Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jason Waddell, and I'm the city manager for the city of Prior Lake.
• A little over a year ago, we lost our local newspaper in Prior Lake.
• It was the Prior Lake American. To meet our statutory requirements, we had to find an alternative.
• We actually have a new online local newspaper called the Prairie Lake News Compass.
• But, for example, the gentleman from Prior Lake said that 3 percent of the residents of Prior Lake read

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial funding bill clarifies that...
• The Forest Lake Veterans Memorial funding bill clarifies that the city of Forest Lake is the responsible
• Ron Miller, the chair of the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee.
• Um the underground downtown Forest Lake.
• </c><01:01:57.040><c> overpass</c> to complete the Sturgeon Lake overpass to complete the Sturgeon Lake

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you deleted the Umbog Lake State Park marina facilities and you reduced the original appropriation
• that was there for the Connecticut Lake headarters road repairs, and then you added $35,000 to address
• Um, you deleted the Umbog Lake<00:08:22.400><c> State</c><00:08:22.639><c> Park</c><00:08:22.960><c>
• marina</c><00:08:23.560><c> facilities</c><00:08:24.560><c> and</c> Lake State Park marina facilities
• </c><00:18:24.559><c> Village</c> $325,000 for Pillsbury Lake Village $325,000 for Pillsbury Lake Village

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My district is in the heart of lake country in northeastern Minnesota.
• </c><00:52:11.240><c> and</c> critical to preserving our lakes and critical to preserving our lakes and
• I am the executive director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers.
• We have over 300 lake association members representing about 60,000 lake home and cabin owners, anglers
• </c><00:54:56.400><c> associations</c> College Study Lake associations College Study Lake associations

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are charged with protecting Lake Tahoe.
• TRPA leads the Lake Tahoe aquatic invasive species prevention and control program.
• So if you follow the voluntary standards, then you're allowed onto the lake.
• And if you don't follow the voluntary standards, you're not allowed on the lake.
• How is it voluntary if you can't go on the lake if you don't do it?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and industrial access, and guys, I am 100% believer that lake and industrial access may be the thing
• It's about lake access. Thank you very much for bringing this up.
• Lake McMurtry, but it is in two different counties.
• Can you talk about what is the process as far as gaining access to the lake.
• And again, if we have a lake, if we're able to have a lake access program where the legislature dedicates

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they can't live by the lake because kids are swimming in it, but they could go to the lake or go to
• So you can't live within a thousand feet of the intercoastal or a lake or a pool or a pond or a stream
• So what that does, it's not any lake, it's not the intercoastal, it's not the beach.
• We have pools, lakes... Our state is surrounded by water.
• We have pools, lakes, beaches, and parks, places that would create restricted zones everywhere.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee met to consider three bills. HB 199, relating to Veterans Court, was presented as a repeat measure aligning Veterans Court procedures with mental health and drug court laws and allowing post-adjudicatory referrals. A technical amendment was adopted, numerous witnesses waived in support, and the bill passed unanimously 17-0. The committee then took up HB 45, which would add public swimming pools and public bathing places to existing sex offender residency, work, volunteer, and visitation restrictions. The sponsor argued it would protect children and apply only to specified sex offenses. Several members and public witnesses raised concerns that the bill’s definitions were overly broad, could effectively ban registrants from much of Florida, and could increase homelessness and make offenders harder to track. An amendment narrowing the bill’s scope and definitions was adopted after debate, and the bill passed 11-5 as amended. Finally, HB 17, the Jason Rayner Act, was heard to clarify that force may not be used to resist an arrest by an officer acting in the performance of official duties, retain good-faith language, add manslaughter to offenses requiring a life sentence when reclassified, and increase the severity level for battery on a law enforcement officer. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen protections for officers; opponents argued it could sweep in accidental or less culpable conduct, while supporters said existing law already covered serious cases. A clarifying amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 16-0 as amended. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm here at the request of a company that is located in Moses Lake.
• I have one more comment: the name of the company in Moses Lake is 12, and that's a...
• The name of the company in Moses Lake is 12, and that's a perfect company to be supporting right now.
• I'm Deputy Mayor Don Myers from the City of Moses Lake.
• operations here in Moses Lake.

Bills: SB6172, SB6246, SB5932

Keywords: Washington climate policy, greenhouse gas, GHG emissions, cap-and-invest, carbon market, emissions trading, allowances, covered entity, coal-fired power plant, coal plant, electric utility, electric generating facility, fossil fuels, natural gas, imported electricity, emissions leakage, air pollution, renewable energy transition, industrial emissions, railroad emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• connection, connecting the east and west sides of Lake Washington with light rail. ...connecting the
• As you know well, the cross-lake connection would have been open by now if not for various permitting
• My name is Eric Straka, and I'm a senior at Lake Washington High School.
• The city of Moses Lake is a participant in a tax increment financing area that the Port of Moses Lake
• The city of Moses Lake is a participant in a tax increment financing area that the port of Moses Lake

Bills: HB2313, HB2451, HB2298, HB2566, HB2517

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• Most recently, Howard Lake opened the first net-zero library in the state of Minnesota, so that means
• Most recently, Howard Lake opened the first net-zero library in the state of Minnesota, so that means
• Most recently, Howard Lake opened the first net-zero library in the state of Minnesota, so that means
• Most recently, Howard Lake opened the first net-zero library in the state of Minnesota, so that means
• Most recently, Howard Lake opened the first net-zero library in the state of Minnesota, so that means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have to learn how to work together, and I just keep going back to the Lake and Riley bill
• the federal kind of model legislation at the federal level<00:03:14.040><c> the</c><00:03:14.159><c> lake
• Riley</c><00:03:14.959><c> bill</c><00:03:15.519><c> got</c><00:03:16.159><c> broad</c> level the lake
• and Riley bill got broad level the lake and Riley bill got broad bipartisan<00:03:17.599><c> support
• </c><00:04:37.280><c> and</c><00:04:37.440><c> Riley</c> keep going back to the lake and Riley keep going

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My district goes from about 10 miles north of Detroit Lakes up to the northwest angle.
• Anthony Village and New Brighton, Columbia Heights and Hilltop, Spring Lake Park, and Fidley.
• I represent the Briner Lakes area.
• </c><00:02:49.840><c> It's</c> represent the Briner Lakes area.
• It's represent the Briner Lakes area.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee on the Environment budget for Senate File 2077 met to introduce members and staff, then walked through the Senate and House budget spreadsheets side by side. Nonpartisan staff explained that the Senate budget was built around a smaller general fund increase and more use of environmental and dedicated funds, while the House met its target through several reductions, including cuts to DNR, PCA, and Board of Water and Soil Resources appropriations. The committee reviewed major agency items for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Zoo, and other accounts, including operating adjustments, permit-related funding, and transfers between funds. Several major differences were highlighted. For the PCA, the Senate included operating adjustments, permitting efficiency funding, composting grants, outreach funding, and a closed landfill investment fund approach that repeals an expiring statutory appropriation, while the House instead extends that appropriation for four more years. For the DNR, the Senate included operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, aquatic invasive species funding, trail grants, outdoor schools for all, abandoned watercraft enforcement, and a sustainable foraging task force; the House had fewer of these fee and policy items and used reductions to meet its target. The committee also noted Senate-only policy provisions on outreach to diverse communities, field citations and mercury certification for skin-lightening products, disabled veteran license fee changes, and a moratorium on foraging rulemaking until July 1, 2027. Agency testimony followed. The MPCA commissioner praised both chambers for recognizing core agency work and urged adoption of operating adjustments, the closed landfill fund access, and the air appropriation increase. The DNR assistant commissioner supported operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, and the veteran license proposal, but raised concerns about the Senate’s foraging task force language, saying it overweights consumptive users and could limit the agency’s ability to manage foraging without clear data. He also noted support for the land transfer funding and said the agency would continue working with the committee on unresolved issues. No votes were taken in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are charged with protecting Lake Tahoe.
• TRPA leads the Lake Tahoe aquatic invasive species prevention and control program.
• So if you follow the voluntary standards, then you're allowed onto the lake.
• And if you don't follow the voluntary standards, you're not allowed on the lake.
• How is it voluntary if you can't go on the lake if you don't do it?

Summary: The committee heard three water- and environment-related bills. AB 1663, by Assembly Member Wallace, would provide relief for high desert homeowners by allowing permits without mitigation fees for removing or trimming up to 10 Western Joshua trees for health and safety needs, including defensible space. Support came from the California Association of Realtors and the Community Water Systems Alliance, and members discussed balancing conservation with property maintenance. The bill was moved out of committee on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 1772, by Assembly Member Papin, sought to create a statewide framework to prevent the spread of golden mussels through watercraft decontamination standards, reciprocity for certifications, and long-term funding. Testimony in support highlighted Lake Tahoe’s invasive species prevention program as a model, while Recreational Boaters of California expressed caution about funding fairness, reciprocity, and how the system would work if infestations become widespread. After discussion about mandatory decontamination standards and funding, the bill was also passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 2521, also by Assembly Member Papin, would use a watershed-wide water availability analysis from the California Council of Science and Technology to help streamline groundwater recharge permitting and reduce applicant costs. Members raised concerns about protecting existing water rights and ensuring stakeholder input, and the author emphasized the study would be informational rather than binding. The bill passed to Appropriations, and the committee later took add-on votes confirming passage of AB 1663, AB 1772, and AB 2521.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe it's cuz maybe I'm the lake.
• So, I thought it to go to less lakes.
• Identify sports, New Hampshire lakes.
• We all live on lakes. Three.
• We all live on lakes. Sandra is going. We all live on lakes.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Britt Eastland, and I'm a director at Camp Mystic Cypress Lake. Good morning.
• We have now a gatehouse at Cypress Lake outside the entrance.
• — Can't miss Cypress Lake.
• I can't speak to that for what Britt has done at Tweety's Lake, but...
• Right up there is where Cypress Lake Camp is.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These dams are critical to the state and to the thousand lakes that we have.
• These dams are critical to the state and to the thousand lakes that we have.
• These dams are critical to the state and to the thousand lakes that we have.
• , from using the lakes, needs to provide support for that and this will help.
• , from using the lakes, needs to provide support for that and this will help.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with introductions and a description of the day’s process: a full committee work session on four bills, with no public testimony, followed by caucus and then executive action. The first bill discussed was HB 113, concerning OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor. Representative Nab presented an amendment that would require a public hearing and Department of Transportation approval, modeled on procedures used in Coös and Grafton counties. Members discussed whether Windsor had already held a local vote or hearing, whether minutes from a town meeting existed, and whether the amendment truly preserved local control. A Windsor resident testified informally that the town had not taken a final vote and that the matter had been left to the state. Committee members also raised concerns about noise, dust, public safety, and the fact that the road in question would connect OHRVs on a state road rather than a trail system. The chair closed the work session on HB 113 and said the committee would return after caucus to vote on the bill and amendment. The committee then took up HB 595FN, relative to coastal resilience zones. Representative Nat said the bill addressed flooding concerns in both coastal and inland New Hampshire, but that the sponsor viewed it as too complex and had recommended breaking the issue into separate parts in future legislation. On that basis, Nat said it was appropriate to ITL the bill, and noted that the sponsor supported that course. No further discussion followed, and the work session was closed. Next was HB 629FN, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams. Representative Darby explained that the original bill had proposed both a waterfront frontage tax and a $5 charge tied to boat registration, but that the amendment would replace the bill by removing the frontage tax, moving the $5 dam-maintenance fee to the boat decal section of statute, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2027. Darby said the larger fee had raised concerns about impacts on current-use property and enforcement, while the revised $5 fee would raise roughly $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Representative Dunn thanked Darby and said the Marine Trades Association supported the revised approach. A question was raised about whether the original prime sponsors supported the amendment; the chair said they were on board, and Darby added that the proposal reflected recommendations from a prior study committee. The committee then closed HB 629FN and opened SB 27FN, relative to dwellings over water. On SB 27FN, Representative Derby said he opposed the bill because it would take away public access rights and amounted to a one-off legislative solution for a private concern. Representative Donnelly asked how many similar structures might be affected and whether the Department of Environmental Services knew of other cases; DES responded that there was one other related case under settlement compliance and no other active cases with the same issue. In follow-up discussion, DES clarified that the proposal was not a shoreland 50-foot setback issue, but rather involved structures extending over public water. The discussion remained focused on the scope of the bill and its potential precedent-setting effect, with no vote taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rocky Point Lodge is at Heyburn State Park, on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene.
• Priest Lake. Um... More slips for the public to be able to rent. Priest Lake.
• Crown Point at Cascade Lake State Park, Cascade is a Bureau of Reclamation property.
• Or go to Williams Lake, which many of us find beautiful.
• Or go to Williams Lake, which many of us find beautiful.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee first heard a budget presentation for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Legislative staff explained the agency’s structure, dedicated funds, and a proposed FY27 supplemental to transfer about $9.8 million in grant funds from a consolidated program into the current park operations program after a prior reorganization. The agency’s FY27 request also included dedicated-fund enhancements for additional park personnel, trail maintenance staff, and one-time improvements, with no general fund request. Director Susan Buxton described major capital projects completed with prior appropriations, including campground, marina, lodge, trail, and accessibility upgrades across the state, and said the investments had increased capacity and visitation. Committee members asked about access for Idaho residents, reservation pricing, and the effect of charging out-of-state users more. Buxton said the new reservation system is more mobile-friendly, out-of-state pricing has increased availability for residents, and a University of Idaho study is evaluating the impact. She also said the agency expects more campsites, boat slips, and day-use areas than originally projected. Members discussed the agency’s OHV education campaign, trail maintenance, and the new observatory at Bruneau Dunes State Park. No formal action or vote was taken during the Parks and Recreation presentation. The committee then reviewed the Office of the State Public Defender budget. Legislative staff summarized the agency’s staffing, fund balance, and FY27 requests, including six new trial attorney positions, secure hosted data storage, and laptop/data migration costs. Director Stephen Frederickson said the statewide system is now stable after a difficult transition from county-based defense, with vacancies down to about 7 percent and 55 new employees hired since July 1. He warned that further budget reductions would likely be absorbed through training cuts first, but could eventually force reductions in contract attorneys and increase caseloads, which he said would risk attorney turnover and constitutional problems. Members asked about county MOUs, Twin Falls staffing shortages, attorney levels, child protection cases, training, and the impact on county costs and property taxes. No vote was taken, and the committee adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rutherford and Lake Elmo Elementary in Rutherford and Lake Elmo Elementary in the<00:29:57.520><c> Stillwater
• I'm from Red Lake, Minnesota.
• I'm currently an Ojibwe culturist at the Red Lake School District in Red Lake, Minnesota.
• And I also serve as a Red Lake district representative on our tribal council in Red Lake.
• </c><01:20:34.239><c> Our</c> committee for Cast Lake schools. Our committee for Cast Lake schools.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• area, but folks in my area identify with their lakes more than their towns, so Gull Lake, Cross Lake
• , Pequot Lake—we'd be here about a half hour if I named them all.
• their</c><00:01:59.320><c> towns</c> with their Lakes more than their towns with their Lakes more than
• ><c> Lake</c><00:02:01.799><c> Pega</c><00:02:02.439><c> Lake</c><00:02:03.000><c> we</c><00:02:03.360
• ><c> we'd</c> so G Lake Cross Lake Pega Lake we we'd so G Lake Cross Lake Pega Lake we we'd be<00:02:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:01.680><c> um</c> Uh this project on the Roseau Lake um Uh this project on the Roseau Lake
• </c> to keep the funding for the Roseau Lake to keep the funding for the Roseau Lake rehabilitation<00
• In lake country, it was not uncommon for septic systems to just run a pipe right out to the lake.
• Like I mentioned at the last meeting, I live on a lake.
• Our lake is right high.

Bills: HF3879

Keywords: outdoor heritage, conservation, habitat restoration, natural resources, wildlife management, 1183, house