Video & Transcript : 'disaster mitigation' :

Page 40 of 406
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • through the reduction, reuse, and recycling of California's resources, environmental education, disaster
  • fund that will be collecting funds from producers to address and mitigate legacy plastic pollution.
  • To address and mitigate legacy plastic pollution and impacts from plastic pollution in communities, that
  • Our site mitigation and restoration program cleans up contamination from the past and restores land for
  • To mitigate and prevent future events from happening. Very good. Thank you all so much.
Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard department budget overviews and several budget change proposals from CalRecycle, CalEPA, and DTSC. CalRecycle presented its 2026-27 budget and discussed priorities including edible food recovery, composting, beverage container recycling, and landfill response. Members asked about funding for food recovery grants, processing fees for wine and spirits containers under SB 1013, plastic packaging generation under SB 54, restaurant food waste requirements under SB 1383, and litter cleanup efforts. CalRecycle said edible food recovery has helped recover more than 300 million meals, but there is no sustained funding source; it also explained that beverage container processing fees are set by statute and that new producer responsibility and infrastructure investments are intended to improve recycling rates over time. The committee then heard CalEPA’s overview, including the agency’s response to climate, air quality, water, toxics, and enforcement challenges. Secretary Garcia emphasized federal rollbacks, methane monitoring, AB 617 implementation, safe drinking water progress, Exide cleanup, and pesticide reduction efforts. Members questioned the agency about regional gasoline blends, authority and technical thresholds for landfill intervention, and the growth in the Secretary’s office staffing and budget. CalEPA said the budget increase reflects expanded coordination, technology modernization, hazardous materials response, and legal capacity. The committee also discussed a proposed landfill support, response, and enforcement package for subsurface elevated temperature events, with CalEPA describing a coordinated multi-agency approach and the need for stronger early response tools. DTSC presented its department overview and several BCPs. Director Butler highlighted progress on permit backlog reduction, safer consumer products rulemaking, Exide cleanup, PFAS work, and planning for emerging waste streams such as solar panels and lithium batteries. The Board of Environmental Safety described its oversight role, public meetings, permit appeals, and fee-setting authority, and identified community concerns about cumulative impacts, hazardous waste planning, accessible data, and engagement. The committee also heard a proposal to expand DTSC’s Office of Policy into a statewide planning division to implement hazardous waste management plan recommendations and improve reporting systems. Members raised concerns about whether the new division duplicated existing work, but DTSC said it would fill identified gaps and improve coordination. Public testimony largely supported the proposals, especially ongoing funding for edible food recovery, composting, safer consumer products enforcement, and the coordinated landfill response package. Witnesses from StopWaste, California Against Waste, Waste Management, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and water advocacy groups urged continued or increased funding for these programs. No votes were taken; the chair held all items open and adjourned the hearing after public comment.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/02/26

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> species reforms, enhanced disaster species reforms, enhanced disaster relief,<00:21:07.760><c> increased
  • My last point is around disaster recovery gaps and the climate volatility that I've also experienced
  • And so food safety and food system require us to have state-level or micro disaster relief mechanisms
  • My last point is around disaster recovery gaps and the climate volatility that I've also experienced
  • The creation of maybe a micro disaster recovery fund would be awesome.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug 5th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 931 reauthorizes the Essential Mitigation Fund.
  • Basically, it says that the money that would be in the mitigation fund would come from existing PG&E
  • The mitigation fund would come from existing PG&E funds.
  • Whenever that bill comes, if it does, it's our hope that we would wrap this into it as a mitigation.
  • The Mitigation Fee Act has strict boundaries on how the fees are set through a nexus study.
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 5, 2026, and first approved a large consent calendar of bills, then heard and voted on a long series of measures covering health care, housing, energy, labor, public safety, insurance, and immigration-related issues. Several bills were moved on roll call with no or limited opposition, including SB 999 on delaying the Health Minimum Essential Coverage report deadline, SB 931 on Diablo Canyon’s mitigation fund, SB 952 on State Water Project clean energy procurement, SB 1288 on nonprobate asset beneficiary notification, SB 1371 on solid waste labor-dispute contract clauses, SB 1014 on housing development fee estimates, SB 1283 on EV charging station permitting, SB 1209 and SB 1244 on insurance enforcement and broker compensation disclosure, SB 1359 on gas utility infrastructure oversight, SB 677 and SB 908 on housing streamlining, SB 1323 on medical facility procedures for people in immigration custody, SB 938 on peace officer training waivers for former federal immigration officers, SB 1272 on code-violation enforcement timelines for new homeowners, SB 1117 on ADU impact fees, SB 1196 on utility hookups for small energy projects, SB 1299 on sprinkler fitter certification, and AB 2597 appropriating funds for state legal settlements. The committee also approved its suspense calendar and later lifted SB 1359 from call with an added aye vote. Testimony generally followed the bills’ themes. Supporters argued that the measures would improve transparency, reduce costs, streamline housing and energy projects, protect consumers, and strengthen public safety or worker protections. Opponents or “opposed unless amended” witnesses raised concerns about implementation burdens, disclosure mandates, labor and compliance issues, local government costs, and the scope of some proposals. Notable points of contention included SB 869, where restaurant groups objected to the on-menu sugar warning approach and urged more flexible disclosure methods, and SB 1244, where insurance industry representatives argued the bill would impose unworkable disclosure obligations on brokers and agents. SB 1272 drew opposition from code enforcement and county groups who warned it could delay health-and-safety enforcement, while SB 1117 drew opposition from special districts, counties, and fire-related groups concerned about reduced fee revenue for infrastructure. The committee also heard public comment on several bills not presented that day, including opposition to wildfire mitigation/CEQA-related legislation, staffing regulation fees, and education and demographic-data bills. Overall, the hearing was dominated by fiscal and policy debates over housing affordability, energy infrastructure, consumer transparency, and the balance between regulatory streamlining and local or industry compliance costs.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We're stuck in a cycle where corporate neglect leads to unnatural disaster, and ratepayers are asked
  • Where corporate neglect leads to unnatural disaster, and ratepayers are asked to foot the bill.
  • SB 256, the Enhancing Infrastructure for Wildfire Mitigation Act, will strengthen California’s wildfire
  • mitigation by improving planning, enhancing emergency response, and increasing public safety through
  • However, the recent wildfires revealed gaps in our state’s mitigation efforts.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on utility rates, wildfire safety, carbon capture, methane reduction, large energy users, low-income energy programs, and clean energy supply chains. Early items included SB 613, which would direct state agencies to prioritize reducing methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, and SB 614, which would allow California to move forward with carbon dioxide pipeline safety rules and potentially lift the state’s moratorium on new CO2 pipelines. Both bills drew support from advocates and industry-related witnesses, with no opposition registered at the time they were presented, and the committee indicated it would vote once quorum was established. After quorum was called, the committee took up SB 57, which would require the Public Utilities Commission to establish tariffs for large energy users such as data centers to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers and address stranded infrastructure costs. Supporters argued the bill would protect affordability and encourage clean energy use, while opponents, including utilities and business groups, warned it could create uncertainty and interfere with existing regulatory processes. The committee also heard SB 256 on wildfire mitigation and emergency response, including undergrounding, PSPS communication, and removal of abandoned lines; supporters emphasized the need for stronger action after recent fires, while utilities raised concerns about duplicative requirements and public disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information. Both SB 57 and SB 256 were approved on roll calls. The committee then heard SB 647, which would expand and standardize oversight of low-income energy savings programs and performance metrics, with strong support from community advocates and some neutral or “tweener” positions from utilities that sought further work on data collection and implementation. SB 787 followed, proposing a state strategy to coordinate supply chains and workforce development for clean energy industries including EVs, building decarbonization, and offshore wind; it received broad support and no opposition. The committee also considered SB 332, a study bill on utility ownership models and affordability reforms, which drew strong support from consumer and climate advocates but opposition from utilities and business groups concerned about bias, investor signals, and executive compensation provisions. The consent calendar was later approved, and several bills were reported out with votes or held open for absent members to add on.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Land & Resource Management Jul 21st, 2026

Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • deputy director of our community development and revitalization department, who will speak to our disaster
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development to help Texans recover after disasters.
  • I'm the senior deputy director for the Disaster Recovery Programs at the Land Office.
  • At the Land Office, we support all of the Housing and Urban Development-funded disaster recovery and
  • mitigation programs.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Mar 19th, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • investors in the mortgage market and work alongside existing programs that help homeowners after disasters
  • and clarify that mortgage servicer, the mortgage servicer may offer borrowers forbearance loss mitigation
  • AB597 is a bill that strengthens consumer protections for Californians after disasters.
  • are not emitted surplus line markets with the increasing risk of climate intensified wildfires and disasters
  • policies that facilitate the efficient construction of housing. in order to be prepared when a natural disaster
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE SENATE BILL FOR 93 DEALING WITH MITIGATION BANKS
  • AS MOST OF YOU KNOW MITIGATION BANKS ARE VERY COMPLEX.
  • THE BILL ESTABLISHES A STATUTORY CREDIT RELEASE SCHEDULE SO ALL MITIGATION BANKS ARE TREATED EQUALLY,
  • WETLANDS MITIGATION THOUGH I APPRECIATE THERE MAY BE CHANGES COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
  • AT FIRST MY QUESTION IS ABOUT APPLYING CREDITS USING MULTIPLIERS FOR MITIGATION OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jan 20th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • that's going to be an important issue zero mitigations.
  • It's an issue that we've seen in every disaster.
  • Don't forget that whether it was the Camp Fire, the Tubbs Fire, or other disasters that have happened
  • in general that are paid for pursuant to DRIO or the Governor's disaster... ...paid for as pursuant
  • to DRIO or the Governor's disaster declaration would come out of the SFEU.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Apr 28th, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • That certainly does mitigate harm, but what we're concerned about is, as my colleague just described,
  • excessive holiday surcharges, storage fees during facility closures, and charges during natural disasters
  • Given the increasing unpredictability of natural disasters like the L.A. wildfires, severe storms, and
  • and CHP, who are the frontline individuals during the most crucial of times in California, when disasters
  • Thank you. crucial of times in California when disasters are most dire believe very strongly that having
Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard a series of bills, beginning with AB 431, which would create a statewide framework for advanced air mobility infrastructure and planning. The author and supporters from AUVSI, Joby Aviation, United Airlines, Wisk Aero, the City of Long Beach, and Archer argued the bill would help California lead in eVTOL technology, support jobs, reduce congestion, and improve sustainability. The committee accepted amendments, and AB 431 passed on a do-pass-as-amended vote to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered AB 630, dealing with abandoned and hazardous RVs. The author and supporters, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office, said the bill would help local governments address unsafe RVs, curb “van-lording,” and improve notice and reporting requirements before dismantling certain unclaimed vehicles. Opponents from the Western Center on Law and Poverty and ACLU California Action argued the bill would destroy needed shelter for unhoused people and that the notice and valuation process could harm vulnerable residents. Members discussed the bill’s focus on dismantling rather than towing, and AB 630 passed as amended. Other measures taken up included AB 314 on transit-oriented development around high-speed rail stations, AB 1223 on Sacramento County transportation funding flexibility, AB 1111 on flexibility for zero-emission school bus mandates, AB 1190 on limiting fees charged by DMV online business partners, AB 987 on predatory towing fees, and AB 911 on a narrow exemption from zero-emission fleet rules for telecommunications bucket trucks and sail-on wheels. Testimony generally split between supporters emphasizing affordability, local flexibility, consumer protection, or emergency readiness, and opponents raising concerns about implementation, mandates, or unintended consequences. Several bills were advanced by committee vote, with some members recording no votes or abstentions on measures they said needed further work.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • They lost 225 homes that were mitigated out with FEMA.
  • The disaster itself is going to be expensive and tough.
  • itself going to be expensive disaster itself going to be expensive and<00:41:24.800><c> tough</c><00
  • Once they do that a few times, they finally start mitigating and buying them out and moving them out.
  • and buying them out and start mitigating and buying them out and moving<00:43:42.480><c> them</c><00
Summary: The committee met for its third meeting of the session and received an update on the Capitol renovation project from Finance and Administration Secretary Holly Johnson and State Budget Director John Hicks. They reported the project budget remains $291.52 million, with Messer Construction as construction manager, and said the temporary legislative chamber completion has slipped into 2025 because of wiring, voting machine, KET camera, and canopy work. They outlined the current bid schedule: site and utility bids due February 27, 2025; roofing and fourth-floor structural work due April 24; major renovation bids due May 23; bid review in late May and early June; roofing and fourth-floor work beginning in late June; and overall construction starting July 7, 2025. A major focus of the discussion was the project contingency, which officials said is only $10.8 million for an older building with significant unknown conditions. They explained that earlier investigations led to about $60 million in value engineering cuts, including more than $40 million tied to unexpectedly extensive terrace damage on the north, south, and east sides. The terraces were originally expected to need only minor work, but officials said investigations showed reconstruction would eventually be necessary and could not be handled by simple restoration. They also said the mechanical equipment plan changed from a basement location to a vault under the east parking lot, and that the west terrace will still see some ADA-related work. Committee members questioned why the terrace work was not included in the current budget, whether doing it later would cost more, and why bids and construction planning had taken so long. Officials said the terraces were left out because of cost, that future work would likely be more expensive because of market escalation, and that the timing reflected extensive investigation needed to produce reliable bids. Members also raised concerns about scaffolding and the temporary chambers; officials clarified that the scaffolding discussed was for the separate Capitol Dome project, not the chamber project, and said the Dome scaffolding is part of that project cost and is expected to come down in early 2027. They said the temporary chambers are expected to be used for three sessions, through the 28th session, with a return to the Capitol planned for the 29th session, and that public tours of the Capitol would likely end around June depending on the bid results and construction schedule.
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session, 3/23/2026 #2

Maryland House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, what this does is it disasters.
  • in the time of disasters, communities in the time of disasters, then then then what<01:26:36.240><c>
  • House Bill 1351, Home Improvement Contractors Disaster Mitigation Services and Fraudulent Insurance Act
  • Contractors Disaster Improvement Contractors Disaster Mitigation<01:56:17.960><c> Services</c><01:56
  • mitigation mitigation for<01:58:57.560><c> their</c><01:58:57.760><c> homes.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Day 25 (2-11-26)

Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • task force to study preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience
  • , and planning for natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth.
  • Resolution 96, a concurrent resolution reestablishing<00:30:01.200><c> the</c><00:30:01.440><c> disaster
  • prevention and resiliency task force to study preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, risk assessment
  • , infrastructure resilience, and planning for natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth.
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call establishing a quorum, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The House clerk then informed the Senate that the House had passed House Bills 49 and 470 and requested concurrence. The clerk also read the second-reading calendar, which included Senate Bills 45, 98, 118, 145, 153, 155, 158, and 160, all of which were sent to the Rules Committee. Committee reports placed several bills on the calendar, including SB 69, 56, 72, 57, 172, 9, 141, and 110, with various committee substitutes and title amendments noted. The Rules Committee later posted those bills for the next day’s regular orders, and the Committee on Committees made several referrals, including SB 41 to Appropriations and Revenue; SBs 124 and 152 to Education; SBs 125, 138, 162, and 170 to Judiciary; SJR 90 to Transportation; SBs 47, 104, and 159 to Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and Senate Resolutions 85 through 89 to the floor. During floor business, members filed amendments and co-sponsorship requests, including amendments to SB 39 and SB 110 and co-sponsorships for bills such as SB 98, SB 172, SB 63, SB 135, SB 179, and SB 169. Senators also made several announcements and remarks, including notice of upcoming committee meetings, a reception for working families, the National Farm Machinery Show, and concerns about coal, energy affordability, and a constituent’s high utility bill. One senator called up Senate Resolution 82 for the next day, and the chamber adopted Senate Resolution 84, honoring Harriet Thompson of Winchester for her service to the Clark County Republican Women’s Club and the Republican Party. New legislation was introduced, including SB 180 on property valuation, SB 184 on education reporting, SBs 185-187 on branch budget recommendations and branch budget bills, SB 188 on railroad safety, and SCR 96 to reestablish the disaster prevention and resiliency task force. No floor votes were taken on the bills themselves during this meeting beyond the adoption of SR 84. The Senate then recessed for committee meetings, returned, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Apr 27th, 2026

Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • , 100% mitigation in that regard, right?
  • Okay, that's after a disaster.
  • Yes, if the main grocery store is destroyed, it Okay, that's after a disaster.
  • So outside of a major disaster like that where the entire economy has to recover, can you tell me, can
  • , Identified area that qualified by this definition, not because of a disaster.
Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections. The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections. House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections. House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jan 13th, 2026

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:
  • most up to speed on the best training methods available when it comes to water reuse and flood mitigation
  • newly planted trees to begin delivering shade clean air stormwater retention and other climate mitigation
  • to wait for a bus on a hot summer day, and designing infrastructure to prevent a coastal flooding disaster
  • in Greater Boston... ...and designing infrastructure to prevent a coastal flooding disaster in Greater
  • Investing more in this program will help avoid disaster costs later on.
Bills: S2542
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jul 2nd, 2026

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm afraid that it could be a disaster.
  • We've really had a week where we had a natural disaster that had profound economic impacts on the businesses
  • that AI companies assess the catastrophic risks their systems might pose or publish how they are mitigating
  • assessments of the catastrophic risks posed by their models and safety plans describing how they mitigate
  • It’s a financial disaster that tears apart families and households.
Summary: The House Bonding Committee met to hear testimony on H. 5527, the Mass Wins Act, with Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley opening by describing the bill as a follow-on to Mass Leads. He said the proposal includes $305 million in bond authorizations, with $180 million for new programs and $125 million to expand existing ones, plus $140 million in deauthorizations of unused or redundant authorizations. He highlighted investments in applied AI and quantum, robotics, business expansion capital, defense innovation, global business attraction, ag tech and food science, downtowns, and the creative economy, and said the bill is intended to support geographic equity and small business growth across the Commonwealth. Committee members questioned the administration on several policy sections, including the MassCEC climate-tech certification language, housing-related provisions tied to 40B compliance and site plan review, the removal of the LCSW exam, AI transparency and federal preemption concerns, and the effect of lower LLC filing fees. Paley generally said some contested sections were added by the Economic Development Committee rather than the administration, defended the MassCEC discretion language as necessary for climate certification, and said the administration would follow up on committee-added provisions. He also said the bill’s housing provisions were meant to help address the state’s need for more homes and that the deauthorizations were housekeeping measures that did not affect current capital plan projects. Public testimony covered a wide range of topics. AARP and local advocates urged a statewide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs, arguing they are heavily used in scams, impose high fees, and drain money from seniors and local economies. Housing groups supported codifying site plan review and adding parking reform and YIGBY-style housing on faith-owned land. Building trades asked to include off-site fabrication in prevailing wage law. The Massachusetts Public Banking Campaign backed the bill and urged inclusion of a public bank concept. Several witnesses supported Section 106, the Transparency and Frontier AI Act, as a way to require safety plans, audits, incident reporting, and whistleblower protections for the largest AI companies, while an AI startup group argued the section would overregulate smaller firms and should be separated from the bond bill. No votes were taken during the hearing.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jul 2nd, 2026

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm afraid that it could be a disaster.
  • Thank you for the opportunity to testify Mitigating risks from AI.
  • assessments of the catastrophic risks posed by their models and safety plans describing how they mitigate
  • Importantly, the risk assessments and compliance with safety... how they mitigate those risks.
  • It's a financial disaster that tears apart families and households.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Minnesota Homes Program and helping homeowners strengthen their homes is a crucial step toward mitigating
  • the random, unpredictable, and increasingly common disasters facing many Minnesotans today, from wildfires
  • through the Florida Strengthens Alabama Homes program, adding fortified roofs and investing in mitigation
  • through the Florida Strengthens Alabama Homes program, adding fortified roofs and investing in mitigation
  • through the Florida Strengthens Alabama Homes program, adding fortified roofs and investing in mitigation
Bills: HF4881 , HF4867 , HF4422 , HF4223
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Jun 30th, 2026

Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:
  • In response to these unprecedented disasters, our public water systems have invested significant resources
  • common-sense measures, such as incident-specific response procedures for wildfires as part of their disaster
  • SB 1153 strikes an appropriate balance by requiring water districts to focus on meaningful mitigations
  • The number of industrial disasters across California in the past month alone, from the GKN aerospace
  • Industrial disasters across California in the past month alone, from the GKN aerospace manufacturing
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 18th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This has been a disaster.
  • This has been a disaster.
  • The meetings were a disaster, some lasting 10 seconds, other meetings not allowing public comment.
  • Senate Bill 904 by Senator Seyarto, an act relating to disaster recovery.
  • recovery efforts. ...ensure that no wildfire disaster communities get overlooked in future recovery