Transcript Highlights:

• I see one well since 2021 along the entire length of the Columbia River.
• The counties and their partners in the basin are continuing to fund this position.
• The counties and their partners in the basin are continuing to fund this position.
• But the county and the folks in the basin that are already paying...
• But the county and the folks in the basin that are already paying for that position to exist to carry

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• federally funded salmon and steelhead habitat improvement projects in the upper Salmon and the Clearwater basins
• They also stabilize headwaters feeding the Snake River Basin, shaping water security for downstream agricultural
• When mining runoff enters those rivers, it doesn't only damage habitat... For millennia.
• When mining runoff enters those rivers, it doesn't only damage habitat.
• Progress on paper does not repair poison rivers.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And logistically and scientifically, there are so many different areas that each stormwater basin is
• One of the tribe's matriarchs was born at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers at the
• The river systems here, the waterways, the watershed—it's something the tribe is connected to.
• The same polluted runoff goes into our lakes and our rivers, fueling harmful algal blooms that sicken
• Of the safe drinking water threshold for nitrate and other applicable TMDLs in basin plans.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Amit Blair, and I'm a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Bills: SB231 , SB667 , SB689 , SB825 , SB965 , SB992 , SB1059 , SB1220 , SB2368 , SB2601

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• the people of San Diego, the people of California, with a $46 million allocation for cross-border rivers
• Walker Group on behalf of the Kern County Water Agency, Kings River Interests, San Bernardino Valley
• Second, want to echo our state support on behalf of the Salinas Valley Basin, Petaluma Valley, and Sonoma
• Second, want to echo our state support on behalf of the Salinas Valley Basin, Petaluma Valley. to echo
• our state support on behalf of the Salinas Valley Basin, Petaluma Valley, and Sonoma Valley, groundwater

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called the River Days of Action.
• Basin Fishery Commission Act.
• SCR 54 by Senator Womack provides relative to the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act.
• SCR 54 by Senator Womack provides relative to the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act.
• SCR 54 by Senator Womack memorializes Congress to pass and fund the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission

Bills: HB410 , HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HR307 , HR273 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR32 , HB776 , HB42 , HB119 , HB159 , HB302 , HB1017 , HB1028 , SB217 , SB283 , HB953 , SB208 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB74 , HB75 , HB258 , HB259 , HB414 , HB459 , HB784 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1095 , HB1220 , HB1252 , SB469 , SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• Midland sits at the center of the activity, and the Permian Basin and the greater area are producing
• The state of Texas has benefited tremendously from the success of Midland and the Permian Basin.
• We, we, there should never be a lack of reliable energy in the Permian Basin. I agree.
• He said TCEQ needs to develop salinity gradient standards for the basin estuaries.
• Our basin nurseries serve as nurseries for Texas' multi-billion-dollar fishing industry.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So between December 5th and December 22nd of last year, we had a series of severe atmospheric rivers
• That's about 300 to 600 percent of normal... ...flowing down into our river basins.
• We had 33 rivers flood, 18 of them exceeding major flood stage. Three rivers set records.
• Essentially, what it did is provide a floodwater catch basin.
• The Puyallup River within my district hasn't been dredged since 1989 due to salmon protection.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2579, which would create a Public Media Broadcaster Program and a Digital Equity Program funded by a 20-cent-per-line monthly tax on wireless, prepaid wireless, VoIP, and landline service. Staff explained that 80% of the revenue would support public media grants, 20% would support digital equity grants, and a small share could be used for administration. The prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Stearns, and many public media, community media, and digital equity supporters testified that public radio and television provide emergency alerts, local news, education, training, and community connection, especially in rural and underserved areas, and that federal funding cuts have made state support more urgent. Several witnesses described how public media helped with emergency communications, youth training, Indigenous programming, and access to local information. Opposition came from CTIA and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes. CTIA argued the tax would add to already high wireless taxes in Washington and would be regressive because low-income residents rely heavily on wireless service. Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes objected to the bill as another tax increase and said it would worsen affordability. One supporter said an amendment would be offered to address a misunderstanding in the fiscal note. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then received a cybersecurity and critical infrastructure briefing from state emergency management and cybersecurity officials. They described Washington’s layered cybersecurity model, the role of state agencies, the Fusion Center, WOTEC, the National Guard, and the Emergency Management Division, and the growing threat from ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and AI-enabled attacks. Members asked about volunteer cyber response capacity, the most vulnerable sectors, and whether the legislature should fund more real-time threat monitoring and intelligence sharing. Officials said the state is working to establish a volunteer cyber incident response team and that the main gap is real-time monitoring across participating local and private networks. The committee also heard updates on the December 2025 flooding response and wildfire resilience. Emergency management officials reported widespread flooding, landslides, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and infrastructure damage, but said mitigation investments helped prevent worse outcomes. They identified gaps in statewide alerting, search and rescue coordination, and local emergency management capacity, and said a statewide alert system like Oregon’s would require ongoing funding. In the wildfire update, DNR and partner agencies described increasing wildfire risk, the use of aircraft, AI-enabled detection cameras, and common operating pictures, and ongoing work on hazard and risk mapping, community wildfire preparedness, and home hardening. Members asked about predictive technology, sediment removal, and other mitigation tools, and officials said they are working with universities and federal partners to improve prevention and response.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's at the Feather River Adventist School in Oroville.
• moment of silence to honor Roman and Elias, their families, their classmates, and the entire Feather River
• and guests, please rise as we observe a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting at Feather River
• While many assembly districts have part of the Mojave, Sonoran, Colorado, and Great Basin deserts, I'm

Transcript Highlights:

• The rivers of Northern California are world-renowned fishing destinations that form the economic and
• Chair, Mike Sharif, with Fanslaw and Government Affairs on behalf of River Partners in support.
• Chair, Mike Sharif, with Fanslaw and Government Affairs on behalf of River Partners in support.
• Chair, Mike Sharif with Fanslaw and Government Affairs on behalf of River Partners in support.
• I represent the Morongo Basin residents for reasonable Western Joshua Tree regulations.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, seriously, an entire sea basin filled in a matter of months.
• </c> seriously, an entire sea bel uh basin seriously, an entire sea bel uh basin filled<00:08:36.000>
• from Maple Wind Farm; a risk management outreach specialist and farm teams advisor from the White River
• Specialist, Intervil Center, Executive Director,<00:39:55.760><c> Connecticut</c><00:39:56.640><c> River
• </c><00:39:57.119><c> Watershed</c> Director, Connecticut River Watershed Director, Connecticut River

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He looked upstream of us at the UGRA and GBRA river sensors, and those river gauge sensors were offline
• But you don't know what that does to our basin, right?
• It's about half the size of the larger Guadalupe River Camp.
• And so we have no plans for this summer to open Guadalupe River camp.
• The Eastlands were doing this on the Guadalupe River.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Take a look at Google Maps pictures recently, and you will see online the mess we have in the Permian Basin
• Aquifers, rivers, and lakes will be contaminated.
• I work with communities in southeast New Mexico in the Permian Basin and have been in the oil fields
• affirmative legislative action across many things, whether that's the Healthy Soils Act, whether that's River
• Leibrook is in the Permian Basin, no, in the San Juan Basin; Jefferson is in the Permian Basin.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other programs include the Columbia River Basin Program as well as the Beach Act, which Representative
• Other programs include the Columbia River Basin Program as well as the Beach Act, which Representative
• </c> programs include the Columbia River programs include the Columbia River Basin<05:16:09.680><c> Program
• Uh, the Columbia River Basin is one of our largest watersheds.
• Uh, the Columbia River Basin<05:20:14.638><c> is</c><05:20:14.798><c> one</c><05:20:14.878><c> of</c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:33.200><c> as</c> bit more on our side of the river as bit more on our side of the river as
• </c> uh this is the yellow Medicine River uh this is the yellow Medicine River Watershed<01:20:15.120
• We're supporting Soil and Water districts in the Lake Superior Basin.
• </c><01:28:55.880><c> uh</c> districts in the lake Superior Basin uh districts in the lake Superior Basin
• </c> New Brighton and the Mississippi River New Brighton and the Mississippi River it's<01:29:46.360>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This region encompasses the headwaters of the Snake River system, including the Henry's Fork and South
• in the ground here is the most effective way to sustain groundwater levels across the eastern Snake River
• It also supports the Upper Snake River Study to identify new surface storage opportunities to handle
• We support the Little Wood River Channel project, which is flood control to make sure the city of Gooding
• support the continuing securing of water supply by making sure that our aquifer in the eastern Snake River

Summary: The Senate convened with 34 members present, approved the previous day’s journal, and heard an opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The chaplain’s prayer focused on drought, low snowpack, and asking for rain and conservation, and the Senate also noted Senator Woodward’s absence due to his son’s injury. Senator Den Hartog outlined the day’s plan, including gubernatorial appointments and several water-related concurrent resolutions. The Senate confirmed David Dean to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board and Amy Anderson to the Commission of Pardons and Parole after committee reports and brief debate highlighting Dean’s financial and business background and Anderson’s 30 years with the Department of Corrections. The chamber also received House Bill 559 and introduced several Senate bills, including measures on state budget limits, rural health transformation, chiropractic prescribing, mental health detention, blindness reporting, and child protection. The main policy action centered on water resolutions. SCR 117, supporting Water District 4 projects such as managed aquifer recharge, cloud seeding, infrastructure modernization, and the Upper Snake River Study, passed after debate. SCR 118, supporting Water District 3 projects in the Magic Valley, including Milner Dam work, the Little Wood River Channel project, and canal improvements, also passed by roll call despite several senators voting no over cloud seeding language. SCR 119, supporting Water District 2 projects including Treasure Valley recharge, the Mountain Home Air Force Base water conveyance project, and Anderson Ranch Dam work, was adopted by voice vote. The Senate then moved through second-reading business, referred SB 1232 to the 14th order for possible amendment, and adjourned until 11:00 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Peace River Basin is home to much of what's left in Florida citrus production, as well as natural
• My hometown of Wachula sits about dead center of the basin and is marked on the coin with an orange.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, presentation of the colors, and the national anthem. The chamber welcomed cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, former Senate presidents and colleagues, and other guests. Senators also observed moments of silence honoring former Senator Geraldine Thompson and former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and the Senate dedicated its 2024-2026 handbook to Thompson in recognition of her work in education and civics. The main action of the day was adoption of SCR 1294, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session in the House chamber at 11 a.m. that day to receive a message from Governor Ron DeSantis. The resolution was adopted without objection, rules were waived, and it was immediately certified to the House. The Secretary was also directed to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was convened and ready to proceed with the 2025 regular session. In a lengthy opening-day address, the President outlined the session’s priorities, emphasizing rural Florida, citrus and agriculture, government efficiency, IT and cybersecurity reform, administrative rule review, affordability, insurance and property tax relief, autism services, veterans’ support, mental health and child welfare legislation, Everglades restoration, public school administrative efficiency, and food insecurity. No substantive debate or roll-call votes were taken beyond the unanimous adoption of the concurrent resolution. The Senate then adjourned until March 12, 2025, or upon the call of the President.

Transcript Highlights:

• A Permian Basin oil company executive said that this high level waste will put one of the biggest oil
• one of our Texas current nuclear power plants is releasing tritium, a radioactive isotope, into our rivers

Bills: HB 14 , HB 106 , HB 146 , HB 267 , HB 274 , HB 1127 , HB 1359 , HB 1393 , HB 1584 , HB 1640 , HB 1710 , HB 2152 , HCR 101 , HJR 8 , HR 51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• to establish a reliability plan for regions with rapid electrical load growth including the Permian Basin
• House bill 2152 which is what you have in front of you will do is simply require that the Permian Basin
• Our ERCOT to update the Permian Basin Transmission Reliability Plan every five years to make sure that
• fiscal note and included a reliability plan for different regions. in the area, including the Permian Basin
• why now they're they're applying number one it's just such so much more limited to just the Permian Basin

Bills: HB14 , HB 106 , HB146 , HB267 , HB274 , HB 1127 , HB1359 , HB1393 , HB1584 , HB1640 , HB1710 , HB2152 , HCR101 , HJR8 , HR51

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also two non-recurring items, one for Colorado River Basin support for $2 million, recommended
• As we see diminishing river flows, that's going to be increasingly important.
• The whole Viacito River will move over to my property.
• Was there a... ...meeting called on the Colorado River Water Association?
• in the Colorado Basin with significant consequence for New Mexico.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all