Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1176, stormwater charge, appellation credit, Natural Resources.
• MAA is groundwater portability, Natural Resources.
• SB 1198, Arizona Beach Council continuation, Natural Resources.
• SCM 1004, Clean Air Act DPA powers, Natural Resources.
• SB 1199, medical examining boards continuation, Natural Resources.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and MPCA on annual permitting efficiency and MPCA on annual permitting efficiency report<00:01:55.520
• </c> conservation of natural resources. conservation of natural resources.
• </c> predictable source that is um efficient predictable source that is um efficient for<00:52:11.200
• </c> certainly seeing a lot of efficiency certainly seeing a lot of efficiency uh<01:03:10.559><c> a<
• </c> efficiency report as well. efficiency report as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so in some cases, finding ways to be more efficient and capture that efficiency delays or reduces
• We were really just trying to find efficiencies where we could find efficiencies.
• And so there are efficiencies that can be made there.
• are efficiencies that can be made there.
• Resources are already spread extremely thin.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about saving resources for local governments.
• I'll continue on the theme of being efficient.
• I'll continue on the theme of being efficient.
• Less than 15% of the areas added to the UGA are critical resource areas.
• Our community will thrive with the needed resources closer to more than 2,000 rooftops.

Bills: SB5903, SB6037, SB5983, SB5995, SB6016, SB6066

Keywords: cemetery districts, elections, local governance, public policy, administrative procedures, fire protection, districts, emergency services, funding, legislation, tax exemption, land transfer, governmental entity, property tax, current use classification, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we help them do it more efficiently?
• So how do we make those more efficient? How do we make those better?
• So how do we make those more efficient? How do we make those better?
• I do think that that is because we are efficient in some ways.
• And what are the resources, right? Resources both dollar and people.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The San Marcos library now serves about 1500 people every single day, providing access to resources,
• Board for the Committee on Delivering Government Efficiency.
• HB 3778 by Waterbach relating to the use of geothermal energy as dispatchable generation resource.
• You've heard of the Committee on Land and Resource Management.
• Refer to the Committee on Delivery of a government efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• During which she helped transform the library into a vital community resource.
• For the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, HB 3711 by Giovanni Capriglione relates to the
• Board for the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.
• And resource for the Committee on State Affairs.
• HB 3800 by Orr relates to the advisory board established to develop a resource guide that facilitates

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One was the integration of SMRs into integrated resource plans published by utilities.
• energy resources.
• State law requires utilities to buy on energy efficiency first, renewable resources second, resources
• of high fuel conversion efficiency third, and other resources as a last resort.
• Battery storage is becoming a major resource for grid reliability.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5821, which would direct the Department of Commerce, if funded by gifts or grants, to develop a nuclear power strategic framework and integrate it into the state energy strategy. Supporters, including Sen. Braun, Energy Northwest, public power representatives, and several pro-nuclear advocates, said Washington needs to keep advanced nuclear on the table to address rising electricity demand, reliability concerns, and clean energy goals. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill gives nuclear special treatment, lacks sufficient guardrails on waste, safety, cost, and public process, and was rushed without adequate tribal consultation. Several tribal testifiers said the bill should require early, meaningful government-to-government consultation and stronger protections for treaty rights and cultural resources. The committee then held a work session on a Washington State Institute for Public Policy report reviewing state policies supporting small modular reactors. Staff and researchers explained that the report surveyed 79 policies in 35 states and found most states are still in preliminary planning stages, with policies focused on feasibility studies, siting, workforce development, permitting, financial support, and market integration. Members asked about water use, waste, footprint, and whether the report covered fusion; the researchers said it was limited to fission and that water needs vary by reactor design. Some senators noted the need to consider lifecycle impacts and compare nuclear with other energy technologies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6010, which would change FSEC tribal consultation procedures by exempting most government-to-government consultations from the Open Public Meetings Act when there is no deliberation or commitments, requiring all FSEC members to participate in consultation, and giving tribes a chance to review and correct the consultation summary before it goes to the governor. Tribal witnesses and environmental groups supported the bill as a way to improve confidentiality and meaningful consultation, while the Association of Washington Business opposed it, saying it could add delays and suggesting timelines. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6004, which would update contracting statutes so public entities can contract for renewable or non-emitting generation capability under CETA definitions; utilities supported the update as a modernization, while consumer and environmental opponents warned it could shift financial risk to ratepayers, especially for nuclear projects. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those efficiency standards help with costs at the pump, with prices at the pump.
• And that's going to take a lot of resources, a lot of attention.
• The California Air Resources Board...
• for improved efficiency there.
• I'm the director of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, complaints and licensees will benefit from this enhanced efficiency.
• Enhancements include upgrading systems to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Please look for ways to be more efficient in our processes.
• With additional resources appropriated, we can now move more cases through enforcement.
• One, which has resources for a variety of things, again, that we have to ask them for.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so in some cases, finding ways to be more efficient and capture that efficiency delays or reduces
• We were really just trying to find efficiencies where we could find efficiencies.
• there are efficiencies that can be made there.
• Department of Water Resources for about another six weeks.
• Resources are already spread extremely thin.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• field Energy Efficiency Efficiency Efficiency measures<00:28:46.559><c> cost</c> measures cost measures
• </c> established you know Energy Efficiency established you know Energy Efficiency programs<00:29:28.240
• Energy Efficiency programs that our Energy Efficiency programs that our utilities<00:33:09.960><c> run
• </c> with the addition of the Total Resource with the addition of the Total Resource test<00:34:39.280
• </c> job their job is Energy Efficiency job their job is Energy Efficiency programs<00:40:32.319><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an efficiency.
• Chair, can I do one efficient response on this? Yes, please. Efficient is what we're looking for.
• Efficient.
• that we find really valuable, our water resources, our recreation resources, et cetera.
• Their resources across the state, their emergency response resources, will continue.

Summary: The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request. Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals. Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression. The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:25.680><c> for</c> and efficient for and efficient for companies<00:08:27.879><c> um</c><00
• </c><00:48:58.520><c> Foster</c> that are transparent efficient Foster that are transparent efficient
• That's why we support this permitting efficiency bill.
• That's why we support this permitting efficiency bill.
• </c> scores and improve Energy Efficiency scores and improve Energy Efficiency while<01:27:13.360><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an efficiency.
• Chair, can I do one efficient response on this? Yes, please. Efficient is what we're looking for.
• Efficient.
• valuable: our water resources, our recreation resources, et cetera.
• Their resources across the state, their emergency response resources, will continue.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is compete we live in a world resource is compete we live in a world where<00:47:50.880><c> resources
• </c><01:01:09.400><c> resource</c><01:01:09.880><c> standard</c> an Energy Efficiency resource standard
• an Energy Efficiency resource standard uh<01:01:10.920><c> the</c><01:01:11.039><c> grant</c><01:01:
• </c> supervisor of our Energy Efficiency supervisor of our Energy Efficiency programs<01:04:22.680><c
• resources<04:06:13.359><c> and</c> resources and resources and and<04:06:15.359><c> so</c><04:06:15.720

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency.
• Natural Resources. SB 1336, State Land Department continuations oversight. Natural Resources.
• Natural Resources, Appropriation, Transportation and Technology.
• SB 1380, large load customers, energy costs, Natural Resources.
• SCR 1016, public utility commission, Natural Resources.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and approval of the journal. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and proclamations, including Alzheimer’s Association advocates, Arizona Society of CPAs members, the Arizona Airports Association, and students from Onyose Day Academy. A proclamation was read declaring January 26, 2006, as Arizona Aviation Day, highlighting the economic and public-safety importance of Arizona’s aviation sector and its airports. The bulk of the meeting consisted of points of personal privilege and floor statements, many focused on condemning recent deaths and injuries involving federal immigration enforcement actions in Arizona and other states. Senators called for investigations, transparency, due process, and an end to what they described as excessive force and warrantless enforcement. One senator also read a resolution supporting human rights and the people of Iran, condemning state violence and supporting secular protections and international accountability. The chamber also handled routine business, including gubernatorial nominations, which were referred to the appropriate committees, and the introduction and first reading of numerous bills and resolutions covering topics such as taxes, education, immigration, elections, health care, water, labor, housing, firearms, and appropriations. After committee announcements, the Senate adopted a motion to adjourn and recessed/adjourned until Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, now I see a unique opportunity to combine the business efficiencies with the driver's license efficiency
• Efficiencies with the driver's license systems are essential.
• resources.
• **Chair**: The efficiency of how we run government.
• But I'm just wondering about the resources that we have; the added resources for the tool sure don't

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also focus on increasing regulatory efficiencies.
• It will lead to improved efficiency and housing development.
• Another question is would the reorganization improve efficiency?
• Will the reorganization lead to more efficiency?
• the state's resources are being used as effectively as possible.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First is to ensure environmental review to protect our natural resources.
• of Natural Resources.
• These resources are part of the conversation with data centers.
• can function like a grid-scale generation resource.
• I'm Colleen Hollander, Director at National Resource Services.

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability