Video & Transcript : 'conservation organizations' :
Page 38 of 500
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you very much, Madam Chair, members of the Senate Conservation Committee.
- Down our area, the Dexter-Hagerman soil conservation is very active.
- Thank you, members of the Senate Conservation Committee. Thank you.
- Thank you, members of the Senate Conservation Committee. Thank you.
- I am 19 years old and I'm with the Southwest Organizing Project.
Committee:
Senate Senate Conservation
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 47, a composting/organic waste measure that had been brought back from the table. The sponsor and witnesses described amendments that reduced the solid waste surcharge, added flexibility for landfills to divert organic waste to regional compost facilities, and delayed the effective date to July 1, 2027. Supporters said the changes made the bill more affordable and workable, while opponents from the waste industry still objected to the surcharge and wanted the proposed study completed before any tax was imposed. After committee discussion, a motion to table resulted in a tie vote, so the bill remained on the table.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 195, which appropriates $1 million for training elected officials and staff of soil and water conservation districts. The sponsor and the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts said the money would support compliance training, procurement and audit requirements, board education, and outreach for the state’s 47 districts. Support came from district officials and environmental advocates, who cited increasing responsibilities tied to disasters and climate impacts. The bill passed unanimously.
Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 196 and Senate Bill 197, companion appropriations for animal care and spay/neuter services in Las Vegas and Raton. Senators questioned whether the bills mixed operating funds with capital improvements, whether the projects duplicated statewide spay/neuter grants, and how much local funding was involved. The sponsor said the local communities had substantial skin in the game and that the appropriations were needed for facility expansion and repairs. Both bills passed on 6-2 votes.
Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 198, which would fund an endangered species hatchery and rearing station in Las Vegas. The sponsor argued the project would help restore aquatic species and use available state land and water, while supporters said it would strengthen conservation efforts. Opponents argued New Mexico already has a hatchery doing similar work, raised concerns about nuclear and water issues, and questioned the location and policy direction. After extensive testimony, the committee did not finish the bill and recessed SB 78, a separate measure to allow nuclear energy to count toward renewable portfolio standards, for continued discussion on Tuesday.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Jun 8th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- Anyone in the room who wishes to speak in opposition, name and organization. This is opposition.
- I need your name, your organization, and this is in support only. Please proceed.
- No, ma'am, just your name, your organization, and support. That's all we have time for.
- Anyone in the room wishing to express opposition, name, organization, and this is opposition.
- Name, organization, and this is opposition. You have the same right.
Committee:
House Revenue and Taxation
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- district by about water conservation district by about 17%. 17%.
- </c><00:54:19.520><c> reflecting</c> agricultural organizations reflecting agricultural organizations
- Next we have Angelica Day, government relations specialist for the Nature Conservancy.
- </c><01:05:24.160><c> at</c> there's 20 different organizations at there's 20 different organizations
- They're organized and in our packets.
Committee:
Senate Taxes
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Mar 25th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- It's organized mass balloon releases.
- We’re looking for organized mass balloon releases. You know, it gets away from him.
- Bernard-based organization that, you know, has members.
- Pinot-based organization that, you know, has members.
- Just urging requests the Department of Conservation and Energy.
Committee:
House Natural Resources & Environment
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture Oct 1st, 2025
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm increasingly inspired by the connection between land conservation and water conservation, led by
- But in the world of entanglement mitigation in 2015, the Nature Conservancy and port-based organizations
- The Nature Conservancy is a science-based organization.
- organization or...
- organization or a fisherman.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources.
Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations.
In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 10th, 2026 at 07:02 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Social workers are the backbone of our organization and of behavioral health organizations and state
- Back up here a little bit: House Bill 80 returns the proceeds of the conservation tax to conservation
- The conservation tax to conservation and reclamation activities as it was originally legislated and intended
- The conservation tax initially went to what was called the conservation or regulatory fund.
- The conservation fund was abolished, and the majority of the conservation tax was diverted to the general
Committee:
House House Appropriations & Finance
Keywords:
child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Capital Budget Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- In the end, they provided 18 organizations with funding to help them get ready.
- In the end, they provided 18 organizations with funding to help them get ready.
- And I have yet—we've met over 150 organizations over the last few months.
- We're at about 115, 150, plus community organizations.
- And we learned a lot about community organizations.
Summary:
The Capital Budget Committee heard presentations from the Department of Commerce, the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a consultant on the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) study. Commerce officials described their agency’s role in housing, energy, local government, broadband, and other capital programs, and reported on a $5 million pilot under Senate Bill 5200 that used trusted community messengers and technical assistance to help historically excluded organizations prepare for capital funding. They said 18 organizations received direct support and 79 smaller projects were also funded, but emphasized that statutory match rules, reimbursement-based payments, site-control requirements, insurance and audit costs, and extensive contracting rules remain major barriers. Commerce outlined efforts to expand outreach, digital modernization, internal contracting improvements, tribal MOUs, and innovation centers, and members asked about small business support, housing program placement, and outreach to Eastern Washington and communities of color.
RCO described its grant programs for recreation, conservation, education, and salmon/orca recovery, and reviewed equity work done before and after a 2021-23 proviso. The agency had already created a small-communities carve-out in youth athletic facilities, piloted stipends for advisory committee members, and reduced match requirements where allowed. Under the proviso, RCO completed an equity review and a planning program that funded 54 projects across 34 counties, with many applicants being new or long-absent grantees. Staff said the review led to changes in scoring criteria, clearer application guidance, more objective data measures, expanded technical assistance, and targeted community engagement. Members asked about application burden, project sizes, outreach, and how the agency is broadening participation and representation on advisory committees.
The final presentation summarized a planning study on SCAP, which examined rising construction costs, fragmented grant programs, local funding barriers, and uneven district capacity. The report recommended nine major changes, including stronger planning support, a new minor-modernization category, a mechanism to use unused funds more quickly, an education-specification prototype, a SCAP enhancement program for low-capacity districts, acceptance of non-SCAP funds, phased modernization, streamlined D-form and reimbursement processes, and revisions to the SCAP formula to better account for grade-band differences, enrollment projections, and regional cost factors. Additional recommendations included ongoing monitoring and evaluation, facilities-impact reviews, matching SCAP increases to construction-cost inflation, earlier locking of funding estimates, flexible program spaces, and updated statewide building-condition assessments. No votes were taken during the meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Jan 28th, 2025
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a registered lobbyist for the Middleview Grand Conservancy District.
- For me, there are people listed out, as you said, the Conservancy Districts or Soil and Water Conservation
- conservation district.
- Districts, Forestal and Water Conservation Districts.
- Our organization supports the spirit of Pueblo indigenous justice.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Conservation Committee is an Conservation Committee is an administrative<00:53:57.280><c> uh</c><00:
- conservation districts.
- </c> for voluntary conservation practices. for voluntary conservation practices.
- :55:34.880><c> the</c> The conservation districts represent the The conservation districts represent
- </c> conservation practices. conservation practices.
Committee:
Senate Finance
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
WLA DEFER, WLA Public Hearings 02-13-2026
Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
Transcript Highlights:
- banking, which authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation
- banks under a conservation banking instrument.
- So no corals, no building organism.
- </c> organizations. Thank you. organizations. Thank you. >> Thank<00:45:38.800><c> you.
- Moving on to SB 2005, relating to conservation banking, authorizes conservation banks for compensatory
Bills:
SB2341 , SB2306 , SB2782 , SB2161 , SB17 , SB2358 , SB2367 , SB2240 , SB2547 , SB2401 , SB3031 , SB1406 , SB521 , SB3247 , SB1654 , SB1112 , SB1301 , SB2443 , SB2996
Committee:
Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures related to hunting, trespass enforcement, conservation banking, coral reef resilience, and search and rescue. SB 2130 would require DLNR to increase the percentage of public land acreage designated for public hunting areas; DLNR offered comments, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council expressed concern, and a Game Management Advisory Commission member urged adequate funding for both study and maintenance of any expanded hunting areas. SB 2128 would require forfeiture to the state of firearms or motor vehicles used in hunting trespass on private land; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the bill, and another signer testified without additional detail.
The committee also heard SB 3053, which appropriates funds to DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources for mangrove removal and shoreline/stream maintenance in the Westlock and Middleock shorelines and watersheds. DLNR supported the measure and noted staff involved in mangrove removal work; no other testimony was offered. On SB 20005, which authorizes conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in habitat conservation plans and incidental take licenses, DLNR supported the bill but said a House measure, HB 1802, would place key safeguards in statute rather than administrative rules. Earthjustice opposed SB 20005 for lacking statutory safeguards and said it would support incorporating the House language, while CARES supported the bill as a modernization that could reduce permit processing time and provide more predictable costs.
A lengthy discussion followed on SB 3201, which would direct DLNR to prioritize coral reef resilience and set performance targets for coral cover and herbivore biomass. DLNR said it supported the intent but wanted more flexibility because outside factors such as climate and emissions policy affect reef conditions; the Nature Conservancy shared that concern and asked for more flexible language. For the bill, For the Fishes strongly supported stronger protections and suggested adding abundance as a metric, while NOAA and DLNR discussed the difficulty of setting universal benchmarks because reef conditions vary by location. Randy Kosaki and CARES supported the bill, emphasizing coral decline and the need for measurable goals, while committee members asked about restoration projects, benchmarks, and whether the bill’s deadlines were meant to require a plan rather than immediate achievement.
Finally, the committee took up SB 2937, which would create a search and rescue card program and special fund to reimburse state, county, and volunteer search-and-rescue operations. DLNR’s wildlife division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii SAR Alliance supported the concept but said Hawaii first needs a stronger search-and-rescue framework, including a state coordinator, before implementing such a program. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- historical organizations, and veteran organizations for activities to commemorate 50 years of Southeast
- There were no API legislators speaking at your organization. We have no legal API event.
- As Representative Johnson said, I'm excited to introduce a new conservation program.
- Visitors will be encouraged to see their role in community-driven conservation efforts.
- Clues is one of the largest Latino-led organizations in Minnesota.
Committee:
House Legacy Finance
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- conservation for many years.
- conservation for many years.
- Thank you. on wild fish conservation for many years.
- Wild broodstock conservation programs can help state. Population declines.
- I'm sorry that I don't manage the Grays Harbor Conservation District anymore.
Summary:
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on several bills and a joint memorial, with testimony largely focused on steelhead recovery, agricultural viability, wildfire funding, and shellfish fees. On SB 6241, which would create a wild broodstock conservation program for steelhead, staff described a statewide program with a fiscal note of about $14.6 million in FY 2027, while sponsor Sen. Braun argued the concept could boost wild populations and fishing opportunity at lower cost than the fiscal note suggests. Proponents, including anglers and conservation groups, said broodstock programs could improve fisheries, preserve genetics, and support local economies; opponents, including Trout Unlimited, argued the bill was too broad, not sufficiently science-driven, and should be left to agency and co-manager discretion. The public hearing closed with a strong pro/con sign-in count in favor of the bill.
The committee then heard SB 6104, a broad agriculture-protection bill that would require agricultural impact statements for certain agency actions, annexations, and zoning changes, and would direct mitigation measures when actions harm agricultural or natural-resource-based commercial activities. Sponsor Sen. Muzzall said Washington agriculture is under severe pressure and losing farms, while supporters from farm groups said the bill would force agencies to consider ag viability and compensate for impacts. Opponents, including a small farmer and environmental advocates, said the bill was too procedural, could burden modernization or conservation efforts, and might create uncertainty around existing conservation funding accounts. The hearing ended with more testimony in opposition than support.
The committee also heard SJM 8015, urging the federal government to ensure wildfire-response consolidation does not reduce capacity or firefighter safety. Sponsor Sen. Short and many testifiers, including private forest owners, tribes, students, conservation groups, and local officials, emphasized the importance of maintaining and fully funding Washington’s wildfire response and forest-restoration investments, especially the 1168 account. Testimony highlighted fuel breaks, early detection, community protection, and the economic costs of wildfire. The memorial drew overwhelmingly pro testimony. Finally, the committee suspended the five-day notice rule to hear SB 6318 on commercial shellfish fees; staff explained it would cap Department of Health fee increases after a recent fee review, and shellfish growers strongly supported the bill as necessary to keep small farms viable. The committee also took a work session on beaver relocation and habitat restoration, where presenters described beavers as a water-retention and wildfire-resilience tool and discussed coexistence, relocation, and possible future management changes.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/09/2026 - House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- . ...subject to reasonable regulation and conservation.
- So Chuck Podalak, I'm representing two groups today: Conserve and Protect Arizona, a nonprofit organized
- , an umbrella organization representing about 43 other hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation organizations
- I think it could be best described as animal rights organizations.
- We have a bill—or, I'm sorry, not a bill... ...organizations, sir.
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on several wildlife-related bills. HB 2197, concerning camping near watering facilities, was amended to change the distance standard and remove language tied to domestic stock access; supporters said it would help protect ranch and wildlife water sources, while one member opposed it over expanded criminal penalties. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote.
HB 2497 would establish a statutory right to lawfully hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife and limit restrictions on those activities. Supporters described it as an affirmation of existing rights and wildlife heritage, while opponents argued it would weaken Game and Fish authority and conflict with the 2010 voter rejection of similar language. After a technical amendment, the committee approved the bill 5-3.
The committee also advanced HB 2147, which requires landowner deer permits under certain conditions to address crop damage and wildlife conflicts; Game and Fish said population management hunts are already being used, while opponents warned against privatizing wildlife. HB 2158, which would classify bears, cougars, mountain lions, and wolves as predatory animals, drew strong opposition from Game and Fish and conservation groups over science-based management and endangered species concerns, but was still recommended do pass 5-3. HB 2159, allowing landowner permits for Mexican gray wolves and a compensated trapping program, was likewise opposed as conflicting with federal law and the Endangered Species Act, but was approved 5-3. The committee then began HB 2162, which would require at least one Game and Fish commissioner to be a cattleman or rancher; Game and Fish opposed it, saying ranchers already have representation through the appointment process, and testimony continued as the transcript ended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Apr 20th, 2026
Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Assembly Members, Matthew Bakerworth, Planning Conservation.
- The Committee for a Better Shafter is a volunteer organization.
- We need this conservation program to work and make it work.
- Good evening again, Matthew Baker, playing Conservation League.
- Matthew Baker with Planning Conservation League.
Committee:
House Natural Resources
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Transcript Highlights:
- We're a nationwide organization. We're in most of the other states.
- We're a nationwide organization. We're in most of the other states.
- And it's just, the organization vets the kids very well.
- But this organization is kind of outside of those bounds. And different things.
- But this organization is kind of outside of those bounds.
Committee:
House Water, Parks, and Wildlife
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- So often we're partnering with the USGS, local water districts, or water users or other organizations
- And then this is an organization of the two bureaus that were affected by that.
- The groundwater district's 2024 settlement agreement commits IGWA and its members to conserve 205,000
- conservation activities in the tributary basins, we will be close to stabilizing that system.
- So common elements of conservation activities under the groundwater district's plans are reduction in
Committee:
Senate Resources and Environment
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'd also like over 20 organizations.
- ><c> in</c> Conservation Alliance Foundation in Conservation Alliance Foundation in support<01:04:48.400
- </c><01:09:55.199><c> we</c> u on behalf of the nature conservancy we u on behalf of the nature conservancy
- We have two organizations that island.
- Aloha, Conservation Alliance Foundation.
Committee:
House Finance
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 1602 HD1 drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Ulupono Initiative, and others, with testimony emphasizing the value of a dedicated grant writer who had secured nearly $9 million in federal funds and was pursuing additional grants. Members discussed how much time grant applications take and how the position helps position projects for implementation. The committee then moved on without objection.
HB 1832, relating to aquaculture, received support from state agencies and industry groups, with one individual opposed. HB 1707 HD1, relating to agriculture, also drew broad support. A committee question focused on the bill’s definition of “necessary supplies,” and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said the language was broad enough to cover the inputs farmers need, including transportation-related costs, and would help reduce production costs and food prices. HB 2155 HD1, relating to agricultural statistics, prompted testimony in support of better data collection to help Hawaii compete for federal agriculture funding. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that its role would focus on production, import, and export data, distinct from the scientific data collected by another unit, and said it wanted an electronic system tied to existing manifest and GIS tools to avoid duplicative clipboard-based collection.
HB 1831 HD1, relating to agricultural lands, was heard with support and no questions. HB 1650 HD1, relating to environmental assessments, drew opposition from several individuals who argued it would weaken environmental protections and resident input; no action was taken. The committee then heard HB 1652 HD1, relating to storm water management systems. The engineering industry supported clarifying that low-risk green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavement should not be treated like detention or retention ponds subject to fencing and other safety requirements. Opponents, including family members affected by a drowning and other residents, argued the bill would weaken Act 281’s safety protections and increase liability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau questioned whether agricultural water infrastructure should be exempted from the fencing requirements and said the costs would vary by system, but the committee did not take final action during the hearing.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (02/03/2026)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- They organize the polling place.
- </c> funds to acquire land for conservation funds to acquire land for conservation and<02:19:12.319><
- </c> conservation come from the municipality. conservation come from the municipality.
- commissions as well as conservation commissions as well as elected<02:23:01.600><c> conservation</c>
- </c><02:23:03.520><c> Um</c> elected conservation commissions. Um elected conservation commissions.
Committee:
House Municipal and County Government
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Apr 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Friant Dam and Highway 99, and our organization, along with the State Conservancy, has been working on
- Conservation Board.
- Our organization is a land conservation mission focused on Mount Diablo and its entire mountain range
- Name, organization. Good evening.
- Add your name and organization, please. Natalie Brown with the Planning and Conservation League.
Summary:
The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no.
AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations.
AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Committee Aug 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Good afternoon, Griselda Chavez, on behalf of the California Association Local Conservation Corps and
- In addition, on behalf of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and the Conservation Fund, we'd like to
- There's been conservation corps engagement in this for many years.
- There's been conservation corps engagement in this for many years.
- I'm Trinity Tran on behalf of the California Public Banking Alliance and over 130 organizations with
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Committee held a weekend informational hearing on the final 2026-27 budget package, with no votes taken. The Department of Finance presented 16 bills, including two budget bill juniors and 14 trailer bills, covering climate bond and greenhouse gas reduction fund appropriations, health care, education, housing, labor, transportation, wildfire mitigation, and technical cleanup items. Major items included funding for Proposition 4 climate programs, a state-only dialysis program for restricted-scope Medi-Cal enrollees, 988 crisis center governance and interoperability with 911, CalFood, child nutrition, workforce and housing programs, and a package of film tax credit changes. Trailer bills also addressed TK-12 and higher education technical changes, developmental services, early education, the 2028 Olympics, transmission projects, wildfire mitigation tax exclusions, and other implementation fixes.
Members highlighted several provisions, including the extension of CalSHAPE deadlines for school HVAC projects, funding for geothermal and wildfire prevention, restoration of goat herder wage parity to support prescribed grazing, and support for state scientists’ labor contracts. There was also discussion of trauma recovery and training funding for women’s prisons, 988 and LGBTQ+ youth crisis services, and the need to address county indigent care and AB 85 technical issues in the future. Public commenters largely praised funding for transit, housing, food assistance, air quality programs, and film tax credit fixes, while some expressed disappointment over the lack of funding for part-time faculty office hours, county indigent care technical corrections, expanded immigrant food assistance, and additional support for certain health and energy programs.
A major point of contention in public testimony was SB/AB 194, with one group opposing it as a threat to a Los Angeles street safety project near Forest Lawn Avenue, while supporters argued it was needed to ensure a transparent public process for roadway changes affecting cemetery access and traffic. Other commenters supported or criticized specific budget items such as GGRF allocations, CalSHAPE, the Demand Side Grid Support Program, the FARMER program, and funding for regional housing and transit agencies. The chair closed by thanking members, staff, and the public, noting the committee’s work over two years and indicating the package would move to floor action the following week.