Transcript Highlights:

• Because emergency powers for spending are meant for hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding...
• And it looks like there's something going on back in my district with flooding.
• And it looks like there's something going on back in my district with flooding.
• mitigation, all of these things that actually create disasters that speak to the spirit of 252.3711,
• Their constituents, the patriots, they live in neighborhoods, their families, their streets flood, trees

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But you do have a commitment to exploring solutions that help to mitigate the risk.
• help to mitigate the risk. help to mitigate the risk.
• legislative trends including mitigating legislative trends including mitigating risk,<00:24:48.080
• > insurance mitigation factors that insurance mitigation factors that insurance companies<01:02
• <01:43:59.920> reduction the risk mitigation reduction the risk mitigation reduction um um

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• shoulders, somebody who understands our needs year after year because we are getting hit with these floods
• So being able to repair a lot of our infrastructure with all long ways to try and mitigate some of this
• And then there's about $20 million of disaster damages that have not been repaired from the 2025 floods
• It's generally for flooding. It's For water infrastructure. It's for drainage.
• Chair, you stated in terms of Colonia, you've got wastewater Flooding in the street, etc. etc.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Originally, the bill did include money for some flood mitigation measures as well.
• <01:12:29.040> mitigation<01:12:29.600> measures money for some flood mitigation measures
• money for some flood mitigation measures as<01:12:30.560> well.
• Some of that was after the flood of '97.
• Some of that was after the flood of '97.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 639, Ashby, flood protection deadlines, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 326, Becker, wildfire risk mitigation planning, do pass as amended to require Cal Fire to contract
• SB 454, McNerney, PFAS mitigation fund, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 256, Paris, utility wildfire mitigation, held in committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website. The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held. The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• units from 2006 to 2013, Colonel Flood units from 2006 to 2013, Colonel Flood commanded<00:36:31.440
• Beyond his experienced major floods.
• mitigation project to reduce flooding mitigation project to reduce flooding and<02:24:22.880>
• <02:39:20.800> damage<02:39:21.280> reduction, flood damage reduction, flood damage reduction
• Marco Rubio help mitigate storm surges.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “Um, so there and there’s also other ways to mitigate the harms that we’re trying to protect the public
• “Um, so there and there’s also other ways to mitigate the harms that we’re trying to protect the public
• “Um, so there and there’s also other ways to mitigate the harms that we’re trying to protect the public
• plan and doing infrastructure mitigation plan and doing infrastructure work<05:38:56.638> gets
• One is that the utility must have a wildfire mitigation plan and that has to be being implemented on

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These projects address long-standing issues. ...needs like roads, water, flood control, and modernization
• Finally, debt issued for projects in the public interest, such as those leveraging the Flood Infrastructure
• One to finance the cleanup, mitigation, or remediation of a natural disaster.

Bills: SB512, SB1024

Keywords: SB 512, Texas Finance Code, money transmission, money services business, money transmitter, money transmission licensee, terms of service, consumer protection, civil penalty, attorney general enforcement, account closure, refund of balance, financial services regulation, payments industry, fintech, prepaid accounts, remittance, licensee compliance, local government debt, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasingly severe weather events, including flooding, hurricanes, winter freezes, or extreme summer
• proactive approach to managing infrastructure also facilitates strategic planning and supports risk mitigation
• Flood infrastructure, the plan that was implemented to the Texas Water Development Board, like planning

Transcript Highlights:

• . $71.8 million is in flood mitigation assistance, Swift Current. This is more about authority.
• SMATCH, but this is more about authority to take this federal program that is centric to National Flood
• This is directly related to bringing down National Flood Insurance policy premiums.
• A failure to invest in that $3 million would cause homeowners' insurance policies for National Flood
• This is directly related to bringing down national flood insurance policy premiums.

Bills: S0048

Keywords: housing, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, local government, zoning regulations, military families, density bonus, homeownership, property taxes

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard presentations on the Governor’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and then considered one bill, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, with transportation and economic development receiving about $18 billion statewide and $601 million in general revenue. Agency heads then presented priorities for Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, State, Transportation, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard, emphasizing workforce development, housing, tourism marketing, aviation and space infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, emergency preparedness, and military readiness. In the Commerce presentation, Secretary Kelly highlighted funding for housing programs, the Hometown Heroes program, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, rural infrastructure and workforce grants, Reconnect and Florida WINS systems, law enforcement and firefighter recruitment bonuses, defense support, Visit Florida, Space Florida, and SelectFlorida. Senators asked about Visit Florida’s private match requirements and whether the agency fully leveraged prior appropriations; Visit Florida’s CEO said the match was met and exceeded, though it is difficult but important. The Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles presentation focused on trooper pay, pursuit vehicles, aviation assets, and enterprise data systems, with questions about immigration enforcement and body cameras. Military Affairs requested funding for readiness centers, training facilities, education and health benefits for Guardsmen, and maintenance of existing armories; members discussed Guard deployments, staffing levels, and a proposed firing range project. The Department of State requested funds for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and defended its arts grant process and rule changes. Transportation’s budget emphasized a $14.3 billion work program, road and bridge maintenance, aviation and aerospace, safety initiatives, and seaport investments, while Emergency Management requested funding for preparedness, flood mitigation, WebEOC, grants management, and alert systems; senators also asked about the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility. For CS/SB 48, Senator Gates explained that the bill would require local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs would be allowed by right without a separate hearing. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, saying ADUs could help provide long-term housing for service workers. After questions about local government and HOA authority, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 48 favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And how are we going to mitigate them? Who's going to pay for it all?
• Tell us, is this an unovercomable problem that we just can't mitigate, or have we identified something
• Or how do we mitigate the problem that maybe this information has identified?
• license plate fund, and it goes not only to help educate folks on invasive species, soil erosion, flood
• control, wildfire mitigation, those types of things on both private, state, and federal lands, but it

Bills: HB2024, HB2053, HB2097, HB2116, HB2117

Keywords: stormwater, recharge mapping, water resources, groundwater, appropriation, Arizona, irrigation, non-expansion areas, water management, agriculture, HB2116, Colorado River, litigation fund, water rights, Arizona water law, general fund appropriation, state budget, interstate water compact, Colorado River Compact, water litigation

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then heard House Bill 2024, which would expand the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority’s water supply development definition to include snowpack augmentation and related planning and facility work. Supporters argued cloud seeding and drone-based silver iodide deployment could increase snowpack and water supply at relatively low cost, while opponents raised concerns about weather modification, uncertainty in the science, and possible environmental or health effects. After debate, the committee approved HB 2024 on a 6-4 vote, with some members expressing reservations and requesting more information before floor consideration. The committee next considered House Bill 2053, which would direct the Arizona Department of Water Resources to update stormwater recharge mapping statewide and provide $100,000 for the work. The sponsor and ADWR said the bill would expand on prior state-land mapping and help identify recharge opportunities on private land; ADWR was neutral and said it could do the technical mapping but could not make legal determinations about appropriable surface water rights. Salt River Project opposed the bill’s language on surface-water rights, arguing that determinations about unappropriated water belong to the courts and that site-specific recharge projects could affect downstream rights. The committee adopted the Griffin amendment and then passed HB 2053 as amended on a 6-4 vote. Chelsea McGuire of WIFA then gave a broad presentation on the agency’s revolving funds, conservation grants, and long-term augmentation efforts, describing past investments, current grant awards, and seven potential augmentation projects under development. She said WIFA’s current budget ask was essentially for no additional cuts, while members asked about costs, project qualifications, and public-private structure. The committee then took up House Bill 2097, which would impose a six acre-feet-per-acre groundwater pumping cap in irrigation non-expansion areas, add reporting and well-measurement requirements, and set a $150 penalty for violations. ADWR said the bill could require additional staffing and that the cap and substitution provisions had technical concerns; environmental groups argued the cap was too high and could still encourage overpumping, while supporters said it would finally place a limit on INA pumping. HB 2097 passed 6-4. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2116, which would appropriate $1 million to the Colorado River Litigation Fund; the sponsor described it as a contingency for ongoing Colorado River negotiations, and the committee moved the bill forward after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $2.6 million was used to repair bunkers and mitigate many earthwork slides that have developed at different
• 2.6 million was used to repair bunkers 2.6 million was used to repair bunkers and<00:24:58.320> mitigate
• <00:24:58.799> many<00:24:59.200> earthwork<00:25:00.080> earthwork and mitigate
• many earthwork earthwork and mitigate many earthwork earthwork slides<00:25:01.520> that<00:25
• Uh, first of all, thank you for making the parks available not only in the '22 flood, but the '25 flood

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection received a detailed update from Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Meyer on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. He said the department is making steady progress on a large portfolio of park improvements, with regular quarterly reporting to the legislature and ongoing coordination with the Finance Cabinet, the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and local utilities and governments. He emphasized that ADA accessibility is a priority across projects and noted that many completed items, including campground bathhouse renovations, broadband upgrades, life safety improvements, playground replacements, and some furniture and mattress upgrades, are already drawing positive feedback. The presentation focused heavily on campground, utility, and infrastructure work. Meyer described $40 million in campground upgrades split between western and eastern Kentucky, including projects at Ken Lake, Carter Caves, My Old Kentucky Home, Cumberland Falls, and others. He also outlined $20 million in utility improvements, including a federal matching grant for grid resiliency at Ken Lake and Kentucky Dam Village, plus wastewater and electrical infrastructure work at parks such as Dale Hollow, Blue Licks, Natural Bridge, and Cumberland Falls. Additional categories included building systems, life safety, structural repairs, accommodations and hospitality upgrades, pool and beach work, dam safety, playgrounds, and golf course improvements. Members asked about the status of Lake Barkley utilities, the possibility of transferring upgraded utility infrastructure to local providers after repairs, and how park repair priorities are set. Meyer said park managers report issues through regional directors and that projects are prioritized through a running capital list, similar to a long-range transportation plan. He said the department has already spent the current $20 million allocation and is requesting $40 million in the next budget cycle, adding that the department believes it could spend and complete projects if that amount is appropriated. The commissioner also said the department is managing 284 additional capital projects outside the main funding streams, totaling nearly $70 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local parks receive $47 million, and $218 million is allocated for the flood and sea level rise program
• Natural Hazards Work Group for state agencies to strategize and prioritize coordinated efforts to mitigate
• focus on non-school public facilities, codifies the state administration of the federal Hazard Mitigation
• Division of Emergency Management, requires the division to report to the legislature on hazard mitigation
• District revenues that include ad valorem taxes, license fees, mitigation revenue.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually have a second form of flooding as well, known as crossover flooding, because of the tilt
• cwood ETC so essentially our flooding cwood ETC so essentially our flooding dilemas<00:41:05.280
• <00:41:38.680> damage flood damage flood damage areas<00:41:41.800> area<00:41:42.079><
• mitigation water storage projects.
• mitigation water storage projects.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• including road and bridge construction and stormwater control; for natural resource projects, including flood
• grant program that FEMA funded, and then as a result of those serious damages and the hazard mitigation
• So to be clear, just because a property owner went through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that FEMA
• We oftentimes have flooding issues because the ocean is right there.
• the level, the level, to not make that tough decision or to mitigate the level or the degree of what

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• example, heat-related illnesses, respiratory illnesses related to wildfires, degrading water quality, flooding
• routine doctor's appointments or even life-saving dialysis when, for example, Farrington Highway floods
• routine doctor's appointments or even life-saving dialysis when, for example, Farrington Highway floods
• <01:01:04.079> Uh mitigation, and climate resiliency.
• Uh mitigation, and climate resiliency.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard House Bill 643, House Draft 2, which would create short-term management initiatives and appropriate funds for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Committee discussion focused on biocontrol efforts, including fungus and virus-based treatments, the need for a biosecure facility, and the timeline for testing and range studies. Department of Agriculture officials said initial testing is underway at the University of Hawaii, but full testing requires a higher-biosafety facility that is not yet available on island. Members also discussed funding levels, the possibility of a mobile facility, and whether the work could be accelerated. The committees later voted to pass HB 643 unamended. The committees also heard House Bill 736, House Draft 1, which would establish a three-year wastewater system and individual wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center. Supporters said the bill could help certify new, lower-cost decentralized wastewater technologies and reduce the cost of cesspool upgrades while improving water quality. University of Hawaii witnesses explained that the center would test technologies, collect samples, analyze results, and provide reports to the Department of Health for certification. Members raised concerns about whether the program would help communities facing immediate wastewater issues, the length of the testing timeline, and whether technologies like the Genki ball could be included. The committee was told the pilot would likely test one technology at a time over about nine months each, though multiple tests could run in parallel later. The committees voted to pass HB 736 unamended. After those measures, the joint committee moved to an AEN-only agenda and began hearing STR 111 / SR 92, which declares a public health emergency relating to climate change and calls for statewide coordination on cross-sector solutions. Testimony in support came from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others. Supporters said climate change affects public health through heat, wildfire risk, invasive mosquitoes, and other impacts, and argued that the response should involve agriculture, planning, transportation, and emergency management, not just the Department of Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Mayor violent crime mitigation.
• You as a chief mitigation in Louisville.
• <00:35:52.880> space in the violent crime mitigation space in the violent crime mitigation
• <01:24:34.960> Uh all flooded into the supply section.
• Uh all flooded into the supply section.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:07 Office of the Attorney General Update: 00:04:52 Department of Kentucky State Police Update: 00:44:57, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 34 by Sparks relating to the preparation, prevention, and mitigation of wildfires to Water
• Senate Bill 1967 by Hinojosa relating to projects eligible for financial assistance from the Flood Infrastructure
• Senate Bill 2025 by Schwertner relating to risk mitigation planning and associated liability for providers

Transcript Highlights:

• So if there's a natural disaster, let's say there's an earthquake, or there's a flood and no flood insurance
• However, as I said, California has mitigated that somewhat for people who have contracts that were signed
• California has mitigated that somewhat for people who have contracts that were signed in 2017 and onwards

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission’s fifth meeting focused on consumer protections and resident rights in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with a presentation by Yvonne Choyah of UC Law San Francisco. She described California’s CCRC framework, including entrance fee structures, monthly fee increases, contract types (A, B, and C), disclosure requirements, and regulatory oversight. A major theme was that residents often do not understand the contracts they sign, while providers retain broad discretion over fees, transfers, terminations, and changes to the physical plant. She also emphasized that California’s regulator is understaffed and not well suited to oversee the complex financial and insurance-like aspects of CCRCs, and that resident complaints and litigation can be slow and difficult. Choyah and commission members discussed several consumer-protection issues, including refundable versus repayable-on-resale entrance fees, rising monthly care fees, the decline of life care contracts, and the need for clearer disclosures and better comparative data for prospective residents. She noted that California requires annual disclosure statements, resident bill of rights materials, and some fee-related reporting, but that enforcement and accessibility remain weak. Members raised questions about resident board representation, accreditation, refund requirements, and whether state agencies or resident associations could help explain contracts to consumers before admission. Choyah suggested stronger oversight, more financial expertise in regulation, and better transparency about ownership and fee-setting. The meeting ended with discussion of the commission’s next steps toward its August report. Staff said a draft report would be prepared from the commission’s discussions and circulated for comment before final revisions. The chair also announced staff transitions: Jennifer would be leaving the State House role, and Juliana Fernandez and Vicky Halal would be the main contacts going forward. The commission adjourned after thanking Choyah for her presentation and answering member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Exempt temporary hurricane protection, flood walls, and barriers from permitting requirements if certain
• property address and value of work as proof of compliance, exempt temporary hurricane protection, flood
• And on the flood walls, we do need to add the word temporary in the Senate bill.
• This is to avoid any life safety issue that could occur, that we can mitigate in the early stages of

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of bills, mostly local claims and growth-management or permitting measures. SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24 were uncontested claims bills providing relief for injuries or damages involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County; each was described as settled or favorably reported by a special master, and each was reported favorably without debate. SB 288, a negotiated bill on rural electric cooperatives, was presented as a clarification to protect co-op authority over generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections; it drew support from industry stakeholders and was reported favorably. SB 830 created a public-records exemption for certain local administrators and their families’ personal information, citing threats against city managers, and it also passed favorably. The committee also considered several land-use and permitting bills. SB 1138 would create a registry of qualified professionals to conduct pre-application review for plats and development, aiming to reduce delays and backlogs; local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, but the bill passed favorably with one no vote. SB 168 expanded public nuisance law to include gambling houses, increased penalties, and authorized attorney’s fees and foreclosure of unpaid fees; it was reported favorably. SB 686 revised the agricultural enclave statute to create a public-hearing process for certain residential projects in urban service areas, with a sunset date later amended to June 30, 2026; conservation and planning groups raised concerns about local planning authority and public participation, but the bill passed favorably. SB 548, a growth-management and impact-fee cleanup bill, clarified plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for impact fees. Local government and development stakeholders testified that it would improve predictability while preserving flexibility, though some sought further refinement on fee increases and refunds; the bill was amended and then reported favorably. SB 1234 addressed building permits and inspections, including permit validity, small-project exemptions, temporary hurricane protection, standardized permit forms, and expanded use of private providers; county officials objected to reduced oversight, while builders and private-provider advocates supported the measure. After testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Jones requested to be recorded on several votes, and the committee adjourned after no further business.