Video & Transcript Research : 'storm damage'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Feb 5th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • We did last year's winter storm. We did civil unrest. We have Copa Cup.
  • salvageable, You're utilizing them in the sun and the rain and the weather, they are going to get damaged
  • A, the very first one, says reduction of vulnerability of people and communities of this state to damage
  • staying in my office for six and a half straight hours because we got on the phone with you, and the storm
  • Because those are U.S. citizen constituents living there under great duress in a storm.
Bills: S7040, S0110, S0434, S0856
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up three property-tax related bills before turning to a broader discussion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund. SB 434, which would prohibit counties from increasing a residential property’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation measures, was presented by Senator Lee and reported favorably. CS for SB 110, which clarifies that holders of 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends at death, was also reported favorably. SB 856, requiring online residential listing platforms to display estimated property taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew support from property appraisers, Zillow representatives, and others and was reported favorably after questions about transparency and realtor obligations. The committee then considered SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Senator DiCeglie and Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie argued the fund is needed for hurricane response, other natural and man-made emergencies, and reimbursement-based spending; they said the extension preserves legislative oversight that would otherwise lapse. Several senators questioned the use of the fund for immigration-related operations, detention facilities, and other non-disaster activities, as well as the lack of additional guardrails, reimbursement timing, and transparency. Guthrie said the division has used the fund for hurricanes, flooding, civil unrest, security operations, and other incidents, and that some reimbursements are still pending from the federal government. Public testimony on SPB 7040 was largely opposed. Speakers from the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida for All, and others argued the fund has been repurposed for immigration enforcement and detention-related spending rather than true emergencies, and raised concerns about deaths in detention and the absence of competitive bidding and oversight. Guthrie answered extensive questions about the South Florida and North Florida detention facilities, Operation Vigilant Sentry, State Guard support, reimbursement requests, equipment purchases, and legislative access to facilities. The committee did not take a final vote on SPB 7040 within the portion of the transcript provided.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Jan 28th, 2026

Finance and Tax

Transcript Highlights:
  • increase in just value attributable to improvements made to increase the property's resistance to wind damage
  • Changes or improvements made to increase the property's resistance to wind damage include, but are not
  • increase in just value attributable to improvements made to increase the property's resistance to wind damage
  • Changes or improvements made to increase the property's resistance to wind damage include that are not
  • limited to improving the strength, To increase the property's resistance to wind damage include, but
Bills: S0110, S0434, S0856
Summary: The committee heard and passed three bills before moving to a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSantis? [sic], would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes for residential properties using prescribed methods and DOR-developed formulas rather than the current owner’s tax bill. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency and help homebuyers avoid surprise tax and escrow increases. The bill was reported favorably after debate about making sure the estimate appears on realtor and platform sites for first-time buyers. SB 110, by Senator Arrington, was amended and then reported favorably. The bill clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead tax exemption even if the lease ends upon the tenant’s death, aligning those leaseholds with life estates for estate-planning purposes. The amendment, supported by the Florida Bar’s real property, probate and trust law section, clarified that lease provisions terminating at death are valid under current law. SB 434, by Senator Leak, was also reported favorably; it would prevent property tax assessments from reflecting increased just value attributable to wind-hardening improvements such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and roof-to-wall reinforcements. The committee then received an update from staff director Azar Khan on the new general revenue forecast. He said collections had been running slightly above estimate overall, but the Revenue Estimating Conference reduced corporate income tax projections because of weaker recent collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while increasing some other revenue sources. Members then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which staff said would significantly reduce Florida corporate income tax revenue, with a large first-year impact driven by retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation, research expensing, and business interest deductions. Senators and the appropriations chair said the forecast and federal changes would affect budget planning, and the committee adjourned after noting the bills had been favorably reported and the meeting was complete.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Mar 26th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • When a storm strikes, we as the utility have to finance those costs.
  • Yet many have suffered financial losses due to damages from border-related crimes.
  • For damages caused by border-related crimes.
  • Insurance may not fully cover the damage, and many are uninsured.
  • Help to compensate the landowners for the damages caused. Thank you. Thank you.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • There was far more damage than we thought once we investigated that.
  • There was far more damage than we thought once we investigated that.
  • There was far more damage than we thought once we investigated that.
  • There was far more damage than we thought once we investigated that.
  • There was far more damage than we thought once we investigated that.
Summary: The committee met for its third meeting of the session and received an update on the Capitol renovation project from Finance and Administration Secretary Holly Johnson and State Budget Director John Hicks. They reported the project budget remains $291.52 million, with Messer Construction as construction manager, and said the temporary legislative chamber completion has slipped into 2025 because of wiring, voting machine, KET camera, and canopy work. They outlined the current bid schedule: site and utility bids due February 27, 2025; roofing and fourth-floor structural work due April 24; major renovation bids due May 23; bid review in late May and early June; roofing and fourth-floor work beginning in late June; and overall construction starting July 7, 2025. A major focus of the discussion was the project contingency, which officials said is only $10.8 million for an older building with significant unknown conditions. They explained that earlier investigations led to about $60 million in value engineering cuts, including more than $40 million tied to unexpectedly extensive terrace damage on the north, south, and east sides. The terraces were originally expected to need only minor work, but officials said investigations showed reconstruction would eventually be necessary and could not be handled by simple restoration. They also said the mechanical equipment plan changed from a basement location to a vault under the east parking lot, and that the west terrace will still see some ADA-related work. Committee members questioned why the terrace work was not included in the current budget, whether doing it later would cost more, and why bids and construction planning had taken so long. Officials said the terraces were left out because of cost, that future work would likely be more expensive because of market escalation, and that the timing reflected extensive investigation needed to produce reliable bids. Members also raised concerns about scaffolding and the temporary chambers; officials clarified that the scaffolding discussed was for the separate Capitol Dome project, not the chamber project, and said the Dome scaffolding is part of that project cost and is expected to come down in early 2027. They said the temporary chambers are expected to be used for three sessions, through the 28th session, with a return to the Capitol planned for the 29th session, and that public tours of the Capitol would likely end around June depending on the bid results and construction schedule.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 3/20/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • recognized the value of flood damage recognized the value of flood damage reduction<00:36:02.960
  • <00:48:07.599> water<00:48:07.839> lift will support levies, storm water lift will
  • support levies, storm water lift stations,<00:48:08.640> county<00:48:08.960> road<00:48
  • and/or at risk homes have 337 damaged and/or at risk homes have been<00:51:02.760> acquired.
  • and to keep the sediments and damages and to keep the sediments and nutrients<01:00:05.839> on
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Mar 26th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • One, it was the extreme cold of Winter Storm Uri. And in 2025, it was wind, drought, and fire.
  • wind storms.
  • Hell-damaged ponds in Central and North Texas affect homes and businesses.
  • Tornadoes and derechos cause extensive damage.
  • Is our infrastructure adequate for... of the intense storms and heat.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Mar 26th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • When a storm strikes, we as the utility have to... finance those costs.
  • Yet many have suffered financial losses due to... damages from border-related crimes.
  • Insurance may not fully cover the damage, and many are uninsured.
  • We need to have this so that we can help compensate the landowners for the damage. Thank you.
  • I have been in a predicament for a while regarding the damages to agricultural lands.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/4/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, 3611 is a bill that allows a state income tax withholding deduction for damages that are won by individuals
Bills: HF3611, HF3659, HF3909
Summary: The committee first approved the March 3, 2026 minutes and then laid over House File 3611 for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Finke described HF 3611 as creating a state income tax withholding deduction for damages awarded to individuals in lawsuits against federal agents such as ICE or CBP, including emotional and financial awards. There was no public testimony or member discussion on the bill before it was laid over. The committee then took up House File 3909, which Representative Hansen said would impose a 50% tax on the gross receipts of detention centers operated by private nongovernmental entities. Hansen argued the measure would recapture public money, deter what he characterized as misuse of taxpayer dollars, and target profits made by private detention contractors such as GEO Group and CoreCivic. He also cited projected revenues and profits for those companies and said the bill was a response to human rights and civil rights concerns tied to private detention operations. Testimony on HF 3909 included support from Nancy Fitz Simmons, a Minnesota State University, Mankato social work professor, who said social workers see the effects of these issues across the state and that the bill could return money to Minnesotans in need. Representative Swedzinski opposed the bill’s impact on the Appleton facility and emphasized local jobs and economic opportunity, while Representative Lee said Minnesota should seek better economic options than jail-related work. Representative Holland supported the bill as a way to offset costs to families and the state from detentions and deportations. Representative Weiner questioned the bill’s revenue potential and criticized the 50% gross-receipts tax as politicizing taxes. Representative Hansen responded that similar proposals were being explored in Washington and California and that the bill was intended to stand up to large corporate interests. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Transportation Feb 3rd, 2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • There has been discussion about how can you tell who is responsible for uncovering the damage?
  • Specifically, electric vehicles with damaged, burned, or potentially damaged or burned batteries shall
  • What was the visual damage that you observed? What were any incidents that occurred?
  • . ...said the risk is there only if the battery casing is damaged, right?
  • where the damage is greater than $200, is a felony of the third degree.
Bills: S0260, S1220, S1352, S1362, S1370
Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as a framework for vertiports and eVTOL aircraft, but an amendment removed the sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity provisions to vertiports co-located at airports. Supporters said the bill would help Florida lead in emerging aviation technology, while opponents and some members raised concerns about safety, local control, and extending immunity to unproven facilities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 260 on storage of damaged electric vehicles. The bill, as amended, would allow local governments to set a daily administrative fee of up to three times the normal rate for storing EVs with visible battery damage or saltwater intrusion, reflecting fire-safety spacing requirements. Testimony from insurers, towing interests, and fleet operators focused on whether the fee was justified, whether cleanup language could lead to cost shifting, and whether more data reporting should be required. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizures and related DMV functions, preserves disabled veterans’ plate designations, prohibits license plate covers that obscure plates, and routes online license and ID renewals through county tax collectors. SB 1370 was also reported favorably; it closes a loophole so drivers who never obtained a license can still face habitual traffic offender penalties after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee took up SB 1220, a broad FDOT transportation package. After amendment, it retained provisions on trails, SunTrail, seaports, airports, drone delivery, autonomous vehicle protections, and FDOT coordination on federal funding, while removing the digital driver’s license provision and the rapid rail compact language. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • All 10 counties in the district faced storm damage on the night of May 16th, and all our crews were out
  • All 10 counties in the district faced storm damage on the night of May 16th, and all our crews were out
  • <00:24:23.919> A<00:24:24.159> third damage. 133 had minor damage.
  • A third damage. 133 had minor damage.
  • there's not unseen damage or safety? there's not unseen damage or safety?
Summary: The committee’s first interim meeting opened with roll call, a quorum, and a briefing from Transportation Cabinet officials on the Cabinet’s response to severe weather and tornadoes in Kentucky, especially the May 16–17 storms that caused deaths and widespread damage in Pulaski and Laurel counties, with an additional tornado noted in Washington County. Secretary Jim Gray, State Highway Engineer James Ballinger, and District 11 engineer Chris Jones described how crews in all 120 counties were placed on alert, how roads were cleared of debris, and how KYTC coordinated with emergency management, law enforcement, local governments, and utilities to restore access and power. They reported major impacts on roads, signals, and other infrastructure, including the EF4 tornado path through Pulaski and Laurel counties, and said KYTC also helped with debris hauling, airport cleanup, and delivery of water and meals. The officials gave specific recovery figures for Laurel County, including 1,800 loads of construction and demolition debris hauled, about 11,000 tons and 22,000 cubic yards removed, with roughly 50% of vegetative debris cleared at that point. They said all state roadways in Laurel County were reopened, the London-Corbin Airport was returned to flight operations by Sunday, and a transition plan was underway for Laurel County Fiscal Court’s contractor to take over debris operations. Gray also noted that KYTC had helped issue replacement IDs, licenses, registrations, and titles at no cost in disaster areas, and said the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund had raised nearly $1.5 million from more than 6,000 donors. Members praised KYTC staff as first responders and thanked them for their quick response and coordination. Several legislators recounted local impacts in Washington, Pulaski, and Laurel counties, including blocked roads, rescue challenges, looting concerns, and the scale of property damage. One member asked how KYTC inspects bridges and infrastructure after disasters to check for hidden damage, and officials said the process depends on the event and can include bridge inspections and checks of tall infrastructure such as light poles. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the discussion.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 19th, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • definition alignment bill that fixes an inconsistent inconsistency in Texas law regarding collision damage
  • this bill. because our customers and the businesses that we do business with, they ask for Collision Damage
  • Waiver, which we've referred to as CDW, or Damage Waiver.
  • That if a rental is returned early or the damage waiver is canceled earlier than thought.
  • social media contains harmful content for young people and that it can undoubtedly cause lasting damage
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Apr 16th, 2025

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • situations where someone is blocking the road and someone is injured or killed, or there's property damage
  • They said this bill would establish an affirmative defense against a civil action for damages for personal
  • injury, wrongful death, or property damage sustained while obstructing traffic on a... sustained while
Bills: HB411, HB559
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House & Governmental May 19th, 2026

House and Governmental Affairs