Transcript Highlights:

• resources in this state, you know, how water affects the terrain, you know.
• The first one obviously focused on water scarcity.
• The challenge, of course, is that they're really good at conserving water.
• It only takes about less than a gallon of water a day to grow this amount of food.
• Where you don't have much water or electricity. So this could be a standalone system.

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they need something—food, water, people, whatever that is—they'll put it into the system.
• Can they reach out to the department to get rid of some of that water, or is that something that they
• We know one of the things that we're going to need is swift water rescue teams.
• The teams in Tennessee are some of the best trained swift water teams in the world.
• control districts—but we really, we really got to look at How does water move through the watershed?

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officers found a water pipe with methamphetamine residue and water still inside of it.
• that were in her water pipe. water pipe with uh methamphetamine water pipe with uh methamphetamine residue
• </c><01:41:17.360><c> Um,</c> water and see what's left over. Um, water and see what's left over.
• </c><01:41:36.000><c> and</c> I just put it in a bunch of water and I just put it in a bunch of water
• </c> ounces of very small amount of water. ounces of very small amount of water.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will discuss the term water systems, which are defined as community public water supplies according
• These water systems are often a city-owned water utility, but can also include other types like mobile
• </c><00:21:12.080><c> public</c><00:21:12.400><c> water</c> defined as community public water defined
• These water systems drinking water act.
• </c> the water man to an individual home. the water man to an individual home.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• act amending sections 11-671, 49-202, 49-203, and 49-1243, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to the Water
• non-point source project to include Arizona non-point source management plan pursuant to the Clean Water
• Management plan pursuant to the Clean Water Act, et cetera, defines the Clean Water Act as the Federal
• Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, and other conforming and technical changes.
• The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. The bill is heard on third reading.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water agencies do use energy.
• Water agencies do use energy.
• This bill is sponsored by the state water contractors.
• This bill is sponsored by the state water contractors.
• Assembly Bill 1873 by Assemblymember Bennett, an act relating to water.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• capacity, CCA account money, and other cash resources, with an emphasis on housing, clean energy, water
• There's $70 million for human services, and included in that are the Monroe Water and HVAC project, the
• There's $191 million for water conservation, climate resilience, and clean energy.
• These are proactive investments to prevent the most common sources of fire and water damage.
• That number equates to enough water to supply over 21 homes in the area for an entire year.

Bills: SB6003 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB1983

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval

Transcript Highlights:

• When the waters were seated, they went right out to recovery and repair. This quick response.
• But others of our infrastructure, even Anacortes, which is on land, the in-water structure, if there
• They also suffered costs related to debris removal and renting equipment to pump out water.
• There were over 35 swift-water rescues.
• We contended with not just trees down, slides, water, but also snow in this period of time.

Bills: SB5989

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: aircraft fuel tax, tax revenue distribution, aviation funding, transportation, state revenue, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they have given you this beautiful beaker so you can measure how much water you drink, because we
• have to keep drinking that water.
• Only water, that's right, as someone in our other committee talked about.
• Hopefully it remains on the mountain as snowpack so that we can have water later this year.
• district's boundaries. ...upon request of a watershed district within the soil and water conservation

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water Security Planning Act.
• for the Water Security Planning Act.
• I'm seeing struggles with swollen waters and water districts and acequias.
• On 2.32, I'm wondering if this is the Water Research Institute.
• Water opera for monitoring. Yeah, so Mr.

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> flood and planes and and our water flood and planes and and our water projects,<00:37:52.560><c>
• , how many water rescues he was making.
• , how many water rescues he was making.
• , how many water rescues he was making.
• , how many water rescues he was making.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force opened its sixth meeting by approving the minutes and then taking up a presentation from University of Pikeville representatives and local leaders on an Eastern Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain in Pike County. Speakers included Greg May, Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty, Lori Worth, and Laura Damron. They described repeated flooding and other disasters in eastern Kentucky, the lack of a single prepared relief location, and the need for a centralized, elevated site that could serve as a flood and broader natural-disaster hub. The presenters said the Bear Mountain property, about 530 acres and well above flood levels, could support a multi-use facility combining disaster response functions with university and community uses. Proposed features included a command and communications center, distribution space, emergency shelter, medical and clinic support, food service, restroom facilities, RV hookups, and an indoor track/distribution building. They emphasized that the project would help avoid disrupting existing venues such as the Pikeville Expo Center and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, while also supporting tourism and economic recovery. Committee members asked about community and emergency-management support, annual operating costs, and resilience standards such as tornado-related building codes. In response, the presenters said local stakeholders, including Appalachian Wireless, Pikeville Medical Center, Community Trust Bank, the city of Pikeville, and emergency management officials, had expressed support. They said the university planned to absorb some operating costs through multiple uses of the facility, community camps, and budgeted maintenance, and that construction documents were nearly complete with plans to begin building within months. After the presentation, the chair thanked the presenters and moved the committee into its recommendations discussion, noting the broader fiscal and humanitarian importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency and indicating that future legislation would likely follow from the task force’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates significant and ongoing cost pressures for small nonprofit mutual water companies and
• Additionally, the bill requires mutual water company-only assessment by the State Water Board, duplicating
• Additionally, the bill requires mutual water company-only assessment by the State Water Board, duplicating
• I'm general manager of South Mesa Water Company. I serve both Riverside and San Bernardino County.
• Sandy McElhenney, and I serve as president of Christian Mutual Water Company and as director on the

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to consider a large suspense-file agenda, noting that 122 measures met suspense criteria and that several bills listed in the daily file were postponed to the following week. The Department of Finance did not attend because it had no comments on the bills. After establishing a quorum, the committee proceeded through the agenda, with most authors waiving presentation and public testimony limited to fiscal issues. Most measures were moved to the suspense file without objection after brief or no testimony. A number of bills drew support or opposition from outside groups on fiscal grounds, including SB 951, SB 947, SB 954, SB 1031, SB 1291, and SB 1368. Testimony highlighted concerns such as ongoing state or departmental costs, General Fund impacts, broadband and compliance burdens for small mutual water companies, and implementation costs for education, health, and transportation-related proposals. Supporters of some bills argued they would save money over time, such as SB 1067 on early math remediation and SB 1089 on obesity treatment and CalRx partnerships. The committee also heard an author presentation on SB 1089 by Senator Richardson, who said the bill would reduce CalPERS and broader health costs by expanding access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for eligible public employees and directing CalRx to pursue production or acquisition of a GLP-1 medication. No committee questions were raised on that measure, and it too was sent to suspense. The hearing concluded with all items heard being moved to the suspense file and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates significant and ongoing cost pressures for small nonprofit mutual water companies and
• Additionally, the bill requires mutual water company-only assessment by the State Water Board, duplicating
• Additionally, the bill requires mutual water company-only assessment by the State Water Board, duplicating
• I'm general manager of South Mesa Water Company. I serve both Riverside and San Bernardino County.
• Sandy McElhenney, and I serve as president of Christian Mutual Water Company and as director on the

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to consider a large suspense-file agenda, noting that 122 measures met suspense criteria and that several bills listed in the daily file were rescheduled for the following week. The Department of Finance did not attend because it had no comments on the bills before the committee. After establishing a quorum, the committee repeatedly took public testimony on each item, with most authors waiving presentation and most bills drawing no questions or comments from members. A few measures drew substantive testimony. SB 951 and SB 947 received opposition from the Society for Human Resource Management, the California Restaurant Association, and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, with opponents citing policy concerns, ongoing department and General Fund costs, and submitted amendments. SB 1067 was supported by EdVoice, which argued that early math remediation would save state costs and noted an implementation budget request. SB 1291 drew strong opposition from mutual water company representatives, who said the bill would create significant ongoing costs, duplicate existing state efforts, and impose internet and teleconferencing mandates on small systems in areas with limited broadband access. SB 1368 received support from hearing health care providers, who asked for technical amendments to align state law with federal hearing-aid definitions and education-provider recognition. Senator Richardson presented SB 1089, explaining that it would help reduce CalPERS and broader health costs by expanding access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for eligible state employees and directing CalRx partnerships to produce or acquire at least one GLP-1 medication. The committee took no action other than moving each suspense-file candidate, including SB 1089, to the suspense file without objection. The hearing then adjourned after the agenda was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• These chemicals or their byproducts are in our water, our soil, and our bodies.
• I check my water all the time because, like many of you, I'm on a well.
• I check my water all the time because, like many of you, I'm on a well.
• I check<00:14:50.000><c> my</c><00:14:50.320><c> water</c><00:14:50.639><c> all</c><00:14:50.880><c>
• Make a wish to speak. to benefits issued to certain water to benefits issued to certain water related

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we will go to the water management district bill and I will pass the gavel over to our vice chair
• And members, this is the water management district bill that we have been talking about with so many
• So the bill requires South Florida Water Management District to provide additional details on project
• resources and our drinking waters.
• So I just want to say thank you for making an effort to strengthen our water supply with this.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee first heard SB 932, which would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging under state-regulated insurance policies. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce delays in follow-up testing after abnormal mammograms and noted support from medical and cancer advocacy groups. Senators Arrington and Sharief spoke in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 160 on CPA licensure. The sponsor said the bill adds additional pathways to licensure in Florida without lowering standards and is similar to measures being considered in other states. The Florida Institute of CPAs supported the bill, and it was also reported favorably. The committee then took up a water management district bill, described as a comprehensive measure to increase transparency in planning, funding, budgeting, reporting, and business practices while making historic investments in Everglades restoration. Senators asked about the role of the Legislative Budget Commission and whether the bill would affect the Lake Okeechobee system operating manual; the sponsor said those issues were still being worked through and that the bill was focused on accountability and transparency. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 50 on coastal resiliency and mangroves. The bill promotes nature-based solutions such as mangroves, living seawalls, and oyster reefs, and requires DEP to establish related rules and study effects on flood risk and insurance premiums. An amendment providing $250,000 from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for a feasibility study was adopted without objection. The bill drew broad support from environmental and coastal groups and was reported favorably. SB 56 on geoengineering and weather modification was temporarily postponed and not heard, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• local regulations.
• </c><01:34:53.600><c> I'm</c> prohibit all local regulations. I'm prohibit all local regulations.
• <01:35:16.960><c> can</c><01:35:17.360><c> continue</c> regulations can continue regulations can continue
• regulate regulate something<01:36:42.560><c> in</c><01:36:42.800><c> that</c><01:36:43.040><c> manner
• </c> say at all in any any sort of regulation say at all in any any sort of regulation in<01:37:26.480

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• practice many landlords are unlikely to follow a law without more outreach to inform them of the regulation
• practice, many landlords are unlikely to follow a law without more outreach to inform them of the regulation
• SFIA works to store carbon and provide multiple benefits for water quality, habitat, outdoor recreation
• carbon and provide multiple<01:02:42.079><c> benefits</c><01:02:42.480><c> for</c><01:02:42.680><c> water
• </c><01:02:42.920><c> quality</c> multiple benefits for water quality multiple benefits for water quality

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 342d specific to some part of the water 342d specific to some part of the water code<00:52:37.280
• to expand to avoid putting water down injection wells.
• to expand to avoid putting water down injection wells.
• to expand to avoid putting water down injection wells.
• to expand to avoid putting water down injection wells.

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 18, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures related to state funds, public lands, wastewater, port infrastructure, and other land and water issues. Early in the hearing, SB 1395, relating to state funds and climate mitigation financing, drew support from the Governor’s office, the Hawaii Climate Advisory Team, the State Energy Office, and others, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii urged the committee not to revert to the original version because of concerns about a special fund and compliance with state statutes. After discussion, the chair said the bill would be deferred because of budget uncertainty and the need to preserve reserves, and members agreed to that recommendation. The committee then took up SB 1393, SB 1669, SB 102, SB 1511, SB 1083, and SB 946, among others. SB 1393 and SB 1669 received support or comments from agencies including the Attorney General’s office, the State Energy Office, and other departments; SB 1669 was sent on with amendments and to Finance for further review. SB 102, concerning a third-party review process, prompted questions about who would select consultants and whether the bill would affect staffing and permitting costs; it was advanced with amendments, with one member noting reservations about the shift to private third-party review. SB 1511, SB 1083, and SB 946 also moved forward, generally with amendments or as amended, and several members noted reservations tied to budget impacts or statutory language. The committee also heard testimony on HB 1393, which involved public lands and school facilities, where the Department of Education sought a change to the deletion language and the School Facilities Authority said it stood on its written comments. For SB 146, relating to the Ali Canal, the University of Hawaiʻi and DLNR supported the measure, and a member asked about the estimated annual cost, which was described as $125,000 per year. On SB 946, members discussed whether removing the term “person” could narrow the law too much; after that discussion, the committee agreed to restore the term and proceed with an HD1. The meeting ended with the committee recessing after completing its agenda and adopting the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that there were a number of non-water projects as well as water projects that were funded for
• We say we don’t fund water, but we fund it at nearly a billion dollars.
• We say we don’t fund water, but we fund it at nearly a billion dollars.
• This is our second water quality bill.
• This is our second water quality bill.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 69, sponsored by water, waste and storm water infrastructure study, an act relating to water
• Speaker, your to water. Mr. Mr.
• </c> study, an act relating to water. Mr. study, an act relating to water. Mr.
• Senate File 84, sponsored by Water Voluntary Water Conservation Program, an act relating to water within
• </c> voluntary water conservation program. voluntary water conservation program.

Keywords: 916, all