Video & Transcript : 'small city program' :
Page 371 of 500
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Republican Leaders Media Availability Feb 10th, 2026 at 09:15 am
Transcript Highlights:
- We have some more bad bills that are going to restrict cities and counties' abilities to not only enforce
- We have some more bad bills that are going to restrict cities and counties' abilities to not only enforce
- There are some duplicates, but a relatively small percentage, and they were in both the con and the pro
- There is, there are some duplicates, but a relatively small percentage, and they were in both the con
- First of all, immediately impacting small businesses.
Summary:
House and Senate Republican leaders held a press event to preview the final weeks of the legislative session and criticize several Democratic proposals. Their main focus was a proposed income tax on high earners, which they said is really an income tax that could later be expanded, and which drew what they described as record opposition in public sign-ins and testimony. They also objected to other fiscal bills they said would raise costs for food, agriculture, health care, energy, labor, and consumer goods, and they argued these measures would worsen affordability and encourage people and businesses to leave Washington.
The caucus also highlighted bills they opposed on policy grounds, including measures affecting local authority over camping bans and housing permitting, an anti-initiative bill they called anti-voter, and a bill on sheriff background checks. They said they supported or were pleased to see movement on some Republican-backed measures, including tax exemptions for diapers, prepared foods, and certain licensing and continuing-education costs, as well as a repeal of last year’s services tax. They also said the Senate’s move to roll back the estate tax was a partial step in the right direction, though not enough to offset the proposed income tax.
A major portion of the event centered on child welfare and the Keeping Families Together Act. Republicans criticized a House bill they said only partially addresses the “imminent harm” standard and does not adequately protect children in drug-affected homes, citing recent fatalities and critical incidents. They said they will keep pushing for changes and also mentioned support for adding fentanyl to the child endangerment statute. In closing, they said they would continue floor fights over the next week, and House Republicans announced they will issue their own media credentials to promote press access in Olympia.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It's an extension of a program that we do have now, the transportation benefit program.
- What the City and County of Honolulu does, because they already have this incentive in place, is city
- the cost to the city.
- Um, so what the city and to use it.
- </c><00:45:32.319><c> badge</c> is city employees use their city badge is city employees use their city
Committee:
Senate Labor and Technology
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work.
The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Substitute House Bill 1390 relates to repealing the Community Protection Program.
- It eliminates the Community Protection Program and removes references to the Community Protection Program
- to other services or programs.
- All the individuals that are currently in the CPP program to other services or programs by December 31
- This is a bill that collects a series of relatively small measures.
Summary:
The Rules Committee considered a long series of House bills and substitute House bills, moving nearly all of them from the white sheet to the floor calendar. Topics included health care transaction notice requirements (HB 2548), waste-to-energy compliance and utility rates (HB 2416), language access for state programs (HB 2475), repeal and transition away from the Community Protection Program for developmental disabilities services (HB 1390), nursing regulation and ARNP standards (HB 2339), lump-sum payment increases for small monthly payments (HB 2124), roadway fatality risk data collection by the Traffic Safety Commission (HB 2192), statewide low-income energy assistance (HB 1903), local government tax resources and flexibility (HB 2442), permanent property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers (HB 2133), retirement benefit bargaining for Department of Corrections employees (HB 1069), collective bargaining rights for non-academic employees at Western Washington University (HB 1570), medically tailored meals in Medicaid (HB 2211), aviation funding for wildland fire response (HB 2104), port worker retirement and wage/benefit authority (HB 2179), overdose data sharing (HB 2168), real estate transaction exemptions for public-benefit acquisitions by public entities, tribes, and conservation groups (HB 2624), security measures for legislators and other elected officials (HB 2333), voter registration challenge procedures (HB 1916), limits on restraint and isolation in schools (HB 1795), jail search policies for transgender and intersex individuals (HB 1604), Attorney General investigators for wage theft and fraud (HB 2156), Transportation Improvement Board updates (HB 1823), tax treatment for land transferred to government entities (HB 2140), expanded shared leave uses for hate crime and immigration enforcement-related situations (HB 2411), collective bargaining protections if federal enforcement changes (HB 2471), labor standards for clean energy/urban area property tax exemption projects (HB 1210), employer notice and enforcement rights during I-9/immigration audits (HB 2105), tax increment financing dispute resolution for special purpose and junior taxing districts (HB 2451), AI-generated content disclosure and enforcement (HB 1170), tourism marketing assessment authority (HB 2325), defective license plate replacement fees (HB 2114), the Blue Envelope Program for neurodiverse drivers during traffic stops (HB 2323), and pre-clearance provisions under the Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1710). Most motions passed on voice votes with little or no opposition; one notable dissent came on HB 2105, where Senator King raised concerns about the bill’s private right of action. The committee also noted Senator Conway’s likely final Rules Committee meeting and thanked him for his service before adjourning with no further business.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, December 15, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> some saw only a small endangered minnow. some saw only a small endangered minnow.
- </c> National Estuary Program until 2031. National Estuary Program until 2031.
- H.R. 1098 would reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, a small but mighty
- H.R. 1098 would reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, a small but mighty
- </c> students participating in the program. students participating in the program.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Jun 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- a, program.
- the SB 125 program.
- housing program.
- housing program.
- programs that we know are important to our cities.
Summary:
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, as the main item. Committee leaders described the legislative budget agreement as a balanced two-year plan with about $355.9 billion in total spending, $253 billion from the General Fund, and $36.5 billion in reserves. The Legislative Analyst and Department of Finance said the package assumes about $5.5 billion in higher revenues than the May Revision and uses those resources for a mix of spending changes, including higher Proposition 98 support, additional child care slots, housing and homelessness funding, delayed Medi-Cal reductions, and added support for counties, public hospitals, and distressed hospitals. The administration said the plan resembles the May Revision’s overall structure but includes new spending and revenue assumptions, and members noted that separate revenue trailer bills would be heard later in the week.
Much of the committee discussion focused on Medi-Cal, H.R. 1, and the impact on immigrants, low-income workers, counties, and hospitals. Several senators criticized the budget for locking in savings from delayed or reduced Medi-Cal coverage and for not including a mechanism to restore eligibility, while administration and LAO staff said the package delays some reductions but does not automatically reinstate coverage. Finance staff said roughly 1.5 million to 2 million people with unsatisfactory immigration status would move from managed care to fee-for-service, with coverage largely unchanged except for certain services not federally allowed. Members also discussed county administrative funding, indigent care, public hospital support, and the expected rise in uncompensated care. Other topics included In-Home Supportive Services, child care, homelessness funding, Prop. 36, courthouse construction and new judgeships, transit and cap-and-invest/GGRF funding, local journalism, and workforce or reentry programs.
Committee members split along party lines in their comments. Democratic members generally supported the agreement as a difficult but responsible compromise that protects core services, preserves reserves, and makes targeted investments in education, housing, health care, and justice system capacity. Republican members argued the budget relies on unrealistic revenue assumptions, does not sufficiently reduce spending, and includes costly policy choices and tax increases. Public testimony largely came from advocates and stakeholders who supported IHSS, Medi-Cal, child care, domestic violence services, hospitals, transit, and other programs, while some business and health plan representatives raised concerns about tax proposals and the shift from managed care to fee-for-service. The chair then moved the committee to public comment and indicated that the revenue bills would return later in the week; no final vote on AB 109 is reflected in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Rehabilitation programming, meaning the programs by which inmates are required to go through as part
- So TDCJ provides programming, the Windham School District provides programming, and some of the programming
- to go if they successfully complete that program.
- If it's a small program, waiting for a spot to open up in that program.
- Small question, but this is a wonderful bill.
Bills:
SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646
Committee:
Senate Criminal Justice
Keywords:
community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense
Summary:
The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar.
The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending.
SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 042 Feb 25th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It was full of moms and dads, small<01:22:12.480><c> business</c><01:22:12.800><c> owners,</c> small
- This is not a small decision.
- It might be a small sentence.
- So this is a small amendment.
- </c> So this is a small amendment. So this is a small amendment.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events at the Capitol, and recognitions, including Music Therapy Day, Black History Month activities, adoptable puppies, and a Colorado Agricultural Forum. Members also celebrated Representative Story’s birthday and recognized the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) for its long-running support of arts, culture, science access, and economic impact in Colorado. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, by a vote of 64-1 with one excused.
The chamber then moved to special orders for several bills. The first major bill considered was House Bill 1017, which would prohibit insurers from receiving criminal restitution unless they are direct victims. Sponsors argued the bill prioritizes human victims, prevents restitution from becoming an unpayable burden on low-income defendants, and clarifies the law in response to court concerns and stakeholder feedback. Opponents argued it would shift costs to taxpayers and policyholders and could increase civil litigation and insurance premiums. An amendment, L005, was adopted to clarify the bill’s scope, and the bill then passed as amended.
The House also took up House Bill 114, concerning minimum lot size and local land-use rules. An amendment, L002, was offered to prohibit certain local lot frontage, setback, open-space, or coverage requirements that would effectively prevent construction of a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot residential lot. Supporters framed the measure as protecting housing access, while opponents argued it would override local land-use decision-making and public hearing processes. The transcript ends during debate on a substitute motion related to the amendment, before final action on House Bill 114 is shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Program in a pediatric subspecialty for medical students in the, in the state.
- Uh, we started a, uh, uh, a high school program that was.
- Yeah, from Park City. All right. Oh well then I don't feel bad.
- So we've got a robust workforce education program in Texas.
- Expand those those programs. I would hope so.
Bills:
HB232
Committee:
House Higher Education
Keywords:
disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 2/12/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It is the most efficient anti-hunger program in the country.
- </c><01:41:04.440><c> year</c> last year to this year's program year last year to this year's program
- this is not just a Twin Cities metro area problem.
- I mean, they're just for outreach programs.
- </c> lot of capacity in our Outreach programs lot of capacity in our Outreach programs and<01:46:41.760
Keywords:
parent's bill of rights, parental rights, minor consent, minors, parents, guardians, education rights, school records, home schooling, charter school, private school, health care consent, medical privacy, patient records, exam room access, biometric data, DNA samples, blood samples, mental health, physical health
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Apr 7th, 2026
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is more important than ever since the 2024 Supreme Court ruling in City of Grants Pass v.
- Medco program, among many other volunteer activities.
- He was one of the early trailblazers of what we now call diversion and diversionary programming.
- I run a program. And my name and my program was used often.
- The academy is a program to help increase diversity on the bench across the Commonwealth.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Keywords:
homelessness, homeless, unsheltered, unhoused, shelter rights, anti-camping, anti-loitering, public space, public land, encampment, sleeping in public, life-sustaining activities, right to rest, right to sleep, vehicle dwelling, RV living, tiny home, civil rights, municipal liability, affirmative defense
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- And those are the programs you hear about as constituents come to you.
- program requests.
- As I said earlier, the municipal courts are run by cities.
- And you see a few other items are treatment courts, diversion programs, etc.
- And you see a few other items are treatment courts, diversion programs, etc., etc.
Committee:
Senate Senate Judiciary
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (03/03/2025)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Do we know what group or who decided on these cities?
- </c><02:14:20.920><c> of</c> do the boiler upgrades the city of do the boiler upgrades the city of Portsmouth
- ><02:29:36.640><c> England</c><02:29:37.640><c> um</c><02:29:38.240><c> I</c> small small town in New
- England um I small small town in New England um I could<02:29:38.520><c> say</c><02:29:38.840><c> that
- </c> that we can to help municipalities small that we can to help municipalities small municipalities
Committee:
House Municipal and County Government
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Committee on Housing Afternoon Subcommittee (04/22/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> expand out anywhere into a city or town. expand out anywhere into a city or town.
- Cities,<00:30:14.399><c> towns,</c><00:30:14.640><c> municipalities</c><00:30:15.120><c> shall</c> Cities
- Um, so, you know, I was asking people in the city, well, what would be better?
- </c> acres and you want, but you have a small acres and you want, but you have a small frontage<00:47
- , well, what do you what would be city, well, what do you what would be better?
Summary:
The subcommittee opened discussion on SP 170 and worked through the bill section by section, focusing first on housing discrimination language and then on land-use and development provisions. On the housing section, members discussed adding “school enrollment status” or a similar term as a protected class to prevent municipalities from steering students into specific zones, especially in Durham. Some members questioned whether “status” was too vague and suggested “enrollment status” or “school enrollment status” for clarity. Public testimony raised concerns that adding a new protected class could have broader implications beyond this bill and could affect municipal zoning authority, while supporters argued the language was needed to prevent discrimination against students in housing access.
The committee then heard testimony on provisions limiting municipal authority over septic test pits and well-siting requirements. DEES officials and a builder testified that state standards are already protective of groundwater and surface water and that some local requirements are more stringent than the state’s, adding cost and delay to housing projects. Supporters said uniform state standards would make housing development faster and more predictable. Opponents warned that local rules can protect aquifers, wellhead areas, and drinking water in specific communities, and that removing municipal flexibility could weaken those protections. The subcommittee appeared comfortable keeping these sections, though members discussed whether to clarify the language and whether some local review authority should remain.
The meeting also covered road-length limits, caps on the number of lots on dead-end roads, and subdivision design rules. Members generally supported prohibiting municipalities from using maximum road length or lot caps to block development, with one amendment suggested to allow such limits where adequate water and sewer capacity is lacking. The committee also discussed allowing utilities and infrastructure such as septic systems, wells, electric systems, drainage structures, and shared leach fields to be placed in subdivision open space or perimeter buffers when those areas are not protected wetlands or shoreland. Finally, the committee reviewed a provision requiring municipalities to stamp and accept plan changes within three days after initial review, with members explaining that the goal is to prevent repeated, incremental changes from dragging out the approval process. No final votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided, but members indicated general comfort with several sections as amended or clarified.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Actually, that partnership is beneficial for us, but it's also beneficial for the city.
- This is a stretch of Lateral 38 right in the city of Twin Falls.
- The city of Twin Falls had, years and years ago, put a city sewer main about two feet away from that.
- We received about $460 million through the Water Smart program in a couple of different grants.
- And you can see it's a small canal company with a small budget, so something like this is really meaningful
Committee:
Senate Resources and Environment
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 21, 2026 - PM
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- Small disruptions can have significant impacts on the plant.
- Small disruptions can have significant impacts on the plant.
- So, small timeout.
- </c><03:28:33.760><c> uh</c> provide the power by running a small uh provide the power by running a small
- is compliance. program is compliance.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- It's in the city of is Gryom? It's in the city of is Gryom? It's in the city of Huntsville.
- , one of the cities. close the city, one of the cities. close the city, one of the cities.
- It's not in a city. Okay. department. It's not in a city. Okay. department. It's not in a city.
- K12 capital grant program, ENT money, and capital grant program, ENT money, and capital grant program
- schools and small districts in our small schools and small districts in our small schools and small
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/17/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- . programs. programs.
- </c><01:39:30.880><c> serving</c> only domestic violence program serving only domestic violence program
- </c> for grants to the cities for grants to the cities and<01:53:23.560><c> tribal</c><01:53:23.880><
- </c> versus small towns. versus small towns.
- cities cities would<02:08:57.600><c> be</c><02:08:58.200><c> uh</c> would be uh would be uh tabulated
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Louis City or St. Louis County or Jackson County.
- Louis City and St. Louis County.
- Louis City, or Jackson County area, or Foon County now, where I'm from even.
- Say like a Worth County, which is very small.
- I’m telling you how the city or the county of St.
Committee:
House Ways and Means
Summary:
The committee first took up House Joint Resolution 169, which would cap spending growth and was described by supporters as a taxpayer protection measure. Representative Taylor opposed it, arguing the legislature was already considering too many tax-related measures at once and lacked a broader strategy. The sponsor said the resolution was about limiting spending, not taxes, and offered a committee substitute that added fees and surcharges into the baseline and addressed tax credits. After discussion, the substitute was adopted and the committee voted the House Committee Substitute for HJR 169 do pass, with Taylor and Strickler voting no.
The committee then heard House Bill 2819, which would allow rounding of cash transactions now that pennies are no longer being produced. The sponsor explained a committee substitute added safe-harbor language to protect merchants from lawsuits over rounding errors. Members asked about the rounding rules and confirmed the bill remained permissive rather than mandatory. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2819 do pass unanimously.
House Bill 2746, sponsored by Representative Williams, would create a property tax map feature on the Department of Revenue website showing current levies and assessed values to improve transparency. Supporters said it would help homeowners compare assessments and understand property tax differences, while opponents and agency witnesses raised concerns about the large startup cost, estimated at about $7 million, the need to gather data from many counties, and the fact that some counties already provide similar information. The Department of Revenue and State Tax Commission witnesses said the data would be difficult to compile statewide and that local participation and data standards vary widely. The bill was heard, but no vote was taken in the transcript.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2329, which would gradually reduce the assessment ratio for personal property from about 33 1/3% to 18% over three years. The sponsor argued the tax is burdensome, especially for working families and businesses, and said it would encourage a broader shift away from personal property taxation. Supporters echoed that it is a highly visible and unpopular tax. Opponents, including a county assessor, warned the bill would sharply reduce local tax bases, especially in rural counties, and likely force levy increases on real property or cuts to schools and other districts. The hearing ended without a committee vote on HB 2329.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- operations like small farmers.
- </c> that sometimes are undertaken by small that sometimes are undertaken by small operations<00:20:32.280
- ><c> like</c><00:20:32.440><c> small</c><00:20:32.720><c> farmers.
- </c> operations like small farmers. operations like small farmers.
- </c><00:41:40.160><c> business</c> going to now we have small business going to now we have small business
Committee:
Senate Economic Development and Tourism
Summary:
The committee heard multiple governor’s messages for confirmation to the Agribusiness Development Corporation board and one appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. For GM 606, David Ige Hinazumi was supported by ADC and DBEDT, with testimony highlighting his private-sector experience, technology background, and ability to help with risk management and finances. He told senators he had attended board meetings since 2018, saw ADC as a state business arm for agriculture, and supported expanding land, facilities, and even aquaculture if resources allowed. Senators asked about ADC’s role relative to the Department of Agriculture, and he said the department’s strength is research/regulatory work while ADC should focus on business development, support, and facilities for farmers and aquaculture businesses.
For GM 607, Jason Watts was strongly supported by ADC leadership, DBEDT, and many agricultural and community groups, with one opposing testimony from Hawaii Farm Bureau. Supporters praised his governance, accountability, transparency, and frequent communication with the agency. In questioning, Watts said ADC’s top priority should be increasing land holdings, and he discussed ADC’s role in water systems, including preserving agricultural water sources and inventorying systems statewide. He also said ADC could potentially help small farmers comply with environmental permitting through a broader, regional approach if authorized by the Legislature. The committee also heard from Joshua Uyehara for GM 682, who was supported by ADC, county officials, and farm groups. He said his priorities would be accelerating ADC projects, expanding capacity, and possibly using ADC as a center of expertise for water systems and for helping farmers with environmental requirements; he also said biofuel crops and food production can be complementary, though food should be prioritized when water is constrained.
The committee then considered GM 513, Tracy Lester Smith’s appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. The stadium authority and DBEDT supported her, citing her experience in NASCAR, boxing, and Bellator MMA as useful for marketing, attracting events, and commercializing the stadium. Smith said she was eager to serve and would bring experience from both the landlord and tenant perspectives, helping the board think about venue operations, sponsorships, and event attraction. Senators asked about improving public perception and execution, and she emphasized accountability, timelines, and building a venue that can draw major sports and entertainment events. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Labor and Employment
Transcript Highlights:
- That is the program functioning as designed.
- That is the program functioning as designed.
- That is the program functioning as designed.
- We're not talking about a small industry.
- This is a program we created many years ago.
Committee:
House Labor and Employment