home to plant them and grow as many
• And so we have many bills around native pollinators. Native is very big in Oklahoma.
• We have a big native culture and native pollinators.
• I believe that native is very important in Oklahoma.

Bills: SB1550, SB2065, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, hunting regulations, orange clothing, commercial hunting, game and fish, wildlife management, wildlife, trespass, dogs, hunting

Transcript Highlights:

• The river supports a wealth of rare aquatic life, provides critical habitat for native fish and mussels
• We completed the construction of a new 600,000 square foot fiberglass insulation plant in 2024.
• We believe a concrete crushing plant doesn't belong near a hospital. It puts our patients at risk.
• You're a native of Houston, right? Yes, sir.

Bills: HB1730, HB1823, HB2048, HB2266, HB2440, HB3333, HB4086, HB4271, HB4413, HB4839, HB4841, HB5151

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• As a native son of and community.
• And if you are going to go and build one of those plants, you build the plant, you hook it up, you connect
• controlling the dispatch of that plant controlling the dispatch of that plant never<03:07:56.640
• In Colorado, plants to remain online.
• We peaker plants can be overstressed.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It tracks all our power plants, forecasts future demand, and makes sure Kentucky has enough electricity
• plant retirements. plant retirements.
• Now, there's a Native American parable that tells the tale of two people walking by a river.
• Now,<00:15:49.840> there's<00:15:50.080> a<00:15:50.160> Native<00:15:50.520>
• American<00:15:51.080> parable Now, there's a Native American parable Now, there's a Native

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 02:25 SB 100 Discussion 02:59 SB 100 Roll Call Vote 31:10 SJR 134 Discussion 32:41 SJR 134 Roll Call Vote 33:43 SB 222 Discussion 34:43 SB 222 Roll Call Vote 39:55, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , fertilizer, fuel, seeds, plants, fertilizer, fuel, seeds, plants, supplies, supplies, supplies,
• and community Native Hawaiian and community stewardship<01:04:20.720> traditions<01:04:22.000
• He joked about tea plants growing big in Kihuka and said his written testimony should be considered.
• He joked about tea plants growing big in Kihuka and said his written testimony should be considered.
• you're thinking, but yes, tea plants you're thinking, but yes, tea plants really<01:10:13.280>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 1602 HD1 drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Ulupono Initiative, and others, with testimony emphasizing the value of a dedicated grant writer who had secured nearly $9 million in federal funds and was pursuing additional grants. Members discussed how much time grant applications take and how the position helps position projects for implementation. The committee then moved on without objection. HB 1832, relating to aquaculture, received support from state agencies and industry groups, with one individual opposed. HB 1707 HD1, relating to agriculture, also drew broad support. A committee question focused on the bill’s definition of “necessary supplies,” and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said the language was broad enough to cover the inputs farmers need, including transportation-related costs, and would help reduce production costs and food prices. HB 2155 HD1, relating to agricultural statistics, prompted testimony in support of better data collection to help Hawaii compete for federal agriculture funding. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that its role would focus on production, import, and export data, distinct from the scientific data collected by another unit, and said it wanted an electronic system tied to existing manifest and GIS tools to avoid duplicative clipboard-based collection. HB 1831 HD1, relating to agricultural lands, was heard with support and no questions. HB 1650 HD1, relating to environmental assessments, drew opposition from several individuals who argued it would weaken environmental protections and resident input; no action was taken. The committee then heard HB 1652 HD1, relating to storm water management systems. The engineering industry supported clarifying that low-risk green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavement should not be treated like detention or retention ponds subject to fencing and other safety requirements. Opponents, including family members affected by a drowning and other residents, argued the bill would weaken Act 281’s safety protections and increase liability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau questioned whether agricultural water infrastructure should be exempted from the fencing requirements and said the costs would vary by system, but the committee did not take final action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure, beach renourishment, dune restoration, living seawalls, shoreline and vegetation planting
• Travis Moore, Florida Native Plant Society, waves in support.
• Travis Moore, Florida Native Plant Society, waves in support.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 108 on administrative procedures. That bill, as amended, would require agencies to review all rules on a five-year cycle, submit regulatory plans and annual reports, publish intended agency action within 90 days of new rulemaking authority, improve public access to incorporated materials, and streamline rule publication and correction procedures. After brief testimony from the Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and support from Americans for Prosperity and the James Madison Institute, the committee adopted two amendments and reported CS for SB 108 favorably. The committee then approved several other measures, including the Senate veterans package (CS for CS for SB 116), which made technical changes and was supported by veterans and advocacy groups; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempts local barriers while preserving state and federal law and building codes; CS for SB 126 allowing mail distribution of prescription hearing aids after a Florida-licensed professional examination; CS for SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to abandon restrained animals during declared disasters; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice expansion for complex cardiac conditions; SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure; CS for SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property; CS for SB 348 on ethics, addressing false military rank claims and delinquent ethics fines; SB 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day; CS for SB 160 expanding CPA licensure pathways and clarifying administrative outsourcing; and CS for SB 50 promoting nature-based coastal resilience measures. Most of these bills received supportive testimony and were reported favorably. The committee also considered and reported favorably the annual reviser bills SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42, which adopt the 2025 Florida Statutes, conform statutory names, remove expired provisions, and clean up obsolete language and cross-references. Throughout the meeting, members asked questions on a few bills, but no roll-call votes were recorded as opposed; each measure was approved and reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested that a few missed affirmative votes be recorded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• native wine community, we are trying to get um native wines who are 30% or below AMI on vacant unmanaged
• native wine community, we are trying to get um native wines who are 30% or below AMI on vacant unmanaged
• for our native wine community, we are trying to get um native wines who are 30% or below AMI on vacant
• very sensitive issue I am not native very sensitive issue I am not native Hawaiian<01:33:52.880>
• , works world, like a treatment plant, works world, like a treatment plant, that's<01:44:21.119><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pillars fulfill kulana to native pillars fulfill kulana to native Hawaiians<00:12:21.079> and
• <00:17:35.120> Hawaiians communities with 28% native Hawaiians communities with 28% native
• <00:44:10.280> Hawaiians state or or you know native Hawaiians state or or you know native
• Manager, um, Plant Industry.
• Services support s manager um plant Services support s manager um plant industry<05:57:18.600>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• a resilient mix of native grasses.
• a resilient mix of native grasses.
• planted with a resilient mix of native planted with a resilient mix of native grasses<00:51:14.720
• New York Times highlighting native New York Times highlighting native pollinator<00:51:21.559>
• One is generation that we own, like our nuclear plants, our coal plants, our gas plants, some of our

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But not all non native species are considered invasive.
• species. ability to x-ray shipments for non native species.
• Some non native species are Lancaster Rehomed higher frequency than others.
• 1700 of the 7,000 requests to Rehome Non native pets.
• And on Babcock, Webb WMA, but use can impact native native species such as gopher tortoises.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wanted to build a gas turbine plant, a gas generation plant today, it would be five years before
• Indian Energy, which has played a pivotal role. or can play a pivotal role for the 574 tribes and Native
• American tribes in America and the Alaska Natives to make sure that we're executing on the mission and
• delivering results. to support the Alaskan Natives.

Keywords: nominations, Undersecretary of Energy, Undersecretary of Science, Preston Griffith, Dario Gil, energy policy, scientific innovation

Summary: The meeting was convened to discuss several significant nominations, particularly focusing on Preston Wills Griffith III for Undersecretary of Energy and Dr. Dario Gil for Undersecretary of Science. The committee underscored the importance of these roles in shaping American energy policy and scientific innovation. The discussion highlighted the nominees' backgrounds, with Griffith having extensive experience at the Department of Energy and the White House, and Gil bringing expertise in quantum technology and energy research. Members expressed a strong desire to understand the nominees' perspectives on current challenges facing the energy sector, including regulatory mandates and national security concerns. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations of the candidates and their proposed approaches to pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Bellnap<00:24:12.559> County, whereas a native of Bellnap County, whereas a native of Bellnap
• <05:33:46.160> Utilities to again own power plants. Utilities to again own power plants.
• <05:34:41.760> You again own power plants in our state.
• You again own power plants in our state.
• African-American, the first Native African-American, the first Native American,<06:41:05.120>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The plants and the transmission, which would be after the plant, are all regulated by the Public Service
• Bottom left, a flash steam plant. So hot water is. Bottom left, a flash steam plant.
• Power plants versus interconnecting.
• the flash steam power plant.
• The technology development, column three, electricity generation, plant built, plant run, six cents per

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a Native American tribe right next door to the plant, and we work hand in hand with them and
• the plant.
• the plant.
• “To be at the plant sites with the controls and the security that those plants have.
• new plants on those same sites.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I watched dental practice is not far from the USF main campus or 3 children are Tampa natives and had
• I'm firmly planted in our community and has served for patient care community service.
• a lot of the workforce and a lot of the training we were planning to open up their frame and power plant
• we were planning to open up their frame and power plant with aviation mechanics.
• I'm a native Floridian wrap here in south Florida.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The remaining funds will cover staffing in the native plants and canoe crop nurseries that provide training
• The remaining funds will cover staffing in the native plants and canoe crop nurseries that provide training
• <01:53:50.880> Hawaiian I'm here on behalf of Native Hawaiian I'm here on behalf of Native
• highest poverty rates and largest Native highest poverty rates and largest Native Hawaiian<02:57
• Seeds of native wine plants are needed to restore areas burned by fire.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing focused on Act 310 grants and aid, with committee members hearing one-minute testimony from organizations first in person and then by Zoom. At the outset, the chairs explained there would be no Q&A during the briefing and asked testifiers to focus on how federal cuts were affecting their work. The meeting was organized by registration number and included both neighbor island and Oʻahu applicants. Testimony centered on organizations seeking state support to offset federal funding losses or anticipated reductions. Health and social service providers described impacts from Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidy, Title X, and other federal changes, including Aloha Care, Community Clinic of Maui, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Alcoholic Rehabilitation Services of Hawaiʻi, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Other groups highlighted losses affecting food security, housing, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, including the Kohala Center, Feeding Hawaiʻi Together, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Dynamic Community Solutions, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Several arts, youth, and education organizations also testified, including Hawaiʻi Literacy, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Kids Hurt Too Hawaiʻi, and US Vets, each requesting funding to preserve programs and staffing. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing. The only action was procedural: the chairs moved through the applicant list, limited testimony time, and then transitioned from neighbor island in-person testimony to Oʻahu and later Zoom participants.