Transcript Highlights:

• tax to ensure the proper plugging and abandonment of wells and reclamation of the surfaces for sites
• It's not in the main section, the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund, 70-2-37.
• House Bill 80 strengthens the oil and gas reclamation fund.
• HB 80 complements, not replaces, industry's ongoing work in reclamation.
• And there's no reclamation fund.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1977, the reclamation fund was created.
• This bill helps add funds into the Reclamation Fund.
• Funding the Reclamation Fund protects landowners, water resources, and public health.
• And reclamation as originally intended.
• This can be used for other sort of reclamation and remediate. is sort of the primary use.

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• The public is very concerned with what the reclamation requirements are, if any.
• The public is very concerned with what the reclamation requirements are, if any.
• The public is very concerned with what the reclamation requirements are, if any.
• protections uh and reclamation so that protections uh and reclamation so that if<00:19:35.600> if<
• > on<00:19:43.919> on<00:19:44.240> the reclamations and requirements on on the reclamations

Bills: SB341, SB340

Keywords: SB341, Alabama, veteran license plate, veteran tag, distinctive license tag, specialty plate, radiation exposure, atomic bomb testing, ionizing radiation, World War II veterans, Vietnam veterans, Korean War veterans, Cold War veterans, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, Department of Veterans Affairs, probate judge

Transcript Highlights:

• And going back to that has always... ...with reclamation.
• And I will touch on that reclamation a little bit later on.
• I actually have a couple related to reclamation.
• So that's where the reclamation can go on for a while.
• And so that's just during reclamation.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax to ensure the proper plugging and abandonment in reclamation. efforts.
• And then only then go to the reclamation fund.
• So, I view the bonds as the insurance policy, not the reclamation fund, but I think the reclamation fund
• Does that include reclamation? I don't think it does. Okay.
• But, well, we're more than 100 to 125 with reclamation. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• new chair and vice chair, followed by the updates from Rosa Irrigation District and Can-attach Reclamation
• Let’s move on to Urban and have him talk about the Kittitas Reclamation District and surrounding area
• Looking at a picture, this is in the Kittitas Reclamation District.
• This is Kittitas Reclamation District on one of our recent smoky summers.”
• “Kittitas Reclamation District on one of our recent smoky summers.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting by electing new leadership. After brief discussion of the committee’s membership and the usual practice of alternating leadership between chambers and parties, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Mazzal as chair and Representative Christine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Mazzal’s request. The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Rosa Irrigation District on the severe 2025 water year. Park said Rosa is facing very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, and an earlier-than-planned end to the irrigation season. She described the district’s conservation and drought response measures, including canal shutdowns, pump-backs, leased water, on-farm fallowing and water pooling, emergency well permits, and long-term investments in piping, sealant, drip irrigation, and storage. Park also urged continued emergency drought funding, more efficient state lease funding processes, and support for water releases that benefit fish during drought conditions. Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He described widespread on-farm conservation, reduced acre allocations, early shutoffs expected in late summer, and ongoing infrastructure work such as piping, lining, telemetry, and the Springwood reservoir project. He emphasized that these projects are intended to improve water delivery, support fish flows, and provide future storage, including possible hydroelectric generation as part of feasibility work. In response to a question, he said the districts are monitoring aquifer impacts from canal lining and are working on managed aquifer recharge to direct conserved water to beneficial groundwater areas. No additional votes or formal actions were taken after the leadership elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• I spoke to a Bureau of Reclamation.
• It was later called that by the Bureau of Reclamation.
• And so the Bureau of Reclamation looked back at the historical data.
• Federal reclamation law requires that if any reclamation project water is going to be used for different
• Been litigating for the last couple of years, right, is the Bureau of Reclamation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then and then $100,000 for reclamation project manager.
• We've been able to accomplish getting two reclamation projects done last year.
• And in some cases, when we have a limited use The permit and reclamation is only $3,500, which is not
• They are now responsible for seeing the reclamation as complete on all those sites that There are no
• active coal mining sites operational at this time, so they are basically just in the reclamation end

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually have one, and it's related to the reclamation and the bonding.
• I actually have one, and it's related to the reclamation and the bonding.
• bonding or the reclamation process on data centers given the scope.
• bonding or the reclamation process on data centers given the scope.
• So you're really creating a useless act by trying to create reclamation in your county ordinances.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of the Mincota Power Cooperative headquarters before returning for presentations on large energy consumers, especially data centers. The first presentations focused on how North Dakota should respond to rapid growth in energy-intensive projects, with speakers emphasizing the need for reliable transmission, local decision-making tools, and factual information for county and township officials who are being asked to weigh major projects with limited staff and technical support. The North Dakota Transmission Authority director said local governments are being asked to make high-impact decisions on pipelines, transmission lines, large agriculture, wind, solar, carbon dioxide pipelines, direct-air capture, and data centers, and urged development of simple statewide decision tools and support from the League of Cities and Association of Counties. The Department of Environmental Quality’s air division director said North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the nation, but large data centers can create air-quality concerns because of diesel backup generation; he said the department is requiring air monitors at some facilities and expects grid power and, potentially, cleaner natural gas backup to reduce emissions. Members asked about emissions standards, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession at DEQ. The Department of Water Resources director said North Dakota’s water law is based on common ownership and prior appropriation, and that data centers generally use relatively small amounts of water, often in closed-loop systems. He said the Missouri River and groundwater supplies are ample for projected needs, that the department’s permitting process protects senior water rights, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use a very small share of Missouri River flow. Members asked about downstream impacts and compared data center water use with fracking. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson urged the committee to study how other states regulate data centers, warned against litigation-driven delays and overly broad local ordinances, argued reclamation bonding should be handled at the state level if at all, and said data centers can bring jobs and tax base but should remain subject to local zoning. The committee ended the morning session for lunch and later heard an EERC update from CEO Charles Gorecki on the center’s 75 years of work in energy and environmental technologies, especially oil and gas development and related research.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reclamation can't lobby Congress as an executive branch agency.
• The Bureau of Reclamation and our contractors have been double taxed.
• I think with the reclamation side, they haven't looked at that at all.
• Reclamation calls an appraisal level estimate.
• This is probably the only question I have for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Transcript Highlights:

• called, under that uhou with reclamation called, under that uhou with reclamation so<00:59:02.720
• And uh as a brief summary, Reclamation.
• :04:51.760> program<02:04:52.080> to Reclamation developed a program to Reclamation developed
• Chairman, I provided the Reclamation manual that the Bureau of Reclamation uses.
• And then finally, Bureau of Reclamation.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is reclamation requirements.
• I think they need to have reclamation requirements just like anyone else.
• And I believe that we should have some reclamation requirements.
• Where they pay maybe into the reclamation fund.
• They can also, you know, put some money in the reclamation fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Going down to the middle of the page, they were looking for reclamation specialist positions, and what
• So we decided in committee to fund these reclamation specialists that were directly associated with abandoned
• And so we decided to fund these reclamation specialists that were directly associated with abandoned
• Section 14 is basically enabling language for reclaimed property, reclaimed mines, or reclamation people
• Section 14 is basically enabling language for reclaimed property, reclaimed mines, or reclamation people

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2014, the budget for the Industrial Commission, with Representative Kempenich walking through the agency’s major components: the administrative office, Bank of North Dakota, housing finance, Department of Mineral Resources, and the State Mill and Elevator. He described mostly special-fund operations, including bond payments, economic development programs, the rail loan program, the Rebuilder’s Loan Program, housing incentive funding, abandoned well reclamation work, lignite research, litigation reserves, and a capacity purchase arrangement for a future natural gas pipeline. He also explained several one-time funding items, such as grid resiliency grants, housing-related transfers from the Strategic Investment Fund, and enhanced oil recovery funding repurposed from a prior salt cavern study. Members asked about the reduction in housing incentive funding from the Senate version, the use of one-time Strategic Investment Fund dollars for ongoing housing programs, and whether a trigger should be added to increase housing funding later. Kempenich said no trigger was discussed and emphasized that housing needs vary widely across the state. Another exchange focused on the enhanced oil recovery grant program, which he said would be driven largely by the Energy and Environmental Research Center and would use repurposed funds. A longer discussion covered the natural gas pipeline capacity purchase, including its purpose, possible routes, and the idea that the state would be buying capacity rather than immediately building a pipeline. The committee adopted Amendment 25.0181.0207 on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. The committee then passed HB 2014 as amended on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. Representative Kempenich was designated to carry the bill. The chair then noted this was the final budget hearing for the committee, with one bill remaining to be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s also under an ongoing reclamation permit application and review.
• Yes, I can call someone up from the Mining Act Reclamation Program.
• I'm the program manager for the Mining Act Reclamation Program.
• Among other things, we work on reclamation of active mines.
• Chairman, on reclamation—on reclamation, yeah, let's go back to that topic. Thank you.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• created what was called a Reclamation Board, which is now called the Central Valley Flood Protection
• And at that time, the title Reclamation Board was also changed to Sacramento Valley Flood Protection
• Deputy Manager of Reclamation for District 108 and Ken Hyatt, city manager for the City of Woodland.
• I also serve as a deputy manager for flood control at Reclamation District 108.
• Reclamation District 101 is a leader in...

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• will oversee two of the oldest bureaus in the department, the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation
• The Bureau of Reclamation oversees the water supplies upon which millions of Americans in 17 Western
• We know that Reclamation is the second largest producer of hydropower.
• Travnik, the Bureau of Reclamation is currently working quickly to address the catastrophic failure of
• Reclamation has This halted critical funding that has been a bridge to keep the Colorado River Basin

Transcript Highlights:

• These mines are under reclamation and closure.
• That project is currently going through some active reclamation.
• We work on reclamation of active mines.
• So, you're good on reclamation. On reclamation, let's go back to that topic. Thank you, Mr.
• On reclamation, Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: 996, all

Bills: HB589, HB591, HB609, HB614, SB57, SB280, SB332, HB589, HB591, HB609, HB614, SB57, SB280, SB332, HB627

Keywords: Jefferson County, building regulations, zoning, public health, building commissioner, permits, construction, land use, county tax, lodging tax, Henry County, transient accommodations, hospitality industry, local act, sheriff, sheriff's office, task force, abandoned property, stolen property, unclaimed property

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, we've also seen federal agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation pull out of previously
• This year, we've also seen federal agencies such as the borough of reclamation pull out of previously
• And then further, we have the Bureau of Reclamation in Interior.
• The Yakima Project, managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, has five reservoirs that store water for use
• Ecology cannot do its job without close coordination and collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial insurance mechanism used by mines to provide equivalent insurance against the cost of reclamation
• Surety provides insurance against the cost of reclamation should the mine become insolvent or reach some
• understanding that, at the end of the day, the state is going to need funds to cover the cost of reclamation
• What is the reclamation complexity?
• It allows a release tied to reclamation. Let me tell you how that would work just briefly.

Keywords: 985, all