Transcript Highlights:

• Uh this is facilities and treatments.
• </c><00:44:13.520><c> Um</c> and then transitional facilities. Um and then transitional facilities.
• </c> certain goods um for certain facilities certain goods um for certain facilities for<00:45:03.839
• So um that's going to be facilities.
• </c> can go to transitionals which facilities can go to transitionals which facilities can<00:45:52.720

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• 19, and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facility
• services for children under age 21.
• 19, and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facility
• services for children under age 21.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facilities
• services for children under age 21, and I realize I have maybe another report.
• , and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facilities
• services for children under age 21.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Long story short, I went to the hearing at Fort Edward for the Fort Edward Solar Facility that they're
• By the end of this meeting, it was nearly unanimous that the people there don't want this facility.
• They're preying on people over the age of 70. That does need to be discussed.
• record: the majority of these companies are non-American companies that are coming to our farmers' aging

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• California's refineries are aging. Many were built long before modern environmental laws existed.
• California's refineries are aging. Many were built long before modern environmental laws existed.
• Communities live near these facilities and they deserve clarity about what it will take to safely clean
• From Houston to Australia, aging refineries are closing, and the industry is consolidating globally.
• , and a decision to close the facility doesn't happen overnight.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on environmental quality, climate planning, transparency, water affordability, plastics, recycling, and refinery transition planning. SB 1087, by Senator Cabaldon, would modernize SB 375 regional climate and transportation planning by extending planning cycles, clarifying target-setting and review processes, and reducing time and cost burdens; metropolitan planning organizations strongly supported it, while environmental groups and industry raised concerns about VMT, GHG metrics, CEQA, and implementation details. Committee members generally agreed the process is too costly and complex, but urged the author to keep the bill focused on simpler, less expensive planning and better progress reporting. The bill was moved as amended to Senate Transportation and kept on call. SB 1239, by Senator Jones, would require CARB to update its standardized regulatory impact assessment when a major regulation is materially changed; supporters framed it as a transparency and affordability measure, while the chair argued it could slow rulemaking and discourage agencies from incorporating public feedback. The bill failed on the committee vote and was kept on call. SB 1125, by Senator Menjivar, would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program, contingent on funding, to help households facing rising water bills; public water agencies, environmental justice groups, local governments, and community members from rural areas testified in support, emphasizing affordability and the lack of statewide assistance. The chair and members expressed support for the need for such a program, and the bill passed 3-1 and was kept on call. SB 1180, by Senator Allen, would establish implementation rules for the plastic pollution mitigation fund created by SB 54, including eligibility, reporting, transparency, and technical assistance for smaller organizations and tribes; environmental justice, conservation, and local government groups supported it, while producer and industry groups opposed unless amended, seeking tighter links to measurable mitigation outcomes and the covered products under SB 54. The bill passed 3-0 and was kept on call. SB 1161, by Senator Valadares, would require CARB to provide clearer, plain-language economic analysis of regulations and their impacts on households; supporters described it as a transparency and affordability measure, while some environmental groups offered respectful or qualified opposition. The chair said she could support it as amended, and the bill passed 4-0 and was kept on call. The committee also heard SB 955, by Senator Blakespear, to update California’s beverage container recycling program so major sellers participate and consumers have convenient return options; supporters said it would improve redemption access and program effectiveness, and the bill passed 5-0 and was kept on call. Finally, SB 1259, also by Senator Blakespear, would require refineries to provide earlier disclosure of cleanup liabilities and closure planning information so the state and communities can plan for refinery site remediation and reuse; the author framed it as a transparency and transition-planning measure, and testimony began in support as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• :45.200><c> we</c><00:13:45.440><c> shouldn't</c><00:13:45.680><c> have</c><00:13:45.839><c> to</c> age
• technology, uh, we shouldn't have to age technology, uh, we shouldn't have to limit<00:13:46.639><c>
• They've got 42 testing facilities.
• They've got 42 testing facilities.
• and the facilities and and the<00:28:33.600><c> personnel</c><00:28:34.240><c> to</c><00:28:34.559><

Keywords: Consideration of HB 139 -- 00:03:15 Consideration of HB 356 -- 00:08:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee first adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 139, which would allow a political party to replace a candidate who dies or withdraws after the filing deadline but before ballot certification. Representative Decker explained the substitute as a narrow election-related fix, and the bill was then passed by the committee on an 11-yes, 1-pass vote and sent to the full House. The committee then heard House Bill 356, which would move the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) qualification test from a once-every-four-years, Frankfort-based format to administration through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System at multiple locations and times. Representative Bridges said the Department of Revenue would still write and control the exam, KCTCS would only administer it, the fiscal note was zero, and the change would improve access and convenience without weakening standards. KCTCS said it was prepared to help if directed. Members generally agreed PVAs should be tested, but some raised concerns about test integrity, whether a broader testing network could create uneven conditions, and whether the change should instead use a smaller number of regional test sites. Others supported the bill as a common-sense way to expand access and avoid forcing candidates to wait years after missing a single test date. The committee also discussed the lack of a study guide for the exam and whether that should be addressed separately. No final vote on House Bill 356 is reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• lot of hope, which is why I’ve been doing this for the 20 years—for the future, to see them at that age
• So they were about junior high, high school age.
• I’ve also met with facilities and operations specialists at the university.
• The facilities are also going through a bit of a change over there.
• Central Receiving Facility.

Summary: The committee first took up a confirmation for UCF trustee reappointment candidate Mr. Christie, who described his long service on the board, his UCF business-school background, and his focus on strengthening UCF’s financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology programs. Members praised his service and asked about UCF’s future direction, including its role in Florida’s space and engineering sectors. He was allowed to leave early for a meeting with the governor. The committee then heard the Higher Education Appropriations budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26. The chair outlined a proposed $11.5 billion higher education budget emphasizing workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education, the GATE program, nursing education through the Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS agriculture technology, tutoring, autism and neurodevelopment services, student financial aid, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and the chair said a conforming bill would address details. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical corrections and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for university boards, especially the University of West Florida, where several nominees were questioned about Title IX compliance, free speech, workforce readiness, military/veteran ties, and prior statements about privatization and higher education. Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, and Adam Kessel each described their backgrounds and goals for UWF; Kessel faced extensive questioning about his past writings on privatization, the GI Bill, and speech suppression, and said he would not recommend privatizing Florida universities and supported veterans’ education benefits. Public testimony on UWF was largely opposed, with speakers arguing the nominees lacked local ties and warning the slate would harm the university and community. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment nominee Judge Belvin Perry, who emphasized student success, workforce quality, and FAMU’s continued rise, and from UCF nominee Mark Philburn and FSU nominee Peter Jones, both of whom highlighted their professional experience and commitment to student success and prudent stewardship. The meeting extended its time to 6:30 p.m. to continue hearing nominees and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be a age 24 or students.
• And that's because the total number of people in the state that are age between the ages of 80 and 90
• I would expect that the age-adjusted rate of people with prescriptions between the ages of 60, 70, 80
• between the ages of 80 and 90 are age between the ages of 80 and 90 are substantially<01:27:20.280><
• </c> a big spike in that age in this state. a big spike in that age in this state.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met on May 29 and approved the draft minutes. DHHS Commissioner Weaver then opened the department update by asking Medicaid Director Henry Litman to brief members on federal and state Medicaid changes, and later turned to DHHS Chief Operating Officer David Weathers for an update on data governance. Members also asked that acronyms be spelled out in future materials and requested a follow-up on the federal Medicaid rule once it is published. Litman reviewed several federal Medicaid provisions tied to HR 1/"OBBA" and related state implementation issues. He said the first major change would be restrictions on certain non-citizens’ Medicaid coverage, affecting about 400 people in New Hampshire, with notices likely 30 to 60 days before the effective date. He also discussed new work requirements/community engagement rules, saying New Hampshire is on track to implement them and will likely need a state plan amendment rather than an 1115 waiver. Other changes included shorter retroactive coverage periods, a new state option for certain community-based services with an estimated $740,000 in implementation support, a freeze and phased-down reduction in the Medicaid enhancement tax beginning in state fiscal year 2029, and limits on directed payments to hospitals after a grandfathering period. He also noted that Medicaid enrollment has fallen from pandemic-era levels, with about 167,000 people covered as of May 1, and that the department is working with CMS on child premiums and other cost-sharing changes approved in HB 2. Committee members asked how the department could plan for the 2029 changes given the number of elections before then, and Litman said federal rules may be adjusted over time as states and stakeholders raise concerns. He emphasized planning for the worst while hoping for the best, and said rural health care transformation funding would help the state prepare. In the second presentation, Weathers explained that data governance is now embedded in DHHS operations to control access, manage reporting, and respond to risk. He defined it as managing what data is collected, how it is used, who can access it, and what laws apply, and said DHHS has moved from governance as a committee to governance as an operational process. He described privacy impact assessments for new systems going into production, monthly privacy and security training, and ongoing review of access controls and data-sharing rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriating money to the Public Schools Educational Support Programs Division of Facilities for fiscal
• It was brought about to address school districts identified as having unsafe facilities under the standards
• pay back the grant, plus modest interest, with the funds they receive from the school district facilities
• It makes critical administrative improvements to the public schools facilities cooperative funding program
• It supports and encourages things like small-scale ag sales, farm stands, homemade products, direct sale

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the journal, then moved quickly through committee reports, gubernatorial appointments, and House messages. Several bills were introduced and referred to committees, and the chamber later recessed and returned with a quorum established. Throughout the day, the Senate also received notices of committee action on additional bills and appointments, including confirmation recommendations for executive appointees and referral of House-passed measures to the appropriate committees. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 608, which revises the public school facilities cooperative funding program, after supporters said it clarifies eligibility and repayment rules for districts with failed bonds and under-budget projects. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1272, a transportation code cleanup bill; Senate Bill 1273 and Senate Bill 1275, both described as DOGE-style cleanup measures removing obsolete veterans and PERSI provisions; Senate Bill 1283, which reduces regulation for small-scale direct-to-consumer agricultural and homemade food sales; and Senate Bill 1325, creating a new white-and-black specialty license plate to raise money for Idaho State Police pay. Most of these passed on voice or roll-call votes with broad support, though SB 1283 drew some concern about the lack of a business-size cap. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1319, the “Emergency Affordability Act,” which targets out-of-network billing by freestanding emergency rooms and requires disclosure of nonparticipation in TRICARE, Medicare, and Medicaid; debate centered on whether it was a consumer protection measure or an anti-competitive attack on one Idaho facility. Senate Bill 1313 passed to allow pharmacists to seek voluntary dual licensure as naturopathic doctors, and Senate Bill 1296 passed to strengthen criminal trespass penalties for disrupting worship services in churches. Additional cleanup and transparency measures passed, including SB 1320 on the Business Information Infrastructure Fund, SB 1321 on controller reporting compliance, and SB 1322 tightening the voter affidavit process by requiring additional identifying information and county clerk verification when voters lack ID. The Senate also considered Senate Bill 1269 on cloud seeding, which supporters said would add Idaho-specific definitions, reporting, and accountability to an existing program, while opponents argued it mostly duplicated federal reporting and exempted much of the activity from the new rules. Debate on that bill was underway at the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriating money to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Facilities for fiscal
• It was brought about to address school districts identified as having unsafe facilities under the standards
• pay back the grant, plus modest interest, with the funds they receive from the school district facilities
• It makes critical administrative improvements to the public schools facilities cooperative funding program
• It supports and encourages things like small-scale ag sales, farm stands, homemade products, direct sale

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Has there been research done around age restrictions? And do we have any of that data?
• However, it doesn't exclude the possibility that it would cause death in younger ages.
• Oxidation can happen via oxygen, via heat, via age.
• Oxidation can happen via oxygen, via heat, via age.
• I want to live, and I want the opportunity to keep aging with dignity.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), focusing on public health risks, overdose deaths, and regulatory gaps in California. The chair opened by noting that FDA and CDPH consider kratom and 7-OH products unlawful, yet they remain widely sold in smoke shops, vape stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. Members referenced AB 1088, which would be considered later, and said the hearing was intended to clarify the science, medical perspective, and whether stronger safeguards are needed. The first panel featured a toxicology expert, state and local public health officials, an emergency/addiction physician, a medical examiner, and county health representatives. Witnesses from CDPH and Los Angeles County described rising deaths and enforcement actions, including statewide advisories, retailer letters, and product removals from manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Medical testimony emphasized that 7-OH acts much more like an opioid than traditional kratom leaf, can cause dependence, withdrawal, and respiratory depression, and may require naloxone, buprenorphine, or methadone in overdose or withdrawal cases. Local officials said enforcement is difficult because packaging is inconsistent, testing capacity is limited, and counties lack resources and statewide infrastructure; they generally favored a centralized state framework if regulation is pursued. Committee members asked about testing, age restrictions, scheduling, and whether a distinction between kratom and 7-OH could be enforced. Witnesses said forensic labs can potentially test for 7-OH but validated assays are not routine, emergency departments cannot readily distinguish exposures, and local health departments do not have the lab capacity to verify product labels. Several officials warned that a ban or abrupt scheduling could push products into the black market and discourage research, while others argued that current prohibition and enforcement are the most protective approach because legalization or age-limited regulation could create confusion about legality and safety. The second panel included kratom and 7-OH advocates and industry representatives, who argued that natural kratom leaf and concentrated or synthetic 7-OH are different products and should be regulated differently. They supported age-gating, labeling, testing, and packaging rules for kratom leaf while opposing a ban on the botanical. They said 7-OH is used by many adults for pain relief or harm reduction, and that prohibition would drive consumers to illicit markets and worsen harm. Committee members pressed them on whether 7-OH is more potent than kratom, the availability of testing, and whether any safe dose is known. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, with the chair noting the issue will continue to be considered in future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:37:38.360><c> what</c> lines then within Court facilities what lines then within Court facilities
• </c><01:38:04.239><c> which</c> what we call Central facilities which what we call Central facilities
• And 40... and that's why you hear their age limits and that's why you hear their age limits and<01:44
• childbearing age, you know?
• </c> rated so they're going to look at my age rated so they're going to look at my age um<01:58:17.079

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Morell's is an electric energy storage facility, so this is going to keep the intent of the bill.
• Intact, without changing what is designated as an electric energy storage facility in statute.
• A facility must include a site plan that has setbacks unless waived by the adjacent property owner.
• Instead, the agency gets another five business days before it must seek the legal opinion from the AG
• The AG should have the ability to find these baseless, meritless exceptions and requests that bubble

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

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:

• You know, I think there's just a lot of aging infrastructure out there.
• power, getting power to the facility.
• Getting power to the facility is a big process also.
• This is aging infrastructure that's beyond its 50-year life.
• The new facility would be designated to be expandable to 6 million MGD.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and heard updates from Department of Water Resources Director Reese Haas and Lieutenant Governor/State Water Commission Chair Michelle Strinden on statewide water funding, major projects, and two legislative studies requested in House Bill 1020. Haas reviewed the status of the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, noting NAWS construction is expected to move water by fall and Southwest’s Hebron-Rugby expansion phase one is in final design with bids expected next month. He also summarized the department’s budget outlook, including Resources Trust Fund and Water Project Stabilization Fund balances, the effect of oil price volatility and stripper well exemptions on revenues, and the status of project buckets, carryover, lines of credit, regionalization, bid trends, and administrative/process updates. Committee members asked about project prioritization, municipal funding demand, maintenance expectations, replacement versus deferred maintenance, and whether the 2025 session may have underfunded municipal water supply needs. Haas said the commission uses the same high/medium/low prioritization process across all buckets, reviews maintenance plans as part of policy, and is seeing strong demand in the municipal bucket. He also explained that the department’s 14-year projection is based on the next seven legislative sessions and that the state faces a projected $1.3 billion shortfall over that period if all planned projects are funded under current assumptions. Deloitte then presented draft findings from the cost-share policy study and the governance/finance study. For cost share, Deloitte said the model shows a roughly $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years and about $1.8 billion through 2031 under current policy, and offered seven options including tighter eligibility for replacement projects, state funding caps for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, a priority-based cost-share scale, timing shifts, use of existing lines of credit, and delayed reimbursement timing. For governance, Deloitte outlined draft options for Southwest, NAWS, and Red River ranging from maintaining current structures with stronger planning to transferring ownership or adding formal oversight, and recommended broader use of performance metrics, long-term financial planning, and clearer decision trees. No votes or formal actions were taken; the commission discussed the scenarios and the studies will return in revised form later in the spring.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we had one round of that and so the Department of Juvenile Justice closed facilities and money was
• Uh, we had one round of that and so the Department of Juvenile Justice closed facilities and money was
• Uh, we had one round of that and so the Department of Juvenile Justice closed facilities and money was
• Uh, we had one round of that and so the Department of Juvenile Justice closed facilities and money was
• </c><00:47:32.480><c> and</c> Juvenile Justice closed facilities and Juvenile Justice closed facilities

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California has tens of thousands of aging and inactive oil wells that eventually need to be plugged.
• Existing law, AB 1167, passed in 2023, already requires operators acquiring wells or facilities to provide
• financial trouble, taxpayers are often left on the hook to properly plug wells and decommission facilities
• No crosswalks or pedestrian facilities.
• Paul Grebe, with Reeb Government Relations, on behalf of the Valley Ag Water Coalition.

Summary: The committee heard a series of natural resources bills, with several measures accepted on committee amendments and moved forward on party-line or near-unanimous votes. AB 2461 on oil and gas bonding and well-closure financial assurance drew strong support from environmental groups and some legislators, while an industry representative was neutral and warned about unintended consequences and reduced transfers. Senators Laird and Cabaldon supported the bill as a clarification of AB 1167, and the committee voted do pass as amended to Appropriations, with the bill placed on call. The committee also approved a consent calendar of 10 bills, which was moved and held on call. AB 53 by Assemblymember Ramos, as amended, would expand tribal eligibility for conservation grants and loans and express legislative intent to create a process for returning ancestral lands to federally recognized tribes. Tribal and environmental supporters argued the bill recognizes tribal stewardship and helps remove barriers to conservation participation, while county, farm bureau, and habitat league witnesses raised concerns about long-term land management, public accountability, easements, and jurisdiction if lands are transferred. Committee members emphasized the importance of preserving conservation protections and continuing work on the land-return framework; the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations and held on call. AB 2679 on Lake Tahoe corridor safety and access was supported by local officials and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, who described dangerous parking, pedestrian conflicts, and a successful shuttle pilot, and the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 1666, creating biomass innovation parks and other incentives for non-combustion uses of forest and agricultural biomass, received broad support from business, conservation, and local government witnesses, with senators framing it as a way to address wildfire debris and create rural jobs; it also advanced do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 2494, which would modernize the demonstration state forest system and elevate biodiversity, recreation, carbon storage, and tribal stewardship over maximum sustained production, drew strong support from environmental and tribal advocates but significant opposition from forest industry, county, and research witnesses who warned it could undermine research, sustainable forestry, and local economies; the author said he would continue negotiations, and the bill was moved do pass to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2234, which updates the definition of geothermal exploratory projects, and AB 2521, which seeks to use the California Council on Science and Technology for watershed-wide water availability analyses to help identify excess water for groundwater recharge. Both bills had support from sponsors and some stakeholders, while AB 2521 drew concerns from agricultural water interests about agency reliance, public trust considerations, and funding. Both measures were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2410 would extend a CEQA exemption for certain fuels-reduction projects in high fire-risk areas; local government groups supported it as a wildfire-prevention tool, while environmental and other opponents argued the remaining exemption still weakens habitat protections and public review, and one witness sought to remove conventional herbicides from the exemption.

Transcript Highlights:

• all, a brief introduction: I grew up in the Buell area and was involved in agriculture from a young age
• bill; that you have appropriate labeling restrictions, that’s done in this bill; and that you have age
• We know age limits don't stop underage drinking or smoking, so why would they work here?
• I think that every state has different testing facilities.
• Eighteen years of age? Oh, we're willing to raise the age on that.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> physical facility sometime in April. physical facility sometime in April.
• It is a medical facility.
• </c> on that facility. on that facility.
• </c> facility? In August? facility? In August?
• And that $10 million is for to move the facility, to run the facility, to build and construct the new

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I do think that we have people from all ages really wanting to make this better and that they
• The loss of Golden Gate meant the loss of stable facilities for about 1,100 horses in the north.
• The loss of Golden Gate meant the loss of stable facilities for about 1,100 horses in the north.
• And there is some interest, but again, that age group is used to doing it through an app on a phone,
• What are the benchmarks for horse racing: inventory, wagering, support, pursing levels, and facility

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with a quorum and first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear. It approved Paulette Brown Hines, PhD, to the California Transportation Committee, Christopher Clark and Maggie Hallahan to the Board of State and Community Corrections and Boating and Waterways Commission respectively, Kent Sasaki to the Building Standards Commission, and Danielle N. Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, with one appointment receiving a 3-1 vote and the others passing unanimously or 5-0. The committee also approved a reference of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard Tanya Pacheco Warner, PhD, for reappointment to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Board. She described her public health background, her family’s experience with asthma, and her work on agricultural burning phase-outs and AB 617 community efforts. Members questioned her about the cumulative economic impact of air rules on Valley agriculture, mobile-source emission strategies, the FARMER tractor replacement program, collaboration with fellow board members, and how to communicate climate and air-quality risks to the public. After public comment, her appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the full Senate. Next, the committee considered three reappointments to the California Horse Racing Board: Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Thomas Hudnut, J.D. The nominees emphasized horse and rider safety reforms, reduced equine fatalities, the impact of Golden Gate Fields’ closure on Northern California racing, and the need for new revenue sources and possible legislative support to strengthen purses and keep the industry viable. Senators pressed them on safety, HISA relations, gambling-related revenue options, and the decline of racing in the North. Public witnesses from the racing industry supported the nominees, and all three appointments were approved 3-0. Finally, the committee heard Julie Lee and Ann Patterson, J.D., for the Delta Stewardship Council. Both stressed the Delta’s importance to statewide water reliability, ecosystem health, and climate adaptation, and highlighted the council’s science program, performance metrics, and community engagement efforts. Senators asked about the co-equal goals, the role of science and social science in building trust, the council’s future mission, and how to communicate climate impacts such as sea-level rise and salinity intrusion. The hearing continued into discussion of balancing water supply and ecosystem protection, with the members framing the Delta as a statewide system requiring coordinated management.

Transcript Highlights:

• It moves the constitutional limit, or cap, of 3% growth in a year to 2% for homestead and ag.
• So as long as I'm holding on to a place of ag land, it adjusted 2% a year, but if I sell it, it readjusted
• Something just dawned on me, because the rate we're seeing these valuations grow in residential values, ag
• Folks at the juvenile detention facility by creating safety plans that would align with federal standards
• trusts and the Governmental Tort Claims Act to include a public trust that oversees a county jail facility

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a series of bills and resolutions, many involving taxes, education funding, health policy, and election rules. Representative Newton’s HB 1823, on the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency’s home-building activities, passed 10-0. Speaker Hilbert’s HB 2425, which would align Oklahoma election dates more closely with Texas and move some elections to March, passed 9-2 after debate about turnout and accountability. HB 4440, requiring Medicaid work requirements to track federal law, passed 10-2 amid discussion of chronic unemployment and the limits of changing Medicaid expansion because it is in the Constitution. HJR 1087, a major proposal to restructure the T-SET tobacco settlement trust and redirect funds toward higher education and related uses, passed 12-0 after extensive debate over venture capital investing, public health spending, and whether the trust should be modernized. The committee also took up several property-tax measures. HJR 1053 would create a revenue-neutral ad valorem framework, requiring local approval for increases beyond prior-year levels; it passed 9-2. HJR 1054 would exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxation, and after questions about scope and possible abuse it passed 9-2. HJR 1044 would lower the annual cap on growth in assessed value for homestead and agricultural property from 3% to 2%; it passed 9-2. HB 4145 would raise the homestead exemption from $1,000 to $7,000 and passed 9-1. HJR 1081 would freeze ad valorem taxes for qualifying seniors and passed 8-1. The committee also advanced HB 3891, a county commissioner pay bill, after title was struck and members discussed its impact on small counties; it passed 9-2. Other measures included HB 1770, directing an elk population study by Oklahoma State University, which passed 11-0; HB 1675, requiring youth camps to complete site-specific hazardous assessments, which passed 11-0; HB 3627, allowing the State Committee of Blind Vendors to meet by video conference due to quorum issues, which passed 11-0; HB 3472, expanding tire-recycling fund eligibility, which passed 10-1; and HB 1225, barring changes to the biological sex designation on birth certificates, which passed 8-2 after debate over medical, legal, and equal-protection concerns. The committee also advanced HJR 1019, a heavily amended proposal concerning party nominations for general elections, after striking title and narrowing the scope to federal, state, and county races; it passed 8-1 with two not voting. HB 3462, updating plumbing licensing law and aligning exam standards with other trades, passed 9-0 after title was struck to accommodate further negotiations.