Transcript Highlights:

• at least in my line of work, being in real estate, particularly selling duck hunting properties or deer
• In my farm or business or anything that you do, if you are continuing to use one-time funds to fund ongoing
• It doesn't matter, even if it's on our farm, draining bank accounts to pay for ongoing.

Committee: All HOUSE RULES

Transcript Highlights:

• But it’s a fairly new FFA program, but they work with the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum.
• Chair, Senator Deere, Ms. Martinez. I thank you for your work on the bill.
• into town and then get them back out there so I could finish up whatever work I was doing out on the farms

Bills: SB83 , SB106 , SB107 , SB123 , SJR1

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Many times, for instance, I have a Farm Bureau that's running one.
• Many times, for instance, I have a Farm Bureau that's running one, and they not only have their Farm
• going back to the farmers, to agriculture, as supplements to the community, to job supplement, to farming
• My wife and I own Deer Ridge Distillery in Miller County. I put a different spin on this.

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• explicitly prohibited opting out of aerial treatments, allowing exceptions only for certified organic farms
• It doesn't say that there's a special case if you can afford to run an organic farm.
• stated that exclusions within an aerial treatment block were not allowed except for certified organic farms
• mosquitoes around Lake Lowell and... ...no longer control larval mosquitoes around Lake Lowell in the Deer
• So if it's a large organic farm, it's probably fairly easy.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Kind of like we do this with farm vehicles, right?
• Farm vehicles have a special designation on their plate so that we know that they're only supposed to
• And so if you see a truck with a farm vehicle license plate driving down I-15 towards Vegas...
• And so if you see a truck with a farm vehicle license plate driving down I-15 towards Vegas, law enforcement
• Just a couple of these might be, you might remember a semi-truck and tanker sliding into Deer Creek Reservoir

Committee: Joint Transportation Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, would you consider looking at it sort of like deer hunting zones?
• I mean, to me, as a deer hunter, you know, you get the book, you flip through it, you see what zones
• I mean, to me, as as a deer<00:13:02.560><c> hunter,</c><00:13:02.880><c> you</c><00:13:02.959><c> know
• 13:03.040><c> you</c><00:13:03.200><c> get</c><00:13:03.279><c> the</c><00:13:03.440><c> book,</c> deer
• hunter, you know, you get the book, deer hunter, you know, you get the book, you<00:13:03.760><c> flip

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a better bill now and also pretty close to the Congressional Farm Bill provisions.
• , just like we now allow for non-amenable species such as bison, elk, and red deer.
• </c><01:24:18.360><c> Bill</c> close to the Congressional Farm Bill close to the Congressional Farm Bill
• </c> It allows for on-form I'm sorry, on-farm It allows for on-form I'm sorry, on-farm slaughter<01:24
• </c> and red deer. So, please vote to concur. and red deer. So, please vote to concur.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've heard that many farmland had to just quit their farming because of lack of necessary water.
• I've heard that many farmland had to just quit their farming because of lack of necessary water.
• You've seen the data and shocking studies proving that 92% of the wolf pack's diet is cattle, not deer
• When they are managed effectively, research shows they support healthier deer herds, stronger riparian

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy convened for its first hearing and heard an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency. The LAO emphasized California’s strong current revenues but warned of a structural budget problem, projected out-year deficits, and the need for a high bar on new spending. It generally supported the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plan as reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, while urging legislative oversight and caution about using special funds and adding ongoing commitments. Secretary Wade Crowfoot responded with an overview of climate, wildfire, water, coastal, and conservation challenges and highlighted progress under the Newsom administration, including clean energy growth, wildfire resilience investments, land conservation, tribal co-management, and outdoor access initiatives. He also discussed federal staffing cuts affecting California’s response capacity and said the state has had to fill gaps in flood forecasting, land management, and park access. Members then questioned the secretary about the Delta conveyance tunnel and broader water reliability issues. Crowfoot said the project remains important, is being pursued as a beneficiary-pays project, and is moving through the State Water Resources Control Board’s permitting process, while also stressing that it is only one part of a broader water strategy that includes levee strengthening, subsidence, groundwater storage, recycling, and conservation. Senators also raised concerns about permitting delays, invasive species, and the impact of position cuts on agency capacity; Crowfoot said streamlining is needed but that staffing remains essential. The committee then moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation, where Director Armando Quintero described the state park system, tribal agreements, wildfire and deferred maintenance work, and outdoor access programs such as the State Library Park Pass and Adventure Pass. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing $6.75 million General Fund transfer for the library park pass, arguing it did not meet the high bar for new ongoing spending, but several senators strongly supported the program as a low-cost way to expand access. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and campsite no-shows. Department staff said they are updating website guidance, working with the reservation vendor, and implementing new no-show and reservation-modification rules effective July 1, including penalties for repeated no-shows and immediate reopening of vacant sites. The committee then heard a low-cost accommodations proposal, which Parks said would fund planning and construction at several sites using Proposition 68, reimbursements, and donations; the LAO said it had no concerns. Finally, the new director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Megan Hurdle, introduced herself and outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 requests, including funding for salmon genetic tagging, hatchery repairs, and public access improvements. She said the department is focused on biodiversity, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict prevention, and noted that the agency is still updating its service-based budgeting analysis to identify gaps and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The lower photo is encroaching conifers in sage grass and mule deer habitat.
• Um, but it also impacts mule deer, the foraging base that the mule deer use in the winter.
• Um, but it also impacts mule deer, the foraging base that the mule deer use in the winter.
• It's all essential mule deer habitat. It's also in a sage grass core area.
• And what you found, if you found any deer, they were really tough.

Bills: SF0052 , SF0024

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And those include Janine Koy, Austin Johnson, Matisa Robinson, Christian Deer, and Sasha Allen.
• include Janine Koy Austin Johnson matisa Robinson<00:02:49.080><c> Christian</c><00:02:49.519><c> deer
• <00:02:50.120><c> and</c><00:02:50.319><c> Sasha</c><00:02:50.760><c> Allen</c> Robinson Christian deer
• and Sasha Allen Robinson Christian deer and Sasha Allen so<00:02:51.760><c> thank</c><00:02:51.959><

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Tourism and Outdoor Recreation held its first meeting of the 2025 session, welcomed new members and Vice Chair Susan Tyler Whitten, reviewed committee procedures, and introduced staff. Members also introduced several guests, including family members, interns, and visitors from Kenton County. The chair noted there were no minutes to approve because it was the first meeting. The committee then heard House Bill 552 from Judge Executive John Sims of Falmouth County, who said the bill is a joint effort supported by KLC and the County Judge/Executive Association. He explained that the measure makes minor wording changes, replacing references to “jurisdiction” with “county or city” and changing “chairman” to “chair,” with the goal of ensuring smaller communities retain representation on local tourist commissions. Chair King added that the bill would allow a mayor or judge executive to appoint a county resident to a tourism board even when the tax district or business ownership crosses city-county lines. After brief discussion and no further questions, the committee voted on the bill. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with members present voting yes and Representative Whitaker explaining his support by saying tourism is a team effort in the counties. House Bill 552 passed out of committee and was sent to the House floor for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 4689 and H. 4690 are two bills relative to so-called battery farms, one that would establish a moratorium
• in its climate goals, when you have a grid that has a high percentage of renewables, these battery farms
• When you have a grid that has a high percentage of renewables, these battery farms at times do become
• I'm being joined by Chief Jeff Deering from the Orleans Fire Department.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• north gallery or south gallery over here today are their one of their commanders, Lieutenant Colonel Deering
• Have you ever seen the land around a solar farm after a tornado hits it and think of that question?

Bills: HR1046 , SB1733 , SB1439

Transcript Highlights:

• And it is one of the few places where Dante the deer comes down to people's backyards to enjoy dinner
• And it is one of the few places where Dante the Deere comes down to people's backyard to enjoy dinner
• how to actually ensure you're getting the proper work authorization for those folks, if they work in farms
• And I could also go on about our farm workers and the folks who work in those fields.
• What we really want... ...about our farm workers and the folks who work in those fields.

Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB49 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB124 , HB145 , HB154 , HB158 , HB164 , HB180 , HB291 , HJR6 , HJR7 , HR1 , HJM1 , HM13 , HM47

Summary: The House opened with a series of ceremonial recognitions, including Bernalillo County Day, Pecos Elementary, Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands University, the New Mexico International School, and the Sun Country golf organizations. Members and guests offered brief remarks praising county staff, educators, university programs, and local public service, and several caucus and committee announcements were made. The House also received a gubernatorial message authorizing consideration of House Bill 303, which was then removed from Rules, ordered printed, and referred to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. The chamber then adopted a long slate of committee reports, moving multiple bills and memorials forward, including House Bills 294, 298, 38, 127, 151, 165, 47, 63, 64, 184, 200, 309, 311, 329, 310, and memorials 20 and 51. Most reports were adopted without objection, and several measures were advanced with committee substitutes or amended versions. The House then proceeded to third reading on selected bills. On final passage, House Bill 128 passed 61-1. The bill updates presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for full-time firefighters with occupational cancers and other illnesses, and debate focused on the exclusion of volunteer firefighters, the evidentiary burden for exposure claims, and whether the bill should be expanded later. House Bill 109, dealing with the Water Project Fund and allowing the New Mexico Finance Authority to award funds without legislative authorization through December 2029, passed 61-0. House Bill 158, requiring accountability and evaluation plans for agencies receiving growth funds, passed 63-0. House Bill 49, increasing the penalty for serious violent felons who possess firearms or destructive devices to a second-degree felony, was debated extensively over sentencing discretion and the distinction between serious violent and nonviolent felons; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jennifer Stefan, and I am the elementary principal at King Elementary in Deer River.
• My name is Jennifer Stefan, and I am the elementary principal at King Elementary in Deer River.
• We have been able to create a system for our students in Deer River to access health care regularly.
• We have a system to provide mental health support for our students and families in Deer River.
• Currently, schools are... an entire day of Education in Deer River an entire day of Education in Deer

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• She grew up on a dairy farm in Gackle and earned her degrees at the University of Mary and NDSU, and
• The employers hiring NDSU graduates—Sanford Health, Essentia Health, John Deere, Marvin, Bobcat, area
• The employers hiring NDSU graduates—Sanford Health, Essentia Health, John Deere, Marvin, Bobcat, area
• It may be something back on the farm. You just never know. Stuff happens in life.
• It may be in something back on the farm. You just never know. Stuff happens in life.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• And that's how we would dairy farms. And that's how we would track<00:04:27.720><c> it.
• </c> slightly slightly go down on a per farm slightly slightly go down on a per farm basis. basis. basis

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We did have one white card, Chris Deere, that did testify from State Civil Service.
• I have Chris Deere here to answer any questions. Good morning, Mr. Deere.
• Chris Deere, Deputy Director, State Civil Service.
• We did have one white card, Chris Deere, that did testify from State Civil Service.

Bills: SR86 , SB491 , HB205 , HB210 , HB228 , HB813 , HB1045 , HB1177

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• One is from the Deer Hunters Association.
• It has fallen uh deer hunters now.
• And as we continue to lose deer hunters, the deer population is going to be just fine.
• And as we continue to lose deer hunters, the deer population is going to be just fine.
• ,</c> &gt;&gt; when you register the deer, &gt;&gt; when you register the deer, &gt;&gt; you<00:18:56.000

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• fields and farm roads that run right up to the right-of-way.
• there's a lot of farm fields and farm<00:47:40.240><c> roads</c><00:47:40.520><c> that</c><00:47:40.640
• </c><00:49:23.160><c> equipment</c><00:49:24.040><c> or</c><00:49:24.280><c> Farm</c><00:49:24.640><c
• > pickups</c> driving farm equipment or Farm pickups driving farm equipment or Farm pickups on<00:49:
• related work that related work or Farm related work that that<00:49:44.400><c> that</c><00:49:44.520

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• It was common for us to get calls for people who had coyotes in their possession, deer, pretty much any
• In Alabama, we've had multiple people killed by deer that either were in their possession or escaped
• We just don't want to see deer, squirrels, or whatever around children. We started to inspect...
• I don't care if it's the farmer that ran over the deer, throws it in the back of his truck and brings

Bills: HB448 , HB448

Committee: House Agriculture and Forestry

Keywords: wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, good samaritan, injured animals, orphaned animals, debilitated wildlife, wild birds, wild animals, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, permit exemption, animal rescue, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, veterinary licensing, animal cruelty, wildlife care, rehabilitation act, non-federally protected species, endangered species