Video & Transcript Research : 'mining permit'
Page 194 of 500
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 5, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 105, Thoroughbred permit holders, by Representative Anderson.
- There are currently three thoroughbred permits issued in the state of Florida.
- There are currently three thoroughbred permits issued in the state of Florida.
- Two of those permits are currently active, the two parks that I mentioned.
- So it's encompassing both of the permit holders, my understanding.
Summary:
The subcommittee first heard presentations on protecting minors from age-restricted products from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Attorney General’s office. DBPR described its Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco division’s licensing and enforcement work on alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, and hemp sales, including inspections, undercover underage-purchase operations, arrests, and coordination with the Attorney General on hemp and nicotine enforcement. Members asked about trends in youth use, retailer training, use of underage decoys in investigations, and whether additional education or penalties could help reduce sales to minors. The Attorney General’s office then outlined the new nicotine dispensing device directory created under last year’s law, explaining the criteria for listing devices attractive to minors, the notice process for manufacturers and retailers, and enforcement consequences once listed devices become contraband. Members discussed online sales, product descriptions, notice to industry, and whether more outreach to parents, schools, and local partners could help.
The committee then took up House Bill 105, which would decouple thoroughbred pari-mutuel permit holders from the requirement to conduct live racing in order to operate card rooms/slot gaming. The bill sponsor said the measure would align thoroughbred permits with other live-event permits and argued the industry is already declining and heavily subsidized, so the Legislature should not force a private business to keep an unprofitable line of business. An amendment by Rep. Yeager was adopted to remove live-racing requirements for thoroughbred permit holders who are card room licensees, broadening the bill’s effect to include Tampa Bay Downs as well as Gulfstream Park. Public testimony was sharply divided: supporters said decoupling would give tracks flexibility and not end racing, while opponents from the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry warned it would undermine live racing, breeding, jobs, farmland, and the broader equine economy.
After debate, several members spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing business flexibility, declining foal counts, and the view that the state should not require a private industry to maintain racing to keep gaming rights. Opponents argued the bill could damage a signature Florida industry and its economic impact. The committee then voted 10-6 to report HB 105 favorably, with several members voting no and some excused. The meeting then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Public Safety Previews New Weapons Screening at State Capitol - 02/13/26
Transcript Highlights:
- >> So the question was about permits to carry.
- That process, again, you'll alert security or staff that you have a permit.
- Uh, go through that permit process again with a Minnesota ID or the state ID and move you along into
- <00:10:15.839>
to uh you can still if you have a permit to uh you can still if you have a - possession of a concealed carry permit possession of a concealed carry permit and<00:15:50.160><
Summary:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogoich announced that weapon screening will begin Tuesday at the Minnesota State Capitol, at the start of the 2026 legislative session. They said the change is based on an independent security assessment and the Axtell report’s top recommendation, and is intended as an added layer of protection rather than a weapons ban or a change in state law. Both officials emphasized that the Capitol should remain open, accessible, and welcoming while reducing preventable risks, citing increased threats nationwide and the recent murders of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman and the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman.
Officials said visitors will enter through four public access points, with all other exterior doors closed to public entry. The primary entrance will be the south ground-level entrance, with additional access through tunnels connecting to the Senate building, State Office Building, Parking Lot C, and the Judicial Center. They said the screening process should take only seconds for most people, with bags scanned separately and additional checks only if needed. Prohibited items will not be stored by the Capitol, and the public was told to plan ahead, carry fewer items, and follow staff instructions. The Capitol will close to the general public at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays unless legislative business is still underway, in which case accommodations will be made.
In questions, officials said people with valid permit-to-carry authorization may still bring a firearm if it is otherwise legal, but they must declare the permit, show government ID, and go through screening. Elected officials are exempt and will have a separate lane, while staff will be screened. They also said the tunnels will be locked with restricted key-card access, and that the Senate is implementing its own screening, with questions about Senate doors referred there. Jacobson said the State Patrol will cover the costs within its existing budget, and that the process will be evaluated and adjusted as needed to keep it efficient and not a deterrent to visitors.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Modifying when firearms are permitted on school property 2/25/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- principal's discretion to permit principal's discretion to permit firearms<00:15:47.600>
on - So moving to permit-to-carry holders, current law does not allow permit-to-carry holders to carry in
- school based on their permit alone. school based on their permit alone.
- bill [snorts] were enacted, those permit bill [snorts] were enacted, those permit to<00:31:31.760
- >
holders <00:31:41.760>when currently permit to carry holders when currently permit to
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (04/08/2025)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- An employee gets compensable time if they are suffered or permitted to work for the employer.
- An employee gets compensable time if they are suffered or permitted to work for the employer.
- An employee gets compensable time if they are suffered or permitted to work for the employer.
- An employee gets compensable time if they are suffered or permitted to work for the employer.
- An employee gets compensable time if they are suffered or permitted to work for the employer.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 60 (4-15-26) - Part 1
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Mine was at the very top. Man, I felt good about that.
- Mine was at the very top. Mine was at the very top.
- mine Stan Lee came by. mine Stan Lee came by.
- <02:49:26.880>
Mine <02:49:27.160>is So uh God give us all a gift. - Mine is So uh God give us all a gift.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- see if we can kind of sync them up and we'll either pass his version if it's in a place to pass or mine
- see if we can kind of sync them up and we'll either pass his version if it's in a place to pass or mine
- see if we can kind of sync them up and we'll either pass his version if it's in a place to pass or mine
- <01:20:02.239>
was Well, come to think of it, mine was Well, come to think of it, mine was - <01:20:04.880>
If mine went. If mine went.
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then approved the prior journal and allowed bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber received multiple committee reports, including favorable reports on several finance and taxation bills, confirmations, local bills, and a series of resolutions. The Senate also confirmed several appointments to higher education and university boards, including Nicholas J. Balden, Jennifer Wit, Ronnie Stalworth, and Rex Reynolds, using long or previous roll calls as applicable.
The Senate adopted a special order calendar that set up floor consideration of several bills, including measures on physician assistants, seafood/aquaculture, motor vehicles, campaign practices, property insurance and energy reduction, child custody, and school bus drivers. During debate on the special order calendar, Senator Smitherman raised concern that no bills on the calendar were sponsored by minority members, noting a prior understanding that minority-sponsored bills should be represented; Senator Wagner responded that the calendar was prepared based on legislation rather than sponsor party, and the exchange ended with an agreement to continue moving forward. The Senate then adopted the special order calendar and began taking up the listed bills.
On the special order calendar, the Senate advanced House Bill 156 on physician assistant compacts, House Bill 277 on seafood/aquaculture tastings, and House Bill 42 on motor vehicles, with supporters describing each as consumer-friendly or supportive of industry. The chamber also considered local legislation, including bills for Madison, Tallapoosa, and Shelby counties; House Bill 337 for Madison County was amended and carried over, while House Bills 490, 491, and 493 passed after roll-call votes. Throughout the meeting, the Senate also adopted several commendatory and memorial resolutions, including measures honoring individuals, recognizing organizations and events, and naming a highway, with most adopted by voice vote and no recorded opposition.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, but he has continued to be a good friend, um, of mine and a good mentor.
- Um, but he has continued to be a good friend, um, of mine and a good mentor.
- Um, but he has continued to be a good friend, um, of mine and a good mentor.
- Um, but he has continued to be a good friend, um, of mine and a good mentor.
- Please join me in giving him a warm welcome, Senator President. >> [applause] Of mine and a good mentor
Summary:
The Maryland Senate convened with 39 members present and a quorum. The session opened with an invocation by Bishop Antonio Palmer of Kingdom Celebration Center, whose remarks were journalized. The President and members also welcomed several guests to the chamber, including former Delegate Sean Terrence, students from Charles H. Flowers High School and Garrison Forest School, Dr. Lee Snyder as doctor of the day, and Dr. Barbara Ann Palmer in recognition of Women’s History Month. The President also noted that the next day would be pro forma and that some scheduled items would be moved to the following week.
The Senate considered Executive Nominations Report No. 6, covering gubernatorial nominees for boards and commissions including the State Board of Education, MEDCO, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. On motion of the committee chair, the report was special ordered to Tuesday, with members asked to review the list for recusals or related issues. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 890, which concerns an insurance premium receipts tax exemption for captive insurance procured by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems.
On SB 890, the Senate adopted the committee amendments and then adopted a floor amendment offered by the bill sponsor. The amendment was described as replacing the bill’s earlier approach with a two-year moratorium on collection of any related liabilities, followed by a Maryland Insurance Administration report back on ongoing investigations. One senator raised concern that the amendment’s language could require the state to refund taxes already paid by hospitals and others, potentially costing millions, and asked for more time to review it; the motion to special order the bill was defeated. After discussion, the amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading.
At the close of the floor session, committee and delegation announcements were made, including Finance, Triple E, Judicial Proceedings, Budget and Tax, Executive Nominations, and several county delegations. A senator from District 6 also spoke about the anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse and thanked colleagues for bipartisan work on related legislation and recovery efforts.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- have the houses that you have here, but we're surrounded by Forest Service, BLM, reservations, and mine
- I worked up at the mines, and luckily because of this background, I had the perfect job there.
- I worked around a lot of little washes on mine property, roads... ...little washes on mine property,
- And because the mine owned the property, they have very little restrictions.
- We've been working with the Forest Service to try to be allowed to use some of their old mining pits
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Education Finance Committee hears HF2210 3/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- the context my phone is going off like crazy today. 600 range workers are out of a job because the mining
- the context my phone is going off like crazy today. 600 range workers are out of a job because the mining
- the context my phone is going off like crazy today. 600 range workers are out of a job because the mining
- the context my phone is going off like crazy today. 600 range workers are out of a job because the mining
- companies just laid them off how mining companies just laid them off how long<00:14:48.160>
I
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 05/04/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So, I'm reminded by Senator Friend of mine that much like some of the architectural elements in this
- the New York Power Authority's $1 million investment in a proof-of-concept plant at the Empire State Mine
- PLANT AT THE EMPIRE STATE MINE AND NEARBY FOWLER, NEW YORK, HAS PROVEN EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE.
- estimates how New York's investments in areas like nuclear power generation, service, agriculture, mining
- AND TODAY, I AM SO VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS A CONSTITUENT OF MINE, SERGEANT ANDREW
Summary:
The Senate convened with ceremonial opening proceedings, approved the prior journal, and then moved through a series of calendar actions, including discharging and substituting identical companion bills from committee and restoring several bills to the Third Reading Calendar after reconsideration. The chamber also took up a supplemental budget calendar and a controversial supplemental budget extender, with Senator O’Mara questioning the delay in final budget negotiations, the size of the extender, table targets, and unresolved policy issues such as auto insurance reforms, SEQRA, New York for All, and CLCPA changes. Senator Serrano responded that negotiations were ongoing and that the extender was a clean measure to keep state government functioning. The budget extender bills were then passed, with Senator Weik voting in the negative on one of them. The Senate also adopted a resolution memorializing May 4, 2026, as 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day, and hosted Major General Scott Naumann and other Fort Drum leaders and soldiers for remarks on the division’s deployments, readiness, economic impact, and requests for continued state support on items such as microreactors, health care, DMV services, dining facilities, airports, and mineral-related development.
The Fort Drum resolution drew extensive bipartisan praise from Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Minority Leader Ortt, Senator Scarcella-Spanton, Senator Ashby, Senator Walczyk, and others, who emphasized the division’s military history, its role as a major employer and economic driver in Northern New York, and the sacrifices of service members and their families. Several senators highlighted individual soldiers in attendance and their service records, while the resolution was opened for co-sponsorship and adopted. The Senate also recognized a visiting child author, Thomas Ortiz, who was introduced for publishing a book encouraging kindness and friendship.
After the ceremonial segment, the Senate returned to regular business and passed a series of bills on the calendar, including measures affecting environmental conservation, executive law, public service, education, public authorities, real property tax, criminal procedure, election law, and civil rights. Some bills drew negative votes from a bloc of senators, particularly on the environmental, criminal procedure, election, and civil rights measures, but all listed bills were ultimately passed. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee 3/12/25
Rules and Legislative Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- And a small nonprofit like mine in a rural place in an agricultural place absolutely would have, and
- And a small nonprofit like mine in a rural place in an agricultural place absolutely would have, and
- And a small nonprofit like mine in a rural place in an agricultural place absolutely would have, and
- :29.680>
like State funds and a small nonprofit like State funds and a small nonprofit like mine - in a rural place in an agricultural mine in a rural place in an agricultural Place<00:09:34.120>
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Feb 11th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- We're not seeing the permits put forth for this.
- Permitting guidelines provide the details and procedures for permitting the take of tortoises and were
- This is an important graph to see with our permitting trends in Florida.
- As you can imagine, sometimes several tortoises are relocated per permit.
- This process is described in detail in our permitting guidelines.
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 200, which would implement recommendations from DEP’s 2020 Recycling Goal Final Report by creating a technical assistance group to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026. The bill focuses on recycling education and outreach, evaluating the former recycling grant program, and developing markets for recyclable materials. Supporters from the waste and recycling industry and counties said the bill would finally create a real plan to help Florida move toward its recycling goals. The bill was reported favorably.
The committee then considered SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, which would promote green, gray, and hybrid infrastructure, direct USF’s Flood Hub to develop guidelines, require DEP rulemaking on erosion and mangrove protection, and study whether nature-based flood reduction could help lower insurance costs. Supporters appeared in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 7000 as a committee bill to continue a public records exemption protecting site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species.
Members next took up SB 56 on weather modification activities. The bill would prohibit the release of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or sunlight, define geoengineering, increase penalties through an amendment, and create a DEP reporting hotline with possible referral to DOH or emergency management. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill was needed to address public concerns and lack of oversight, while several senators questioned the evidence, the role of state agencies, and whether the bill was ready for passage. Despite opposition from some members, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 62 creating a resilient building tax credit program, after amending it to shift agency references from DEP to DBPR and add university advisory members, and CS for SB 80 to clarify state park management as conservation-based, require public notice and advisory input for plan changes, and improve reporting on park repairs; both bills were reported favorably after testimony from supporters and conservation groups who sought tighter language to prevent incompatible uses.
Finally, the committee received presentations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on gopher tortoise relocation, wildlife disease surveillance, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. FWC described tortoise relocation and recipient-site programs, ongoing monitoring of wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease and feline leukomyelopathy, and efforts to address fish die-offs and update sanctuary agreements amid state-federal jurisdiction issues. No votes were taken on the presentations.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Please note continue if time permits.
- exempts building permit. exempts building permit.
- building permit regarding sheds? building permit regarding sheds?
- And what they're having permits.
- But some are require a building permit.
Keywords:
time share, registration, renewal, consumer protection, real estate, SB2170, North Kohala, Kynnersly East Site, Agribusiness Development Corporation, ADC, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, agricultural development, land acquisition, fee simple, Hawaii Island, Big Island, rural development, food security, sustainable agriculture
Summary:
The joint House Committee on Tourism and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems heard House Bill 2585 on agricultural tourism. The bill would create statewide uniform standards for agritourism in counties that adopt such ordinances, require registration with county planning departments, and require agritourism to remain secondary and accessory to farming. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity supported the measure but recommended amendments to make the language more consistent and to ensure agritourism remains tied to agricultural activity; the Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the bill with the same general guardrails, while the White Tourism Authority offered comments. A member raised concerns about a trailer/roadside-stand provision, and the department ultimately said it did not support that specific language. The chairs then recommended passage with amendments, including a definition of principal farm operations, clarification that agritourism must not interfere with on-farm operations, revised termination rules after 60 consecutive days without active production with notice and cure procedures, restoration of the department’s proposed change to the trailer language, and technical corrections. HB 2585 passed both committees unanimously with excused members noted.
The committees then heard House Bill 2602 on sustainable tourism infrastructure, which would establish a matching grant program in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for capital projects that improve sustainability and climate resilience in the visitor industry. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in support. The chair recommended passage with a committee report note estimating a roughly $5 million cost and a date correction, and both committees adopted the recommendation unanimously.
House Bill 1948 on single-use plastics was also heard. It would prohibit lodging establishments from providing certain personal care products in small plastic containers and impose civil penalties. The Department of Land and Natural Resources stood on its testimony, and the Department of Health supported the waste-reduction goal but suggested the language belonged in a different chapter. The chair recommended an HD1 that would omit lotions from the definition of personal care products, adopt the Department of Health’s proposed clarification about reusable containers, and correct the date; the measure passed both committees unanimously.
Finally, House Bill 1960 on human trafficking was heard. The bill would require the Attorney General to develop human trafficking awareness training for transit accommodation workers, require employers to provide training, keep records, post signage, adopt prevention policies, and report suspected trafficking, with penalties and rulemaking by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The Department of Labor Relations supported the intent but said the Department of Law Enforcement should be the lead agency, and the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the bill while asking for amendments to recognize existing industry programs and apply the requirements equitably. The chair recommended an HD1 incorporating a July 1, 2027 deadline for training materials and employer training, adopting the hotel industry and DLE-related amendments, and making technical corrections; HB 1960 passed both committees unanimously.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Feb 11th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- permits put forth for this.
- This important graph to see with our permitting trends in Florida.
- several tortoises or relocated per permit.
- That's when we issue permits for off-site relocations.
- This process is described in detail in our permitting guidelines.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 21st, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- because every one of the permits that we have in-house, consumptive use permits, is going to have to
- We have put in an LBR request for another FTE to address that permit because every one of the permits
- around 2,800 consumptive use permits—we've got a five-year window to get all of those permits touched
- Lastly, I mentioned a little bit more about our environmental resource permitting program.
- You can see that we've hovered around between 3,000 and 3,500 permits this last year.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from all five water management districts for FY 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year largely because major projects were completed or because grant/appropriation funding is not yet fully reflected in preliminary budgets. Committee members repeatedly asked how districts project operations and maintenance costs, how projects are selected, and what share of staff and spending is devoted to core missions versus administration or regulatory work.
Northwest Florida Water Management District said its preliminary budget is $93.4 million, down about 15%, with 97% of spending tied to core responsibilities and a request for additional regulatory services funding. Suwannee River Water Management District presented a $70.4 million budget, emphasized its rural/agricultural character and spring protection work, and highlighted the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water recharge project; members also discussed its need for an additional FTE to handle consumptive use permit reviews tied to a new lower Santa Fe rule. St. Johns River Water Management District presented a $181 million budget, highlighted major water supply, water quality, flood protection, and land management projects such as Taylor Creek Reservoir, Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Lake Jessup restoration, and said about 93% of its budget supports core missions.
Southwest Florida Water Management District presented a $227.6 million budget, with major spending on alternative water supply, water control structure repairs, watershed projects, and land management; officials said 93.4% of the budget supports core missions and discussed rising construction costs for aging infrastructure. South Florida Water Management District presented the largest budget at $1.05 billion, focused on Everglades restoration, flood control, water supply, and ecosystem recovery; the director described major reservoirs and treatment projects, the EAA Reservoir, and ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The committee took no formal votes on the district budgets and adjourned after the presentations and questions.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- that we often get confused is the difference between permitting and inspection.
- A permit is just a piece of paper that approves a plan.
- I want to point out that the previous speaker on the issue of permitting.
- This bill still requires plenty of permitting and oversight by building officials.
- It's because we're not being permitted and inspected. That would be a different discussion.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 20, 2026 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- a permit requirement for backup power systems.
- Permitting can be hung up from 90 days to six months.
- So there's no permit required but there still will be an inspection.
- The big thing we must understand about the permitting process often is permitting doesn't equate safety
- because permitting is a single piece of paper agreeing to a plan.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Banking and Insurance Mar 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- He's enforcement of local ordinances by requiring local governments to adopt a streamlined permitting
- Thank second floor. >> And other cities in Pinellas County where the sprinkler or the permitting of of
- process annexed by permitting process for sprinklers of 20 heads or less, basically roughly the size
- The scope of the projects that we're talking about that would expedite these permits.
- Usually life safety is a separate permit that is approved after the building permits are approved.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Oct 8th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- A few of those permits over time include the permits like we've seen for the manta ray recently.
- A few of those permits over time include the permits like we've seen for the manoray recently.
- Right now, we're in the permitting process, so 172 permits were issued across four subpopulations that
- We're in the second phase of that permit issuance right now.
- Right now, we're in the permitting process, so 172 permits were issued across four subpopulations that
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government convened with a quorum present and excused Senators Arrington and Pizzo. The committee first took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 1 through 4, and Senator DiCeglie moved to recommend confirmation of all appointees together. The motion passed unanimously, and the appointees were favorably recommended.
The main presentation was from FWC Chief Conservation Officer George Wharton on invasive species management in Florida. He described the scale of the problem, including more than 500 non-native species reported in the state, and outlined FWC’s prevention, containment, removal, outreach, and research efforts. He highlighted risk screenings, the conditional/prohibited species framework, enforcement actions against illegal wildlife trafficking, and public programs such as the Florida Python Challenge, lionfish outreach, the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and the “I’ve Got One” reporting app. He also noted ongoing removal efforts for pythons, tegus, lionfish, and iguanas, and discussed new technologies and partnerships aimed at improving control efforts.
Members asked follow-up questions about FWC issues beyond invasive species, including the status of special activity licenses for threatened species and giant manta rays, the upcoming bear hunt, and whether the committee could help reduce barriers to invasive species removal on federal lands. Wharton said all SAL permits for threatened species are currently suspended pending Commission review, that Florida is on track for a bear hunt this December with 172 permits issued across four subpopulations, and that bear management is based on scientific data while urban bear conflicts still require separate management. He also said federal partners are increasingly cooperative on python control, including commercialization of hides, and that drones, sentinel snakes, robotic lures, and AI-based traps may improve future invasive species removal. Senator Sharief and Senator Burton later requested to be recorded as voting affirmatively on tabs 1 through 4, and the committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Mar 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- ALL ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PERMIT.
- IN ORDER TO OPERATE LEGALLY IN FLORIDA AND HAVE A NO COST PERMIT ISSUED BY SWC TO QUALIFY FOR THIS PERMIT
- WE DO REVOKE PERMITS DEFENDERS OF THE STATE LAW.
- SINCE INCEPTION ON JANUARY 1st, 2023, WE HAVE ISSUED 1,428 PERMITS INCLUDING RENEWAL.
- WE DO OFFER COPIES OF THESE PLACARDS THAT WE GIVE OUT TO PERMITTED LIVERIES AT NO COST TO THEM.