Transcript Highlights:

• Right down the road from my farm, actually, about 20 miles away.
• So it's my opinion that it's going to be on the farm, on the grassroots.
• Just a farm boy. Mr.
• We currently have generations five and six on our farm in St. Charles.
• It doesn't make sense to somebody, but I'm just a simple farm boy on that.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:50.240> and amendment, which is that farming and amendment, which is that farming and
• working in conjunction to keep farms working in conjunction to keep farms going<00:32:07.880>
• impact to the future of Vermont farming impact to the future of Vermont farming communities<00:48
• to assess the impact of future farming to assess the impact of future farming in<00:51:04.400>
• regulatory barrier reductions to on-farm regulatory barrier reductions to on-farm housing.<02:06

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We create some new rules to make sure that folks are ready to farm, and we change some dates to make
• that the resources we allocated will go where they need to go and get help to farmers who need help farming
• We create some new rules to make sure that folks are ready to farm, and we change some dates to make
• help people get jobs, and we'll respect farmers and grow the agricultural economy. who need help farming
• . who need help farming.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In Gonzales County, there are many family farms, ranches, small businesses, and homeowners that rely
• I’m in this situation myself on my farm in Gonzales County, and these wells are absolute necessities
• And now they want to install three additional wells adjacent to my farm.
• My name is Charlie Leal, and I serve as State Legislative Director for Texas Farm Bureau.
• The team will ensure that this program places an emphasis on conserving actual farms and ranches.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• selfish in what we’re doing because we want to increase rural prosperity and profitability on the farm
• selfish in what we’re doing because we want to increase rural prosperity and profitability on the farm
• that rural prosperity and that farming that rural prosperity and that farming profitability,<00:
• <00:31:28.159> and able to work on some of these farms and able to work on some of these farms
• We are seeing extreme buy-in in the community around this for on-farm processing.

Keywords: This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Immigrants disproportionately work not just on farms, but also in food processing, meat packing, and
• is availability of help on the farm.
• <00:20:47.559> is<00:20:48.039> is<00:20:48.480> um lot of midsize Farms is
• availability of of of help on the farm availability of of of help on the farm and<00:20:51.679><
• > particular<00:20:53.480> U and for those farms in particular U and for those farms in

Bills: HF10, HF27

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next up is Kanaloani Ohana Farm. They're in support. Farm Bureau in support.
• Um, Farm Bureau in support. Um, Farm Bureau in support.

Bills: HCR144

Keywords: food security, Hawaii, agriculture, community organizations, nutritional access, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment hearing on April 16, 2020 considered only HCR 144, House Draft 2, which asks the Department of Agriculture to work with state and county agencies and community-based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food strategy. Testimony was generally supportive: the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity supported the measure, as did Kanaloani Ohana Farm, the Farm Bureau, Ag Stewardship Hawaii, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. DBEDT submitted comments that were described as sounding more like opposition, citing existing efforts. No members of the public appeared to testify, and there were no questions from members. The Government Operations committee recommended the resolution pass as drafted, and members present voted aye. Because the Agriculture and Environment committee lacked quorum, its decision-making was rolled over to the next day, Friday, April 17, 2020 at 3:10 p.m. in CR 224. The chair noted that the measure had been adopted on the GVO side and, with the noticed time certain for the remaining committee action, the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll allow landowners to pay off debt and improve their farming and ranching operations, expand and
• It'll allow landowners to pay off debt and improve their farming and ranching operations, expand and
• Our open spaces, farms, ranches, watersheds, and historic landscapes are not just scenic.
• this bill to secure for the future, for the others that have a dream of being a farmer, to secure the farms
• And therefore, a lot of farms in Pennsylvania were sold for development because the landowners couldn't

Bills: HB186, HB92, HJM1

Keywords: tax credit, land conservation, biodiversity, agricultural preservation, historic preservation, natural resources, open space, tax exemption, Social Security, income, retirement, financial relief, Taiwan, trade, technology, education, international relations, economic partnership, New Mexico, United States

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you registered testifying neutrally on behalf of Texas Farm Bureau?
• Warren Kood, have you registered testifying neutrally on behalf of the Texas Farm Bureau?
• [Warren Kood](member_123), [Texas Farm Bureau](member_123), we'll submit. Thank you.
• We lead the nation in the number of farms. Texas beef feeds the world today.
• We lead the nation in the number of farms and ranches. We invented new breeds of cattle.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• John and Janice Warren with the Warren Tree Farm and our Worcester County Forester McGovern are here,
• and our Worcester County Tree Farm and our Worcester County Forester<00:05:10.800> McGovern<00
• And for over 23 years, the Warrens have maintained their property as a certified tree farm.
• in recognition of being named the Maryland Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year for 2026.
• To the wonderful representatives of the Warren Tree Farm, congratulations.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Father Mark Bilek of Westminster, introduced by the Senator from the 42nd District and praised by members for his community service and Lenten message of reconciliation. The prayer was journalized. The chamber then recognized several guests, including interns, family members, a shadowing student, and the doctor of the day, Dr. Ann Benfield, before moving to floor business. A scheduling note indicated a light floor agenda, with committee work later in the day and a longer floor session expected the next day. The Senate considered several second-reading committee reports and moved multiple bills to third reading, generally without objection. These included House Bill 229, increasing Maryland Transportation Authority bond capacity from $4 billion to $5 billion; House Bill 266, allowing resource-sharing revenues to support state communications infrastructure, with an amendment conforming it to Senate Bill 85; House Bill 472, extending and adjusting the theatrical production tax credit; House Bill 607, setting constitutional officers’ salaries; House Bill 810, creating a study on blockchain-based lease recordation verification with an amendment adding the Maryland Blockchain Association; House Bill 1095, granting a Calvert County property tax credit for former tobacco barns; House Bill 1142, creating a task force on county and municipal revenue structures; and House Bill 1165, addressing apprenticeship program accountability and completion. The Senate also advanced Senate Bill 956, authorizing the Maryland Transportation Authority to waive portions of video tolls or civil penalties on delinquent accounts, with a sponsor amendment. Members briefly joked about April Fools’ Day during the proceedings, but the chamber continued to adopt reports and amendments without recorded opposition. At the end of the session, leaders announced committee schedules for the afternoon and the next day, including Finance, Triple E, Budget and Taxation, and Judicial Proceedings meetings. The Senate then held a quorum call, confirmed 45 members present, and adjourned until Thursday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't mandate that a farm reforms because that's a hard thing to enforce.
• I saw them at a farm fence off all the waterways and it was just kind of it threw me off.
• When you talk about ag, you're talking about both farming and ranching, correct?
• Statuses and we can't find the workers to work on the farms anymore.
• I farm. I know. I understand that connection with...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports oyster farming and restoration while putting strong safeguards in place.
• I mean, what percentage of the plate does a typical wind farm deliver to the state?
• Let me ask you this first: do you acknowledge that wind farms factor into an average number of bird deaths
• a material impact on the migratory routes of those birds based on the placement of where the wind farms
• Resulting in a wind farm surrounding a wildlife refuge the way you described, that would be surprising

Bills: HB3129, HB3251, HB3556, HB3724, HB3887

Keywords: construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, HB 3887, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Code, performance bond, payment bond, contractor bonding, public works, construction contracts, public building, procurement, bid security, subcontractors, suppliers, contractor payment protection, project completion

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Hawaii Farm Bureau. Thank you, Chair.
• The Hawaii Farm Bureau will for the testimony and support.
• from the Hawaii Farm. from the Hawaii Farm.
• c><01:54:54.000> in have Hawaii Farm Bureau in have Hawaii Farm Bureau in [Music] Good morning
• Brian Miiamoto on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills on water, land, housing, permitting, and historic preservation. For SB 746/SD2/HD1 on invasive species, DLNR and the Department of Agriculture supported the intent but warned that a bounty approach for coconut rhinoceros beetle could have unintended consequences, divert resources from biocontrol research, and be vulnerable to abuse; Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the measure. The committee also heard SB 1541 on the WoE water system, with testimony from ADC, Kunia Village Title Holding Company, and Farm Bureau in support, emphasizing the importance of the system for agriculture and the high cost of water on lands already dedicated to farming. The most extensive discussion was on SB 66, relating to building permit review and county permitting authority. DPP opposed the bill, saying the problem is not just agency review time but the broader permitting process, including applicant corrections, outside-agency review, staffing shortages, and low pay that make it hard to fill vacancies. DPP said it already meets or beats existing review deadlines for residential permits and is using tools like electronic plans and AI to help applicants submit better plans. Several supporters, including Iron Workers Local 625, an individual witness, and Hawaii Food Industry Association, backed the bill but urged a pilot program or other safeguards; some also asked for broader permit coverage beyond single-family homes. Committee members questioned DPP about whether applicant correction time should count against the clock, whether self-certification could be used, and whether the state should fund any new mandate. The committee then took up SB 26 on affordable housing, with HHFDC, OPSD, and HCDA in support and no opposition noted. Finally, on SB 1263 relating to historic preservation, HHFDC and DLNR supported the bill, while OHA offered comments and requested amendments, especially on the new risk-based review process for high-, medium-, and low-risk areas. OHA said the new procedure should be implemented carefully and allowed more time, describing it as a pilot that should be done well to be useful while still protecting cultural and historic resources. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They farm the reclaimed land.
• I am a North Dakota farm kid, born and raised right up on the Canadian border.
• My family still farms up in the northwest part of the state.
• People think that the mine is doing this farming, as opposed to local producers.
• You're buying some wind farms, I believe two now, is that correct? Two wind farms in the purchase?

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine as the largest lignite mine in the United States, supplying coal to Dakota Gasification, Antelope Valley Station, and Leland Olds Station. He emphasized the mine’s scale, safety record, reclamation work, workforce needs, community involvement, and economic impact, including payroll, taxes, royalties, scholarships, and local hiring. Members asked about how long land stays in production, how quickly it returns to agriculture after reclamation, labor shortages, and how mining affects groundwater and water wells. Hawbaker said most tracts are mined for about three to five years, reclamation is coordinated with landowners, and the company continues to struggle to find electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, and engineers. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation and permitting. He reviewed North Dakota’s coal mining history, the state’s reclamation laws, federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act primacy, bonding, permit renewals and revisions, prohibited mining areas, inspection and enforcement, and contemporaneous reclamation requirements. Christman stressed that North Dakota’s program is professional and thorough, with frequent inspections, financial assurance, and a 10-year revegetation monitoring period before bond release. He also discussed federal coal ownership issues that can delay mine plans, the treatment of prime farmland, and how reclamation differs for wind and pipelines. In response to questions, he said one challenge is sometimes releasing land too soon before long-term compaction issues are fully understood, and he noted that data centers do not currently have a comparable reclamation model because they typically own the land. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council president Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He said North Dakota’s lignite sector supports five commercial power plants, four mines, about 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, and more than $5.5 billion in economic activity, while helping keep the state’s electricity rates among the lowest in the nation. Fortner reviewed coal severance and conversion tax revenues, the lignite research fund, federal regulatory rollbacks, carbon capture policy, and the industry’s legal costs fighting federal rules. He also highlighted a study on large-load development, saying new data centers and critical mineral processing facilities could create major local tax revenue and help justify new baseload generation. Members asked whether new gas pipelines would crowd out coal plant development and whether the economic study included jobs and broader local impacts; Fortner said the industry sees room for both and that the study did include construction, operations, jobs, and tax effects.

Transcript Highlights:

• That Heart Initiative has a farm initiative, which is looking at how we can help Arkansas.
• I've just been proud to support our farm-to-school program.
• So do the farm-to-school folks need to coordinate with the regional people to get funds for that?
• I've just been proud to support our farm to school program.
• And so I have a lot of farms, small farms in Pulaski County, southeast area.

Summary: The committee heard extensive public testimony from youth advocates and public health speakers urging action on vaping. Witnesses said flavored products and social media are driving youth use in Arkansas, described nicotine addiction and health harms, and asked lawmakers to prohibit vaping in public indoor spaces, align vape rules with smoke-free laws, and expand prevention efforts. Committee members thanked the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was an overview of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded through CMS. State officials said Arkansas received about $209 million for the first year and may receive roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is intended for targeted, locally driven transformation rather than general operating support, debt relief, or new construction, and outlined four initiatives: Heart, PACT, Rise, and Thrive, focused on prevention, access and coordination, workforce development, and technology. Officials said applications would open in the spring, with a reimbursement-based process and a goal of launching all four initiatives by June. Members asked detailed questions about eligibility, rural definitions, school gardens, faith-based and nonprofit partnerships, mobile clinics, EMS, behavioral health, residency slots, and whether urban providers serving rural patients could apply. Officials said the program would favor regional collaboration, could support targeted renovations and expansion of existing programs, and would allow residency growth and some equipment or infrastructure purchases, but not food purchases or permanent new construction. They also said a committee of state health and finance officials would review applications, with heavy technical assistance and an expectation of quick turnaround. The committee also reviewed two DHS/Health Department rules. One implemented Medicaid and CHIP coverage and care coordination for eligible incarcerated youth before and after release, including targeted case management and screening services, with no public comments received. The other updated audiology licensing rules to reflect recent acts expanding scope of practice and changing the renewal deadline. Both rules were reviewed without objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a small farm in Missouri, and so we like the rural part of the state.
• They're currently working in the San Zia wind farm.
• It's one of the largest wind farms in Mexico, the second largest in the nation.
• One of our alumni is currently the site lead at Cap Rock wind farm for Leeward.
• Well, breaking news, the judge rules Revolution Wind can restart their wind farm.

Transcript Highlights:

• Total units sold at retail, so that's you know production at the farm.
• talking about production most of what is in this report is in a dry flower equivalent weight at the farm
• , dry flower weight equivalent at the farm in California.
• So that's the production side, what's coming off the farm, and ultimately making its way through.
• So first thing is we look at the wholesale price, so start at the farm.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Winona County and now live in the city of Minneapolis.
• Broadband allowed my parents to integrate technology into their farming operations, improving ... digital
• <00:04:25.280> in born and raised on a dairy farm in born and raised on a dairy farm in Winona
• <00:05:23.600> improving Broadband internet was as vital for my parents to manage their farm
• operations more effectively, keeping their small family farm competitive and viable.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HR1 impacts California's rural immigrant farm workers' access to vital health care programs, and it's
• Are 36% of farm workers receive Medi-Cal that covers more than 300,000 statewide.
• The ag industry benefits from having farm workers on Medi-Cal.
• If they were to cover farm workers, it would cost an estimated $2.5 billion annually.
• We can't solely rely on the ag industry to cover farm workers.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes. In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a lot of East African friends who are going into farming, multigenerational families, and so
• And then there's also the market farming provision that we've discussed a fair amount.
• family that counts as a family farm family that counts as a family farm operation.<00:44:26.079>
• So the initial cap on the mini farm tax credit is to provide some certainty because if we remove that
• I've carried parts of this legislation before, they recognize the importance of keeping the family farm

Keywords: 1187, senate, all