Video & Transcript Research : 'drought'
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WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Jun 11th, 2025
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- Drought prep that Rosa never stops.
- So I wanted to talk about drought resiliency because the last six out of 10 years we've faced a drought
- we'll be facing another drought next year.
- And then we also really need drought resiliency funding.
- passed for drought funding like that.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting by electing new leadership. After brief discussion of the committee’s membership and the usual practice of alternating leadership between chambers and parties, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Mazzal as chair and Representative Christine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Mazzal’s request.
The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Rosa Irrigation District on the severe 2025 water year. Park said Rosa is facing very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, and an earlier-than-planned end to the irrigation season. She described the district’s conservation and drought response measures, including canal shutdowns, pump-backs, leased water, on-farm fallowing and water pooling, emergency well permits, and long-term investments in piping, sealant, drip irrigation, and storage. Park also urged continued emergency drought funding, more efficient state lease funding processes, and support for water releases that benefit fish during drought conditions.
Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He described widespread on-farm conservation, reduced acre allocations, early shutoffs expected in late summer, and ongoing infrastructure work such as piping, lining, telemetry, and the Springwood reservoir project. He emphasized that these projects are intended to improve water delivery, support fish flows, and provide future storage, including possible hydroelectric generation as part of feasibility work. In response to a question, he said the districts are monitoring aquifer impacts from canal lining and are working on managed aquifer recharge to direct conserved water to beneficial groundwater areas. No additional votes or formal actions were taken after the leadership elections.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- This was a drought problem.
- The impacts of a drought can reach far into the future long after a drought has ended.
- managing drought.
- It was recommended by the drought management task force and in the 2023 drought state's drought management
- Droughts lower our drinking water supplies, and droughts reduce or threaten our farms.
Summary:
The hearing covered a broad set of environmental and water-related bills, with much of the testimony focused on blue economy and circular economy proposals, drought management, drinking water safety, flood resilience, and water infrastructure funding. Supporters of bills such as H. 987 and H. 988 described grant programs for blue economy workforce development, research, small businesses, and public education about a circular economy. Other speakers backed measures on coastal erosion research, recreational boating dredging, cranberry water-right transfers, sand mining oversight, and a voucher program for home water filtration in PFAS-impacted communities. Several elected officials and advocates also urged passage of bills to require private well testing, improve school drinking water safety, and address sand mining pollution and PFAS contamination.
Water supply and drought issues drew extensive testimony. Senator Eldridge and others supported legislation to let the state, through DEP and the drought management task force, impose regional water-use restrictions during droughts and make the task force permanent in statute. Advocates from watershed groups, farms, and environmental organizations said the current town-by-town approach is inconsistent and ineffective, and they described drought impacts on rivers, farms, private wells, and wildfire risk. A related bill on private wells was supported as a way to help homeowners test and remediate contaminated wells, especially in rural areas without public water.
The committee also heard testimony on a bill to allow the Lynnfield Water District to join the MWRA, with local officials saying the move would help address PFAS and other contamination and improve supply reliability. Another major panel supported a water infrastructure funding bill, arguing that aging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems need major new investment, including support for PFAS treatment, sewer rate relief, biosolids research, and regional interconnections. Members asked about costs, funding sources, and the relationship to existing revolving loan funds; witnesses said the bill would need to be paired with future bond funding and new revenue ideas. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs repeatedly invited written testimony and noted the large number of speakers.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Jan 28th, 2025
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- of the state are in drought.
- So, they would have the authority to determine the drought.
- The federal government is terming a drought for a variety of reasons.
- Or whatever, in their drought status, right?
- To the authorities that can designate whether it has been a drought, at least a moderate drought.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 24th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- conditions, in a case of a drought worse than the drought of record.
- During a drought.
- Keep in mind, members, that drought is our enemy.
- We can survive in a drought and we can survive getting there, but I want to caution that droughts are
- So, we need to be able to handle the drought of record for sure, but until you get to the drought of
Bills:
SB7
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Eldridge, drought management. Brief recess. The Senate will come to order.
- increase in drought that our communities are experiencing.
- is in significant drought.
- Droughts affect our water systems in a variety of ways.
- conditions by reducing water use during droughts.
Summary:
The Senate took up a major environmental bond bill with amendments covering climate resilience, housing health, plastics reduction, coastal protection, fisheries, and related regulatory issues. Early debate included Senator Keenan’s withdrawn amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program with $50 million, followed by his adopted amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packages. Senator Tarr’s amendment to remove the paper bag charge was defeated after extended debate over whether the 10-cent bag assessment functioned as a tax; a related floor speech from Senator Duner argued the fee would burden working families. The chamber also adopted Senator Fernandez’s ocean acidification amendment, which would aggregate ocean monitoring data to support shellfish, water quality, and coastal management, with support from Senators Sear and Driscoll. Other adopted measures included Driscoll’s Houghton’s Pond multi-use trail, Montigny’s New Bedford State Pier redevelopment and harbor oil-recovery provisions, Collins’s Commonwealth Conservation Commission later withdrawn, and several coastal resilience and housing-related amendments.
The Senate also approved a series of environmental and public health measures. Senator Moore’s rodenticide restriction amendment was adopted after testimony from animal welfare and conservation groups, with the sponsor describing harms to wildlife, pets, and livestock and noting local municipal support. Senator Lewis’s amendment directing DEP to study the feasibility of banning polystyrene was adopted, as was Senator Mark’s Massachusetts Climate Bank amendment and Senator Edwards’s carbon sequestration amendment expanding attention to salt marshes, seagrasses, and waterways. The chamber adopted amendments on equitable representation, improving indoor air quality, and a Douglas State Forest trust fund that would raise the entry fee from $1 to $2 for maintenance. Several amendments were withdrawn, including Collins’s urban coastal resilience commission and Tarr’s proposed Commonwealth Conservation Commission.
Housing and permitting issues were another major theme. Senator Driscoll’s amendment requiring local confirmation before a project is designated a priority housing project was defeated, but his related amendments clarifying the process and requiring consultation with the Housing and Livable Communities Secretary were adopted. The Senate also adopted Crichton’s amendments streamlining permitting for coastal resiliency projects in urban areas and creating a five-year pilot for nature-based solutions, as well as Tarr’s amendment adding dredging and sand placement to general coastal permits. Tarr’s amendment to revise the Salisbury Beach Preservation Trust Fund was adopted, while his later constitutional challenge to a landform-migration provision was withdrawn after he argued it could amount to an uncompensated taking. The session ended with the Senate noting only two amendments remained and then adjourning in memory of Quincy’s former mayor James A. Sheets.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Can you describe to... what stage four drought means to Corpus Christi and to Texas?
- And I think part of it is because the landscape of South Texas is so drought prone.
- We've been discussing drought.
- And Toledo Bend not used, backing it up, so we're drought-proof in the Lower Sabine.
- If we're hit by a long severe drought in the 2050s.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But before we describe our new water treatment plant, let me provide an overview of the ongoing drought
- And I think part of it is, is because the landscape of South Texas is so drought prone.
- We've been discussing drought.
- We just came off of a two-year drought.
- Association was formed, uh, in 2011 in reference to the drought of 2011.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Drought Monitor Categories. The U.S. Drought Monitor goes from level 1 to 4.
- Drought Monitor Since 2000. So it's 25 years.
- Drought Monitor.
- Drought Monitor method.
- Drought Monitor, as well as the Climate Prediction Center is predicting drought to persist in the majority
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Yep, and the drought side. But I think it's pretty cool.
- She gets both ends of that spectrum, yep, and the drought side.
- On droughts, you know, we will continue to see more droughts.
- I also heard drought come up in testimony about other bills.
- I also heard drought come up in testimony about other bills.
Summary:
The hearing focused on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill. Administration officials said the bill would fund climate resilience, clean water, land conservation, parks, PFAS remediation, food security infrastructure, and coastal and inland flood protection, while also streamlining permitting for housing, restoration, and other resilience projects. They emphasized that the bond authorizes spending but does not itself obligate it, and said the proposal includes deauthorizations as housekeeping. Committee members asked about the new Resilience Revolving Fund, flood and drought management, MVP funding, land acquisition, Chapter 61 right-of-first-refusal changes, salt marsh carbon sequestration, and how the bill would help smaller municipalities and offset expected federal funding losses. Officials said the revolving fund would be managed through EEA and the Clean Water Trust, with criteria aimed at directing aid to communities most in need, and noted that drought issues would continue to be handled through existing DEP and drought commission tools.
Several committee members and witnesses discussed specific policy provisions, including flood disclosure requirements for homebuyers and renters, expanded authority for regional planning and small-town access to grants, and permitting reforms that would exempt or expedite certain environmental restoration and priority housing projects from more time-consuming review processes. Administration witnesses defended the reforms as a way to achieve the same environmental outcomes faster and with more certainty, while some advocates argued the bill should go further, especially on Chapter 91 and restoration permitting. The administration also described investments in DCR facilities, water and wastewater systems, open space, agricultural easements, and a new focus on blue carbon and salt marsh restoration.
Public testimony largely supported the bill. Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, The Nature Conservancy, MAPC, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, municipal officials, and others praised the bill’s resilience, conservation, and water infrastructure investments. Some witnesses urged additional funding for land protection, coastal resilience, buyouts, and restoration, and several called for stronger or simpler permitting reforms. Municipal witnesses from Boston, Beckett, Beverly, Conway, and regional planning organizations stressed the need for flexible financing, especially for small and rural communities facing costly infrastructure and climate adaptation projects. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the committee heard testimony and asked questions before moving on to additional panels.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on County & Regional Government Mar 31st, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- We could have two different, very different drought conditions in both of those, those situations, in
- A drought restriction of some sort.
- So, um, but so y'all would be supportive of some of the drought opt-out language.
- Do you think it might make more sense to put a clearer drought opt-out in this bill?
- If the drought conditions and the KBDI, which is the drought index, get to a certain point in Texas,
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (01/14/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- patterns including uh uh sudden droughts patterns including uh uh sudden droughts uh<04:44:28.718
- And then in the fall, we had the driest drought without rain in 200 years.
- And then in the fall, we had the driest<04:49:47.600>
drought <04:49:48.000>without <04: - 200 driest drought without rain in 200 years.<04:49:49.520>
We're <04:49:49.760>having - be in a drought or all these<04:51:51.840>
places <04:51:52.000>wouldn't <04:51:52.320>
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- These are things that show up in the drought monitor.
- That's where the drought was most severe.
- But droughts also present unique circumstances.
- Because they want enough to cover that drought situation.
- want enough to cover that drought want enough to cover that drought situation.<00:46:19.680>
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, we're finding that that four-week drought is a six-week drought, followed by a week of thunderstorms
- Now, we're finding that that four-week drought is a six-week drought, followed by a week of thunderstorms
- Now, we're finding that that four-week drought is a six-week drought, followed by a week of thunderstorms
- Now, we're finding that that four-week drought is a six-week drought, followed by a week of thunderstorms
- Now, we're finding that that four-week drought is a six-week drought, followed by a week of thunderstorms
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- And having flood- and drought-resilient infrastructure is critical to that effort.
- We face both droughts and major floods in the last few years.
- We are experiencing more extreme and frequent drought.
- The state’s drought declaration yesterday has at least half the state in critical or significant drought
- , multi-stakeholder process grounded in science when the state is in drought.
Summary:
The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record.
Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language.
Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I authored this bill after one of the worst droughts in California history that occurred between 2017
- There was a need to quickly be able to... ...respond to the mid-90s drought.
- , this last turn of the drought that we had, but then also 2023, which was a big water year.
- Currently, it's approximately seven out of 10 years or drought years.
- And we all get frustrated after a drought.
Summary:
The hearing focused on oversight of AB 658 and the State Water Resources Control Board’s five-year temporary permits for groundwater recharge. Assembly Member Arambula and committee members discussed how the permits are intended to help capture high flows during wet periods, support SGMA implementation, and store water underground for later use. The State Water Board chair said the five-year permits have become an important tool, with seven five-year permits issued this season and over 43,000 acre-feet authorized, but noted that actual recharge depends on hydrology and that the board is open to improvements.
Members and witnesses discussed several possible changes to make the program more effective: allowing a two-year delay before the five-year permit clock starts, codifying CEQA exemptions that have been used through executive order, and shifting from a public objection model to a public comment model to reduce delays. There was also discussion of water availability analyses, with some members asking whether the state could develop a broader statewide assessment to reduce consultant costs and make permitting more predictable. The board said such an effort would be large and costly, but could potentially save applicants money and improve consistency.
District representatives described their experiences. Stockton East said the five-year permit was more cost-effective than repeated 180-day permits, but that the 90-20 methodology, consultant costs, and a burrowing owl survey condition made use difficult. Omaha-Hartnell Water District said its recharge work depends on simple, low-cost infrastructure and that five-year permits, CEQA reform, and lower upfront fees would help small districts. A consultant working with Scott Valley and Sierra Valley said five-year permits can work well in different basins, but local infrastructure, stakeholder coordination, streambed alteration agreements, and upstream flow constraints can limit recharge. Members also raised concerns about basin connectivity, downstream water rights, and the need to pair recharge with sustainable groundwater pumping and broader water storage planning.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Feb 25th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Energy
Bills:
HB4338, HB3977, HB2100, HB2975, HB3056, HB3406, HB3720, HB4316, HB3405, HB1907, HB3142, HB3173, HB3270, HB3728, HB2440, HB2596, HB3466, HB3469, HB4338, HB3977, HB2100, HB2975, HB3056, HB3406, HB3720, HB4316, HB3405, HB1907, HB3142, HB3173, HB3270, HB3728, HB2440, HB2596, HB3466, HB3469
Keywords:
HB4338, Oklahoma Brine Development Act, brine unitization, produced water, produced water unit, oil and gas wastewater, produced water recycling, reclaimed water, constituent elements, brine rights, solution gas, Corporation Commission, unitization, royalty interests, surface owner, oil and gas produced water, recycling and reuse, wastewater disposal, mineral extraction, lithium extraction
TX
Keywords:
family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales
TX
Keywords:
HB 148, Texas Education Code, Texas Education Agency, TEA, artificial intelligence, AI, machine learning, automated scoring, constructed response, open-ended answers, student assessments, state testing, standardized tests, public schools, education policy, assessment instruments, school accountability, test scoring, 2026-2027 school year, family leave
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- However, during periods of intense drought, municipalities may restrict residential water use.
- restrictions, or two, a fine from their POA for failing to maintain their lawn's appearance during drought
- This is our drinking water most likely that they are putting on their lawns. during drought.
- Obviously over the years, we've witnessed more and more water restrictions. due to the drought, low lake
- SB 542 is crucial to protect homeowner rights in times of drought and water restrictions.
Bills:
SB264, SB542, SB924, SB1008, SB1029, SB1036, SB1057, SB1058, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1376, SB1569, SB1664, SB1697, SJR50
Keywords:
SB 264, Texas Workers' Compensation Act, group self-insurance, self-insured groups, workers' compensation, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, certificate of approval, guaranty fund, trust fund, wind down, dissolution, labor code, insurance regulation, employer coverage, risk pool, business and commerce, trade workforce economic development, property owners' association, water conservation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment Committee Meeting - 2025-04-03
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- This was passed during 2021 when Minnesota was going through a crazy drought as part of the drought relief
- If I'm trying to remember about four years ago when this drought was happening, but I don't remember
- At the time the drought was occurring, there were appropriations for drought relief for other producers
- , farmers, and others impacted by the drought.
- The drought season.