Bills: HR112 , HR113 , HR114 , HCR51 , HCR52 , HR94 , HR95 , HR96 , HR97 , HR98 , HR99 , HR100 , HR103 , HR104 , HR105 , HR106 , HR107 , HR108 , HR109 , HR110 , HR111 , HCR46 , HCR47 , HCR48 , HCR49 , HCR50 , SCR25 , SB17 , SB300 , HCR35 , HB51 , HB82 , HB143 , HB145 , HB160 , HB180 , HB192 , HB393 , HB430 , HB445 , HB506 , HB515 , HB521 , HB565 , HB590 , HB614 , HB638 , HB647 , HB670 , HB672 , HB685 , HB692 , HB752 , HB773 , HB781 , HB799 , HB839 , HB860 , HB873 , HB874 , HB887 , HB917 , HB937 , HB956 , HB965 , HB972 , HB977 , HB982 , HB1006 , HB1010 , HB1044 , HB1072 , HB1088 , HB1157 , HB1179 , HB1200 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HCR6 , HCR19 , HCR10 , HR74 , HCR26 , HCR45 , HB54 , HB67 , HB73 , HB125 , HB133 , HB158 , HB168 , HB169 , HB191 , HB195 , HB245 , HB280 , HB283 , HB296 , HB319 , HB339 , HB399 , HB407 , HB448 , HB550 , HB591 , HB826 , HB995 , HB1085 , HB1086 , HB98 , HB108 , HB131 , HB151 , HB161 , HB288 , HB294 , HB305 , HB310 , HB320 , HB336 , HB380 , HB392 , HB403 , HB420 , HB459 , HB476 , HB540 , HB615 , HB631 , HB637 , HB648 , HB665 , HB682 , HB789 , HB813 , HB815 , HB835 , HB870 , HB905 , HB915 , HB933 , HB938 , HB987 , HB1040 , HB827 , HB953 , HB796 , HB352 , HB463 , HB735 , HB780 , HB882 , HB81 , HB400 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB961 , HB401 , HB901 , HB9 , HB52 , HB58 , HB154 , HB193 , HB284 , HB410 , HB570 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB733 , HB868 , HB952

Keywords: commendation, community service, religious leadership, New Orleans, anniversary, Martha's Vineyard, African-American Film Festival, Black excellence, cinema, cultural celebration, Black voices, film industry, Hannuh Ray, Louisiana, youth development, pageant, leadership, community, recognition, compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• adviser to the VA secretary and all survivor benefits and services as well, including medical care and burial
• along with Congressman John Spratt, I authored a resolution to do a study of the Revolutionary War sites
• Revolutionary</c><08:13:08.958><c> War</c> study of the Revolutionary War study of the Revolutionary War sites
• 11.680><c> thought</c><08:13:11.840><c> it</c><08:13:12.160><c> was</c><08:13:12.760><c> important</c> sites
• because I thought it was important sites because I thought it was important for<08:13:14.080><c> little

Transcript Highlights:

• are sites where Ecology cleans up the site; Ecology-supervised sites, which are sites where Ecology supervises
• are sites where Ecology cleans up the site; Ecology-supervised sites, which are sites where Ecology supervises
• But those, when it says third-party sites, those are sites right now.
• sites?
• But those, when it says third-party sites, those are sites right now.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach. Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources. Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• sites, and independent sites.
• Ecology-conducted sites are sites where Ecology cleans up the site.
• Independent sites are sites where a property owner or developer conducts site cleanup without technical
• moderate-high-risk sites.
• Score the sites.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, “Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups.” Audit staff said Ecology oversees only about 8% of Washington’s active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that community engagement requirements apply mainly to Ecology-conducted or Ecology-supervised sites, leaving many independent cleanups without required public involvement or Ecology oversight. The auditors also reported inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and noted that Ecology’s community engagement practices were generally compliant at the sampled sites but lacked systematic lessons-learned evaluations, earlier outreach in some cases, and more tailored language/accessibility efforts. Tribal feedback was mixed, with some tribes saying engagement was adequate and others asking for earlier, more tailored consultation. Committee members questioned how Ecology could be absent from many cleanups, whether SEPA or other laws still require public involvement, and whether Ecology has authority to require public participation at third-party sites. Audit staff responded that their work focused narrowly on community engagement requirements under MTCA and did not evaluate the full cleanup or permitting process, but they recommended Ecology increase transparency and consider engagement expectations for higher-risk third-party sites. Members also raised concerns about tribal identification, exposure scenarios, and whether Ecology is using the best available information early enough in site prioritization. Ecology said it appreciated the audit, agreed that community engagement should be the norm for higher-risk sites, and said it is already taking steps such as improving staff guidance, developing a tribal engagement plan, and launching a public notification subscription system. The Department of Health also said it values its partnership with Ecology and that clearer written procedures would help preserve institutional knowledge. During public testimony, Washington Conservation Action supported the audit’s findings and urged stronger community engagement, especially in communities of color and low-income areas disproportionately affected by toxic sites. The organization said fully funding MTCA is necessary for Ecology to implement the needed improvements and noted that more modern outreach approaches and additional staff resources will likely be required. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Superfund sites can include mining sites, landfills, and former manufacturing sites, and it's been noted
• Regarding the number of NPL sites, as of March of this year, there were 1,340 active sites, 459 sites
• In fact, we traveled to several sites. We visited a site in Houston, Texas.
• The site we closed on in 2022 in Indiana was a Superfund site.
• Gomez, the Standard Chlorine site is a complex site.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: presidential nominations, EPA, environmental policy, Fish and Wildlife, committee meeting

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the presidential nominations of Brigadier General Brian Nesvick as Director of Fish and Wildlife and Jess Kramer and Sean Donahue as assistant administrators at the EPA. Each nominee presented their qualifications and experiences in their respective fields, with an emphasis on their commitment to uphold the laws passed by Congress. The discussion highlighted the nominees' dedication to addressing environmental issues and their proactive stances on regulatory matters. After deliberation, votes were held to report the nominations favorably, despite some members voicing concerns regarding their qualifications and potential conflicts with environmental interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• sites and the way we maintain sites is sites and the way we maintain sites is at<00:07:03.440><c> a<
• Sites that we have to build from scratch. >> Sites remaining. >> Sites remaining are 56, sir. >> 56.
• &gt;&gt; Sites<00:21:01.440><c> remaining.</c> &gt;&gt; Sites remaining. &gt;&gt; Sites remaining.
• sites DMA is on sites those are uh our sites DMA is on our<00:35:57.040><c> sites</c><00:35:57.839><c
• Those are the existing<00:46:52.319><c> sites.</c> existing sites. existing sites.

Summary: The committee received an update from Kentucky State Police on the SERVE radio system project, with David Barker and consultant Brandon Marshall explaining progress across multiple phases. They reported that Mayfield PD fire/EMS and Graves County Sheriff are fully operational on the system, Phase 2 is 77% complete with 48 existing sites finished and 13 new sites pending acquisition, and Phase 3A remains funded but not yet complete. They also said router upgrades are complete, radio dispatch positions and mobile/portable rollout are complete, and microwave replacement is nearly finished, with one remaining site delayed by weather. A major part of the discussion focused on why the project has taken so long and why equipment is being purchased before some sites are built. KSP said the project began as a radio system upgrade but expanded as they discovered additional infrastructure needs, including routers and microwave links that were not in the original scope. They explained that equipment must be purchased in advance to match versions and preserve warranty coverage, and that older existing tower sites are being refurbished rather than replaced to make use of existing public-safety infrastructure. They also said all expenditures are tracked in inventory and accounting records and that the project remains transparent. Members pressed for a master plan and timeline, with Representative Smith arguing the project needs clearer structure and fewer layers of decision-making. KSP acknowledged the need for a timeline, said they had plans but not a full timeline earlier, and stated that if the remaining funding is approved they expect to complete the remaining existing sites and 25 new sites by June 30, 2027. They said 56 new-build sites remain, identified as the yellow-dot sites on the maps, and that some sites may be able to use existing Demar/National Guard tower locations. The committee did not take a vote on the project during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:13.120><c> because</c> recommend any of the six sites because recommend any of the six sites
• In response, around November 16, 2022, I respectfully disapproved both sites, all six sites, because
• We have a site existing there.
• But I'll tell you that there are sites, and Dr. Babcock can talk about those sites with all of you.
• . are sites and Dr Babcock can talk about are sites and Dr Babcock can talk about those<01:04:59.559>

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Department of Environmental Services officials outlined the solid waste system, including curbside collection, convenience centers, transfer stations, H-POWER, and the existing landfill, and explained that H-POWER reduces the volume of waste going to the landfill by about 90%. They reviewed the siting history, including the 2019 Land Use Commission deadline, the 2020 enactment of Act 73 with landfill setback and conservation-district restrictions, and the 2021-2022 landfill advisory committee that evaluated six sites but recommended none because they were within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. The city said it ultimately selected a site in central Oahu, on agricultural land near Wahiawa and the Dole Plantation, as the best legally permissible option and described it as requiring about 150 acres, with 90 acres for the landfill itself. City officials also described the proposed landfill design and safeguards, emphasizing a modern sanitary landfill with double liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring. They said the ash from H-POWER is dry and that leachate would be pumped to a wastewater treatment plant. They stated the site is away from residences and groundwater wells, accessible by highway, and can be permitted under state and federal rules, though they acknowledged that a full environmental review, public hearings, and multiple permits would still be required. When asked whether the new landfill could be operating before the 2028 closure date, the city said it did not yet know and that an extension of Waimanalo Gulch might be needed if the new site is not ready in time. The Board of Water Supply strongly opposed the city’s decision to site a landfill above Oahu’s freshwater resources. Its representative said the agency’s mission is to protect safe, dependable water for the future and that it had disapproved all six previously proposed sites because they were located over freshwater aquifers. In response to questions from legislators, the Board said it could not guarantee the liner system would remain impermeable forever and warned that leachate can contain hazardous chemicals, including so-called forever chemicals. The Board characterized the proposal as a long-term risk to the island’s drinking water supply and compared the decision to past infrastructure choices that later proved problematic. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• MOTCA capital funds our work to clean up contaminated sites and investigate contamination on those sites
• those sites.
• These sites are often called abandoned or orphan sites.
• Are those all the sites?
• within an area of the site.

Summary: The committee first heard updates on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and related funding. Department of Ecology staff explained how MTCA and the hazardous substance tax support cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and local assistance programs, but said forecasted revenues have declined while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require underspending to stay balanced this biennium and that the problem is ongoing, with further reductions possible if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup program, noting there are more than 14,500 cleanup sites in Washington and that new sites continue to be discovered faster than they are cleaned up. A question from Representative Lee raised the long-term issue of declining fossil-fuel-based revenue, and Ecology agreed that this is a future structural concern even though the current shortfall is driven more by forecasts and transfers than by fuel-use decline. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency described its underground storage tank and heating oil programs, saying it has modernized from a reinsurance model to a financial assurance model with stronger state oversight and cleanup milestones. Russ Olson said the agency’s dedicated petroleum tax account is in strong financial condition, but emphasized the importance of preserving that funding source. He also discussed the loan and grant program for historic commercial releases and a new heating oil loan/grant program, while noting the agency is working on equity concerns where liens can be disproportionate to property values in smaller communities. Practitioners and advocates then offered differing views on MTCA’s performance: one attorney urged a collaborative review process to make cleanups faster, less expensive, and more certain, while another consultant argued the program is too conservative and process-heavy and should focus more narrowly on actual exposure and realistic cleanup standards. Environmental and community groups countered that MTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, and that it is especially important for environmental justice communities such as the Duwamish Valley. Port and city representatives stressed that MTCA grants and cleanup funding are critical for large redevelopment projects, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can slow projects and jeopardize commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation, including requirements for utility wildfire mitigation plans, creation of a wildfire mitigation standards work group, authorization for captive insurance by local governments and PUDs, securitization authority for disaster costs, and the existing wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy described extensive mitigation efforts such as vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced operating settings, public safety power shutoffs, and community outreach. Both said wildfire risk is rising and insurance costs are increasing, and Chelan PUD asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner said a 2022 utility liability market study found insurance availability is tightening as perceived risk rises, and reported that a 2025 work group recommended restoring community resilience funding, requiring insurers to share wildfire risk scores and mitigation steps with property owners, and creating a grant program based on insurance industry wildfire standards. A PNNL scientist added that wildfire probability is increasing in parts of Washington and that mitigation requires long-term, landscape-scale coordination. The final speaker began describing California’s approach to wildfire risk, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• MOTCA capital funds our work to clean up contaminated sites and investigate contamination on those sites
• those sites.
• These sites are often called abandoned or orphan sites.
• Are those all the sites?
• within an area of the site.

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Model Toxics Control Act (MOTCA) and related cleanup programs. Department of Ecology staff described how MOTCA and the hazardous substance tax fund cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and other environmental work across state agencies, but warned that forecasted revenues have fallen while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require spending reductions to stay solvent this biennium, and that further cuts may be needed if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup process and the scale of the problem, noting more sites are being discovered each year than are being cleaned up. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency said its dedicated petroleum-tax-funded accounts remain stable, and highlighted its newer financial assurance and heating oil loan/grant programs, while noting concerns about equity for small property owners facing large cleanup liens. Practitioners and stakeholders then offered differing views on how MOTCA should work. One cleanup attorney argued the program has become too slow, expensive, and process-heavy, and urged a more risk-based, collaborative approach with less reliance on conservative assumptions. Environmental and community advocates countered that MOTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, especially in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods that bear disproportionate toxic burdens; they urged stronger funding, tighter scrutiny of tax exemptions and budget diversions, and more accountability for stormwater spending. Port and city representatives emphasized that MOTCA grants are critical for large brownfield and waterfront cleanup projects that support redevelopment, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can stall projects and jeopardize existing commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation on wildfire mitigation plans, captive insurance, securitization, and the wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan PUD described extensive mitigation work including vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI cameras, weather stations, and partnerships on forest-health projects, and asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. Puget Sound Energy described similar investments across its service territory, including undergrounding, tree wire, sensors, cameras, weather stations, drones, and public safety power shutoffs, and said wildfire is its top risk. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner summarized a 2022 utility liability market study and a 2025 wildfire mitigation work group, recommending restored community resilience funding, clearer wildfire risk information for property owners, and a grant program based on recognized home-hardening standards. Committee members asked about insurance cancellations, neighborhood-level risk, and whether utilities’ or insurers’ maps are used; the commissioner’s office said insurers generally use their own data and that Washington’s FAIR Plan remains small compared with other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:16.320><c> outside</c> committee um evaluate um sites outside committee um evaluate um sites
• outside the no-pass zone. legal path um as to to site the next legal path um as to to site the next
• or downstream of this site.
• or downstream of this site.
• We have a site existing there.

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process. ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field. City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.

Transcript Highlights:

• The site was archaeological.
• We had over 750,000 visitors to our sites.
• Our archaeological sites, it's interesting that our archaeological sites are showing the biggest growth
• Our archeological sites, it's interesting that our archaeological sites are showing the biggest growth
• massacre site into the end story at the Presidio.

Summary: The joint budget hearing focused on the Texas Historical Commission’s legislative appropriations request and its priorities heading into the Texas bicentennial. Agency officials said prior appropriations from the 89th Legislature have been fully expended or committed, and emphasized ongoing work with the General Land Office and Alamo partners to prepare revolutionary-era sites for increased visitation and interpretation. They highlighted major preservation and development efforts at Presidio La Bahía, Washington-on-the-Brazos, San Felipe de Austin, the First Capital, Monument Hill, and other Republic-era sites, along with continued work on the Texas Holocaust and Genocide, Anti-Semitism Advisory Commission. A large portion of the discussion centered on specific funding requests and project costs, including an $85 million request for the San Jacinto Monument and battlefield restoration, $16 million for phase two improvements at Washington-on-the-Brazos, and additional funding for Presidio La Bahía/Fannin Monument, the National Museum of the Pacific War, Caddo Mounds, Eisenhower Birthplace, Iwo Jima, and Palmito Ranch Battlefield. Officials also described a $100 million courthouse restoration program already underway, a request to address rising operating costs, staff compensation, and technology upgrades for connectivity, ticketing, reservations, e-commerce, and public access to records. They said visitation to historic sites is growing about 10 percent, with strong interest in revolutionary sites and archaeology. Members questioned the agency about the San Jacinto project costs, the IT request, visitation trends, and use of the Historic Infrastructure Sustainability Trust Fund. Officials explained that the trust fund provides about $11 million annually, split between historic sites and courthouses, and has supported projects such as Levi Jordan, Port Isabel Lighthouse, Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Goodnight properties, McGuffin Home, Fort Martin Scott, Eisenhower Birthplace, and several courthouses. No votes were taken; after questions and a brief opportunity for public testimony, no witnesses came forward and the hearing adjourned.

Bills: SB15 , SB35 , SB290 , SB1365 , SB2568 , SB18 , SB427 , SB1860 , SB1864 , SB2675 , SB596 , SB2858 , SB3058 , SB816 , SB1163 , SB1484 , SB1898 , SB1777 , SB1802 , SB2692 , SB315 , SB1585 , SB1626 , SB2058 , SB2050 , SB2105 , SB2245 , SB2764 , SB2611 , SB2497 , SB2452 , SB2243 , SB1705 , SB1244 , SB1361 , SB438 , SB578 , SB584 , SB2690 , SB2521 , SB2487 , SB2342 , SB2063 , SB125 , SB2041 , SB1962 , SB1413 , SB6 , SB2878 , SB13 , SB30 , SJR87 , SB7 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB57 , SB512 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB552 , SB646 , SJR1 , SB15 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SB926 , SB1494 , SB251 , SB456 , SB500 , SB1307 , SB2615 , SB2995 , SB2321 , SB973 , SB974 , SB865 , SB506 , SB781 , SB1522 , SB1558 , SB510 , SB667 , SB763 , SB2073 , SB1858 , SB1660 , SB505 , SB2900 , SB1433 , SB1540 , SB1964 , SB1300 , SB1644 , SB2217 , SB2373 , SB2431 , SB1758 , SB2480 , SB3039 , SB3047 , SB3073 , SB2920 , SB2781 , SB826 , SB766 , SB2460 , SB527 , SB1946 , SB2885 , SB1243 , SB2610 , SB2595 , SB857 , SB2501 , SB66 , SB268 , SB331 , SB618 , SB414 , SB1394 , SB2425 , SB898 , SB993 , SB442 , SB735 , SB784 , SB2538 , SB1919 , SB1013 , SB2215 , SB2322 , SB626 , SB570 , SB747 , SB2183 , SB673 , SB1015 , SB1447 , SB1370 , SB1784 , SB1897 , SB2873 , SB2891 , SB2933 , SB2540 , SB2681 , SB2695 , SB1965 , SB2203 , SB872 , SB875 , SB1030 , SB1277 , SB1730 , SB1681 , SB1152 , SB2969 , SB2747 , SB2705 , SB2541 , SB1708 , SB2080 , SB2721 , SB1986 , SB2392 , SB2539 , SB2857 , SB2799 , SB2785 , SB2782 , SB1531 , SB1927 , SB1263 , SB1098 , SB35 , SB290 , SB1365 , SB2568 , SB18 , SB427 , SB1860 , SB1864 , SB2675 , SB596 , SB2858 , SB3058 , SB816 , SB1163 , SB1484 , SB1898 , SB1777 , SB1802 , SB2692 , SB315 , SB1585 , SB1626 , SB2058 , SB2050 , SB2105 , SB2245 , SB2764 , SB2611 , SB2497 , SB2452 , SB2243 , SB1705 , SB1244 , SB1361 , SB438 , SB578 , SB584 , SB2690 , SB2521 , SB2487 , SB2342 , SB2063 , SB125 , SB2041 , SB1962 , SB1413 , SCR9 , SB21 , SB1198 , SB1405 , SB2601 , SB2778 , HB5560 , HB762 , HB1584 , HB 107 , HB 114 , HB138 , HB4386 , HB2495 , HB581 , HB3348 , HB5323 , HB4341 , HB6 , HB171 , HB143 , HB449 , HB3486 , HB4263 , HB5246 , HB2 , HB2011 , SB17

Keywords: SB 15, Texas Local Government Code, zoning preemption, housing affordability, small lots, lot size, lot density, single-family zoning, residential subdivision, municipal land use, local control, state preemption, parking requirements, setbacks, infill development, missing middle housing, lot width, lot depth, homebuilders, housing supply

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a thousand sites in New Mexico that are considered abandoned uranium mine sites left over from
• another for non-uranium types of sites.
• These sites pose ongoing risk to public. contaminated sites across New Mexico.
• When we say 1,000 sites, some of those sites can be within the same mine, but they're different areas
• These things also create Superfund sites.

Bills: SB66 , SB79 , SB108

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: environment, cleanup, contamination, uranium mining, abandoned sites, state funding, mosquito control, public health, surveillance, prevention funds, local government grants, food security, agriculture, food bank, regional program, appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the third site is called the Red Bluff Number One site.
• be used for abandoned, just contaminated sites that were not uranium mine sites.
• It's going to depend on the site.
• With those types of sites, the acid injection sites in Class 6, could we...
• Adaptive site management.

Committee: Joint Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the third site is called the Red Bluff Number One site.
• sites.
• With the money that you got for the four sites, will that complete those four sites?
• You hear we're getting one site, and it's a site with a responsible party, right?
• sites?

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I've seen firsthand how off-site work has transformed our industry, making it Firsthand how off-site
• As a union contractor, we pay the same wage whether the work is being performed on site or off-site.
• Both union members and workers at open shops, on-site or off-site, must pay the state prevailing wage
• I have worked on public sector jobs where I was being paid one wage on site and then told to go off site
• public sector construction work from a construction site to an off-site location.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The hearing focused on several labor-related bills, especially proposals to give legislative employees the right to organize and collectively bargain, close a prevailing wage loophole for off-site prefabrication work, and strengthen enforcement against wage theft. Committee chairs opened the hearing by explaining the hybrid format and asking witnesses to keep testimony brief. Multiple legislators testified in support of the legislative staff union bill, saying staff deserve the same bargaining rights as other public employees and that unionization would improve pay, benefits, retention, and workplace dignity. Witnesses also discussed how the bill would likely be structured, with separate House and Senate bargaining arrangements or locals, and emphasized that it would only create the option to unionize, not require it. A second major topic was the prevailing wage bill addressing off-site fabrication and prefabrication in construction. Union leaders, contractors, and workers described how more work is being shifted from job sites into shops, especially in sheet metal, HVAC, electrical, and pipefitting work, and argued that the law should treat that work the same as on-site construction when it is part of a public project. They said the current loophole lets some contractors underbid by paying lower wages off-site, while responsible contractors already pay prevailing wages in their shops. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers, preserve apprenticeship and training standards, improve safety and quality, and make enforcement easier through certified payroll and clearer definitions. The committee also heard testimony on wage theft legislation. Representative Dan Donahue, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, AFL-CIO representatives, and carpenters’ union witnesses described wage theft, misclassification, labor brokers, and tax fraud as widespread problems that hurt workers, honest contractors, and public revenues. They supported giving the Attorney General stronger enforcement tools, adding contractor accountability up the subcontracting chain, and protecting workers from retaliation and from delays that can cause claims to expire. A separate witness supported a bill to extend the statute of limitations for Wage Act cases while AG investigations are pending, and another supported changes to help hospital workers enforce timely payment rights. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• to site.
• He said that that site in Coventry is an ideal site because of the clay which underlies that site.
• site in Coventry is an ideal site uh site in Coventry is an ideal site uh because<02:01:22.080><c> of
• people on site already.
• people on site already.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• readiness... $25 million of NRC licensing and site readiness costs from the state for up to three sites
• But if a site is selected...
• sites, the site not on the coal generation plant out in Kemmerer, which is called the Naughton Power
• constructing on the site.
• It allows for siting of high-level radioactive waste on site.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But if a site is selected, ...
• sites, the site not on the coal generation plant out in Kemmerer, which is called the Naughton Power
• And ultimately, one of those sites, the site not on the coal generation plant out in Kimmer, which is
• constructing on the site.
• It allows for siting of high-level radioactive waste on site.

Summary: The committee met for its final meeting and approved the June 16 minutes. The main focus was policy development for advanced nuclear energy, including used fuel disposition, community engagement, and Wyoming’s legislative framework for nuclear development. Rod McCullum of the Nuclear Energy Institute briefed members on DOE’s “innovation campus” initiative for used nuclear fuel, explaining that DOE has narrowed responses to five states—Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Idaho, and Louisiana—and is seeking host agreements by September 30. He said the effort likely requires both federal and state legislation, and industry disputes DOE’s proposal to restart the nuclear waste fee, arguing the Nuclear Waste Fund should instead be used through appropriations for disposal-related work. He also answered questions about Yucca Mountain’s failure, deep seabed disposal, and international approaches to spent fuel, emphasizing consent-based siting and collaboration with states, localities, and tribes. Envoy Public Labs/GAIN presenters Chase Blazer and Austin Blanche described state-led community engagement models for advanced nuclear projects. They highlighted examples from Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Illinois, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Connecticut, noting that successful siting depends on early public education, local government support, workforce planning, and, in some cases, state funding for early site permitting. Committee members asked how broad engagement should be, whether it should be countywide or regional, and how small modular reactors differ in public outreach; the presenters said the approach should match the project footprint and local concerns, but that even SMRs still require broad education and stakeholder involvement. Wyoming Senator K.L. Case and Wyoming Energy Futures CEO Rita Meyer then described Wyoming’s legislative history and TerraPower’s Natrium project in Kemmerer. They reviewed Wyoming’s earlier 1995 high-level waste law, which effectively froze nuclear development until reforms in 2022 allowed on-site storage of waste from an active in-state reactor and removed much of the state-level permitting burden. Meyer said the project is now in construction, with a sodium-cooled fast reactor and molten-salt storage system, but faces major supply-chain challenges—especially HALEU fuel—and relies on private investment plus a federal ARDP grant rather than state dollars. Members asked about water supply, investor motives, supply-chain bottlenecks, and state revenue; the presenters said water comes from a PacifiCorp surface-water contract, investors are seeking long-term returns, and Wyoming expects benefits through property and sales taxes and a per-megawatt-hour fee rather than direct state investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our site now ...looks a lot more like a construction zone across our site than it has in the entire
• We will drive it around the site.
• We will drive it around the site.
• Even on our site, as companies look to site larger reactors on our site, of course, they would have to
• Those smaller reactors are literally few-acre sites versus hundreds of acres sites.

Committee: House Environment, Energy and Technology