Transcript Highlights:

• Urban forests are critical for resilience within our communities.
• of urban forest grants.
• have the roadmaps to increase urban forest canopies.
• Michael Jared on behalf of the Nature Conservancy.
• Carla Garabay, with Monterey Bay Aquarium, Oceana, and Ocean Conservancy.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Forest Service is going to come up.
• We support wildlife services through water conservation programs. programs.
• We'll now call up the Texas A&M Forest Service. Al Davis, director. Thank you.
• As we move to slide number five on forestry, ... conservation.
• Forest Service and the federal government.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Division of Forests and Lands is home to our forest rangers, who are general fund.
• I'm the state forester for the Division of Forest and Lands.
• Forest Legacy is a federal program as well, and that provides funding to purchase conservation easements
• <03:46:37.600> um Forest Protection is the forest rangers we've been talking about.
• Forest Service office in Campton at the White Mountain National Forest headquarters.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the late 1800s recognizing Forest to the late 1800s recognizing Forest role<00:34:01.080>
• irrigation we established our Forest irrigation we established our Forest Reserve<00:34:05.159><
• <00:35:48.920> and aahu resource conservation and aahu resource conservation and Development
• Next to testify is American Bird Conservancy via Zoom.
• <00:59:10.200> speaking American bird Conservancy speaking American bird Conservancy speaking

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You just acknowledge there's a nexus here for mismanaging our forests.
• The first one is to stand up the Salton Sea Conservancy.
• That statute asks or mandates that we set up the Salton Sea Conservancy. by January 2026.
• The Salton Sea Conservancy is the new one.
• Good afternoon, Chair Bennett Paul Mason with Pacific forest trust.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TAKE-UP TAP 1 APPOINTMENT OF RODNEY, FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION.
• THAT LAND I HAD BEEN TOLD WAS A LOW CONSERVATION QUALITY AND WAS "CRAP LAND."
• AND AT THE POINT OF THE FWC IS CONSERVATION.
• HE STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM POLICIES THAT BENEFIT DEVELOPMENT OR CONSERVATION.
• POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION OVER YOUR SCIENTIFIC CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there will also be a push to, um, from some, some of the federal agencies to begin helping clear our forests
• the timber industry, maybe indirectly the hunting industry, um, based on the mismanagement of our forests
• I have got Sapola National Forest, and it's, if that catches on fire, it'd be devastating to my area.
• take care of that forest.
• effort for how they developed uh economically yet conserved on their water and things like that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Act, which fully and permanently funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
• We're Arizona's oldest conservation organization, now over 100 years old, and we have about 18 affiliates
• Thirdly, and most importantly to us, it does create an obstacle to the good conservation work...
• Thirdly, and most importantly to us, it does create an obstacle to the good conservation work that we
• Area and on the Tonto National Forest. Total lost cost from property taxes: $3,100 a year.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Federalism Committee considered only Senate Bill 1281, which would require legislative and gubernatorial approval before private Arizona real property could be sold, transferred, gifted, or otherwise conveyed to the federal government. The bill also set up notice and review procedures for such transactions, required state employees to report certain federal land-trust notices involving Indian tribe settlement lands, and imposed civil penalties for noncompliance. The chair explained a seven-page amendment that added exemptions for certain federal purchases, congressionally or agency-approved land exchanges, and reclamation of abandoned mines, while also expanding reporting and notification requirements for covered federal designations. Public testimony was uniformly opposed. Speakers from the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter and the Arizona Wildlife Federation argued the bill would interfere with private property rights, add unnecessary bureaucracy, and obstruct conservation projects that have improved public access to hunting, fishing, and recreation lands. A private citizen also urged a no vote, saying federal land acquisitions can protect habitat and public access. Committee members raised questions about the governor’s role, the scope of the amendment, federal law enforcement, tribal acquisitions, and whether the bill would affect detention-center-related property purchases. After discussion, the committee adopted the Fincham amendment and then voted on SB 1281 as amended. The bill received a do pass recommendation by a 4-3 roll call vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 98, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the Senate Conservation
• The Senate Conservation Committee, the Senate Finance Committee. Senate Bill 101.
• Senate Bill 108, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the Senate Conservation
• Senate Bill 114, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the Senate Conservation
• restoration through economic development in New Mexico. and make recommendations to expedite forest

Transcript Highlights:

• Cope, article 4. conservation easements. And that conservation easements.
• payments, which are payments to owners of forested lands.
• <00:27:08.799> incentive<00:27:09.200> payments, sustainable forest incentive payments
• , sustainable forest incentive payments, which<00:27:10.159> are<00:27:10.320> payments
• lands. that has a that program forested lands. that has a that program is<00:27:16.240> receiving

Bills: HF9

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Those principles conservation decisions.
• efforts<00:07:06.080> and strengthen both conservation efforts and strengthen both conservation
• I am also a conservation biologist.
• Connecticut River Conservancy, the Connecticut River Conservancy,<00:59:34.160> the<00:59:34.319
• [snorts] As a forest lands up north.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forest Service, where we continue to provide a variety of urban forestry grants.
• to increase urban forest canopies.
• Conservation Act, and I've got a microphone for that.
• Michael Jarrett on behalf of the Nature Conservancy.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium, Oceana, and Ocean Conservancy.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Forest Society, the New Hampshire Nature Conservancy, and land trusts around the state have looked
• The Forest Society, the New Hampshire Nature Conservancy, and land trusts around the state have looked
• a robust conservation a robust conservation portfolio. portfolio. portfolio.
• not overall conservation every kind. not overall conservation every kind.
• strongholds and corridors, that's easy enough to change. conservation and then conservation areas conservation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, if I may, when we go back and we look at the Forest Service, the Forest Service had stopped logging
• of the committee, my name is Arturo Castillo, and I'm the Director of Equity and Culture with Conservation
• Has it ever occurred to where maybe some of the federal lands, be they a forest or BLM, might pose a
• It's just the thought, because the Forest Service and the BLM have quite a portfolio of properties in
• The Forest Service and the BLM have a portfolio of properties in our state, and abutting private properties

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi, Natalie Brown with the Planning and Conservation League.
• The first one is to stand up the Salton C Conservancy.
• That statute asks or mandates that we set up the Salton C Conservancy, Conservancy, That statute asks
• The Salt and Sea Conservancy is the new one.
• Paul Mason, Pacific Forest Trust. Two points.

Summary: The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review. The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections. The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is something they came up with unless they lurb, the conservation districts, lurb, the conservation
• I don't development and conservation?
• <01:19:59.040> My housing and conservation goals. My housing and conservation goals.
• , They came from the fields, the forests, They came from the fields, the forests, and<01:22:55.199
• , across the state, farmers, foresters, across the state, farmers, foresters, small<01:23:04.639>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House returned to Senate Bill 325 on regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction and first took up Representative Charlton’s amendment to extend the interim housing exemptions in tier one areas from 2028 to 2030. Charlton argued the change would better align the exemptions with the state’s 2030 housing targets and give rural communities and smaller developers more realistic time to plan and build. Committee members opposing the amendment said the exemptions would no longer be needed once 1A and 1B areas are established, and Ways and Means reported an unfavorable straw poll. After debate, the House rejected the amendment by roll call, 66-76. During debate, members discussed whether the extension would help or hinder housing production, with supporters emphasizing rural Vermont, achievable timelines, and the need for certainty for developers, while opponents stressed that the temporary exemptions were meant to bridge the transition to the new tier system. The House also heard questions about whether any communities had actually adopted 1A or 1B status yet, and it was noted that future land use maps were not yet complete. The chamber then moved to a second amendment from Representative Dobervich, which would extend certain interim Act 250 exemptions for designated village centers and nearby areas through January 1, 2031, including projects of 50 units or fewer or mixed-income/mixed-use projects meeting specified infrastructure criteria, with municipal bodies able to opt out. Dobervich said the proposal would expand access to the interim exemptions for rural communities that lack permanent zoning or subdivision bylaws but otherwise meet the criteria, helping more towns build housing in already developed areas. Opponents argued the amendment could allow too much development in small towns without local review and questioned how many municipalities would actually qualify. The debate continued with members discussing the relationship between Act 181, the temporary exemptions, and the ongoing work to create future land use maps and tier designations.

Transcript Highlights:

• summer, or fall, you will notice the thousands of lakes, rivers, parks, trails, recreation areas, forests
• 02:54.879> areas rivers Parks Trails Recreation areas rivers Parks Trails Recreation areas forests
• <00:02:56.319> campgrounds<00:02:56.920> Resorts<00:02:57.400> Wildlife forests
• campgrounds Resorts Wildlife forests campgrounds Resorts Wildlife areas<00:02:58.239> beaches<
• <00:27:17.880> planning<00:27:18.200> and for conservation planning and for conservation

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:12.359> easement uh governed by a conservation easement uh governed by a conservation
• community needs but the conservation community needs but the conservation easement<00:57:01.160>
• <00:57:38.839> easement concerned for my conservation easement concerned for my conservation
• lawmakers in terms of conservation lawmakers in terms of conservation events<00:57:52.240> being
• <00:58:21.440> easement who monitor the conservation easement who monitor the conservation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• industry, at the detriment of all else: recreation, habitat, hunting grounds, conservation, everything
• Yesterday, we just learned that the ramifications of the Trump-Musk chainsaw cuts to the Forest Service
• and USDA caused the closure of two of the busiest Forest Service offices and issue permits in Ely and
• service in USDA that caused the forest service in USDA that caused the closure<00:06:49.199> of
• closure of two of the busiest forest closure of two of the busiest forest service<00:06:50.720><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• IT ALSO PROVIDES THEY BE MANAGED ON A CONSERVATION BASED PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL USES IN ORDER TO
• FLORIDA STATE PARKS EXIST FOR CONSERVATION.
• THEY OFFER A HANDS-ON BOOTS ON THE GROUND CONSERVATION.
• MOST OF THAT PRIVATELY OWNED FOREST LAND HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SOURCE OF WOOD.
• IT'S NOW MERGING ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS WITH FORESTERS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all