Video & Transcript : 'JROTC programs' :
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ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Apr 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- There are 16 commissioned officers that work in the patrol program for commercial vehicle safety that
- I just remind everyone, the strategic initiatives program in Idaho Code, the intent of that program is
- we're going to send out this money in big enough blocks for a given program to complete that program
- we're going to send out this money on big enough blocks and for a given program to complete that program
- We're going to send out this money on big enough blocks and for a given program to complete that program
Summary:
The Joint Finance and Corporation Committee met with a quorum and first approved a $6.5 million federal supplemental appropriation for the Military Division to replace failing climate control systems in Idaho Air National Guard buildings at Gowen Field. The motion passed with a do-pass recommendation after brief explanation that the work would begin with design and contracting and the remaining funds would carry into fiscal year 2027.
The committee then considered Idaho State Police funding tied to the Project Choice Fund. Staff explained three revenue sources supporting a $6.695 million personnel appropriation: a beer excise tax reallocation, a new specialty license plate, and House Bill 967, which would redirect additional liquor account distributions. Members discussed the impact on cities and counties, the need for stable public safety funding, and the fact that the proposal shifts some liquor revenues away from local governments. The appropriation motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation.
Next, the committee took up two Idaho Digital Learning Academy-related language items. The first, a trailer to Senate Bill 1362, was adopted by unanimous consent to resolve a potential conflict with House Bill 940 regarding course fees. The second would have allowed IDLA limited access to PSIF after spending down cash balances, but members raised concerns about financial risk and whether the language was necessary; the motion failed in both chambers. The committee then approved language redirecting about $12 million from the Strategic Initiatives Fund to the local highway distribution formula instead of LTAC grants, after debate over local equity versus larger grant projects.
Finally, the committee adopted language preventing an automatic transfer out of the Budget Stabilization Fund that would otherwise occur because the fund is at its statutory 15% cap. Members debated whether excess funds should instead flow to the general fund given budget pressures, but the motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Care & Wellness Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Next is engrossed second substitute Senate Bill 5981, which relates to the 340B drug pricing program.
- The 340B program is a federal program.
- The 340B program is federal programs. Sometimes.
- The thought, the 340B program is the federal programs.
- This program is excellent, so please vote yes. Okay, any further discussion?
Summary:
The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard executive action on seven bills, with discussion focused on prior authorization, the 340B drug pricing program, biosimilars, HIV drug coverage, exchange certification criteria, and hearing/speech board authority. Members also considered several amendments, including a date change to prior authorization reporting in SB 5395, a large striking amendment and multiple policy amendments on SB 5981, and market-criteria amendments on SB 6210. Testimony and debate centered on transparency, administrative costs, rural access, patient care spending, market stability, and the balance between state authority and federal law.
SB 5395 on prior authorization received Amendment 247, which moved the carrier reporting deadline to the Office of Insurance Commissioner from January 1, 2027 to October 1, 2026, and was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing adopted a striking amendment creating reporting and fee structures, but rejected amendments that would have removed filing fees, required 90% of revenues to go to direct patient care, limited additional contract pharmacies to rural or underserved areas, or delayed the bill’s effective date; the bill then passed out of committee 11-7. Supporters emphasized transparency and safety-net funding, while opponents raised concerns about federal preemption, litigation, costs, and administrative burden.
SB 5594 on biosimilar substitution, SB 5877 on certified anesthesiology assistants and the physician health program, and SB 6183 on coverage of FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without utilization management all advanced with broad support and due pass recommendations. SB 6210 on health benefit exchange market factor criteria adopted a striking amendment but rejected amendments that would have limited updates to every two years, narrowly defined “meaningfully different,” or changed implementation timelines; it also passed 11-7. SB 6226 on the Board of Speech and Hearing adopted Amendment 313 to expand standards-of-care authority for hearing aid fitting and dispensing, then passed 17-1 after debate about patient safety, tele-audiology, and access to care.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Transcript Highlights:
- Chris Bundy said he is the executive medical director of the Washington Physicians Health Program and
- He explained that the program is the legally authorized alternative-to-discipline program for physicians
- He explained that for people involved in the program, they would otherwise have to continue monitoring
- For example, we have a really strong Running Start program.
- This bill helps address that, and we have fantastic financial aid programs in the state.
Committee:
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Keywords:
Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, as a social worker in my former life at FDLE, I instituted some programs to make sure I was
- I need beds to get the kids into programs so they're not sitting in detention waiting.
- It doesn't count toward their working their program.
- So one of the things, If it is considered dead time, if they're not working toward their program.
- And is there a program that we can implement to help the kids start working the program while they're
Committee:
Senate Ethics and Elections
Summary:
The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several gubernatorial appointees, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his law enforcement background, social work training, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, seeking statutory recognition and training standards for juvenile detention and probation officers, and increasing bed capacity so adjudicated youth can move from detention into residential programming sooner. Members asked about the impact of detention “dead time” and the need for more beds; Walsh said DJJ is evaluating ways to let youth begin programming earlier while in detention. Public support was noted, and the committee voted unanimously to confirm Walsh and forward his nomination to the full Senate.
The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background, service on multiple boards, and prior service on FAU’s board pending confirmation, emphasizing governance, accountability, and strategic planning. Senators questioned her about FAU’s handling of faculty social media controversies, the university’s relationship with its new president, student and faculty engagement, AI planning, diversity, and her role on the Hope Florida board and with CDR Health’s state contracts, including work related to the Everglades detention center. Public testimony included strong opposition from one speaker who criticized her ties to state contracts and Hope Florida, while another senator spoke in support, citing her community service and business experience. The committee voted 5-2 to confirm her, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no.
Afterward, the committee considered the remaining nominees in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, en bloc. No separate votes were requested, and the committee approved the group of nominees by voice roll call to be forwarded to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Higher ed panel hears bill to create scholarship program for MN law enforcement officers 3/25/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- attractive a program as possible.
- Okay, so this is a last-dollar program.
- to other programs that OHE administers.
- for various programs to other programs<00:08:03.319><c> that</c><00:08:03.440><c> Ohi</c><00:08:04.039
- </c><00:08:09.759><c> is</c> if this program is if this program is included<00:08:11.599><c> thank</c
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The school's outstanding academic and athletic programs combined with a faculty dedicated to teaching
- In addition to their support of superior academic programs, Baylor has one of the finest law schools
- In addition to their superior academic program.
- partnership programs and a high school advising program including funding of those programs under the
- foundation school program and to the new institutional facility allotment. and the permissible use of
NY
Transcript Highlights:
- Trail Stewardship Program Fund.
- . to comply with standards relating to the audit and review of medical assistance program funds.
- There are billions of dollars every year in this Medicaid program.
- Billions wasted on the fraudulent non-emergency Medicaid transportation program.
- Billions wasted on the fraudulent non-emergency Medicaid transportation program.
Committee:
Senate Finance
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired for the day by Senator John Liu, took up a long agenda of bills covering labor and benefits, corrections, health, taxation, government transparency, and public services. Early measures included increasing short-term disability benefits, adjusting a poverty-level-related earned income disregard, expanding correctional health staffing review, and authorizing the Inspector General to investigate sexual assault complaints in correctional facilities; each of these advanced to the floor. The committee also advanced bills on ovarian cancer screening access, retirement system membership changes, a trail stewardship program, live agency representative access, FOIL/open meetings fee awards, a Harriman campus development plan, court data reporting, educator conventions, park water testing, an energy storage tax abatement, a Native American Affairs office, adult changing tables in public facilities, Medicaid Inspector General audit standards, remote training certification for agency personnel, newborn Gaucher disease testing, electronic self-exclusion requests for gambling, and child daycare inspections and opioid antagonist requirements.
Several bills drew discussion. The prescription drug transparency bill (Print 488A) prompted questions about possible overlap with federal Hatch-Waxman/FTC oversight and whether a New York notice requirement could slow generic-drug settlements; sponsors and staff said it was intended as a supplemental transparency measure for consumers. The court reporting bill (Print 1849A) raised concerns about mandates on local governments, but supporters said it mainly required OCA to compile data in one format. The Medicaid local-share phaseout bill (Print 5519) generated the most debate, with supporters arguing it would provide major property tax relief and should be addressed in the budget, while opponents emphasized the need to curb Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse first.
Two major fiscal oversight proposals were defeated. Print 8661, which would have required the Comptroller to hire an independent private auditing firm to review state-funded programs for fraud and abuse, was opposed despite support from some members who argued outside auditing was overdue; it failed by one vote. Print 5519 was also ultimately defeated after a recount confirmed it lacked the required majority of the full 22-member committee. Most other bills were approved and sent either to the floor or, in the case of the drug transparency bill, to the Rules Committee.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Criminal Judiciary REVISION 2: SB1379 - Removed Mar 31st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This current program is already going on.
- We're just making it where if you have a DUI with a GBI, you no longer qualify for the program.
- This current program is already going on.
- We're just making it where if you have a DUI with a GBI, you no longer qualify for the program.
- authorized by the drug court program.
Summary:
The committee considered a long slate of criminal justice and public safety bills, with most measures advancing on unanimous or near-unanimous do pass votes. Early bills included SB 137, which adds DUI with great bodily injury to the list of offenses that make a person ineligible for the ankle monitoring program, and SB 1255, which shifts authority for certain medical-release recommendations from the corrections director to the medical director of corrections. SB 1226 expanded the duty to remain at the scene of an accident to include property damage, and SB 1238 modified charging requirements for domestic abuse assault and battery committed in the presence of a minor child. SB 1258 affirmed that people otherwise eligible to carry under constitutional carry may do so on a boat, and SB 1460 strengthened penalties for repeat peeping Tom and clandestine recording offenses and made them registrable sex offenses.
The committee also advanced SB 1325, which requires certain domestic abusers to be released on bail only if GPS monitoring is used, though members and the presenter noted the bill was still a work in progress and would need amendments to clarify vendors, monitoring, and geofencing details. SB 1548 allowed multiple DUI charges within one year to be aggregated and prosecuted as a single felony case, and the presenter briefly thanked constituents whose daughter was killed by a repeat DUI offender. SB 1730 required law enforcement to forward sexual abuse reports to OSBI so repeat offenders can be identified, with members discussing concerns about false accusations and expungement procedures. SB 1921 raised OSBI fees, which had not been increased since 1994, with the additional revenue going back into the program.
Later, SB 1733 modified school district reporting requirements for sexual activity or inappropriate communications involving students. SB 1216 changed drug court eligibility so certain domestic violence offenders would be excluded from the domestic violence treatment program and directed them to other services. SB 1256 made interlock devices a condition of bail for DUI defendants, prompting questions about timing, multiple vehicles, and costs for defendants whose cases are later dismissed or result in acquittal. The chair closed by noting another committee meeting would be held the following Tuesday with roughly 12 to 15 additional bills to consider.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Healing Our Herd: How Horses Help First Responders Recover from Trauma Mar 20th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- But this program wouldn't be here without help from a different herd.
- We in the legislature are very numbers driven, and we want to fund programs that are successful, and
- you can't argue with the success of this program.
- :31.480><c> without</c><00:03:31.880><c> help</c> program wouldn't be here without help program wouldn't
- </c><00:03:40.737><c> [music]</c> the success of this program. [music] the success of this program.
Summary:
The transcript describes Abijahs on the Backside, a Minnesota equine-assisted therapy program that helps first responders process trauma and anxiety using retired racehorses. Speakers explain that the sessions are less like traditional talk therapy and more of a full-body, experiential approach that uses the horses’ behavior to help responders externalize feelings, reduce barriers, and work through stress. One horse, Figaro, is highlighted as an example of a retired racehorse finding a new purpose, while another horse, Finn, became a meaningful symbol of faith for a participant.
First responder Angela Casey shares that after a traumatic call, she realized the experience was affecting her mental health, family life, and work, and she sought help through the program. She and others say the therapy helped them remain on active duty and better manage their roles as officers, parents, spouses, and community members. A particularly moving story involved a first responder who had contemplated suicide before a session and later returned to work after the horse’s behavior helped her process that crisis.
Senator Eric Pratt is identified as the author of Senate File 901, which funded the program. He says he sought co-authors with mental health or first responder backgrounds, and that the bill received strong bipartisan support in committee and throughout the legislative process. Supporters argue the program is effective, backed by science and testimonials, and worth funding because it helps keep first responders healthy, on the job, and serving their communities.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
2026 Joint Budget Subcommittee on Commerce / Economic Dev. and Small Business - 03/18/2026
Transcript Highlights:
- in racing, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement a stronger drug testing program
- in racing, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement a stronger drug testing program
- Tourism is a major economic driver, and we again invest in our tourism matching grants program with an
- We also propose to double the farm food donation tax credit, which is a similar program that encourages
- We again invest in our tourism matching grants program with an increase of a million dollars.
Summary:
The joint Economic Development budget subcommittee meeting opened with introductions, review of subcommittee rules, and identification of the agencies to be discussed, including the Department of Economic Development, Urban Development Corporation, Alcohol and Beverage Control, Cannabis Management, and the Gaming Commission. The chairs also outlined broad budget priorities, including support for innovation hotspots, incubators, minority- and women-owned businesses, biomedical research, centers of excellence, advanced technology, workforce development, and grants tied to tourism, cultural institutions, public safety equipment, and food retail subsidies.
Most member comments focused on small business conditions and economic development policy. Senators Borrello and Chan emphasized that small businesses are the backbone of the economy and argued for reducing taxes, utility costs, fines, permits, and regulations; Chan suggested a possible one-year utility tax holiday. Assembly Member Slater similarly criticized New York’s tax and regulatory climate and promoted legislation to create a Department of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth. Assembly Member Buttenschon discussed one-house proposals such as changes to small business stock ownership rules and a hardship savings account, while Assembly Member Bendett said county infrastructure funding should be increased substantially.
Several members highlighted sector-specific investments. Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Woerner stressed the importance of racing and gaming, including addiction treatment and recovery, integrity in racing, and stronger drug testing. Assembly Member Otis pointed to science and technology initiatives such as Micron, Empire AI, quantum research at Stony Brook, and broadband/digital inclusion through ConnectALL. Assembly Member Cashman supported investment in the Cornell Center for Food and Agriculture, and Senator Hinchey praised tourism matching grants, restaurant and farm food donation tax credits, and incentives for heat pumps and clean energy retrofits.
No formal votes were taken. The meeting ended with staff continuing consultations with members and the chairs concluding the session.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- My concern also lies in kind of going off what Senator Carlson was saying, that this is a new program
- And with this new program, I'd rather just kind of keep it whole for right now and maybe revisit the
- Senator Cook: I think every program should look at it and say, oh, okay, yeah, let's take some money
- Don't try and pinpoint one program and say, let's just sock it to that program, but let's take a little
- So then I'm curious, how much do we plan to cut the launch program?
Committee:
Senate Education
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 515, which would require schools to have a procedure for notifying families when a serious bullying incident occurs, defined as one resulting in suspension. Representative Chris Matthias said the bill also removes an annual bullying-reporting requirement to reduce administrative burden, and he noted earlier versions included suicide-prevention and law-enforcement notification language that was removed after concerns. With no testimony in opposition, the committee voted to send HB 515 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Blaylock was named as the floor carrier.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 1244, a code-cleanup measure repealing eight obsolete statutes related to regional library systems that have not existed for decades. Senator Carrie Semmelroth explained the bill came from the post-HB 14 cleanup process and contained no policy changes. The committee had no questions or opposition testimony and voted to send SB 1244 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Finally, the committee took up RS 3318 for print, a proposal from Senator Kevin Cook to reduce the school choice tax credit by 4% in fiscal year 2026 and 5% in fiscal year 2027 as part of broader budget holdbacks. Supporters framed it as a revenue measure and part of spreading reductions across education, while opponents argued the program is new, still in its application window, and should not be cut before implementation is fully underway. After discussion about K-12 budget reductions, the committee approved the RS on a 6-3 roll call vote and sent it to print. The meeting then adjourned, and members were reminded there would be no committee meeting the next day.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 3rd, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- This would restore some language about the primary focus of the insurance fraud program being related
- This would add some language that prohibits staff of the insurance fraud program within the Office of
- , then the insurance fraud program could redirect the report to regulatory staff within the OIC.
- This would restore some language about the primary focus of the insurance fraud program being related
- insurance fraud program could redirect the report to regulatory staff within the OIC.
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Business
Keywords:
data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, real estate, appraisal, business operations, regulatory compliance, email regulation, commercial communications, data privacy, electronic mail, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties, real estate transactions, nonprofit
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Many, but not all CPR programs already include AED instruction.
- Not all CPR instruction programs incorporate AEDs.
- CPR program is, it takes nothing.
- But this would be part of the actual school program. Okay.
- program.
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee heard SB 1009, which would expand Arizona’s high school CPR instruction requirements to include training on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The sponsor, Sen. Kavanaugh, said the bill would simply add a short AED component to existing CPR programs, would not require schools to buy AEDs, and would improve student readiness to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Supporters included the American Heart Association and several students, who argued that AED familiarity can save lives and that training should be part of school safety education.
Opposition came from the Arizona Education Association, which argued the bill creates an unfunded mandate, could take away from core instructional time, and may require staff time and resources beyond what schools can absorb. The Arizona School Boards Association was neutral but raised concerns about funding, training personnel, and the impact on rural and smaller districts. Sen. Miranda also questioned whether the bill was truly zero-cost and requested a fiscal note, though she said she would vote yes pending more information.
After discussion, the committee voted 5-2 to give SB 1009 a do-pass recommendation. Senators Dunn, Mesnard, Warner, and Anger voted yes, while Senators Diaz and Brown voted no; Sen. Miranda voted yes with reservations. The committee then adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Assistance Grant Program and the Rural Prosecutor Office Salary Assistance Grant Program for this Club
- Services and supports under the Medicaid program which the individual on the waiting list for services
- Relating to eligibility for bulletproof vests and body armor grant program, refer to the Committee on
- Relating to the authority and political subdivision to establish and operate a guaranteed income program
- H.B. 596 by Howard relating to the school program including an adjustment in those amounts to reflect
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Economic Incentives Feb 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Experience with this program.
- responsible for. 40,000 jobs that this program has been engaged with and responsible for.
- On the last page, regarding the Growing Alabama program, are there any comments about that?
- North Alabama communities do utilize SEEDS and then the TVA SEEDS program.
- As far as the program is concerned, it appears to be working very well.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (04/13/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a unique program, but where this says other programs... >> How does, you know, that's a program
- It's a unique program. program. program. >> I<03:32:15.520><c> understand.
- Is it any saying it's to any program. Is it any program?
- Is it some programs? Is it So program? Is it some programs?
- </c> program across the country. program across the country.
Committee:
House Education Policy and Administration
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Mon Jan 12, 2026 @ 1:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The VFC program continues to operate, and we can purchase through that program.
- </c> immunization purchasing program. immunization purchasing program.
- </c> case that program goes away. case that program goes away.
- And then we have our revolving loan program. These are significant programs.
- . program. program.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/19/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> education Freedom account program education Freedom account program um<01:43:54.360><c> and</c><
- out strictly for one program.
- out strictly for one program.
- </c> concern would be taking these programs concern would be taking these programs out<03:49:23.120><
- </c> shall not include for the pilot program shall not include for the pilot program um<04:11:56.680>
Summary:
The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times.
The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent.
The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session: 2025 First Special Session 6/9/25 - Part 3
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- and the North Star Promise program.
- of the state grant program and the Northstar<00:08:08.160><c> Promise</c><00:08:08.560><c> program.
- </c> whether it's nursing assistant programs whether it's nursing assistant programs to<00:49:11.599>
- </c> very good programs very good programs and<00:55:03.280><c> their</c><00:55:03.680><c> their</c><
- We did not cut county program aid.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (03/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:39:10.319><c> Shoreland</c> he runs the wetlands program Shoreland he runs the wetlands program
- </c> used for mitigation or other programs used for mitigation or other programs damage<00:54:39.520>
- </c> money we are not eliminating program money we are not eliminating program we're<02:36:11.800><c>
- </c><02:36:19.200><c> that</c> it's just this small decal program that it's just this small decal program
- </c> this person involved in that program this person involved in that program this<02:44:56.840><c>
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place.
Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation.
The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.