Transcript Highlights:

• district would be able to harvest wood and other natural resources from the land grant, Christmas trees
• They're cleaning out all the dead trees and debris for private landowners, so they will be presenting
• some of the burnt areas so that they can deal with the replanting and taking down of the burnt pine trees
• We've done tree-ring studies, and that particular building...
• In my family tree, I have close to a dozen. and great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers who were married

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, Hurricane Laura came through the western part of the state, and it dropped trees from the coastline
• On a grand scale, unless we want to send people in there with chainsaws to chop trees down and just lay
• when we are losing the paper mills, like we're losing in Louisiana, they have nowhere to sell the trees
• I mean, that's how this appeals to me, is that it's an option for trees that aren't being used for paper

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee then heard and advanced a series of House bills, many of them described as modernization or consumer-protection measures. HB 555, as amended, expands the definition of financial exploitation under the Protection of Eligible Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, adds training and transaction-delay provisions for financial institutions, and was reported favorably after technical and substantive amendments. HB 1166 creates a disclosure form for vacant residential property transactions and was also reported favorably. HB 267, which changes how candidates for the Louisiana Board of Home Inspectors are submitted to the governor, and HB 1195, which updates rules and penalties for athletic contests, exhibitions, and sports-agent/NIL regulation, were each moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced several licensing and regulatory bills. HB 917 modernizes life safety and property protection licensing by reducing burdens on some employees and moving to a three-year license cycle; it was reported favorably. HB 1230 overhauls Louisiana’s money transmission laws, replacing older statutes with a new framework for digital payments and stronger consumer protections; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 1103, described as opening Louisiana for business in certain commerce areas, was reported favorably. HB 478 requires utility bills to clearly label and reimburse overcharges within 90 days and was reported favorably. HB 1096 gives electric cooperatives an opt-out from a prior law allowing boards to amend bylaws without member approval, and HB 921 modernizes private security licensing while restoring penalties for unlicensed activity; both were reported favorably, with HB 921 amended. HB 548 adds CPA licensure pathways to help address shortages, especially in rural areas, and was also reported favorably. Several bills drew more extensive discussion. HB 670 would promote wood pellet manufacturing and related workforce development; supporters argued it could create jobs and help manage timber waste, while an opponent warned about pollution, environmental violations, and the risks of biomass facilities. Committee members raised concerns about permitting and environmental oversight, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably, with discussion of possible follow-up with DEQ. HB 259, dealing with BEAD broadband projects, extends notice requirements before excavation, requires coordination with utility operators, and addresses damage reimbursement; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 848 clarifies repair obligations for ATV and golf cart sellers, aiming to ensure consumers have meaningful repair access and to level the playing field between small dealers and big-box retailers; it was reported favorably after questions about enforcement and service requirements. The committee also heard HB 672 and HB 670 as economic-development measures tied to brick manufacturing and wood pellets, respectively, and both were moved favorably. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that remaining bills would be carried over to the following week, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• saying that they can't have it tied to a stationary object unless there is a trolley system, to a tree
• unless there is a a trolley system system system >> to<00:10:59.279> a<00:10:59.440> tree
• structure<00:11:01.519> or<00:11:02.560> a<00:11:02.800> pole >> to a tree
• or structure or a pole >> to a tree or structure or a pole >> on<00:11:04.800> a<

Bills: HB446, HB446

Keywords: HB446, Daphne, Baldwin County, annexation, municipal boundary, corporate limits, local act, municipal incorporation, city limits expansion, zoning, land use, property tax, municipal services, Section 11-42-6, Judge of Probate, County Road 54 W, County Road 64, Rigsby Road, Highway 181, Alabama State Highway 181

Transcript Highlights:

• long, long ago, yet somehow not so very long, when all the animals and rocks and winds and waters and trees
• She is a great tree. God is separate and apart. God is like the shining sun, far above all things.
• she knew, as Old Turtle said, that each person, each creator, or each creature, each mountain, each tree
• I like the flag with the trees and the star and the lines on either side representing the counties and

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there are trees which are going to be planted in the spring.
• So, any money that would However, there are trees which are going However, there are trees which are
• It's a decision tree, and it work.
• <00:25:42.480> Uh<00:25:42.640> those decision tree and flow charts.
• Uh those decision tree and flow charts.

Bills: HF3643, HF4470, HF4462, HF4366, HF4172, HF3629, HF4356, HF3093

Keywords: Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, memorial park, state park, working group, Minnesota Historical Society, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Saint Paul, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Legislative Coordinating Commission, general fund appropriation, park planning, interpretive services, public engagement, state memorial, land use, natural resources, commemorative legislation, HF4470

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we passed this bill on price gouging tree trimmers a couple years ago too.
• And I know that there were plenty of tree trimmers up there that had gone around and had said, "We'll
• trimmers a couple years gouging uh tree trimmers a couple years ago<01:25:38.480> too.
• And I know that there were plenty<01:25:40.000> of<01:25:40.080> tree<01:25:40.320>
• And then when the of their trees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then reviewed the structure and statutory requirements for its final report. Staff explained that the report must go to the commissioners of commerce, housing finance, and economic development, as well as relevant legislative leaders, and must include a summary of task force activities, adopted findings and recommendations, tort reform recommendations to reduce insurance costs, any draft legislation, and other necessary information. A draft report, likely excluding recommendations and draft legislation, is expected to be circulated before the first January meeting. Most of the meeting focused on the Fair Plan and whether it could be expanded to help homeowners associations, affordable housing, and common interest communities that are struggling to obtain coverage. Supporters said these groups are facing availability problems and often end up in the surplus lines market, which lacks the consumer protections of the admitted market. They argued the Fair Plan could serve as a third-market option with stronger protections and better access, especially for properties that are having difficulty getting quotes. Several members and witnesses raised concerns that the Fair Plan was never intended to be a broad affordability solution and warned against using it to artificially lower prices below risk-based levels. They said doing so could shift losses onto other policyholders through assessments and potentially weaken the broader insurance market. The Fair Plan administrator explained that any expansion would require substantial research, staffing, actuarial and underwriting expertise, reinsurance planning, IT changes, and likely assessments or other capitalization decisions, and that the plan would need to focus on a limited subset of properties rather than the entire market. No votes were taken on policy recommendations, and the discussion ended with agreement that more information and scoping work are needed before any formal recommendation is made.

Transcript Highlights:

• is one of the most expensive forms of power that we have, right up there with burning of trash and trees
• <02:02:10.960> Puno trees and with nuclear power. Puno trees and with nuclear power.
• of them genetically modified biofuels from the Americas or experimenting with liquefying trash and trees
• of them genetically modified biofuels from the Americas or experimenting with liquefying trash and trees
• of them genetically modified biofuels from the Americas or experimenting with liquefying trash and trees

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• health care, utilities, housing, Phone trees, AI chatbots, and endless hold times when dealing with
• No more chatbots, just we're going back to phone trees,' which is, I think, the most universal...”
• “No more chatbots, just we're going back to phone trees, which is, like, all that I think phone trees
• I will say the one thing is this does also regulate phone trees. I mean, it doesn't. It doesn't.”
• “One thing is this does also regulate phone trees.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I have at different times probably 15 turkeys roosting in the trees where I live.
• <00:19:55.760> of<00:19:55.919> of turkeys roosting in the trees of of turkeys roosting
• in the trees of of where<00:19:56.559> I<00:19:56.799> live.
• <00:30:23.520> intent<00:30:23.760> of<00:30:24.000> our<00:30:24.159> tree
• that aligns with the intent of our tree that aligns with the intent of our tree seasons.<00:30:25.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The smoke from trees is already dangerous, but when human materials are combusted, it emits highly toxic
• Local communities planting more trees would help enormously the folks who live in those neighborhoods
• But we lost several of the trees along the acequia, so it's very precarious. Okay, on to slide 7.
• On slide seven, you can see that he has quite a few tanks, his reflectors under his trees to prevent
• For instance, we don't want to line the entire acequia with concrete because then all the trees will

Transcript Highlights:

• Many years ago, you got some federal dollars and you bought the skid steers and the tree saws for these
• And really, especially in your area, where you get all that rainfall and you have trees grow so fast,
• contracting, you know, $10,000 problem to get people in there on those steep dams to remove large trees
• It will then, through AI decision tree, be able to tell you at the end, here's the five programs that
• Here's my situation and my a veteran all of these things it will then through Ai decision tree be able

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't want to print it out because that'd kill too many trees, but you have it electronically, and
• There are some limited opportunities, but I'll tell you, we're shaking every tree.
• You are shaking Down every tree. And thank you so much for answering all of my questions.
• I would like to also the tree I would like shaken. Is it looking? What What kind of hours?
• Like, there is a couple thousand dollars to remove each tree from lands.

Transcript Highlights:

• , or the trees through the weeds, if you will.
• , or the trees through the weeds, if you will.
• , or the trees through the weeds, if you will.
• , or the trees through the weeds, if you will.
• Basically, you know, picking up the weeds and hurting the trees, or the trees through the weeds, if you

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• everybody wants to prevent the spread of invasive species, and I know, like when you guys have the trees
• <00:08:52.760> come<00:08:52.959> in<00:08:53.160> for you guys have the trees
• come in for you guys have the trees come in for Christmas<00:08:54.000> and<00:08:54.200>
• So in other words, if I'm moving plants from the Big Island, I'm like, I don't know, cut trees—the list
• Island I'm like I don't know cut trees Island I'm like I don't know cut trees the<00:12:56.519><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 252 on invasive species, which would broaden the Department of Agriculture’s authority to inspect items moved into or within Hawaii, prohibit the sale of pest-infested merchandise, and allow quarantine, treatment, or destruction of affected materials with clarified penalties. Testifiers from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Farmers Union, and many others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing gaps in current inspection authority and the need to address high-risk non-agricultural commodities such as outdoor furniture and other cargo that can carry pests like red imported fire ants. Members raised concerns about staffing, inspection capacity, commerce impacts, and whether better manifest descriptions or scanners could help target higher-risk shipments. The chairs recommended passage with Department of Agriculture and technical amendments, and the committees adopted the recommendation. The joint CPN/EDT hearing then took up SB 148 on combat sports, which would create a Hawaii Combat Sports Commission and regulate combat sports while prohibiting no-rules contests. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on effective dates and later said other jurisdictions generally use a single commission for boxing and MMA. Supporters, including a professional fighter and a longtime advocate, argued the bill would help revive the sport in Hawaii, improve local opportunities, and reduce costs associated with separate commissions; one testifier initially appeared opposed but clarified he was actually in support. Committee members asked about safety, medical coverage, staffing, vacancies, and whether separate commissions could share staff. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including an Attorney General effective-date amendment, amendments from the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses to increase health-care coverage at fights, and DCCA’s recommendation to unify boxing and MMA under one commission; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. A later joint CPN/Housing agenda began with SB 69 on deposits of public funds, which would require the Director of Finance to consider the benefits of using in-state depositories, including favorable lending terms for affordable housing. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Bankers Association offered comments, and no other testimony or questions were noted before the discussion moved on. The next measure introduced was SB 24 on limited profit housing associations, which would create a regulatory framework and a limited profit housing council; the transcript cuts off as testimony on that bill was beginning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, Hurricane Laura came through the western part of the state, and it dropped trees from the coastline
• On a grand scale, unless we want to send people in there with chainsaws to chop trees down and just lay
• when we are losing the paper mills, like we're losing in Louisiana, they have nowhere to sell the trees
• I mean, that's how this appeals to me, is that it's an option for trees that aren't being used for paper

Bills: SCR53, HB259, HB267, HB478, HB548, HB555, HB617, HB670, HB672, HB797, HB848, HB917, HB921, HB1096, HB1103, HB1166, HB1195, HB1230

Keywords: payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death accounts, estate planning, beneficiary designations, Louisiana law, task force, inheritance, nonprobate transfers, excavation, demolition, infrastructure repair, BEAD Program, utility damage, construction coordination, contact point, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the House author used the analogy of hanging a cinder block from an oak tree.
• You can do that from a full-grown tree, but if you try to hang it from a sapling, it'll kill it.
• You know, the House author used the analogy of hanging a cinder block from an oak tree.
• You can do that from a full-grown tree, but if you try to hang it from a sapling, it'll kill it.

Bills: HB2894, HB3418, HB3415, HB3413, HB3414, HB3416, HB3417, HB3419, HB3420, HB1739, HB1752, HB1979, HB2941, HB2992, HB3075, HB3086, HB3177, HB3269, HB3278, HB3279, HB3497, HB3644, HB4432, HB3720, HB3849, HB3882, HB3919, HB3941, HB4118, HB4141, HB4268, HB4342, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: HB2894, Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act, rural jobs, rural investment, tax credit, capital investment tax credit, state tax credits, economic development, rural fund, rural investor, qualified investment, eligible business, Department of Commerce, rural business, investment certification, tax liability, credit cap, workforce development, small business finance, rural development

Summary: The Senate began with ceremonial recognitions for several student groups and community visitors, including Carl Albert High School’s boys and girls swim teams, the Lady Titans basketball team, and the Choctaw High School speech and debate team. Senators and coaches highlighted the teams’ state championships, academic achievements, and perseverance, and the chamber also welcomed visiting groups from Aline, Owasso, and Tulsa County. After the presentations, the Senate returned to general order and took up a series of House bills. Among the measures considered, House Bill 3720 expanded the Local Food Freedom Act by raising the gross annual sales threshold for local food establishments from under $75,000 to $250,000; it passed 39-4. House Bill 3849 updated the Oklahoma mentoring children of incarcerated parents program and passed 42-1. House Bill 3882 created a revolving fund for industrial and lake access improvement projects and passed 33-9, then also passed the emergency clause 39-4. House Bill 3919 reduced county free fair association boards from nine members to five to address quorum problems and passed 45-0. House Bill 3941 codified a pay raise for a court secretary and passed 45-0, including its emergency clause. House Bill 4118 updated the family caregiver tax credit and passed 44-1. House Bill 4141 removed the sunset on the statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator position and passed 45-0. The chamber also debated several policy bills more extensively. House Bill 4268 created a growth-based teacher compensation program using Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Funds and restored a $5,000 stipend for national board-certified teachers; it passed 45-0 and its emergency clause also passed 45-0. House Bill 4342 allowed prior instances of domestic violence or abuse to be admitted as propensity evidence in court, with supporters saying it would help interrupt the cycle of abuse and opponents raising due process concerns; it passed after debate. House Bill 4428 required public pension plans to base proxy voting decisions solely on financial considerations, and House Bill 4429 required proxy advisors to disclose when recommendations were not based on financial analysis; both passed after debate, 35-8 and 37-7 respectively. Two Rule 7-9 motions to pull House Bills 4422 and 4423 from committee and place them on general order failed by recorded vote. The Senate then announced Denim Day for domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, noted a few final reminders, and adjourned until April 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Yeah, the city's going to ask them to either berm it or put some trees there or something like that
• it<00:18:55.640> or<00:18:55.840> put<00:18:56.040> some<00:18:56.160> trees
• to either berm it or put some trees to either berm it or put some trees there<00:18:56.720> or

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The conference committee met on House Bill 69, which concerns Department of Health land transfers involving property from the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander. Members reviewed the two main pieces of the bill: a transfer of land to WYDOT for a maintenance yard, and a separate parcel intended for possible residential development. Much of the discussion focused on clarifying that the residential parcel would still be subject to zoning and likely sold through a public process, while the WYDOT parcel would remain a state-to-state transfer. A central issue was whether the City of Lander should be specifically included in the consultation language. Committee members agreed the city should be consulted on both sections, but there was debate over whether the bill should say the department is “authorized and directed” to convey the WYDOT parcel or use more permissive language such as “may” or simply “authorized.” Members noted that the city would have zoning authority over the residential parcel, but not necessarily a veto over the WYDOT transfer. The discussion also covered the practical need for a new WYDOT facility because the current yard is too small. The committee ultimately agreed to add the City of Lander to the consultation language, keep the WYDOT transfer directed, and leave the residential section permissive. They also approved a reporting requirement so the legislature would be notified when the transfers are completed. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the compromise and prepare a conference committee report for signing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represented two clients in the Bent Tree project, the Hagen family and the Langridge family.
• In the Bent Tree settlements, after years of complaining, they finally got me involved, and we got the
• After these settlements in the Bent Tree project, there were other applications.
• You know, buildings, trees, hills, whatever.

Transcript Highlights:

• I went through trees. Um, don't remember a lot about it.
• I went through trees. Um, don't remember a lot about it.
• I went through<00:09:13.279> trees.
• Um, don't remember a lot through trees. Um, don't remember a lot about<00:09:16.080> it.
• Um, fortunately we got the motor started and were able to get into some trees and hang on just enough

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 47 would extend death benefits to paid and volunteer search and rescue personnel, treating them more like other emergency responders if killed in the line of duty. The sponsor and a Wolf County Search and Rescue chief described the dangers of the work and gave personal examples of serious injuries and near-death incidents to explain why the benefit was needed. Members asked about the fiscal note, which the sponsor said was minimal, and the bill received unanimous favorable passage. Senate Bill 159 was a reintroduced missing- and unidentified-persons measure intended to align state law with the federal Billy’s Act and improve reporting to NCIC and NamUs. The sponsor said the earlier version had technical problems and incorrectly assigned reporting responsibilities, so the bill was cleaned up to clarify that local agencies are the reporting agents. The Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police supported the bill, saying it would help bring missing people home and aid recovery efforts. The committee passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression. Senate Bill 104 created a 25-foot safety perimeter around first responders, including law enforcement and EMTs, and would penalize repeated interference, harassment, or intimidation with escalating offenses up to a felony on the fourth offense. The sponsor and supporters said the bill was needed to protect responders and give them room to work, citing examples of chaotic emergency scenes and a Louisville EMT who said interference was a frequent problem. Some members raised concerns about the felony penalty, the definition of harassment, and possible First Amendment issues for people filming police activity, but the sponsor said the bill defined harassment narrowly and was aimed at repeated, intentional interference. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on Senate Bill 104.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an image of the decision tree, or at least the part of the tree that would fit on the slide,
• We are aware that this is a large and complex document, and tools like the decision tree represent our
• This tree takes both developers and CEPA lead agencies through a series of steps with yes-no responses
• This tree takes both developers and CEPA lead agencies through a series of steps with yes-no responses
• This tree would also helpfully avoid differences of interpretation between developers and CEPA lead agencies

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.