Transcript Highlights:

• The local Food for Schools funding has been a lifeline for small growers providing them opportunities
• Association and the Western Agricultural Processors Association. growers, haulers, and processors of
• This bill would allow us to efficiently and effectively carry out our duties, ensuring that growers take
• Good afternoon, Matthew Allen with Western Growers also in support. Thank you.
• Good afternoon, Taylor Triffo on behalf of Western Tree Net Association, American Pistachio Growers,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as well as the big grower.
• small growers, and that's important because over time technology is also often focused on larger growers
• This type of technology has been heavily invested in by growers.
• small growers and that's important because over time technology is also often focused on larger growers
• This type of technology has been heavily invested in by growers.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture convened, took roll, and heard Senate Bill 58 by Senator Harrow, which would create regulation for companion animal cremation. Harrow described a case involving mishandled pet remains and said the bill would require written service descriptions, prohibit false or misleading statements, require certification with returned remains, authorize Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services rulemaking, and impose civil penalties for violations. With no questions or public opposition, the committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then heard presentations on robotics in agriculture and aquaculture. Dr. Nathan Boyd of UF/IFAS discussed the rapid growth of agricultural robotics, including AI-driven weed detection, targeted spraying, autonomous tractors, and harvesting technology, emphasizing reduced pesticide use, lower input costs, and labor-saving automation. Dr. Nicole Kirchoff of Live Advantage Bait and Adrian Johnson of the Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association highlighted aquaculture’s economic and environmental value, Florida’s strong position in the industry, and challenges including hurricane losses, lack of insurance, land-use instability, capital access, and water quality. They urged support for working waterfronts, risk mitigation, and policies to help the sector commercialize and expand. The committee also heard from dairy producers Kevin Lusher and Jacob Larson. Lusher described his family’s dairy and artisan cheese business, noting reliance on USDA grants, rising costs, labor shortages, and regulatory burdens, and asked for more grant support, marketing for Fresh From Florida products, and permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida. Larson discussed the broader dairy market, declining herd sizes due to efficiency gains, high production costs in Florida, and competition from out-of-state processing, suggesting incentives for local processing and supply management. Finally, FDOT Chief Planner Wayway Schen presented on arterial and local road funding programs, including ART, ARTW, SCOP, SCRAP, CIGP, and TRIP, and said rural road needs remain significant, with more than $16 billion in unfunded or partially funded project needs. The committee adjourned after brief discussion and thanks to the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want the Texas grape growers to be very successful.
• All growers, all stakeholders, I mean, we want the vineyards to succeed. We want the grapes.
• As I repeat, I myself am a Texas grape grower and a Texas winemaker.
• A $50.4 million loss for local wine growers, winemakers, and vineyard owners.
• Have you guys tried to talk with the Wine Growers Association?

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody was, you know, smaller coffee growers really, really having a hard time, as you know.
• Everybody was, you know, smaller coffee growers really, really having a hard time, as you know.
• Everybody was, you know, smaller coffee growers really, really having a hard time, as you know.
• Everybody was, you know, smaller coffee growers really, really having a hard time, as you know.
• She is an organic papaya grower. She's worked for Cooperative Extension.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first considered three gubernatorial nominations. GM510, Faith Tui Pulotu to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board, received strong support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, though the nominee was not present online. GM614, Mark Gordon to the Environmental Advisory Council, also drew unanimous support from state and private testifiers; Gordon described his environmental health and safety background and said he could commit the time needed. GM696, James Falconer to the Advisory Board on Pesticides, was supported by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Hawaii Farm Bureau; Falconer discussed his long experience in coffee and sugar, including work responding to coffee leaf rust and the need for timely pesticide tools. All three nominations were recommended for advise and consent and were adopted by four-member votes. The committee then heard several agriculture bills. HB 1603 HD1 would allow the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend agricultural park leases without the current county-population restriction; supporters called it an equity measure and asked that it apply to all ag park leases, while the department gave standard testimony. HB 1707 HD1 would create a local agricultural transportation cost reimbursement program; supporters said transportation is a major production cost and suggested amendments to define “necessary supplies” and explicitly include honey. HB 2155 HD1 would establish an agricultural statistics program, with supporters emphasizing the need for better data to guide planning. HB 2594 HD1 would direct a study on insurance coverage for small producers, which supporters linked to recent storm damage and the lack of tailored insurance products. HB 2595 HD1 would create a regional agricultural feasibility and food systems production working group; supporters said it should consider markets as well as crop suitability and regional conditions. Members asked questions about lease competition, transportation reimbursement amounts and anti-double-dipping safeguards, the usefulness of agricultural data, and whether state or federal insurance models could be used as templates. Testifiers generally said the bills would help reduce costs, improve planning, and support small and neighbor-island producers, while noting that implementation details and funding levels would need further work. The committee then voted to pass all five bills with amendments, generally including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and in the case of HB 1707, the committee adopted the suggested amendments to define necessary supplies and add honey to the covered commodities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We partner with independent family-run growers.
• We partner with independent family-run growers in the Dry Creek and Russian River valleys, and we make
• SB 917 is a simple, common-sense fix that supports small wineries like mine, the growers we rely on,
• I'm with the California Association of Wine Grape Growers. We are co-sponsors of the bill.
• They're connected to the local growers. They're connected to their local communities.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the plant growers to certify that their products are made in Hawaii so that the agencies can comply
• That there may be some challenges for the applicability if you would require the flower growers and the
• plant growers to certify that their products are made in Hawaii so that the agencies can comply with
• I don't... increase the burdens on the flower increase the burdens on the flower Growers<00:37:34.520
• or you buy and they're buy from a grower or you buy and they're local<00:38:08.960> that<00:38

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 412 HD1, which would expand the definition of lobbying to include certain communications with high-level officials about procurement decisions and create presumptions regarding lobbying on behalf of private clients. The State Ethics Commission and State Procurement Office supported the measure, saying it would improve transparency and align Hawaii with other states, while the Hawaii Primary Care Association opposed it over concerns that employers and others could be swept in too broadly. No public testimony or questions led to any action on the bill during the hearing. The committee then took up House Bill 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain research purposes and clarify the Office of Information Practices’ rulemaking authority. OIP and the Public First Law Center supported the bill, arguing it would create uniform standards and that concerns could be handled through rules. The University of Hawaiʻi system, DBEDT, DHS, DLNR, and others raised concerns about the breadth of the terms “research” and “researcher,” privacy, confidential information, and possible misuse; Hawaiian Electric also warned about access to sensitive infrastructure information. Members questioned whether the bill was premature and whether definitions should be narrowed in statute, and OIP said it would consider working with agencies and the University on clearer definitions. House Bill 792 HD1, relating to the Office of the Legislative Analyst, drew no testimony beyond a late written support from the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the committee moved on without discussion. The committee then heard House Bill 1424, which would restrict transfers between appropriated funds for positions and operating expenses. Budget and Finance explained that current practice allows transfers from payroll to other current expenses when there are savings, but legislative appropriations for specific purposes must still be spent for that purpose. Several agencies expressed opposition or concerns, saying the bill could reduce flexibility, especially in response to federal funding changes or vacant positions, though members emphasized transparency and accountability. Budget and Finance suggested a reporting approach instead, and the committee discussed quarterly reporting as a possible alternative. Finally, the committee began House Bill 1153 HD1, which concerns funding adjustments for state programs and capital improvement projects and establishes a protocol fund. Budget and Finance, DAGS, and the State Procurement Office supported the measure, while the General Contractors Association and several construction-related groups opposed section two, arguing it would undo recent procurement protest-bond safeguards adopted in Act 162. The hearing then moved on toward House Bill 1297, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was fully discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a lot of different options working with the growers to get the best type of fertilizer, the
• There are a lot of different options working with the growers to get the best type of fertilizer, the
• <00:42:35.200> to service opportunities to the grower to service opportunities to the grower
• <01:09:42.279> Cooper perennial promise uh Growers Cooper perennial promise uh Growers Cooper
• to give uh perennial promise uh Growers to give uh perennial promise uh Growers Co-op<01:16:03.320

Bills: HF363, HF2155, HF1524, HF821, HF1677, HF1292

Keywords: HF363, property tax credit, agricultural water quality credit, Minnesota agricultural water quality certification program, clean water fund, class 2a, class 2b, certified acres, conservation incentive, water quality, agricultural property, county assessor, county auditor, Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture, property tax reimbursement, school district reimbursement, legacy finance, taxes committee, southeastern Minnesota

Transcript Highlights:

• I spoke to a few growers today in our area.
• It's a guy that's doing 600 acres now down at 50 another grower.
• Cotton Growers, headquartered in Lubbock, Texas.
• And it's cost growers over $6 million to date.
• So I'm a fruit and vegetable grower myself and harvester. I'm not. a water engineer.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and then those processes were asking those growers to grow them here.
• And so for Chinoa's group, in particular... ...to our on-farm trials with the growers.
• We plug the growers into the process.
• We plug the growers into the process. They are part of the project.
• We plug the growers into the process. They are part of the project team.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The service that we provide to growers through the water quality education program, we also certainly
• we provide to Growers through the water<00:07:29.280> quality<00:07:29.800> edication<
• I currently serve as the first vice president of Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
• 2015 the Minnesota Corn Growers 2015 the Minnesota Corn Growers Association<01:13:36.280> has
• That's been put forward by farmers on behalf of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We were fortunate enough to work with both Farm Bureau and stock growers during the interim to try and
• during the interim to try and growers during the interim to try and find<00:03:55.920> solutions<
• Any questions or stop growers? >> Representative, did that kind of answer your question?
• Any questions<00:10:07.440> or<00:10:07.680> stop<00:10:07.920> growers?
• questions or stop growers? questions or stop growers?

Bills: HJ0002, SF0118, SF0016

Keywords: mineral royalties, federal lands, Wyoming, revenue, education funding, transportation funding, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, eminent domain, water projects, legislative approval, state funding, land acquisition, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management, 916

Transcript Highlights:

• And we emphasize that our department, the win-win of trying to support purchase from local growers across
• In 2025, we had over 500 authorized growers in the program, and we've seen over half a million dollars
• And then the food pantries... organization and the growers that are working in their communities.
• But fourthly, we hope that you'll bring together ways that Washington farmers, growers, and producers
• So we have established relationships with growers.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• well as the Northland potato growers.
• well as the Northland potato growers.
• well as the Northland potato growers.
• well as the Northland potato growers.
• as well as the Northland potato growers. as well as the Northland potato growers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I spoke to a few growers today in our area.
• Myers, we show you registered as Travis Myers testifying neutrally on behalf of Plains Cotton Growers
• Uh, I'm also the president of Plains Cotton Growers headquartered in Lubbock, Texas.
• Obviously, water availability is the single most pressing issue for Texas citrus growers today.
• Uh, so I'm a fruit and vegetable grower myself and harvester.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and then those processors were asking those growers to grow them here.
• And so for Chinoa's group, in particular, To our on-farm trials with the growers.
• We plug the growers into the process. They are part of the project.
• We plug the growers into the process. They are part of the project team.
• For us, we know that growers are really, really focused on ensuring that all of the technologies that

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, budget neutral, and is supported by the growers that we've worked very hard over the last year
• One of the things that it does is it allows the seed potato growers to print their own certification
• Allowing growers to print their own tags could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about
• Again, budget neutral, and is supported by the growers that we've worked very hard over the last year
• One of the things that it does is it allows the seed potato growers to print their own certification

Bills: HF858, HF2577, HF2576

Keywords: bioincentive payments, agriculture, job creation, environmental compliance, financial reporting, waste handling, sewage sludge, PFAS regulation, environment, record retention, fertilizer disposal, pesticide disposal, environmental impact, safety regulations, burning prohibition, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will lastly point out that a grower has a letter.
• I will lastly point out that a grower has a letter.
• I will lastly point out that a grower has a letter.
• I will lastly point out that a grower has a letter.
• A grower has a letter.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 8, which was moved for referral to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. The bill’s author described it as a permitting and environmental review reform measure intended to maintain environmental standards while making permitting more predictable and timely for businesses, municipalities, and agricultural projects. He walked through nine sections, including limiting Wetland Conservation Act extension requests, requiring the MPCA to issue permitting efficiency reports twice a year, separating municipal and industrial permit data, allowing judicial review when the MPCA misses a 150-day two-tier permit goal, requiring quicker notice of incomplete applications, allowing separate construction and operation permits, creating a business permitting ombudsman at DEED, eliminating duplicative scoping EA requirements for projects already requiring a mandatory EIS, and adding an intent statement that the bill does not relax standards. The author and supporters emphasized that the bill is meant to reduce delays and duplication rather than weaken protections. He cited letters of support from groups including Building Trades, Mining Minnesota, pork producers, the Minnesota Biofuels Association, Apex, and the Red River Watershed, while noting that some groups opposed the bill. Testimony in support came from the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Red River Watershed Management Board, and Minnesota Milk, all of whom said permitting delays and inconsistent processes add significant cost and uncertainty. They argued the bill would help farmers, watershed projects, and businesses invest and expand in Minnesota while preserving environmental standards. Supporters also provided examples of the costs of current permitting processes, including long delays for air permits, repeated extensions, and large sums spent on environmental review before projects are halted or delayed. The Red River Watershed Management Board said its projects have spent millions on permitting and review, with some projects taking years and involving many permits from state, local, and federal agencies. Minnesota Milk said the bill and amendment would let farmers and responsible governmental units sequence applications more efficiently. No vote was taken in the portion provided beyond the motion to recommend re-referral, and the committee proceeded to public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Koh's, and I serve Minnesota's turkey industry as the executive director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers
• executive director for the Minnesota executive director for the Minnesota turkey<00:01:34.439> growers
• Turkey growers in Minnesota have set the gold standard for biosecurity and prevention measures on turkey
• So Minnesota turkey growers are doing a lot, but biosecurity is not enough to prevent high path avian
• have installed over 100 lasers Growers have installed over 100 lasers on<00:04:17.079> their<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The service that we provide to growers through the water quality education program, we also, certainly
• The service that we provide to growers through the water quality education program, we also, certainly
• The service that we provide to growers through the water quality education program, we also, certainly
• Two points to be made on that: the certification program is a service provided to the growers through
• Two points to be made on that: the certification program is a service provided to the growers through

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My growers kids are around this this.
• I'm currently serve on the Minnesota Corn Growers Board of Directors.
• Uh, I farm Growers Board of Directors.
• I'm currently serving as president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
• Um, we have several growers all over the country, including growers in Minnesota, that are successfully

Keywords: 1183, house