Transcript Highlights:

• reduction.
• Ten states, including our We need to make smart decisions about recycling and waste reduction.
• The waste reduction needs assessment, such as the one proposed in S-570, is designed to provide that
• A waste reduction needs assessment provides that foundation and ensures future data.
• A waste reduction needs assessment provides that foundation and ensures future legislation delivers the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record. Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language. Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, HB 295, Comprehensive Waste Reduction Recycling Plan, by Representative Casello.
• The bill instructs the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive waste reduction
• Comprehensive Waste Reduction Recycling Plan by Rep. H.B. 295.
• Comprehensive waste reduction recycling plan by Rep. Casello.
• The bill instructs the Department of Environmental Protection to Development Comprehensive Waste Reduction

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met for its first meeting of session and heard four bills. HB 209, the State Parks Preservation Act, would limit development in state parks and require stronger public notice and participation for land management plan changes. Members discussed protections for cabins and existing lodging, and an amendment aligned the bill with the Senate and clarified conservation-based recreational uses. Support came from Audubon Florida, Nature Conservancy, and others, and the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute after a unanimous roll call. HB 143 would create a Florida Resilient Buildings Tax Credit for new construction and retrofits that meet LEED-based resiliency standards, with a new advisory committee under DBPR to help administer the program. An amendment moved the process under DBPR, added UCF and FIU to the advisory council, and made technical conforming changes. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Boca Raton city council member and was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one no vote. HB 295 would direct DEP to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan based on its 2020 recycling report, including education, market development, and recommendations for statutory changes. Testimony emphasized that the plan would be voluntary and would not impose costs or mandates on homeowners or businesses. The bill passed without amendments and was reported favorably. HB 585 would let owners of former phosphate mining lands record notice and obtain a Department of Health radiation survey to support a narrow defense against strict liability claims; an amendment clarified the notice content and limited the definition to mined lands, not gyp stacks. The bill drew extensive questions about notice, radiation thresholds, disclosure to buyers, and liability scope, but supporters from Mosaic, the Florida Chamber, and a health physicist argued it would improve transparency and help redevelop lands. It was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one soft yes and one no vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Erica Parker, Californians Against Waste, in support. Thank you.
• , Airs to Our Ocean, Zero Waste San Diego, Zero Waste U.S., Unspun, UCLA, The Last Plastic Straw, Surfrider
• And so it's not about reduction intensity. It is about an aggregate total reduction.
• We're not going in cutting down large trees for fuel reduction.
• The Biden EPA did not give the South Coast rule any emission reduction credit.

Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• , fibers, animal waste, or the organic portion of solid waste.
• waste, urban wood waste, biogas from animal agriculture, corn, soybeans, green hydrogen, regenerative
• widely and include agriculture waste widely and include agriculture waste forestry<00:35:53.520>
• > biog<00:35:56.440> gas forestry waste Urban wood waste biog gas forestry waste Urban
• threshold some would be carbon reduction threshold some would be 75%<00:36:14.440> reduction<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , methane reduction, and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
• AB 333 Alanis, waste glass market development payment, holding committee.
• AB 623 Dixon, fuel reduction...
• AB 333 Alinez waste glass market development payment holding committee.
• AB 623 Dixon fuel reduction. AB 623, Dixon, fuel reduction reports, holding committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.

Transcript Highlights:

• million of general fund reductions million of general fund reductions contained<00:29:39.000>
• an increase less the 660,000 reduction an increase less the 660,000 reduction to<00:31:21.279>
• for electronic and battery waste.
• We know that there are other ways to deal with food waste and organic waste than ending up in landfills
• closing the landfills because the waste closing the landfills because the waste is<01:05:48.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're sick and tired of wasting Spending.
• Musk, let's talk about the waste.
• I trust nobody here wants to see waste.
• Talk about a waste of taxpayer dollars.
• Time is wasting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Far exceeding our required carbon intensity reductions.
• There was just a study completed by UC Riverside that showed the reduction was at a full 82% reduction
• You can mitigate wildfires when you use forest waste.
• You could reduce open burning of forest and ag waste.
• We are one of the pioneers in organic waste diversion, and we take that organic waste and, instead of

Summary: The hearing was a select committee discussion on the transportation costs and impacts of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), with opening remarks from the co-chairs and members emphasizing affordability, climate goals, and the need to explain the program’s benefits to the public. The first panel from CARB and the California Energy Commission described how LCFS works as a market-based, declining carbon-intensity program that rewards lower-carbon fuels, supports zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and is intended to reduce greenhouse gases and local air pollution. They argued the program has driven billions in private investment, increased alternative fuel use, and that LCFS credit prices are not the main driver of retail gasoline prices, which they said are dominated by crude oil, refining, and distribution costs. Members questioned the panel on the gap between the regulatory target and actual carbon-intensity performance, the role of credit banking, which fuels are generating the most credits, how the 2025 amendments affected the program, and whether LCFS credits are truly additional. CARB explained that banking helps cost-effectiveness and investment certainty, that ethanol, renewable diesel, and biodiesel currently provide the largest volumes while electricity is expected to grow, and that the updated targets were informed by the state’s 2045 carbon-neutrality goals and the 2030 scoping plan. The Energy Commission said its data show environmental programs add some cost to gasoline but do not drive price volatility, which is mainly tied to crude oil and refinery margins. The second panel, featuring academic and research experts, focused on program design, out-of-state credit generation, and broader economic effects. Speakers said LCFS is successful because it ties incentives to emissions benefit, uses life-cycle analysis, and allows flexible compliance that lowers costs compared with more direct regulation. They also said the program’s benefits generally outweigh costs, that it can reduce air pollution disparities and support equity, but that some issues—especially indirect land use change, additionality, and older program assumptions—need more research and may warrant future rulemaking. One researcher noted that while LCFS likely raises gasoline prices somewhat, the effect is uncertain by design and usually smaller than normal market fluctuations, and another warned that limiting credit generation too narrowly could create legal and efficiency problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• waste forestry waste Urban agriculture waste forestry waste Urban wood<00:30:16.360> waste<00:
• might provide the largest uh reduction might provide the largest uh reduction but<00:45:26.720><
• credit through the inflation reduction credit through the inflation reduction act<01:02:16.799> known
• Horton, Chair Anderson, and Representative Agbaje, when I talk waste in the woods, we have mill waste
• Horton, Chair Anderson, and Representative Agbaje, when I talk waste in the woods, we have mill waste

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee held an introductory meeting that began with housekeeping, a correction to the committee rules (the room number should be G3, not G35), and member and staff introductions. Members described their districts, agricultural ties, and priorities for the session, including consumer food costs, urban agriculture, farm economics, livestock disease preparedness, and support for Minnesota’s agricultural sectors. No votes were taken during the introductory portion. The committee then turned to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Deputy Commissioner Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because of its potential for agriculture, forestry, and clean energy, and reviewed Minnesota’s 2023 SAF tax credit and related sales tax exemption. She said the state has feedstocks and should continue investing so Minnesota can attract SAF production and support rural jobs. Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines testified that aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s main path to net zero by 2050; he cited current use of SAF, the need to scale production, and Minnesota’s role in supplying feedstocks and hosting future production. Peter Frost of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building the full SAF value chain in Minnesota. He emphasized that Greater MSP is coordinating investors and partners to grow the regional economy and said the SAF effort is intended to create jobs and economic development. Committee members did not ask questions during the portion captured, and no formal action or vote was recorded on the SAF presentations in this transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• goes in the infectious waste barrel and the other non-infectious waste can go in the general waste barrel
• unlawful shipment of infectious waste. unlawful shipment of infectious waste.
• waste.
• in the amount of medical waste that's hitting our solid waste facilities.
• So, we're not just imposing fines, but we really have a real reduction in the amount of medical waste

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• determine whether or not a reduction determine whether or not a reduction from<00:16:50.800>
• So that is a new $3.50 cent solid waste surcharge that is per ton and that is to fund our solid waste
• So that is a new $3.50 cent solid waste surcharge that is per ton and that is to fund our solid waste
• So that is a new $3.50 cent solid waste surcharge that is per ton and that is to fund our solid waste
• In the in the course of reduction.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second level of waste, or tenant waste, manifests when the agency does not fill the space that it
• Total waste is the summation of these two levels of waste, multiplied by the space allocation standard
• This level of waste equals 198 unused offices.
• This computes a second-level waste totaling 1,225,152 square feet.
• This means that the combination of OMES waste and tenant waste totals 2,949,984 square feet, which could

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• days to reduce contamination in our waste.
• Number two, deposits work to reduce waste.
• So I guess that makes me a bona fide waste geek, trash geek.
• Thank you for all you do in waste reduction. Chair Barrett, Chair Cusack, good to be here.
• Scarsdale or any of us sort of in the waste reduction space, the bottle bill is one of many steps, right

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused mainly on two subjects: expansion of the Massachusetts bottle bill and bills to remove woody biomass from state clean-energy and greenhouse-gas programs. On the bottle bill, supporters from municipal, environmental, public health, and local government groups argued that the 5-cent deposit is outdated, redemption rates have fallen, and expanding coverage to more beverage containers—especially water, sports drinks, and small alcohol bottles—would reduce litter, cut plastic waste and microplastics, and save cities and towns money. Several speakers also backed raising handling fees for retailers and redemption centers, and some supported restoring a Clean Environment Fund so unclaimed deposits would support recycling-related purposes. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Beverage Association and the National Waste and Recycling Association, argued that curbside recycling and transfer-station systems are more convenient, that the targeted containers are valuable to local recycling programs, and that the proposal would shift costs onto consumers and municipalities. Committee members questioned witnesses about redemption rates, handling fees, the 2014 ballot question, and whether the bill had changed from prior sessions. The biomass portion drew strong support from Springfield officials, state legislators, environmental advocates, and public health groups. They said woody biomass should not count as clean energy because burning wood produces particulate pollution and carbon emissions, and they warned that current law contains a loophole that could help finance the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant in Springfield. Witnesses emphasized Springfield’s air-quality and asthma burdens, the public health impacts of PM2.5, and the need to close the loophole before a January 1, 2026 deadline. One forest-industry witness supported a separate bill promoting modern wood heat with pollution controls, arguing it is cleaner than older wood systems and has minimal ratepayer cost, while noting that those credits would be affected if the governor’s broader energy affordability bill repeals the alternative energy portfolio standard. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs managed testimony by alternating between the bottle bill and biomass topics, asking speakers to keep remarks brief and to note when they agreed with prior testimony. Several legislators also testified in support of the bills, and committee members asked follow-up questions on deposit levels, retailer handling fees, recycling economics, and the public-health rationale for the biomass restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:43.640> in entitlement program reductions in entitlement program reductions in federal
• well I we'll always look for reductions well I we'll always look for cost<01:09:00.799> reduction
• c> going to find waste in medical going to find waste in medical assistance<01:27:33.360> they're<
• assistance they're going to find waste assistance they're going to find waste in<01:27:34.440>
• We have wasteful money, wasteful spending, fraud, and an excess and bloat of government that we do not

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It puts in place the reductions that we need to make in New Mexico.
• They need to be able to determine the greenhouse gas reductions by sector.
• In particular, extending to the 75% reduction milestone by 2040 and also the 100% reduction by 2050.
• With that last 25% reduction.
• And I don't think that's good; I think that there's time wasted and there's opportunity wasted when we

Transcript Highlights:

• We treated FTE reductions as a number and then salary reduction as a budget item.”
• We considered FTEs as straight staff reduction, but our reduction, our proposed But our reduction, our
• We treated FTE reductions as a number and then salary reduction as a budget item.
• So you've offered a reduction.
• I was tasked with reporting on waste reduction efforts, and one of the key ways to combat waste is to

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency travel, budget reduction exercises, and member reports from agency meetings. Early discussion focused on the Department of Management Services (DMS), where members questioned the cost of travel for four out-of-state data/cyber staff and the secretary’s absence. DMS defended the hires as highly specialized enterprise cybersecurity and data personnel, said the positions were lawfully paid and posted, and explained that the staff work on statewide data cataloging and cyber risk reduction rather than agency-by-agency systems. Members also raised concerns about fleet inventory discrepancies and requested follow-up information on hiring, travel, and data inventory timelines. The chair said she would consider travel guardrails and possible reductions, and noted that DMS, the Lottery, and the Florida Commission on Human Relations did not meet the requested reduction target, while the Public Employee Relations Commission did not submit reductions. The committee then heard from the Florida Lottery about the secretary’s trip to Paris for the World Lottery Convention. Lottery staff said the trip was reimbursed through the multi-state lottery organization and was intended to share best practices and improve operations, though members questioned the value of the travel and requested reimbursement records and the trip agenda. The subcommittee also reviewed agency reduction exercises from several agencies. The Department of Revenue exceeded its target and was praised for frugality; DFS, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Office of Financial Regulation, the Office of Insurance Regulation, the Public Service Commission, the Division of Administrative Hearings, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation each described how they met or approached their reduction goals, often through vacancies, reversions, or expense cuts. OIR warned that further reductions could hurt insurance regulation capacity, while OFR and PSC said their reductions were based on historical reversions and lower post-COVID travel or vacancy levels. Members then reported back on agency meetings. DMS members raised fleet tracking, real property audits, salary studies, and health plan savings ideas, and asked for follow-up on the Florida PALM project, cybersecurity grants, and state IT modernization. DFS members said the agency was efficient and that its Palm-related work and insurance consumer programs were important. Lottery members emphasized the agency’s revenue generation for education and its low administrative overhead. Gaming Control members highlighted storage costs for seized gaming equipment and suggested technology-based alternatives. PERC members said a union-related law had doubled their workload and asked for more staffing and possible AI assistance. OIR members stressed the need for a Tampa satellite office and more resources to recruit and retain specialized staff. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue reviewing travel, staffing, and reductions with an eye toward taxpayer value and transparency.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really just to clear some confusion regarding our Waste Management boards.
• In fact, I've only known our Waste Management board, I guess, affectionately as the 109 board because
• <00:02:36.519> Management um that directs our Waste Management um that directs our Waste Management
• a reduction in their fees.
• a reduction in their fees.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:12 Introduction of Guests 01:09 HB 88 Discussion 01:46 HB 88 Roll Call Vote 03:24 HB 346 Discussion 04:20 HB 346 Roll Call Vote 21:58 Chair Comments 24:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 88, which was described as a short bill to clarify procedures for Waste Management boards, including term limits, appointments, and making sure consolidated governments actively recruit community members and make openings easier to find. The sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve confusion about members staying on after terms expire. The bill received no opposition, passed the committee unanimously, and was reported favorably for the floor. The committee then took up House Bill 346, as amended by a committee substitute. The sponsor explained that the bill responds to a dispute over air emission fees, especially for emergency generators and backup generators used for worker safety and limited non-emergency testing. The bill would exempt emergency generators and backup generators operating 100 hours or less for maintenance/testing from fees, while also removing an existing 4,000-ton cap so the per-ton fee would drop for most permitted sources. Members discussed the possible impact on utilities and ratepayers, with concerns raised that costs could be passed through to consumers and affect coal-dependent areas. The sponsor and another member argued the change would generally reduce fees for most sources and incentivize emissions reductions; the cabinet was described as neutral, and the affected utilities were identified as TVA, LG&E, East Kentucky Power, and Big Rivers, with only TVA having raised comments. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed the committee with a favorable recommendation, though one member voted no and several members explained yes votes while expressing ongoing concerns about future rate impacts. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed broader concerns about utility surcharges and the need to monitor the effects of legislation on ratepayers, but those comments were not part of the bill under consideration. The chair noted that future meetings may include more bills and could start earlier if needed, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• 75% recycling and 15% waste reduction by 2030 goal.
• <00:20:51.120> Uh, Partnership on Waste and Energy. Uh, Partnership on Waste and Energy.
• <00:21:00.320> Organics waste management hierarchy. Organics waste management hierarchy.
• <00:21:17.039> reduction<00:21:18.000> by recycling and 15% waste reduction by recycling
• and 15% waste reduction by 2030<00:21:19.039> goal.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• spent and rate reductions occur. spent and rate reductions occur.
• And statewide benefits and burdens of major solid waste facilities.
• major solid waste facilities. major solid waste facilities.
• <00:38:31.760> facility benefit of a solid waste facility benefit of a solid waste facility
• against the public need for solid waste against the public need for solid waste disposal.<00:44:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they worried about the waste? What are their concerns about the waste?
• as it relates to high-level waste.
• Our own strategy for waste.
• some of the legacy waste.
• You're not going to waste your time, so. Out of there, you're not going to waste your time, so.

Keywords: 908, all