Video & Transcript Research : 'wildfire smoke'

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NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • Smoke from wildfires contains fine particulate matter, which is a harmful and dangerous pollutant that
  • And also determines at which air quality index level for wildfire smoke an employer shall not allow an
  • smoke.
  • What will happen to livestock during a wildfire?
  • smoke.
Bills: AB93, AB204, AB414, AB504, AB598
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Tue Apr 7, 2026 @ 10:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Summary: The Water and Land Committee met on April 7 and heard testimony on several resolutions and one bill. SB 2405 SD1 HD2, relating to agricultural workforce housing, received support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, HFTC, and the Hawaii Farmers Union, and the committee later recommended passage as is; one member voted with reservations citing department cost and staffing concerns. The committee also heard HCR 19/HR 20 designating March as March for Water Month, HCR 63/HR 57 urging DLNR and DOT to clarify jurisdiction over Honouliuli Bridge, HCR 85/HR 77 on transferring parcels for the East Kapolei TOD project, HCR 140/HR 132 on vegetation management and fuel reduction in West Maui, HCR 166/HR 156 on identifying East Oahu lands for native Hawaiian tree planting, HCR 82/HR 74 on basic shelter standards for rapid deployment housing, HCR 98/HR 90 on a Honolulu housing pattern book, HCR 104/HR 96 on North Shore coastal trails, HCR 106/HR 98 on endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve, HCR 141/HR 133 on Maui fire code enforcement, and HCR 165/HR 155 on permanent pickleball nets and lighting at Kamiloiki Community Park. Testimony was generally supportive on most measures, with several agencies and organizations submitting written comments or appearing in support. HCR 82/HR 74 drew the most discussion: the State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent but asked that accessibility be considered on the front end, while another testifier opposed the resolution, arguing it could turn temporary emergency shelters into permanent substandard housing and should be deferred. Committee members discussed temporary versus permanent housing standards and accessibility, and the chair later said the measure would be amended to require permanent units to meet appropriate code standards and to note accessibility concerns in the committee report. On HCR 140/HR 132, DLNR testified that firebreak maintenance on its Waianae lands would be costly, and members noted funding and staffing implications. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures it voted on. SB 2405 was passed with a reservation from one member; HCR 19/HR 20, HCR 63/HR 57, HCR 85/HR 77, HCR 98/HR 90, HCR 104/HR 96, HCR 106/HR 98, HCR 141/HR 133, and HCR 165/HR 155 were passed unamended, while HCR 140/HR 132 was passed with reservations and HCR 166/HR 156 and HCR 82/HR 74 were passed with amendments. The committee then adjourned.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, February 24, 2026

Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our federal forests need to be managed to reduce wildfire impacts and effects.
  • </c><00:12:12.560><c> occurs</c> strong in the West when wildfire occurs strong in the West when wildfire
  • In the last multiple decades, we've been suppressing wildfire.
  • In the last multiple decades, we've been suppressing wildfire.
  • In the last multiple decades, we've been suppressing wildfire.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, February 24, 2026

Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • So that reservoir is really critical that we keep the forest around it healthy, the wildfire away from
  • <00:47:01.920><c> it</c><00:47:02.160><c> healthy,</c><00:47:02.560><c> the</c><00:47:02.720><c> wildfire
  • </c> forest around it healthy, the wildfire forest around it healthy, the wildfire away<00:47:03.599>
  • this reservoir so that if there<00:47:25.520><c> is</c><00:47:25.680><c> a</c><00:47:25.839><c> wildfire
  • , there's a little there is a wildfire, there's a little bit<00:47:27.440><c> of</c><00:47:27.520><c>
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 17, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to human services, homelessness, transit, and family supports. HB 2116 HD1, concerning grants from the Office of Community Services to nonprofits providing training and volunteerism opportunities, drew strong support from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and multiple organizations in written testimony. Supporters said the bill would help vulnerable people affected by federal program changes and cuts by connecting them to reintegration and support services. HB 1879 HD1, establishing a subsidized youth transit program coordinated with counties, received extensive testimony in support from the Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii State Youth Commission, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Greenpeace Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, and others. Testifiers emphasized equity, school attendance, reduced transportation costs, climate benefits, and broader access for youth. Several witnesses urged amendments to make the program universal rather than means-tested, and committee discussion noted implementation questions for neighbor islands and rural areas. HB 2214, creating a refundable diaper tax credit for low-income families with children age four and under, was supported by the Hawaii Diaper Bank, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and several other organizations. The Department of Taxation recommended making the credit non-refundable and clarifying definitions to aid administration, while supporters argued refundability was important for low-income families who may owe little or no income tax. HB 2310, an emergency appropriation to replenish DHS funds used to provide SNAP benefits during a federal shutdown, also drew broad support from DHS, Catholic Charities, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Aloha United Way, and others; witnesses praised the state’s rapid response and said the appropriation would prepare DHS for future emergencies. The committee also heard HB 2168 HD1 and HB 2427 HD1 on education for students experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied homeless youth; the Attorney General recommended technical amendments to avoid conflicts with existing law and to clarify McKinney-Vento-related definitions, while advocates stressed the need for school access, transportation, meals, and other supports for homeless and runaway youth.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Committee, February 11, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our federal forests need to be managed to reduce wildfire impacts and effects.
  • So that means this bill, when implemented, will save $12 to $21 million in wildfire suppression costs
  • </c> save 12 to 21 million in wildfire save 12 to 21 million in wildfire suppression<00:13:10.800><c>
  • Okay, so the next question was wildfire and wildfire priority.
  • And so wildfire is definitely part of thought through in this bill. Thank you, Forester Norris.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Jan 27th, 2026 at 11:17 am

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • birthplace of the United States space and missile programs, and whereas emergency services such as wildfire
  • Bill 171, introduced by Representative Serrato, an act relating to electric utilities, enacting the Wildfire
  • Fund Act, providing for the collection of surcharges on electric services, establishing the wildfire
  • fund, requiring notices of interest, providing eligibility requirements, including wildfire mitigation
  • Providing eligibility requirements, including wildfire mitigation plans, creating the position of service
Bills: HM19
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 31st, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • That included two key findings regarding our state's wildfire risks.
  • First, our wildfire season will get longer.
  • And second, greater portions of the state will be susceptible to wildfires.
  • Equipment in the face of growing wildfire risks.
  • And that's what makes our wildfires so devastating.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EEP Info Briefing - Thu Apr 16, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, during our, you know, one of our toughest years in the middle of the worst wildfires in state history
  • middle<01:11:57.199><c> of</c><01:11:57.280><c> the</c><01:11:57.440><c> worst</c><01:11:57.840><c> wildfires
  • </c><01:11:58.560><c> in</c><01:11:58.960><c> state</c> middle of the worst wildfires in state middle
  • of the worst wildfires in state history<01:12:00.000><c> and,</c><01:12:00.480><c> uh,</c><01:12:00.719
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 3rd, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, as you know, about 90% of the wildfires that ravaged our great state about this time last year were
  • We're for this bill, as we know, looking at the wildfires from last year.
  • We're for this bill, as we know, looking at the wildfires from last year, the issue of having the right
  • The other part of it, we know, is we don't want to create an item that's just used for wildfire events
Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met on Texas Water Day and limited public testimony to two minutes. The chair emphasized the need to move quickly because of scheduling conflicts with other committees and noted the importance of water policy and related stakeholders. The committee heard several bills focused on water administration, rural utilities, emergency response, and public works contracting. Senate Bill 790 by Senator Alvarado would let the Public Utility Commission create a simplified process for resolving tenant complaints over water or wastewater bill discrepancies; it was described as a way to avoid lengthy contested-case hearings for small disputes. Senate Bill 971 by Senator Sparks would clean up conflicting statutory definitions of “rural political subdivision” so Texas Water Development Board programs are applied consistently; Texas Rural Water Association testified in support. Senate Bill 767, also by Senator Sparks, would expand and improve a statewide database of fire-response equipment so departments, including volunteer and rural departments, can locate and share resources more effectively during emergencies; fire service witnesses supported the bill and suggested annual updates to keep the database current. Chair Perry laid out Senate Bill 480 to clarify that local governments and special districts may enter interlocal agreements for water-related planning and research, including aquifer management and flood/water planning. He also presented Senate Bill 1066, which raises payment and performance bond thresholds for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department public works contracts to $150,000, arguing the change would reflect inflation and help smaller vendors on lower-risk projects. Witnesses were heard on the bills, with no opposition recorded in the transcript. The committee voted out all five bills favorably. SB 1066, SB 480, SB 767, SB 790, and SB 971 each received unanimous committee approval and were recommended to the local and contested calendar, with SB 767 noted as amended by a suggested annual-update requirement for the equipment database.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Health Policy Jan 20th, 2026

Health Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is SB 162, protection from surgical smoke.
  • Substantiate us having a mandate to require these smoke evacuators to be used.
  • Quite often, what is done to remove surgical smoke is the traditional suction that's used.
  • It's meant for liquids, not meant for an area of smoke.
  • For instance, viral plumes are medically known to be spread via smoke.
Bills: S0428, S0606, S0192, S0162, S0340
Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up several health-related bills, with a strong focus on drowning prevention and patient safety. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7. Supporters, including a pediatric emergency physician and YMCA leadership, cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be available to more children. Senator Harrell noted the need to consider increasing the program’s funding as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 606 by Senator Smith, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and, after amendment, no longer home birth providers. A parent who lost a child to drowning testified in support, and senators emphasized the preventability of such deaths. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 340 by Senator Harrell would require nursing students to complete a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure; after a strike-all amendment shifted the requirement from nursing programs to the students themselves, the bill received support from advocates and was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also considered SB 162 by Senator Davis, which would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already common in many facilities, while opponents and some senators questioned the medical evidence, enforcement, and possible impacts on rural and smaller facilities. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with some members voting no. SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull on behalf of Senator Martin, would remove the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change as pro-small-business, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation comparing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system with other states, focusing on board autonomy, rulemaking oversight, board composition, appointments, term limits, and funding mechanisms.