Video & Transcript Research : 'permitting'
Page 30 of 352
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- due to inefficient local permitting.
- But I've never heard from anybody saying we're having a problem with permitting solar.
- This bill is not just about development permits.
- It sets a dangerous precedent if the state can... ...development permits.
- or a development order permit.
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 1134, which would extend the use of qualified private providers in the building permit process to residential solar energy systems and certain single-trade inspections, and would allow computer-based plan review tools. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long solar permitting delays and lower costs. A late amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted, and after some discussion about local permitting problems and the need to work with municipalities, CS/SB 1134 was reported favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no.
The committee then took up SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would limit fee collection if verification is not completed. Members discussed whether the bill should include more flexibility and whether private providers are appropriate for this function, but the committee ultimately reported CS/SB 784 favorably. SB 1738, allowing counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in while maintaining current levels of service, was also reported favorably without significant opposition.
Next, SB 1080 on local government land regulation was presented as a measure to speed up development permit and order approvals, limit repeated information requests, prevent hearing delays, and impose penalties for noncompliance. Local government testimony argued it would rush planning and weaken public input, while supporters called it common-sense streamlining. After debate, the bill was reported favorably, with several no votes. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to that used by sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members raised concerns about county budget timelines.
Finally, the committee considered SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, programs, or policies, while carving out compliance with state and federal law and defining DEI-related terms. The amendment removed retroactivity and delayed the effective date, but members from both parties raised concerns about vague definitions, impacts on women- and minority-owned business programs, local commemorations, and the loss of attorney’s fees for prevailing counties. Public testimony was sharply divided, with many speakers opposing the bill as an attack on local control and inclusion, and a few supporting it as a merit-based standard. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition in debate and was not yet reported in the portion of the transcript provided.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, Representative Hernandez, the way CCW permits are...
- The way CCW permits are done in the state of Arizona is according to statute.
- But currently, the CCW permit process is run by DPS...
- You don't need a CCW permit to carry concealed in our state.
- You don't need a CCW permit to carry concealed in our state.
Keywords:
attorney discipline, legal costs, reputation damage, state bar, court costs, fentanyl, drug offenses, narcotic drugs, criminal penalties, Arizona Revised Statutes, educational institutions, public order, disruption, concealed weapons, safety regulations, firearms, muffling devices, weapon regulations, Arizona law, public safety
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several bills dealing with attorney discipline, bar licensure, drug sentencing, campus firearms, suppressors, defamation, emergency-service calls by businesses, mandatory child-abuse reporting, eviction procedure, and protections for utility workers. SB 1039 would allow attorneys who prevail in disciplinary matters to recover lost earnings and seek compensation for reputational harm from the State Bar; SB 1148 would require the Arizona Supreme Court to directly license attorneys rather than delegate that function. Both bills were supported by the sponsor as restoring accountability and limiting delegation, and both received due-pass recommendations despite some opposition votes.
Members also heard SB 1061, which lowers the fentanyl trafficking threshold from 200 grams to 9 grams; opponents from the ACLU and defense bar argued the threshold would sweep in personal-use cases and increase incarceration, while supporters said it targets traffickers. The bill was recommended do pass. SB 1068, barring public colleges and universities from prohibiting lawful concealed carry by permit holders, drew strong opposition from gun-safety advocates and campus representatives who cited suicide and campus safety concerns, and support from gun-rights groups who argued campuses are not exempt from constitutional rights; it also received a due-pass recommendation. SB 1069, removing suppressors from Arizona’s prohibited-weapons definition, was opposed by Moms Demand Action and supported by gun-rights advocates as aligning state law with federal law and protecting hearing; it likewise passed out of committee.
The committee also advanced SB 1099, which would codify statutory defamation elements and add an internet-related limitation period; the ACLU warned it could chill speech and conflict with evolving First Amendment law, while the sponsor said it would clarify existing case law and address online defamation. SB 1271, prohibiting cities from penalizing businesses for legitimate emergency-service calls, passed unanimously after testimony that some municipalities had discouraged 911 calls for theft and other incidents. HB 1127, requiring mandatory reporters with direct knowledge of child abuse or neglect to report immediately and personally, passed after Phoenix Children’s Hospital and DCS said they supported the intent but wanted implementation language clarified for medical emergencies. SB 1426, changing forcible-detainer procedures by removing the written-demand requirement, passed despite concerns from the multi-housing industry that the current language could disrupt holdover-tenant evictions. Finally, SB 1448, as amended, expanded aggravated-assault protections to utility, telecom, video-service, and related workers; supporters cited threats and assaults against field crews, while opponents argued existing assault laws already cover the conduct and the bill is overly broad. The amendment and the bill as amended were adopted, and the committee gave SB 1448 a due-pass recommendation.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Licensing & Administrative Procedures Apr 15th, 2025
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Transcript Highlights:
- permit.
- Third option, a brew pub with a mixed beverage permit.
- Currently, Texas law does not permit me to move my own products between my locations.
- Um, they also carry and hold wine only package store permits in Texas, as well as a brew pub permit out
- Sorry, they own 5 permits, 4 or 5 permits in Texas.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (03/24/2026)
Public Works and Highways
Transcript Highlights:
- So that put it in the jurisdiction, and because of that, we had to deny that permit.
- That put it in the jurisdiction, and because of that, we had to deny that permit.
- <02:14:16.239>
outdoor a typically permitted outdoor a typically permitted outdoor advertising - <02:14:29.679>
The as long as the permit is valid. The as long as the permit is valid. - <02:16:10.400>
an <02:16:10.800>error that was permitted an error that was permitted
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 497, a technical correction to last year’s capital budget. Shannon Reid of the Community College System of New Hampshire explained that the bill removes leftover state-agency boilerplate from a repurposed capital appropriation and replaces it with community college language, without changing any dollar amounts. She also described a requested amendment to rename a respiratory therapy renovation appropriation at Nashua Community College as an allied health instructional center, so the space can be used more flexibly for programs such as phlebotomy, radiologic technology, and LNA training. Terry Poff of the General Court then testified on the second part of the bill, which changes legislative space references to support the move of General Court offices from the second floor to the fourth floor of the annex as part of the legislative office building reconfiguration.
Members asked whether the community college changes affected funding, and Reid confirmed the amounts do not change and that the bill simply speeds up a correction that otherwise would have been handled later in the lapse process. Poff said the annex space change is part of a permanent transition, though the work cannot proceed until the General Court has legal control of the space. The committee then entered executive session, adopted Amendment 1031H on a 12-0 vote, and voted ought to pass as amended on SB 497 by a 12-0 vote, with several members absent. The bill was placed on the consent calendar.
The committee next opened a hearing on Senate Bill 529FN, which would give preference to lumber sourced in the United States on state-funded building projects. Representative Davis, introducing the bill for Senator Roachford, argued that New Hampshire timber is disadvantaged by grading rules that treat U.S. lumber differently from Canadian SPF lumber, even when the wood is from similar species and climates. He said the bill is intended to support New Hampshire’s timber industry and that architects and engineers would still be able to specify stronger materials when needed. Committee members questioned whether the bill should instead refer specifically to New Hampshire lumber, how it would be enforced, and what the cost impact would be. Davis and later witness Mike Olette said the issue is tied to industry grading standards rather than a government code, that the bill is meant to create a preference rather than a mandate, and that price differences are hard to pin down because lumber is a commodity. Olette, who lives near the border, testified that New Hampshire logs are often sent to Canada for milling and then return under a different grade, which he said puts New Hampshire loggers and mills at an economic disadvantage.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- One of the key elements in this bill is the permitting process. And we unfortunately...
- Both are meant to speed up the permitting process.
- six months to pick up the permit or it expires.
- conditions of permit issuance.
- because everyone is submitting permits at the same time.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met and considered a series of bills on trust law, homestead property assessments, emergency preparedness, utility service restrictions, Black history museum planning, historic preservation, firefighter benefits, and community redevelopment agencies. Several measures were presented as technical or policy updates, including CS/SB 262 on trust code clarifications, SJR 174 and SB 176 on limiting homestead assessment increases for flood-mitigation elevations, SB 608 renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 582 increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, SB 1202 extending health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training, and SB 1242 phasing out CRAs and restricting new projects. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response also advanced after a strike-all amendment that added FEMA reimbursement streamlining, mutual aid coordination, and other disaster-response provisions. SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings was amended to clarify local review authority and professional liability protections before passage.
The committee heard substantial testimony on SB 466, which implements the Black History Task Force’s recommendation to locate the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County/St. Augustine. Supporters emphasized the area’s civil rights and Black history significance, the task force process, and the backing of Florida Memorial University and local leaders; one witness opposed the bill and urged a feasibility study and consideration of other sites. SB 1242 drew the most sustained debate, with supporters arguing many CRAs have outlived their purpose and opponents warning the bill would eliminate a valuable local economic development tool, harm affordable housing projects, and create uncertainty for phased developments and existing projects. SB 1002 also drew opposition testimony from advocates who warned of broad unintended consequences for municipal utilities and local energy choices, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve a specific legal misunderstanding.
Votes were taken on each measure, and all of the bills considered were reported favorably by the committee. The committee adopted the amendment to CS/SB 262, the strike-all amendment to SB 180, and the amendment to SB 1128 before final passage. Several senators requested to be recorded on specific tabs after the meeting, and the committee then adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Feb 7th, 2026 at 09:06 am
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- through permit fees to support not just the permitting aspects and the work to get those permits out
- in their permit?
- Out there has to list their compounds in their permit request to you.
- Do they also have to issue the permits for these issues that are below?
- Tell me a little bit about the permitting process, if that's not the case.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- for that on behalf of somebody that would like to employ on an emergency permit.
- But the emergency permits last for one year each.
- But what was done in 2021 was not emergency permits; those were actual... Right.
- Our teachers are required to have permits issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
- We cannot address the teacher pipeline shortages without including our permitted teachers.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EIG-WLA, EIG-HOU-WLA, EIG-HOU, EIG Public Hearings 03-19-2026
Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Um at the very least, the special permit Um at the very least, the special permit process<00:15:
- medium, high, as well as the permit medium, high, as well as the permit type,<00:36:56.280>
whereas - district and permit. district and permit.
- issue is with um, the permitting issue is with um, the permitting themselves.<00:37:15.440>
The - We're the ability to expedite permits.
Bills:
HB1700
Keywords:
housing, expedited permits, disabilities, access, functional needs, local government, affordable housing, reporting requirements, 912, senate, all
Summary:
The joint committees heard several housing, land use, and infrastructure bills. HB 6019 HD2 on electric vehicle infrastructure and HB 1728 HD1 on rainwater catchment systems both drew limited testimony and were advanced. For HB 1728, the chairs said they would designate the Department of Health as the regulator and incorporate suggested technical amendments from plumbing and rainwater industry groups. Both measures were reported out with recommendations to pass, with HB 6019 passed unamended and HB 1728 passed with amendments.
HB 1844, which would have required the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands designated for urban growth, drew significant opposition from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Sierra Club, who argued it would bypass land-use review and threaten agricultural land, water planning, and long-term resilience. Grassroot Institute supported the bill, and the Land Use Commission said the bill raised concerns. After discussion, the chairs deferred the measure in one committee and later the recommendation to pass it with amendments was not adopted in the other committee.
HB 1990 on penalties and liens for unresolved residential zoning violations was advanced with amendments. The chairs adopted Grassroot Institute’s suggested changes requiring any county sale of such property to be at no less than fair market value and requiring excess proceeds to be returned to the owner. HB 2424, which would allow county planning agencies to petition for temporary reclassification of certain agricultural lands to rural, also drew mixed testimony; the Land Use Commission raised due process concerns, and agriculture interests opposed it. One committee advanced it with amendments, but in the other committee the recommendation failed after members cited lack of county support.
The later portion of the hearing began on HB 1738 and HB 1739. HB 1738 would expand county authority to amend district boundaries for housing on parcels over 15 acres; OHA, Sierra Club, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau opposed it, while Grassroot Institute supported it. HB 1739 would require transit-supportive densities in county TOD areas and limit local restrictions; DPP raised concerns about timing, permitting, and conflicts with existing TOD frameworks, while OPSD and Grassroot supported it. The transcript cuts off before final action on these later bills.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Audit Commission - Evaluation Subcommittee 5/8/26
Transcript Highlights:
- And then finally, permitting is always on how to get something going.
- And then finally, permitting is always on how to get something going.
- And then finally, permitting is always on how to get something going.
- And then finally, permitting is always on how to get something going.
- And then finally, permitting is always on how to get something going.
Summary:
The subcommittee met on May 8, 2026, to narrow 12 proposed Legislative Audit Commission evaluation topics down to 8-10 semi-finalists for a legislative survey. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jodi Munson Rodriguez reviewed the selection criteria and explained which topics were promising now, which might be better deferred to fall because of timing or data limitations, and which were less promising because OLA would have limited ability to add value. She identified the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, DHS Adult Day Services Licensing, DHS county service approvals and provision, MDH mortuary science program, MPCA feedlot permitting, Minnesota paid leave, the Office of Cannabis Management, and several other DHS-related items as candidates, while recommending that DHS system modernization be shifted to an IT audit and that corporate concentration be narrowed substantially if pursued.
Members discussed several topics in detail. Representative Lee asked how a broad DHS county services topic could be narrowed and suggested providing legislators with an addendum listing possible subprograms so they would know what they were ranking; Munson Rodriguez said OLA could add a few suggested subtopics and tailor the survey materials. Representative Hansen urged that the MPCA feedlot permitting review focus on effectiveness and environmental and health impacts, not just speed, and Munson Rodriguez said those kinds of questions could be added. The Office of Cannabis Management was viewed as promising but probably too new to evaluate immediately, and the MDH mortuary science program was also seen as worthwhile but potentially delayed because of overlap with other MDH licensing work.
The Minnesota research tax credit drew the most extended discussion. Munson Rodriguez said it remained a weak fit for OLA because of limited data and unclear program goals, and Senator Rest argued it would be better handled by the Department of Revenue’s research staff or possibly the Legislative Budget Office’s tax expenditure research section. Representative Lee asked whether OLA’s financial audit division could review whether the credit “pays for itself,” but Munson Rodriguez said that would require econometric analysis outside the financial audit division’s normal work. The committee did not take a formal vote in the portion provided, but the chair indicated the tax credit issue should be brought to the full commission agenda, and the meeting continued with additional topic review, including the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which staff said was heavily federally controlled and already reviewed by federal OIG, limiting OLA’s likely impact.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations (3-27-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- It's changing the terminology of temporary permit to provisional license.
- not paying for these services because this individual is not licensed; they're under a temporary permit
- It changes nothing about that temporary permit or provisional license.
- so now this under a temporary permit so now this language<00:04:50.880>
would <00:04:51.080>- If they want to donate some bottles and auction them off, do they have to get a permit to do that?
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 27, 2025, with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 255, relating to physical therapy. The bill sponsor and representatives of the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and APTA Kentucky said the measure is mainly a cleanup and modernization bill that updates outdated statutory language, changes PTAs from “certified” to “licensed,” gives the board authority to purchase liability insurance, moves fee and fine caps into regulation without changing current fees, renames temporary permits as provisional licenses, and creates a pathway to more easily recognize some internationally trained physical therapists already practicing in other states. Senators asked whether the bill changed training, scope of practice, Medicaid, or supervised practice standards; witnesses said it did not, and that supervised practice requirements remain in place with out-of-state practice accepted only when equivalent or more stringent. The committee approved HB 255 with favorable expression.
The committee then considered House Bill 618, an alcoholic beverages measure with a Senate committee substitute. The bill was described as having three parts: allowing restaurants to buy limited quantities of alcohol from retail outlets to meet customer demand while keeping the three-tier system intact and requiring quarterly reporting; creating a temporary auctioneer license to auction previously retail-sold alcohol in original packaging, such as estate or bourbon collections; and giving quota bar license holders the same opportunity restaurants already have to sell barrel picks by the bottle. Testimony supported the bill as a way to help restaurants, auctioneers, and bars, while a senator raised a question about sales tax on auction sales and another noted that nonprofit or church-related alcohol auctions already require permits under existing law. One senator suggested future guardrails to encourage local purchasing, but no amendment was adopted. The committee passed HB 618 with favorable expression.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (01/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you. this morning for HB 566 requiring permit this morning for HB 566 requiring permit applications
- obviously any state statutes permitting obviously any state statutes permitting Etc<00:37:56.960
- The permitted capacity life in the permit for GSL is 2.5 times what NCS is currently permitted to accept
- <04:39:48.200>
also uh is that uh Dees is permitting also uh is that uh Dees is permitting - would not keep that permit?
Summary:
The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on HB 566, which would require permit applications for new landfills to include a detailed leachate management plan. Representative German introduced the bill and explained that it was prompted by recent reporting on leachate management problems at New Hampshire landfills, including alleged violations and deficiency letters from DES. He said the bill was intended to address public health concerns, PFAS contamination, and increased leachate volumes tied to more severe rainstorms, while still allowing innovation in treatment and transportation methods. He also described a set of proposed amendments developed after discussions with DES and a landfill operator, including changing “permit for construction” to “operating approval,” applying the bill to landfill expansions, moving contract-related language into the planning section, and removing a proposed new subparagraph.
Committee members asked whether the bill would limit operator flexibility or duplicate existing DES rules. Representative German said the bill would not dictate specific treatment methods or lock operators into long-term contracts, but would require a plan showing how leachate will be managed, transported, and disposed of, with later contract changes reported to DES. Several members and the BIA representative questioned whether the bill was necessary given existing Env 806 rules and DES enforcement authority. The Business and Industry Association opposed the bill as introduced, arguing that DES already has rules and technical expertise, that the issue is better handled through rulemaking, and that moving requirements into statute could freeze the framework and make future adjustments harder. Supporters countered that a statute would provide a stronger, more durable policy commitment in response to ongoing problems.
No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration and with the sponsor indicating that a revised amendment would likely be brought forward for later work session or executive session review.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (05/05/2026)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- It is completely unclear, especially under these zoning authority provisions, to permit data centers.
- <01:40:08.440>
by something that is now not permitted by something that is now not permitted - in these zones that we've already permitted housing.
- 44.200>
permitted <01:44:44.680>housing. - we've already permitted housing. we've already permitted housing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We were exempt from a building permit, but we were not exempt from a zoning permit, so that led to a
- It doesn't avoid us from Department of Planning and Permitting.
- Next item is HB 367, relating to building permits.
- area. permits I um propose that we move this permits I um propose that we move this out<01:46:49.360>
- >
to would include zoning permits um but to would include zoning permits um but to clarify<01:
Summary:
The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on several bills. HB 576, relating to restrictions on the transfer of real property under chapter 201H, drew support from HHFDC and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which said the bill would waive transfer restrictions that conflict with DHHL’s program implementation. HB 421, relating to contractors, drew opposition from the Contractors License Board and DCCA/RICO, who said the measure would weaken owner-builder restrictions meant to prevent circumvention of contractor licensing laws; Hawaii Roter and the Grassroot Institute supported it. Members questioned whether the bill would still bar resale within a year and whether subcontractors would still need licenses. HB 367, relating to building permits, received support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Grassroot Institute, with comments from DLNR; testimony urged the bill to be expanded to include zoning permits as well as building permits to avoid confusion, especially on Kauaʻi.
HB 826, relating to housing, received mixed testimony. HHFDC and several local and advocacy groups supported it, while the Sierra Club raised concerns about converting agricultural lands to residential use, possible impacts on food security, property values, taxes, and the need to account for public trust and traditional practices. HB 525 also drew support from HHFDC and three individuals, with no opposition noted. HB 252, relating to managing agents, was supported by the Hawaiʻi Council of Community Associations and opposed by the Community Associations Institute and several individuals, who argued that commercial management experience is not the same as condominium management and preferred language tied to industry certifications and a later effective date.
HB 709, relating to trespassing, was opposed by the Honolulu Police Department, which said officers would have difficulty verifying ownership or tenancy in the field, that the bill could require a separate enforcement team, and that the sheriff’s division is better suited to handle evictions. Hawaiʻi Realtors and the Grassroot Institute supported the measure. Finally, HB 431 HD1, relating to housing, received broad support from the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities, HHFDC, DHS, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, OHA, county housing offices, and multiple nonprofit and political groups. Supporters emphasized the bill’s funding for housing and supportive services, with the homelessness office describing the measure as unprecedented and saying it could help the state cut homelessness in half over the next few years.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jun 2nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We have, just to give you a quick update, Allendale Phase 1 was permitted.
- The buildout is, the permit is going out soon.
- And then Fargo, we're in the midst of issuing a permit for that as well.
- When we talk about permitting water resources...
- We would never issue a permit for a new facility if it's going to impact someone who already has a permit
Summary:
The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems.
The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work.
The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users.
Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/28/2026)
Resources, Recreation and Development
Transcript Highlights:
- <03:52:40.160>
and the restrictions would be permitted and the restrictions would be permitted - Um, I was just permitting process.
- <04:36:51.279>
third <04:36:51.760>part <04:36:52.080>permitting permitting third - part permitting permitting third part permitting third-party<04:36:54.000>
payment <04:36:54.320 - <05:23:53.360>
uh um reviews and approvals for permits uh um reviews and approvals for permits
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Albeit the state sends down their information from their AOT permits, their fish and game permits.
- , their fish and from their AOT permits, their fish and game<00:45:31.200>
permits. - >
to <00:53:59.520>12 or your AOT permits that cut 8 to 12 or your AOT permits that cut - <01:15:02.800>
This building permits on that road. This building permits on that road. - So seeing as those might permits.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This permit requires a public meeting, not a public hearing, such as a contested case hearing.
- Currently used for standard permits, the substitute also requires applicants to post a sign on the proposed
- site of their facility to inform the public of the applicant's intent to obtain a permit.
- During our hearing, we heard testimony about how many residents rely on these signs to find out about permit
- with elements of the public participation permit portion of the current requirements of a standard permit
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This permit requires a public meeting, not a public hearing, such as a contested case hearing.
- This change reflects the correct terminology currently used for standard permits.
- on the proposed site of their facility to inform the public of an applicant's intent to obtain a permit
- Making it current practice for standard permits.
- With elements of the public participation permit portion of the current requirements of a standard permit
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/28/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- and other types of permits.
- So, what we found permitting processes.
- <00:05:30.080>
or they get an application for a permit or they get an application for a permit - and and other types of wetlands permits and and other types of permits.<00:06:38.800>
And <00: - Um that they're applying for a permit.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They also have an efficient permitting process for permits of that type.
- Michael, talk a little bit about whether you have a permit to, or are you working to get a permit to
- Three pending permits, that's correct.
- The Railroad Commission is looking at new permitting guidelines.
- We're in the process of applying for our pilot permit. Actually, it was just...
Keywords:
HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft