Transcript Highlights:

• Boat owners who don't have access to marinas have limited options to refill their watercraft.
• Um boat owners directly to the vehicles.
• There is uh a number of um boat of fuel.
• landing, just moving the boat to refuel.
• Uh, you could be transporting AIS, plugging up the boat landing, just moving the boat to refuel.

Bills: HF3604 , HF2236 , HF3709 , HF3766 , HF2400

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state also boasts the second-most boat registrations per capita, with 822,450 registered boats.
• </c><00:37:57.359><c> registrations</c> the second most uh boat registrations the second most uh boat
• Uh while NMMA 822,450 registered boats.
• These materials are very much essential for our products, such as boats, engines, and coatings.
• These materials are very much essential for our products, such as boats, engines, and coatings.

Bills: HF2254 , HF2302 , HF2502 , HF2315 , HF2475 , HF2086

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: HF2254, Minnesota child credit, baby bonus, child tax credit, income tax, individual income tax, tax relief, newborn, birth credit, family tax credit, tax refund, advance payment, Department of Revenue, taxable year, parenting, families with children, child credit, state regulations, families, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have SB 411 relating to capital improvement projects at small boat harbors.
• </c> commercial operators in those small boat commercial operators in those small boat boat<00:36:37.040
• harbors and collaborate and let boat harbors and collaborate and let them<00:36:39.280><c> help</c><
• we're talking about boating.
• We're in the same boat as you. No pun intended. Very good. Okay, good discussion.

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rely on the boating license. Are we only going to charge that boat $1?
• I rely on the boating license. Are we only going to charge that boat $1?
• I'm going to pay this fee if I'm one of 80 people on a party boat.
• I don't pay any fee; just the boat owner pays the fee, whatever the set fee is. That's correct.
• Would the department be able to set different fees for individuals versus party boats?

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2017 in the Bronx, New York, there were 13 fatalities with one single exit.
• Montreal, Quebec, 2023, seven fatalities in a short-term rental with sealed windows and no secondary
• Having been on fatal fires and seeing what happens to the families, I never want to see that again.
• So, again, the study pointed in the Pew study finds that there were no fatalities that were caused by
• There have been fatalities in these buildings, but the single exit is not the cause.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• January 15th, and it evaluates road and bridge conditions, congestion levels, highway safety, traffic fatalities
• contending with roads that are increasingly deteriorated and congested and that have a high traffic fatality
• Our report also looks at traffic safety in New Mexico and finds that the number of traffic fatalities
• The state's traffic fatality rate is still well above the national average.
• Our report finds that from 2020 to 2024, 23% of the traffic fatalities in New Mexico were pedestrians

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• stretch, there are intersections, and that council member was killed, but there had been other fatalities
• There's a section between Walla Walla and Pasco that has had many, many, many fatalities, and because
• And just recently on Christmas Day, we had a family fatality on that stretch of highway: a mother and
• And we have had many collisions in that location, some of them resulting in fatalities.
• most recent ones are in January of 2025, there was a car and semi-truck accident that resulted in a fatality

Summary: The House Local Government Committee held public hearings on four bills. HB 2174 would allow counties, cities, towns, or the Department of Transportation to designate accident risk zones on roads with repeated crashes, hold a public hearing, conduct engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and use half of traffic fine revenue for safety improvements. The sponsor and local officials from Pasco and Colotis described serious crashes and fatalities on U.S. 12 and U.S. 395 and said the bill could provide a temporary safety tool while long-term fixes are pursued. Testifiers generally supported the concept but raised concerns about liability, implementation, youth penalties, and possible targeted enforcement, especially for motorcyclists; several suggested amendments and the committee discussed possible alignment with safe system practices. HB 2267 would direct the Department of Commerce to create a model urban forest management ordinance, update it every 10 years, provide guidance on tree retention and mitigation, and create a grant program for local governments that adopt or substantially adopt the model. Supporters from Washington Conservation Action, The Nature Conservancy, FutureWise, and the Puget Sound Partnership said trees are important for stormwater, heat reduction, air quality, public health, and climate resilience, and argued the bill could help balance housing growth with canopy protection. Opposition from the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association focused on the grant condition tied to adoption of the model ordinance, concerns that the bill would effectively mandate local policy, and worries that prioritizing tree retention could constrain housing production and increase legal risk. HB 2183 would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027, covering immediate response, long-term mitigation, protection of high-risk populations, tribal coordination, and public education. The sponsor and physicians from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility cited the 2021 heat dome as a deadly disaster that overwhelmed emergency services and killed many people in their homes, arguing counties need coordinated planning for future heat events. Local public health officials supported the goal but asked for amendments to reduce duplication with existing emergency and mitigation plans and to clarify leadership roles; L&I requested that the bill reference existing worker-protection rules for outdoor workers. HB 1529 would let counties perform city roadway striping and paving work without counting it against city public works limits or bidding thresholds, if the county can do the work more cheaply or no bids are received. Supporters from Pasco and the Association of Counties said it would help cities use existing county equipment and crews more efficiently, while contractors and labor groups opposed it, warning about reduced competition, quality and oversight concerns, and the loss of prevailing-wage and small-business opportunities. No votes were taken on any of the bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the past ten years, there were a total of four fatalities to school-aged children involving a
• While this sounds alarming, the chance of a violation leading to a fatality is 1 in 107.5 million.
• Only two fatalities resulted from a driver illegally passing a school bus, and notably, both of those
• And I just read to you some of the Texas data that show literally one fatal pedestrian collision due
• In response to that, what we've seen is unfortunate tragedies and fatalities throughout the past year

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

Committee: House Transportation

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:

• In 2020, in Galveston, we had over... ...300 shrimping boats, but now we're down to seven.
• Small businesses are the lifeblood of Texas. ...more local as a boat that unloads its harvests from the
• It's not just this problem; I mean, the cost of fuel for them to take their boats out has...
• There are restaurants where there's images of boats.
• Louisiana, Florida, and the Carolinas that have been built over the years. ...for generations in the sea—boats

Bills: HB2226 , HB2269 , HB2343 , HB2760 , HB3621 , HB4079 , HB4204 , HB4518 , HB4531 , HB4555 , HB4850 , HB4876 , HB4903 , HB4996 , HB5122

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• they did recognize that our workforce, whether it's shipbuilding or preparing marine technicians, boat
• they complete their program in marine engineering management and seamanship, and that is operating boats
• Boats, being a marine technician, fixing gasoline and diesel engines, small engines, composite boat building
• We have a waterfront facility close to Sea Tech, which offers both fast rescue boat and lifeboat training
• simulators fire trainers we have a waterfront facility close to sea tech which offers both fast rescue boat

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard a presentation on Florida’s maritime and ocean economy from Florida Atlantic University, the College of the Florida Keys, and Star Center. Speakers emphasized the importance of maritime industries such as aquaculture, marine engineering, shipbuilding, transportation, coastal resilience, and offshore renewable energy, and described workforce programs, certifications, and partnerships designed to train students and workers for these fields. They also highlighted federal and state initiatives supporting ocean economy research and commercialization, including tech hubs and innovation programs. The committee then considered SB 312 relating to the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition. Senator Gates explained that the bill would allow IHMC to create a subsidiary to commercialize research, similar to Moffitt Cancer Center. Senator Fine offered and the committee adopted a friendly amendment addressing board membership concerns tied to a University of West Florida trustee. However, after questions arose about whether the bill and analysis aligned on whether subsidiaries would be for-profit or not-for-profit, the bill was tabled. Finally, the committee took up SB 270 on the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The bill would extend eligibility for students in certain military/public-service family situations, giving families more time to establish Florida residency after returning to the state. Senator Fine’s amendment was adopted to add AP Capstone Diploma students to the automatic Bright Futures eligibility provisions, alongside IB and Cambridge AICE students. The committee then reported the bill favorably as amended by a vote of 7-0, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, rather than sitting on the child fatality and near-fatality review panel gives me a much different
• </c><00:34:11.280><c> and</c> um sitting on the child fatality and um sitting on the child fatality and
• near<00:34:11.599><c> fatality</c><00:34:12.079><c> review</c><00:34:12.320><c> panel</c><00:34:12.639
• ><c> gives</c><00:34:12.879><c> me</c><00:34:12.960><c> a</c> near fatality review panel gives me a near
• fatality review panel gives me a much<00:34:13.280><c> different</c><00:34:13.520><c> perspective.

Committee: House Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• When we looked specifically at fatal and injury crashes, many of these same behaviors remain near the
• I saw the fatalities that it's showing that 14.29% of all our total fatalities for the year that you
• Hopefully it's not a fatal collision, but oftentimes we do investigate.
• Hopefully it's not a fatal collision, but oftentimes we do, we investigate.
• Hopefully it's not a fatal collision, but oftentimes we do, we investigate about 3,500 collisions here

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• we do to dynamically change and get young people off their devices and back onto the lakes by the boat
• </c><00:04:36.320><c> And</c> lakes by the boat or on shore? And lakes by the boat or on shore?
• </c><00:09:25.680><c> Uh,</c> to to check everybody in that boat.
• Uh, to to check everybody in that boat.
• folks in that boat have a license<00:09:54.800><c> anyway.

Bills: HF624

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This will establish a grant program that investigates non-fatal shootings in the same way as fatal shootings
• This will establish a grant program that investigates non-fatal shootings in the same way as fatal shootings
• President. same way as fatal shootings. The grant same way as fatal shootings.
• </c> increase in clearance of non-fatal increase in clearance of non-fatal shootings.<03:39:35.120><c
• :38.319><c> justice</c><03:39:38.720><c> to</c> non-fatal shootings provides justice to non-fatal shootings

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't turn on the news without learning of another accident or fatality with impaired drivers often
• DWI-related fatalities and offenses are a serious concern in New Hampshire.
• </c><03:18:44.359><c> and</c> Equity DWI related fatalities and Equity DWI related fatalities and offenses
• identify and fatalities properly identify and sentence<03:21:00.279><c> drivers</c><03:21:00.760><c>
• </c><03:54:49.800><c> and</c> responsible for reducing fatal and responsible for reducing fatal and serious

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that this particular bill in this particular universe of vehicles is fatal one way or the
• I don't think that this particular bill in this particular universe of vehicles is fatal one way or the
• On August 12, 2025, Florida Highway Patrol responded to a tragic fatal crash caused by a commercial truck

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• That is only true if it's 100% fatal. It is. It is 100% fatal.
• By whose determination is it 100% fatal? Okay, and that is the point.

Committees: House Agriculture , House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• That is only true if it's 100% fatal. It is 100% fatal, yes. By whose determination is 100% fatal?

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 1885, Representative VanSkoik’s bill. The committee moved the bill “do pass” and approved it by roll call vote, 22-0. After that action, the committee held a special presentation by the Grundy County R-5 FFA agriculture issues team. The FFA students presented a skit and discussion on chronic wasting disease (CWD) and the Missouri Department of Conservation’s targeted removal practices. Their presentation laid out competing concerns from farmers, deer hunters, families using venison, and conservation officials, including crop damage, hunting economics, deer population health, food safety, and the spread of CWD. Committee members asked questions about CWD prevalence in Grundy County, the Wisconsin and Kansas experiences, human health risks, Share the Harvest, testing practices, and the economic effects of deer hunting versus deer damage and collisions. Members praised the students’ preparation and presentation, and several offered suggestions about strengthening their factual support and economic data for competition. The committee also discussed the controversy around MDC’s CWD policies and the decision to pause targeted removals while more research is done. The meeting ended with thanks to the students and adjournment of the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've heard the expression, if you put a boat on a lake in New Hampshire, there's most likely a dam on
• some cases make boating and swimming inaccessibility<01:39:32.400><c> inaccessible</c><01:39:33.119>
• They were pulling up boats earlier than ever because of the drought.
• If we didn't have the dams, those properties would not be able to have boats to begin with.
• We don't have, you know, a dock, boats, all of that.

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Tree workers face significant risks, with fatality rates that are at least 15 times higher than the average
• Non-fatal injuries also occur with frequency roughly three times the national average for all industries
• We respond to nearly all fatal fires throughout the Commonwealth, arson fires, hazardous material incidents
• In my current role, I investigate fatal fires.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 15th hearing of the 194th General Court, focused on retirement group classifications for a range of public safety and related employees. Much of the testimony centered on bills affecting Barnstable County dispatchers and 911 telecommunicators, who argued they should remain in or be moved to Group 2 because their work is highly stressful, life-or-death in nature, and historically had been treated that way. Speakers said the proposed changes would largely grandfather in current employees, would not add costs in some cases, and were needed to correct outdated statutory language and PERAC rulings that had created uncertainty for workers nearing retirement or already retired. Similar support was offered for bills to reclassify 911 dispatchers statewide from Group 1 to Group 2, with testimony from dispatch supervisors, sheriffs, and police associations describing chronic stress, PTSD, staffing shortages, and retention problems. The committee also heard testimony on several other retirement-related bills. Representatives of Massport and campus police supported measures to align retirement benefits for Massport police and public higher education police with other law enforcement groups, arguing they perform comparable duties and face similar risks. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also backed a bill to ease post-retirement earning restrictions for retired police and firefighters so they can continue consulting, training, or advising without penalty. MOSES testified in favor of bills moving certain state employees into Group 2, including forensic scientists at the State Police Crime Lab, DCR aerial foresters, and Department of Correction construction coordinators, citing hazardous work environments and physical danger. Department of Fire Services compliance officers likewise sought Group 4 classification, describing exposure to toxins, fatal fire scenes, and cancer risks. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee heard extensive testimony from affected employees, union and association representatives, and public safety officials, all urging favorable reports on the bills. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked witnesses and staff, and the committee adjourned after a motion and second.