Transcript Highlights:

• This photo here is our group of students, fish and wildlife staff, and farmers.
• We will have between 850 to 900 students this coming year, which would be approximately 500 Native children
• I understand that from some texts and emails I received, their fish hatchery was completely flooded out—close

Transcript Highlights:

• MBTA, has allowed the federal government to act against the unauthorized take of more than 1,000 native
• The Department of Fish and Wildlife enforced the act from January 2020 to its sunset in January 2025.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 9, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and a consent calendar. The committee first approved a set of unanimous consent bills, then heard and acted on several measures, generally with authors describing them as having minor or absorbable fiscal effects. Bills discussed included AB 439 on Coastal Act streamlining, AB 322 on school-based health and mental health reimbursement participation, AB 679 on state park land acquisition exemptions, AB 482 updating the California Table Grape Commission law, AB 681 increasing the Dream Loan Program cap, AB 40 clarifying emergency services include reproductive health care, AB 454 making the California Migratory Bird Protection Act permanent, AB 572 creating protections for families of people killed or seriously injured by peace officers, and AB 639 narrowing the definition of dams to avoid extra regulation for certain water operators. Testimony was largely in support of the bills. Supporters included representatives from the University of California, the California Table Grape Commission, Audubon California, Sempervirens Fund, emergency physicians, health equity groups, water districts, and several impacted family members and advocacy organizations on AB 572. AB 572 drew especially emotional testimony from family members describing police-involved deaths and the need for transparency and protection from coercive questioning. No organized opposition was raised on most of the bills heard in committee, though AB 439 drew no-votes from some Republicans, and AB 572 and other measures were framed as low-cost or cost-neutral. The committee reported the bills out on roll calls after motions and seconds, with several measures passing on B-roll calls and AB 482 passing on an A-roll call. After the hearing on presented bills, the committee also approved the suspense calendar and accepted brief public comment on bills not heard that day, including opposition to AB 339 and support for AB 335. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're gonna go ahead and start the day with tab one presentation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
• Madam Chair, great presentation is a native the you know that this has been an issue for many, many years

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Thanks, Mister Chair for is proud to be the fishing and boating capital of the world.
• And that includes fishing, camping, biking, hiking nature, study, swimming, boating, canoeing, horseback
• So that makes me a second generation native Floridian.
• Another thing that we might be able to highlight is always plant national native plants.
• Let's avoid using non native species.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Contractors coming out here and dumping illegally because I hunt and I fish and you go in the hills and
• <03:17:52.240> and I hunt and I fish and I hunt and I fish and you<03:17:53.240> go
• 38:54.240> Our indigenous-run program called Not Our indigenous-run program called Not Our Native
• Daughters, which was addressing Native Daughters, which was addressing the<03:38:56.080> human
• The first one included BIA, Marshall Services, Wyoming Game and Fish, Fremont County Sheriff's Office

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on other types of boats aluminum fishing on other types of boats aluminum fishing boats<01:00:12.000
• As part of the relicensing, they were required to put in fish passage.
• It supports a very active native trout population.
• <04:13:45.680> trout active native trout active native trout population<04:13:47.840> three
• <04:15:48.760> but habitat for for mammals and fish but habitat for for mammals and fish but

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resources and surveillance and hunting and fishing all that good stuff like just making The vigilance
• I know they're working with the USDA Wildlife Services and the USDA Fish and Game. to come up with the
• And likewise, we have full confidence in TPW, Texas Parks and Wildlife. focusing the impact to native
• animal movement inspections and responding to reports of suspected cases of New World screw-ups. native
• January that amends rules governing our authorization of take of protective native wildlife.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grandchildren, I strongly believe they're going to have a lot of future Gators coming up for the big fish
• parents, aunts, uncles, cousins—everyone I know—went to the University of Florida, and we are Florida natives
• I just want to give you a quick rundown about me from Live Oak, native of Suwannee County.
• Just to start with a little bit about me, I am a Florida native, born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear confirmations for 19 appointees and reappointees to university and state college boards, with most of the agenda focused on the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Pensacola State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, North Florida College, South Florida State College, and the Florida Prepaid College Board. Testimony from the nominees generally emphasized their educational backgrounds, professional experience, and priorities such as student success, workforce development, financial sustainability, research growth, housing, and maintaining or improving institutional rankings. Several UF trustees highlighted the university’s “One UF” vision, institutional neutrality, and goals of reaching top-three or top-one national status. Other nominees stressed the role of state colleges in workforce pipelines, and Florida Poly witnesses focused on STEM growth, housing, and strong graduate outcomes. One in-person public testimony came from Elijah Hooks, who spoke in opposition to the current FAMU administration and described his expulsion, arrest, and trespass from campus after protesting the appointment of President Marva Johnson. For FAMU, Jocelyn Dobson Rodriguez testified in support of her appointment, emphasizing her legal background, alumni ties, and goals of strengthening leadership, alumni engagement, and the connection between the main campus and the College of Law in Orlando. For Florida Atlantic University, Tina Vidal-Duart was questioned closely about her prior service on the Hope Florida Foundation board and about CDR Health’s involvement in state contracts; she said she was not aware of the foundation’s governance problems at the time and that CDR’s state contract was a flat daily rate. The committee then voted to report all appointees favorably except for Tina Vidal-Duart, whose confirmation was held for a separate vote at the request of Senator Bracy Davis. After discussion, the committee voted 5-1 to report her confirmation favorably as well. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• John Downs, I'm a Senior Environmental Scientist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• John Downs, I'm a Senior Environmental Scientist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• I'm a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and The tax plan for the
• I'm a senior environmental scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Hi, John Downs, Senior Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Come in the summer if you want, we can go fishing afterward, or, you know, come in the winter, maybe
• Our Alaska Native community He is also incredibly patriotic.
• And our Alaska Native health care organizations have reach into the rural parts of the state that no
• veterans, but also non-Natives who live in these rural communities to go to an Alaska Native health
• Alaskans and non-Native Alaskans in the most rural parts of our state?

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also lacks protections for native species.
• that would convert land to bare ground or remove vegetation, even if that includes the removal of native
• The bill also lacked protections for native species.
• Kim Delphino, representing California Native Plant Society, in opposition. Hi.
• Good evening, Kim Delfino, in support on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife and California Native Plant

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And just for some background, I am a Massachusetts native, and I... ...to the Bean New Deal.
• And just for some background, I am a Massachusetts native, and I completed my degrees and training at
• They have also posted more than 40 freshwater fish advisories, warning residents not to eat fish caught
• Of all the mammals on the earth, and I'm just talking about the mammals, not the birds, fish, bugs, or

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a lengthy hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills related to environmental health, PFAS, medical device chemicals, food access, lead poisoning, air quality, oral health, and school food additives. Chair Driscoll and Chair Decker emphasized that the hearing was for testimony only, no decisions would be made that day, and that written testimony could still be submitted. They also noted the high volume of speakers and asked witnesses to keep remarks brief. A major portion of the hearing focused on PFAS-related legislation, including bills to restrict PFAS in products and food packaging and to create a PFAS remediation trust fund. Municipal officials and advocates described the high costs of PFAS cleanup, especially for drinking water systems, citing Easton’s multimillion-dollar treatment investments and rate increases. Testimony from legislators and advocates argued that Massachusetts should act despite federal uncertainty, and that the state should stop PFAS at the source rather than leaving municipalities and residents to pay for remediation. The committee also heard strong support for a bill banning DEHP in medical devices, with physicians, nurses, and a bill sponsor saying the chemical can leach from IV bags and tubing and that safer alternatives already exist. The committee also heard testimony on bills to establish statewide food truck permitting, with food truck owners and a senator describing the current system as costly, duplicative, and inconsistent across municipalities. Another set of witnesses supported the “Bean New Deal,” which would expand plant-based food options in public institutions, senior nutrition programs, and WIC, citing health, equity, and cost savings. On lead poisoning, housing advocates and a representative backed bills to expand lead-safe housing requirements to all rental units, arguing the current law contributes to discrimination against families with children and leaves too much pre-1978 housing uncertified. The committee also heard support for an outdoor air pollution bill that would create an advisory committee, identify pollution hotspots, expand monitoring, and set reduction targets, with testimony from environmental justice groups, pediatricians, and legislators describing disproportionate asthma and other health harms in overburdened communities. Later testimony addressed oral health bills to create dental therapists and allow dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide, with supporters saying the measures would expand access, reduce costs, and help underserved patients. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to prohibit harmful food dyes in competitive school foods, with parents describing behavioral and health concerns tied to synthetic dyes. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fishing Booker created the top 10 ranking with factors such as winter fish activity and species variety
• Booker. 2026, according to Fishing Booker.
• > top<00:13:25.920> 10 Fishing Booker created the top 10 Fishing Booker created the top
• ranking with factors such as winter fish ranking with factors such as winter fish activity,<00:13
• <00:53:41.119> and honor a Butler, Pennsylvania native and honor a Butler, Pennsylvania native

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important for my area and for the state because it helps the seafood industry, recreational fishing
• And that's a place... ...and that's a place where fish, crabs, and shrimp reproduce.
• So, what has happened is we've had invasive species that aren't native to our area, and they're destroying
• all of the native seagrasses.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have grown fond of New Mexico's mesmerizing landscape, its native culture, and its vibrant art scene
• How do we provide, teach people how to fish instead of giving them a fish?

Bills: SB145, SB143

Keywords: auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license

Transcript Highlights:

• Fish and Land Solutions and yourself testifying for the bill. Is that correct? Yes, that's correct.
• Texas leads the nation in the loss of native habitat, agriculture, and open space. ...land to development
• These efforts support local economies through agriculture, hunting, fishing, recreation, and tourism.

Bills: HB937, HB2078, HB2080, HB3322, HB3350, HB4212, HB4630, HB4896, HB4951, HB5348, HB5675, SB565, SB971, SB1662, SB2124

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that's part of what the sales tax exemption allowed us to do is to fish the entire pond.
• <00:20:06.880> to tax exemption allowed us to do is to tax exemption allowed us to do is to fish
• Uh and if we get fish the entire pond.
• <01:14:34.640> Um at curtailment before native load.
• Um at curtailment before native load.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:10 Approval of Minutes 00:01:19 Helping Power Kentucky's Growth (LG&E/KU) 00:01:39 Update from Kentucky's Electric Cooperatives 00:47:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the previous meeting, and then heard a presentation from LG&E and KU representatives Caroline Clark and John Bevington on economic development, energy demand, and the utility’s role in supporting Kentucky’s growth. Bevington described the company’s service territory, generation fleet, and recent economic development activity, including 76 projects supported in 2024, more than $2.8 billion in private investment, and over 3,000 new jobs. He emphasized that data centers are now the dominant driver in the pipeline, with 22 data center projects representing about 8.7 of the 9.7 gigawatts of potential demand, alongside other manufacturing and commercial projects. A major focus was how data centers choose sites and how utilities respond. Bevington explained that hyperscale data centers typically approach utilities first because they need transmission-level access, and that utilities then conduct internal analyses, estimate infrastructure needs, and require financial security before proceeding. He said the company is working through formal transmission studies and long-lead infrastructure planning, and noted that Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers helped attract interest. He also outlined the economic benefits of data centers, citing an announced Louisville project of 525 megawatts and about $11 billion in investment, with an estimated $500 million in new tax revenue over 10 years, plus broader job and GDP impacts. Members asked about whether data centers could generate their own power, the reliability of the pipeline numbers given confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and cybersecurity concerns. Bevington said the company does not assume all pipeline projects will materialize in Kentucky and instead assigns probabilities to avoid overbuilding. He also said he was not the right person to address cybersecurity in detail but offered to return to a committee focused on IT or security. In response to questions about future supply, he said LG&E and KU are adding generation through a 120-megawatt solar facility in Mercer County, a 120-megawatt solar purchase in Marion County, and a 645-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle plant in Louisville, with PSC approval recently granted for additional generation and related system upgrades.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 2497, right to hunt, fish, and harvest.
• with Access and trying to figure out how they could continue to bleed money from our state, treat Native
• with Access and trying to figure out how they could continue to bleed money from our state, treat Native
• This is a program that we are federally required to provide for Native Americans.
• Because Access let over $2.8 billion out the door in fraudulent claims and over a thousand Native Americans

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, Brianna Andrew, and students from Gilbert Edu-Prize. The chamber also adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced a temporary committee appointment for Senator Shamp and a request to adjourn after Wednesday’s session until Monday, March 16. The floor then considered a long list of bills, with several third-reading votes. Measures that passed included SB 1654 on elections funding, SB 1711 on school safety-related information, SB 1743 on campaign contribution address disclosure, SB 1747 on access technology content, SB 1284 on moving violations, SB 1336 on State Land Department issues, SB 1365 on property tax exemptions for veterans, SB 1655 on juror summons/poll worker service, SB 1662 on probation, SB 1803 on Department of Veterans’ Services claims assistance, SB 1494, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1503 on pension benefit plans, SB 1584 on Department of Corrections recruitment, SB 1632 on DES, SB 1723 on bail, SB 1206 on insurance claims, and SB 1827 on aviation. Several bills failed, including SCR 1047 on marijuana establishment licenses, SB 1134 on political signs before reconsideration, SB 1544 on probation, and SB 1585 on sex offender monitoring. SB 1134 was later reconsidered and passed. Many of these votes featured debate over elections administration, privacy, health care access, veterans’ benefits, probation, and public safety. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for Calendar One and later Calendar Two. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted amendments and recommended do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672, with discussion focusing on school training standards, veterans’ park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS provider reimbursement, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug authorization. On Calendar Two, the committee also advanced SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, SB 1611, and SCR 1022 after amendments and extended debate, especially on AHCCCS fraud, juvenile court proceedings, inmate medical release, and the American Indian Health Program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the bills were properly assigned, and committee announcements were made for the next day’s meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a proud native Floridian and the proud son and husband of immigrants who graduate from Florida, public
• I watched dental practice is not far from the USF main campus or 3 children are Tampa natives and had
• I'm a lifelong resident of Clay County and a Florida native, like many others on how to and had a lifelong
• I was very poor student in high school said thank Florida Fish you to find about me and from there, I
• I'm a native Floridian wrap here in south Florida.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:09.680> vegetation management of sand and Native vegetation management of sand and
• Native vegetation placement<00:09:11.200> of<00:09:11.440> sand<00:09:12.200> and
• Yeah, it was out of the fish collectors in West Hawaiʻi. No, this is the same theory of law.
• Thank you very much, and I have nothing further to add. out of the fish collectors in West Hawai out
• Quit putting it on Native Hawaiian lands and Crown lands.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Water and Land Committee heard several measures related to DLNR, coastal management, and public lands. SB 561, which appropriates funds for conservation enforcement equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, drew broad support from DLNR and multiple organizations, with the chair noting 18 supporters and no opposition. SB 465 would require DLNR to study the carrying capacity of Kīkiʻola Small Boat Harbor on Kauaʻi and report to the Legislature; DLNR supported the intent but suggested the study be timed with an ongoing $41 million capital improvement project. Senator Kouchi explained the bill was meant to close a permit loophole that has allowed operators to increase passenger capacity without additional approval, while one testifier opposed the measure as unnecessary and late. Supporters included county and community representatives, while some written testimony opposed it. The committee also heard SB 1456, which broadens the definition of beach restoration to include work on eroded beaches and degraded dune systems, including sand management, native vegetation, and removal of abandoned materials. DLNR, the University of Hawaiʻi, and other testifiers supported the measure as an administrative update. SB 1460 would require BLNR lease extensions to use updated forms reflecting current leasing practices; DLNR supported it as an administrative bill. SB 1517 would authorize public land leases for recreational residential use by public lottery limited to county residents. DLNR supported the bill, and Chipper Wiman and others testified that it would help preserve Kauaʻi’s historic recreational cabins and create fairness for local families; the committee also heard concerns about older cabins, market-based auction prices, and the need to keep these leases affordable for residents. The committee then heard SB 1511, which would prohibit vessels longer than 75 feet from entering Honoliʻi Bay, with an exemption for government vessels; DLNR and at least one additional testifier supported it. SB 1019 would allow the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for beach restoration planning and grants to nonprofits for cleanup, but DLNR said that purpose fit better under the separate Beach Restoration Special Fund, and the Ocean Tourism Coalition opposed the bill on that basis. Finally, SB 1457 would authorize DLNR to issue interim rules on commercial and recreational water sports equipment use for up to two years; DLNR described it as an adaptive-management tool for changing conditions, while multiple water-sports operators and residents opposed it, arguing it would reduce public participation, expand agency power, and target the foiling community. The hearing closed with the chair noting heavy opposition to SB 1457, including 88 written testimonies against it and only a few in support.