Video & Transcript Research : 'geological sciences'
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LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Apr 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We’re reviewing the science and the safety aspect of it. Oh, no, no. Right?
- It's not saying for that geological formation; it's identified to the very one.
- It's not saying for that geological, geological formation, it's identified to the very one.
- It's time we all address CWD based on science, facts, and common sense.
- You know, when you start looking at the science and what happens with CWD...
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 706 by Representative Riser, which would set a more detailed process for commercial saltwater disposal wells, including site-specific modeling and pressure review. Riser and industry witnesses argued the bill would provide clearer, more predictable rules for operators who have faced long delays and changing requirements, while Department of Conservation and Energy officials said they are already developing guidance and that any pressure standard must remain site-specific to avoid fracturing confining layers, protecting drinking water, and staying within EPA primacy requirements. The department emphasized that geology varies widely across Louisiana and that a fixed pressure number in statute could be unsafe in some locations. Members also discussed the fiscal note, the need for additional staff, and whether the bill would tie the department’s hands or force approvals; witnesses said the bill’s modeling requirements were conservative, but opponents warned the statutory pressure ranges could conflict with site-specific safety determinations. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a 6-6 tie.
The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 4 by Representative McCormick, which would suspend Louisiana’s deer baiting ban for 18 months in areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD). McCormick and Hunter Nation representatives argued that baiting bans have not stopped CWD in other states, that deer feeders and food plots are part of hunting culture, and that Louisiana should rely on science and a more flexible approach. They cited Wisconsin as an example where CWD spread despite long-standing feed bans and said there has been no proven human transmission. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials said bait bans are one of the few tools available to reduce artificial congregation of deer and help limit disease spread, and they explained that the department is also working with a CWD task force and another proposal that would tie restrictions to a 1.5% prevalence threshold rather than an across-the-board suspension. The discussion ended with the department providing information on the impacts of both measures, but no final action on HCR 4 was recorded in the transcript.
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:
- I don't want you to believe that we do not have geologic data. We do.
- </c><00:19:59.840><c> I</c> completed geologic maps everywhere.
- I completed geologic maps everywhere.
- Um, but it is when geologic data. We do.
- atlases completed by the geologic atlases completed by the Minnesota<00:20:12.640><c> Geological</c>
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, December 15, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> at Penn State majoring in animal science at Penn State majoring in animal science with<00:09:57.360
- </c> align with the current science-based align with the current science-based recommendations<02:31:
- These statistics are real and science.
- c><04:26:40.080><c> Survey</c> reauthorize the US Geological Survey reauthorize the US Geological Survey
- 58:08.240><c> system</c> is a bipartisan science-based system is a bipartisan science-based system that
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Oct 15th, 2025
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Science.
- Again, there's not a lot of science going on.
- Inaction doesn't result in that we look at the science; we stay focused on the science, right?
- Endeavoring to develop science-based standards.
- We should focus on the science and some civility.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So before we make a decision this session, let's get the science to tell us from an unbiased source so
- I need science to tell me that. But we don't need to know what science we need.
- We came out looking, and I wanted to look at geological formations to say, "All right, we need to protect
- It's 20 at the mess we're in, and then we're having to use an air permit to deal with a geological issue
- Well, it's the cessation of an air permit to deal with the geological issue.
Keywords:
rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
AGR-AEN Joint Info Briefing - Fri Jan 16, 2026 @ 10:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And they help ensure that accurate, science-based information is consistently available statewide.
- The strengths of this tool are that it's objective and science-based.
- </c><00:45:30.640><c> As</c><00:45:30.800><c> I</c> objective and science-based.
- As I objective and science-based.
- </c> managed by the United States Geological managed by the United States Geological Survey<00:59:10.720
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There might be areas where there's an actual physical, geological barrier of separation, like Ms.
- In general, there is no geologic barrier.
- I think that's exactly the concern: we don't know where we don't have geologic barriers.
- Wells had mentioned where there is a sweet spot of a geologic barrier that's protecting the freshwater
- So it removes the sort of the science and oversight of that brackish water production.
Bills:
HB1523, HB2109, HB2694, HB3525, HB3898, HB4646, HB5188, HB5219, HB5320, HB5651, HB5655, HB5659, HB5662, HB5672
Keywords:
aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment
Summary:
The Committee on Natural Resources heard House Bill 2109, which would remove certain long-proposed reservoir projects from the state water plan after 50 years without progress. Chairman Van Deaver and many landowners, local officials, timber interests, and conservation advocates testified in support, arguing that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir has burdened Northeast Texas landowners for decades with the threat of eminent domain, depressed property values, and uncertainty over homes, farms, ranches, schools, churches, and cemeteries. Supporters also said the project would flood tens of thousands of acres, require extensive mitigation, harm timber and agriculture, and that Texas now has better alternatives such as conservation, reuse, aquifer storage and recovery, and desalination. Several members expressed sympathy for the affected families and questioned whether a project could remain in the plan indefinitely without progress.
Opposition came from North Texas water interests, including the North Texas Commission, Tarrant Regional Water District, and the Texas Water Association, who argued that the bill would interfere with the state’s long-term water planning process and remove needed future supply options for a fast-growing region. They said Region C faces major projected shortages by 2070, that conservation and reuse have already delayed the need for new supplies, and that reservoirs remain one tool in the state’s water-planning toolbox. TWDB staff explained the existing inter-regional conflict process and noted that the substitute would affect several unique reservoir sites, not just Marvin Nichols. After testimony, Chairman Van Deaver closed by urging passage of the bill, but the committee withdrew the substitute and left HB 2109 pending.
The committee then took up House Bill 5188, a brackish groundwater bill. The author said the bill would reduce permitting burdens for wells in designated brackish groundwater production zones, and the committee substitute added requirements on monitoring, groundwater-rights ownership, and allocation of pumpage limits while removing some exclusions and export-fee provisions. Texas Wildlife Association testified against the bill, warning that the exemptions could weaken groundwater conservation districts’ ability to protect freshwater resources and surface-owner rights. San Antonio Water System testified in favor, saying brackish groundwater is a key future supply and that the substitute would help speed development of desalination and brackish projects. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts testified neutrally but raised concerns about reduced district oversight, especially around injection-well exclusions and the loss of export fees, and said discussions on the bill were ongoing.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/17/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #6
Transcript Highlights:
- Madam Witt, members, House Bill 2830 instructs the State Board of Education to adopt science academic
- transfers the resource analysis division from the Arizona State Land Department to the Arizona Geological
- transfers the resource analysis division from the Arizona State Land Department to the Arizona Geological
- Madam Whip and members, House Bill 2809, as amended by the Committee on Science and Technology, requires
- Madam Wippen members, as amended by the Committee on Science and Technology, House Bill 2,809, requires
Summary:
The meeting was a rapid review of a very large bill package, with the chair repeatedly asking staff to keep descriptions high level and many bills placed on third-read consent or consent calendars. A major theme was artificial intelligence: bills would require minors to be told when they are interacting with AI, allow AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, create an AI education program, privilege certain AI communications, and require K-12 instruction on ethical and practical AI use. Other education measures addressed school district superintendents, health instruction, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal development standards, and school safety, including a bill allowing concealed firearms on school grounds under specified conditions.
Several health and public safety bills were also discussed. These included funding and oversight measures for childhood cancer research, nursing care complaint timelines, firefighter cancer data collection, limits on pharmacy penalties, and a bill making it a felony to administer abortion-inducing drugs without consent. Members also heard bills on overtime wage enforcement, domestic violence evidence standards in parenting cases, probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, and a measure expanding manslaughter liability to online encouragement of teen suicide. One sponsor strongly opposed a provisional medical licensing bill for foreign-trained applicants, while other sponsors emphasized rural health access, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and the need for a dental board member who is an oral surgeon.
A large portion of the meeting focused on water, land, energy, and state agency oversight. Bills would streamline or change rules for small modular reactors, new power plants, water supply determinations, groundwater transportation fees, water hauling, and state land disposition. Members also considered measures affecting the State Land Department, including audits, oversight boards, continuation, land-use maps for data centers and energy projects, and rules for mineral leases and solar or wind siting. Other topics included wildlife and ranching, Mexican wolf policy, annexation, housing and development incentives, transportation and towing rules, digital driver licenses, and a proposed four-year moratorium on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility-rate increases, which drew questions about stakeholder input and the impact on enterprise funds and local utilities. No recorded roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or calendar status, with one bill noted as held in rules and another pulled for further discussion.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider pending calendar business; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine certain pending nominations. Apr 30th, 2025 at 08:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Dario Gil to be Undersecretary of Energy for Science. and he's as well qualified and has my support.
- Andrea Travnick, and she has been nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Interior for Water and Science
- Dario Gil to be Undersecretary of Energy for Science. The clerk will call the roll. Aye. Mr.
- Travnik has been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science.
- She will oversee two of the oldest bureaus in the department, the Geological Survey and the Bureau of
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- We are committed to achieving even more for Florida's environment through collaboration, science-based
- In terms of how we prioritize areas, we use a science-based approach for everything that we do.
- We have a chief science officer at the department who advises us on those.
- We have a chief science officer at the department who advises us on the, on the, do.
- We have a chief science officer at the department who advises us on those.
Summary:
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process.
Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales.
Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the Arctic and Greenland's geostrategic importance to U.S. interests. Feb 12th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.
- Section head for the National Science Foundation's Arctic Sciences Section.
- While geological maps of Greenland present a vast. array of critical mineral deposits along its coast
- I'm the head of Arctic Sciences in the Office of Polar Programs at the U.S.
- National Science Foundation.
Keywords:
Greenland, acquisition, national security, Arctic, geopolitical, China, Russia, icebreakers, trade routes
Summary:
The meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation focused on the potential acquisition of Greenland by the United States. This issue, first raised by President Trump in 2019, has gained renewed significance amidst shifting global dynamics and the strategic importance of Greenland in relation to transatlantic trade routes and national security. The members discussed the geopolitical implications of Greenland's position, especially given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic region. Notably, the urgency to address military presence and icebreaker capabilities in the Arctic was a major point of contention, with a call for a new fleet to counter foreign dominance in the area.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- concepts, models and and um geological concepts, models and theories<00:11:06.399><c> that</c><00:11
- Current science shows that several of our EALs simply do not reflect the risks our communities face.
- When standards fail to reflect science, it is our communities who bear the harm.
- When standards fail to reflect<00:14:25.920><c> science,</c><00:14:26.480><c> it</c><00:14:26.720><c>
- reflect science, it is our communities who<00:14:27.920><c> bear</c><00:14:28.160><c> the</c><00:14:
Bills:
SB2064, SB2662, SB2862, SB2343, SB2075, SB2781, SB2927, SB3068, SB3015, SB2929, SB2938, SB3230, SB3249, SB3332, SB3216
Keywords:
state architect, construction projects, design approvals, building codes, state agency oversight, government accountability, external consultants, procurement reform, cost efficiency, in-house expertise, gubernatorial appointments, senate confirmation, executive branch, accountability, civil service, SB2343, Hawaii Legislature, regular session, lengthened session, continuous legislature
Summary:
The committee met on February 12, 2026, to take decision-making on measures previously heard earlier in the month. Several bills were deferred indefinitely or set for later discussion, including SB 2064 on the Office of the State Architect, SB 3068 on procurement, and SB 3216 after its contents were moved into another measure. SB 2862 on gubernatorial appointments, SB 2781, and SB 315 were all deferred to Tuesday, February 17 at 3 p.m. in Room 225 for further work. The committee also noted that if technical problems interrupted the meeting, it would reconvene later for outstanding decision-making.
The committee passed SB 2343 on the Legislature with amendments incorporating language from SB 3216, technical changes, and a defective date of 2525. SB 2075 was advanced as a Senate draft 1 after amendments responding to constitutional concerns raised by the attorney general and SPO. SB 2927 on procurement was also passed with amendments clarifying debriefing requirements and adding technical changes, and SB 2938 on search and rescue was amended to place the position in Hima rather than the Governor’s office before being adopted. SB 3249 on procurement protests was amended to remove the term "frivolous," reduce the forfeiture to half the bond amount, and note unresolved issues, then adopted.
The committee also took up SB 3332 on state-funded travel, amending it to remove certain lines, report travel by position number to protect confidentiality, remove subsection G, and add a defective date of 2525; it was adopted. SB 2929 on public notice was amended into a pilot project for counties with populations between 100,000 and 175,000, with a year-end report to the Legislature, and was adopted. Later, the committee returned to SB 2094 on environmental action levels, heard testimony from the Department of Health in support of its current scientific process and from an environmental caucus witness in strong support of the bill’s transparency and petition provisions, and then deferred decision-making to February 17 at 3 p.m. in Room 225.
In the joint hearing portion, SB 3233 on agricultural workforce housing drew generally supportive testimony from ADC, the Farm Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and the State Procurement Office, with concerns focused on clarity, flexibility for smaller farms, and avoiding concentration of benefits in one large operation. The committee ultimately recommended passing SB 3233 with the State Procurement Office’s clarifying amendments and the Hawaii Farmers Union’s amendment to ensure workforce housing incentives benefit multiple farmers, and the measure was adopted.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Oct 15th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- So it’s a vast monitoring network that we review and analyze the science on a daily basis to understand
- Out with a report that grades things or does things, and it's not based on good science.
- Bartlett to really use years of experience as well as science to hone in on where the lake management
- So the issue is being caused by a geological anomaly that runs across the bottom southwest corner of
- It was caused by a weird geological anomaly. The engineers reverse-engineered what happened.
Summary:
The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources met to hear presentations on Lake Okeechobee from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the South Florida Water Management District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. FWC described the lake as a major recreation, water supply, and habitat resource, and outlined its habitat management plan, including control of invasive plants, prescribed fire, and restoration of native vegetation. The agency said low water levels have helped submerged aquatic vegetation recover, with gains in 2025 exceeding 24,000 acres and meeting its target, while torpedo grass and floating invasive plants remain active management priorities. Senators asked about bass fishing trends and blue-green algae; FWC said water levels are the main driver of fishery health and that it was not seeing current water-quality impacts on bass, though algal blooms can affect habitat and wildlife.
The South Florida Water Management District focused on nutrient pollution, lake ecology, and restoration projects across the watershed. Director Drew Bartlett said the district’s work is aimed at reducing harmful discharges, improving water quality, and moving more water south to the Everglades through storage and treatment projects, including the EAA Reservoir, C-43 and C-44 reservoirs, aquifer storage and recovery, and wetland treatment areas. He said the state and federal governments have invested about $9 billion in restoration, roughly split 50-50, and that the EAA Reservoir is now targeted for completion in 2029. He also said Lake Okeechobee BMAP participation is around 92% and that recent data show phosphorus and nitrogen loading declines, though the lake remains impaired and eutrophic. An industry witness from Associated Industries of Florida said the BMAP and agricultural best management practices are producing measurable improvements and urged continued funding for water storage and treatment.
The Army Corps of Engineers then explained LOSOM and Lake Recovery operations, saying the new operating approach balances flood control, water supply, navigation, ecology, and estuary protection. Colonel Brandon Bowman said Lake Recovery was implemented in late 2024 to bring the lake below 12 feet long enough to help submerged vegetation rebound, and reported that the lake met both recovery metrics, with water levels low enough to support a major increase in SAV from about 4,000 acres to 28,000 acres in 2025. He also noted benefits such as improved water clarity and more Okeechobee gourd plants, but acknowledged drawbacks including reduced navigation and some impacts to wading birds and snail kites. Senators pressed the Corps on the C-44 reservoir’s sloughing issue; Bowman said repairs are underway, the problem is geological rather than a safety failure, and the Corps expects to award a contract by 2027 and complete work by 2030. The committee did not take any substantive vote on the presentations and adjourned after Senator Smith moved to do so.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- implementation in 2021, Texas has created the All-Payer Claims Database through the University of Texas Health Science
Keywords:
e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- For science. For science. Okay.
- One testified here, Science Care.
- I'm not sure if we work with Science Care specifically.
- We have purchased some specimens from Science Care.
- I thought I'd donate my body to science.
Keywords:
e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/05/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- Anybody who wants to go to the Minnesota Geological Survey with me and see what that is.
- Anybody who wants to go to the Minnesota Geological Survey with me and see what that is.
- Anybody who wants to go to the Minnesota Geological Survey with me and see what that is.
- Anybody who wants to go to the Minnesota Geological Survey with me and see what that is.
- I'm hearing politics and I'm not hearing science.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Mar 1st, 2025
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a master's prepared science nurse and registered nurse.
- With plentiful geologic formations here in New Mexico, complemented by our extensive research efforts
- I am a Master of Science in Nursing with more than 45 years of experience as a full-time nurse and nurse
- You create the area around it such that all of your models and your geologic understanding, which is
- House Bill 458 creates the Geologic Carbon Dioxide Stewardship Fund.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 04/02/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- Geological Survey released its first-ever map identifying potential geological hydrogen deposits, and
- Geological Survey released its first Geological Survey released its first ever<00:01:40.320><c> map</
- </c><00:01:48.000><c> Geological</c> region for exploration. Geological region for exploration.
- </c> geological hydrogen potential. geological hydrogen potential.
- </c> decades of expertise in geological decades of expertise in geological research,<00:02:24.959><c>
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Aug 11th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- For many of you, the Bureau of Geology is the state geologic survey. We're non-regulatory.
- We are here to provide science and research for the state of New Mexico.
- mapping and geologic hazards.
- A good description of the geologic and hydrogeologic units so that we understand how the water will move
- From New Mexico, I want to highlight again that the fundamental science, data, and modeling to inform
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> access geologic data. access geologic data.
- </c> mineral targets or mitigate geological mineral targets or mitigate geological hazards<00:10:04.160
- </c> that funding from the US Geological that funding from the US Geological Survey<00:13:33.920><c>
- Do they how many geological survey?
- </c> can take anyone with a basic sciences can take anyone with a basic sciences degree<01:36:00.880>