Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious why the wolf depredation and the funding for the local food purchasing program is in the
• It pays about wolf depredation claims.
• I'm I'm curious why the wolf amendment.
• I mean, you probably can guess the wolf depredation money.
• I mean, you probably can guess the wolf depredation money.

Bills: HF3548

Keywords: farm assistance, down payment, agriculture, state funding, loan modification, 1183, house

Summary: The Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee met on April 15, 2026, approved the April 13 minutes with a correction to Assistant Commissioner Peter Kesset’s name, and then took up House File 3548. The bill, moved by Chair Anderson for re-referral to Ways and Means, centered on the farmer down payment assistance program and the Department of Agriculture’s budget and policy provisions. Anderson described the DE4 amendment as compromise language that reserved up to 25% of funds for applicants with purchase contracts, removed a proposed marijuana exclusion, and allowed appropriated funds to remain available through June 30, 2030 rather than reverting to the general fund at the end of the biennium. Laura Schreiber of the Land Stewardship Project testified in support, emphasizing the importance of keeping funds available and urging that grants remain capped at $20,000 so more farmers could participate. The committee then adopted several amendments. A23, described as the governor’s budget request and department policy bill, was adopted and included moving the Emerging Farmers Office into the Agricultural Marketing and Development subdivision, combining some reports into the Agri report, and addressing delegated authority with MDA. A17, allowing certain eggs past their quality assurance date to be donated to food shelves under specific handling requirements, was adopted. A18, adjusting per diem rates for certain non-representative committee members, was adopted. A19, shifting about $20,000 to support farm land transition services such as mediation, contracts, financial planning, tax preparation, estate planning, and housing assistance, was also adopted. A22, which combined funding for wolf depredation claims and the local food purchasing program, drew the most debate. Representative Smith questioned why the two items were combined and sought to divide the amendment, but staff said that would be problematic because the funding changes were interdependent. Supporters said the amendment would pay about 80% of wolf-loss claims and add money for local food purchasing, while opponents argued the local food need was greater and the wolf depredation approach was not the best use of funds. The roll call on A22 was confusing in the transcript, but the amendment ultimately prevailed. A21, which would have removed a physical-contact requirement for farm cervidae containment, failed on a 7-7 tie after opponents argued it would weaken disease protections and supporters said the fencing costs were driving deer farmers out of business. Hansen then declined to move A24, which would have advanced a paraquat ban, saying there was no agreement and he did not want a negative vote at that time. After the DE4 as amended was adopted, the committee took a final roll call on House File 3548 as amended. The bill failed on a 6-8 vote and was laid over. In closing, members on both sides said the bill contained useful provisions for farmers, but disagreement over the unresolved paraquat issue prevented the committee from advancing it.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which biologists and experts at Game and Fish call the Mexican wolf.
• He said there are subspecies of the wolf, and he supports this bill.
• , or as the biologists and experts at Game Fish call it, the Mexican wolf.
• The Mexican gray wolf is a subspecies. It was an experimental population.
• Like I said, there are subspecies of the wolf, and I support this bill.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:58.880> County have with us um two of the Wolf County have with us um two of the Wolf
• I’m chief of the Wolf County Search and Rescue Team located in Wolf County.
• Uh I've been located in Wolf County.
• So that we put into use in Wolf County.
• <00:41:23.760> Minify Wolf County, but also Meny. Minify Wolf County, but also Meny.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August minutes, and heard a brief announcement from Senator Richardson about the Missing in America Project interring unclaimed veterans’ remains at the Western Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. He read the names of several veterans being laid to rest with military honors, and the chair thanked the volunteers involved in the effort. The main presentation was an update on Kentucky’s urban search and rescue program from the Department of Military Affairs and Kentucky Emergency Management. Officials said the program is being built around two regional task force hubs, a helicopter aquatic rescue team, an incident support team, and a rescue aid fund for local search and rescue units. They reported that the $8.3 million appropriated for the program in the 2025 budget was fully executed, that $482,670 of the rescue aid fund went to 29 local teams, and that $493,592 has already been allocated in the current year to 36 teams. They also described warehouse and equipment purchases, staffing with full-time and part-time personnel, and a new training site on state property for collapsed-structure and multi-agency exercises. Officials said the program has already been used in recent disasters, including flood response and urban search and rescue operations in several parts of the state, and claimed the effort has impacted more than 1,500 citizens through rescues, evacuations, and related assistance. They said the helicopter aquatic rescue team is fully operational, the task force roster should be finalized by January, incident support should be online by April, and the full program should be deployable by June 30 or July 1, 2026. Members asked about statewide response times, K-9 search capabilities, and the long-term cost of the program, including concerns about reliance on federal matching funds. The presenters said K-9 assets will be part of the task force, that pre-positioning during forecasted storms can reduce response times significantly, and that they would provide more detailed budget information later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeremy Wolfe, the executive director of BRIM, introduced himself. The Chair then swore him in.
• Jeremy Wolfe, Executive Director of BRIM, said, "In July, just to let you know, I looked at things that
• Wolfe and, seeing no lights, thanked him for coming up.
• Wolfe, and seeing no lights, thanked him for coming up and said he appreciated it.
• Wolf, do you want to come up? Jeremy Wolfe, Executive Director, BRIM: Okay. Do you want to address?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wolf. Thank you for that info. Ms. Wolf, welcome back to the committee.
• Wolf on deck. Kaya is not here today. Wolf on deck. Kaya is not here today.
• <00:10:21.080> Wolf.<00:10:21.400> Thank Okay, we'll move on to Ms. Wolf.
• Wolf, welcome back to the committee. Ms. Wolf, welcome back to the committee.
• Wolf.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• important animals have naturally returned to our state under their own wolf power.”
• So we're reestablishing the wolf-livestock coexistence and compensation program.
• So we're reestablishing the wolf livestock coexistence and compensation program.
• A grizzly bear could, just like a black bear could, just like a wolf could.
• A grizzly bear could, just like a black bear could, just like a wolf could.

Summary: The committee heard several wildlife and water-related bills. SB 872, by Senator McNerney, would create a Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund and allow waiver of local cost-sharing for Delta levee repairs to protect the State Water Project and Delta infrastructure. Supporters from water agencies, environmental groups, counties, and agricultural interests said the bill is needed to address levee failure and canal subsidence; there was no opposition, and the bill was held open until a quorum was present, with broad support expressed. SB 1108, by Senator Caballero, would establish the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the Central Valley to coordinate conservation, habitat restoration, public access, and voluntary easements in a region described as the largest remaining wetland/grasslands complex west of the Mississippi. Support came from the Grasslands Water District, Audubon, conservation groups, and local stakeholders, who emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, wildlife corridors, and land-use transition under groundwater sustainability. There was no opposition, and the bill received favorable committee support. SB 1135, by Senator Blakespear, would reestablish and strengthen the statewide wildlife coexistence program to reduce human-wildlife conflict through nonlethal deterrence, education, and compensation for livestock losses. Supporters cited rising wildlife incidents, wolf depredation, and the need for proactive tools; opponents and some committee members raised concerns about rural impacts, funding, and the absence of law enforcement/public safety as a specifically named advisory role. After discussion and amendments that moved the cattlemen and Farm Bureau to neutral, the bill passed out of committee on a due-pass motion, though some members voted no or abstained. SB 1305, by Senator Richardson, would direct CDFW to study the feasibility of grizzly bear reintroduction and prepare a roadmap, with tribal consultation and stakeholder engagement, but would not itself authorize reintroduction. Tribal sponsors and conservation groups supported the bill as a planning and cultural restoration effort, while hunting, ranching, and county groups opposed it, arguing California already faces major wildlife-management and funding challenges and that the proposal would create new conflicts. Committee members debated costs, appropriations, and whether the study should include funding estimates; the bill was amended and passed on a due-pass motion. The committee also heard SB 1250, by Senator Cortese, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning; supporters said it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, and the bill was presented in support as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Wolf, Thank you, Senator Morning.
• Thank you, Miss Wolf. Mr.
• Chair, maybe Miss Wolf can answer the same question.
• Chair, maybe Miss Wolf can answer the same question.
• including funding for the elk and wolf including funding for the elk and wolf depradation<00:21:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, uh, then Miss Wolf will be next. Go ahead. Thank you for joining us.
• up next and actually um Melissa wolf up next and actually um Melissa wolf from<00:30:17.360>
• Wolf to offer her comments so we can keep things moving along here.
• Miss Wolf, any comment? And then Senator Putnam, and then we'll move on.
• I want to thank Miss Wolf and Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wolfe. Do you mind?
• Wolfe? I don't see any lights. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right.
• Wolfe? I don't see any lights. Thank you so much for coming up. Appreciate it. Thank you.
• Wolfe, do you want to come up? Jeremy Wolfe, Executive Director, BRIM. Okay.
• "Jeremy Wolfe, Executive Director, BRIM." "Okay, do you want to address the amendment?"

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And ranchers actually know that the Mexican gray wolf actually helps the ecosystem.
• So the Mexican gray wolf is a very important animal to our desert.
• The Mexican gray wolf is a very important animal to our Southwest here.
• ... ...about the series of bills that have been run on the Mexican wolf has been a really interesting
• Allowing the current flexibility in the overall Mexican wolf program will actually help the state to

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it Shante Wolf? If I didn't, please correct me.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Wolf.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Wolf.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Wolf.
• Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Wolf.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This listing included the Mexican gray wolf as wanting to list them as a predatory animal, which has
• to seven bills that really wants to undermine the federal protections we have on the Mexican gray wolf
• Okay, then let's move on to the next Mexican gray wolf bill, HB 2159, Valeria.
• This listing, they included the Mexican gray wolf as wanting to list them as a predatory animal, which
• Okay then let's move on to the next Mexican gray wolf bill. HB 29 2159 Belavia.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of House bills across education, health, water, land, housing, labor, public safety, and taxation. Several measures dealt with artificial intelligence, including bills on AI disclosures for minors, AI-assisted divorce arbitration, an Arizona AI education program, AI privilege protections, and a required AI course in schools. Other topics included ESA administration funding, a prohibition on public money for certain foreign-controlled genetic sequencing devices, towing regulations, DUI and ignition interlock changes, health facility and nursing facility complaint timelines, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, pharmacy penalties, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction repeal, superintendent performance pay, adoption disclosures in student health settings, anti-Semitism in schools, and a range of water, land, and housing bills. Members frequently raised concerns about local control, unfunded mandates, constitutional issues, and the scope of state intervention. Several bills drew criticism for affecting school curriculum, public education, reproductive rights, protest activity, or tribal communities. Others were supported as technical fixes, consumer protections, or funding measures. The caucus also discussed a series of bills related to the Mexican gray wolf, state land management, solar and wind siting, groundwater transport, and rural development, with some members objecting that the proposals would undermine federal protections or tribal interests. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2957, HCR 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2906, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2830, HB 2076, HB 2411, HB 2136, HB 2665, and HB 2904. The meeting ended with an announcement of the Latino Caucus guest presentation and an emotional tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, followed by presentation of an Affordability Award to Representatives Lorena Austin and Stephanie Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $250,000 is for compensating ranchers and also being able to use with the Game and Fish for wolf
• depredation on livestock, implementing avoidance measures to prevent wolf depredation on livestock with
• program that the federal government started under the Endangered Species Act with the Mexican gray wolf
• Buying power is less, but any state or tribe that has an introduced wolf program can apply for these
• power is less, but it 10 years ago buying power is less but any state or tribe that has a introduced wolf

Bills: HB2014, HB2156, HB2180, HB2554, HCR2047, HR2002

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, appropriation, University of Arizona, education, state budget, biennial budget, state funding, appropriations, budget procedures, fiscal years, Judea

Transcript Highlights:

• important animals have naturally returned to our state under their own wolf power.”
• So we're reestablishing the wolf-livestock coexistence and compensation program.
• And then it's being renamed as the wolf-livestock coexistence and compensation program.
• We can't fund the coexistence program, wolf depredation, wildfire mitigation projects.
• A grizzly bear could, just like a black bear could, just like a wolf could.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have Annette Meeks, followed by Melissa Wolf.
• If you'd like to just come up to Wolf.
• Um, next up, Melissa Wolf followed by Kristen Anderson.
• Um next up<00:32:05.920> Melissa<00:32:06.240> Wolf<00:32:06.440> followed<00:32
• :06.800> by<00:32:07.000> Kristen up Melissa Wolf followed by Kristen up Melissa Wolf followed

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on a health insurance/home care nursing provision and on other consumer protection items. Nick Keis and Emily Walters, both parents of medically complex children, testified that commercial health plans had recently begun capping home care nursing as if it were intermittent home health visits, which they said was contrary to Minnesota law and legislative intent dating to 2010. They described severe impacts on their families, including hospitalizations, loss of nursing coverage, strain on waiver budgets, and the risk of children being forced out of the home and into institutions. Representative Bierman echoed that the bill was a straightforward clarification of existing law, not a new mandate or added cost, and a staff member later cited the statutory definition of home care nursing as ongoing, continuous nursing services that cannot be met through intermittent or visit-based care. The committee also discussed the practical difference between home health visits and private duty/home care nursing, with testimony emphasizing that the latter is medically necessary, assessed, and not unlimited in practice. Laura Sales of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office testified on changes to the Consumer Protection Restitution Fund (CIPRA). She said the fund has begun distributing restitution, starting with consumers harmed by the closure of Woodbury Dental Arts, but that current statutory language limits the office’s flexibility to prorate payments. She asked for an amendment allowing the AGO to distribute available funds more equitably so more eligible consumers can receive some payment, rather than requiring full payment to the oldest claims first. Annette Meeks, representing Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, testified in support of banning sweepstakes gambling in the Commerce Committee omnibus report. She argued that online sweepstakes casinos are an illegal gray-market form of gambling, cited rapid growth and billions in revenue, and said other states have acted through enforcement and legislation to stop them. She urged the committee to include language from Senate File 4474 to clarify state law and prohibit sweepstakes gambling. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting shown; members mainly asked questions and received testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is wolf and elk depredation.
• greater on the wolf side or the elk side.
• didn't have as much claims or the wolf didn't have as much claims or the wolf did<00:52:32.200><
• .” had they had wolf uh wolves that they had they had wolf uh wolves that they had<00:53:40.240> apparently
• c> so<00:53:51.319> I wife thought it was a wolf and so I wife thought it was a wolf and so

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:10.320> and proud to work on was the the wolf and proud to work on was the the wolf
• Our livestock producer costs, you know, the costs related to wolf and elk depredation really increased
• <00:24:19.520> and<00:24:19.679> elk know, the costs related to wolf and elk know,
• the costs related to wolf and elk depradation<00:24:20.400> really<00:24:20.640> increased.
• damages caused by increased wolf damages caused by increased wolf depradation<00:24:34.000> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Donald Wolfe. Mr.
• Donnie Wolfe, I serve as Vice President of Bus Patrol. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
• Wolfe, just a few... A few questions to kind of clarify some of your testimony.
• Wolfe, I should say to my constituents?
• Wolfe, every capital expenditure at any company like yours...

Bills: HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Wolf: Mr.
• Miss Wolf: Mr.
• Miss Wolf: Sure, maybe I'll just respond. Miss Wolf: So, I had a hard time hearing what you asked.
• Miss Wolf: Mr.
• Miss Wolf, thank you.

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Clause C is wolf depredation payments from Representative Burkel's House File 271 that we heard February
• look at it, there are big issues right now for the department, like our operating adjustment, the wolf
• and Elk situation uh where we the wolf and Elk situation uh where we are<00:24:53.919> behind
• Thank you as well for the increased funding for wolf and elk depredation payments.
• and ALK depredation numbers we're wolf and ALK depredation numbers we're seeing<01:15:22.880> the

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers