Transcript Highlights:

• Look, you know, rising tide lifts all boats.
• affect look a you know Rising tide lifts affect look a you know Rising tide lifts all<01:52:31.520><c> boats
• 33.320><c> you</c><01:52:33.440><c> got</c><01:52:33.599><c> more</c><01:52:33.840><c> jobs</c> all boats
• you know if you got more jobs all boats you know if you got more jobs coming<01:52:34.360><c> into</

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

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changes would largely grandfather in current employees, would not add costs in some cases, and were needed to correct outdated statutory language and PERAC rulings that had created uncertainty for workers nearing retirement or already retired.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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Non-fatal shootings are down 62% since 2020.
• Non-fatal shootings are down 62% since 2020.
• the 24 months after the launch of the first Advance Peace Fellowship, including a 52% reduction in fatal
• shootings in that time frame and a 10% reduction in non-fatal shootings.

Committee: Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety met with a quorum and adopted the June 4, 2026 minutes. The committee first took up Senate Bill 712, adopting the S-2 substitute, which expands residency requirements to include adjoining districts and removes a provision allowing a district to appoint someone employed by the district. The committee then reported SB 712 to the floor. It also considered House Bills 4025 and 4026, described as safe storage tax exemption bills; the committee heard one supportive written card and reported both bills to the floor, each on a 5-1 vote. The committee next heard testimony on Senate Bill 885, which would create a statewide Parent and Child Legal Representation Commission and Office within LARA to address child protective legal representation. Senator Singh and Alicia Moon of the Michigan Supreme Court described the current county-by-county system as uneven, with attorney shortages, inconsistent pay, and limited specialized training. They said the bill would set standards for training, caseloads, client contact, and compensation, while requiring public comment and future appropriations before implementation. Testimony and written cards from a broad range of organizations and judges supported the measure, and the committee reported SB 885 to the floor on a 6-0 vote. The committee then heard extensive testimony on Senate Bills 1015 and 1016, which would create an Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention within MDHHS and establish a grant program to support community violence intervention efforts statewide. Sponsors and witnesses from Force Detroit, D-Live, Seize the Smoke, Advance Peace, public health, law enforcement, and advocacy groups described CVI as a public health and public safety strategy that reduces shootings, supports survivors, and saves public costs. Several witnesses cited local data showing reductions in shootings and homicides in Detroit and Lansing, while one witness from the Michigan Sheriff's Association opposed the bills as written. The committee voted to report both SB 1015 and SB 1016 to the floor, each on a 5-0 vote with one pass, and then adjourned after additional testimony and reading of support cards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Existing law requires law enforcement agencies to submit fatality and injury-involved crash reports to
• And since 2019, roughly 400 drivers accused of causing a fatal crash went on to receive another ticket
• decision to get behind the wheel, turn the key, and you've been drinking, and you cause an accident, you fatally
• harm someone or you fatally kill somebody or you harm them in a large way, you have made that choice

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We see an increased number of fatalities ever since COVID, the pandemic.
• And it looks like 76% or 77% of the fatalities that we had were all from bicyclists. 76% or 77% of the
• fatalities that we had were all from bicyclists.
• can see, I asked for a concept report, draft concept report with crash data and recommendations for fatal

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Science and Technology Committee met without any bills on the agenda and heard two presentations. Deloitte Infrastructure Insights demonstrated an AI-enabled transportation analytics platform, Infrastructure Insights Pro, focused on vulnerable road user safety. The presenter described how the tool ingests crash, GIS, and project data to generate map-based insights, trust scores for data sources, and draft concept reports that can reduce analysis time from six to eight months to a few hours. Members asked about use in other states, cost or effort savings, and the system’s deployment at Caltrans in California. The committee then heard from OCTA and SoCure on digital identity and fraud prevention for state and local government services. The presenters argued that residents face too many separate logins and that governments should move toward a more secure, frictionless, and privacy-preserving single digital identity experience. They described identity verification using contextual signals such as device, location, and document validation, and said their tools are already used by Arizona agencies and in other states. Members raised concerns about Real ID, digital IDs, federal overreach, and privacy under the Fourth Amendment and the Arizona Constitution, emphasizing the need for state control and user choice. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported. The committee adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see an increased number of fatalities ever since COVID, the pandemic.
• It looks like 76% or 77% of the fatalities that we had were all from bicyclists. 76% or 77% of the fatalities
• can see, I asked for a concept report, draft concept report with crash data and recommendations for fatal

Committees: House Science & Technology , House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• That receive emergency medical treatment because of fatal injuries, one of them being my brother who
• There have been 8,061 estimated emergency department visits due to non-fatal drownings occurring each
• Having the third highest rate of fatal crashes involving underage drunk drivers, the bill requires electronic
• became intoxicated, and died in a vehicle crash, highlighting Texas's third highest rate nationally of fatal

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, ladies, to Ports, where we are a deliberative body about boats, planes, and trains.
• And in doing that, they at some point had a boat wash where they would go in, you could wash your boats

Bills: HB387 , HB387

Committee: House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit

Transcript Highlights:

• someone from our church who happened to be from Georgia, the state of the beach, came to Hawaii on a boat
• someone from our church who happened to be from Georgia, the state of the beach, came to Hawaii on a boat
• someone from our church who happened to be from Georgia, the state of the beach, came to Hawaii on a boat
• someone from our church who happened to be from Georgia, the state of the beach, came to Hawaii on a boat
• Hawaii on a boat cruise and they wanted to administer the medicine because he suddenly turned yellow

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 3025, relating to medical debt, with multiple organizations and individuals, including the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queens Health Systems, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Aloha Care, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction, Hawaii Data Collaborative, and Hawaii Appleseed, all speaking in support. No opposition was heard, and the member present had no questions. The committee then took up SB 3199, which would establish a mental health emerging therapies task force. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers including veterans, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups describing personal experiences with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and treatment-resistant conditions, and arguing that Hawaii should prepare for regulated access to emerging therapies such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine. The Department of Health and some medical organizations provided comments, and one opposition witness was called but not present. The chair noted broad support, especially from veterans, and no vote was taken during the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 3324, relating to Medicaid. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Care, and numerous care-provider and aging/disability organizations testified in support, while one witness was in opposition and several others offered comments. The discussion then moved to SB 2563, relating to homelessness, where the Department of the Attorney General offered comments on specific sections and recommended adopting suggested amendments if the bill proceeds. Additional testimony on SB 2563 began with support from several individuals, including Shelby Pikachu, who emphasized the severity of homelessness and related social problems in the community.

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 neglected to include boats, so this bill allows somebody otherwise qualified and permitted to carry
• a weapon to also carry it on their boat if they sowed shoes.
• And that person then, in a fit of boat rage, pulls out a gun and shoots at them.
• thinking About the lake, where you have people who are oftentimes not very well versed in how to run a boat

Bills: HB3419 , HB4153 , HB3430 , HB3791 , HB3277 , HB4119 , HB4408 , HB3905 , HB3968 , HB3835 , HB3386 , HB2650 , HB3742 , HB3588 , HB3748 , HB4303 , HB4311 , HB3028 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB4132 , HB1889 , HB3265 , HB1739 , HB4434 , HB3313 , HB3852 , HB4263 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3420 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB3625 , HB2939 , HB3721 , HB1823 , HB2425 , HB4440 , HJR1087 , HB4003 , HJR1077 , HB1770 , HB1675 , HB3627 , HB3891 , HJR1067 , HB3462 , HJR1053 , HJR1054 , HJR1044 , HB3472 , HB1225 , HJR1019 , HB4145 , HJR1081 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HJR1050 , HB1638 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3127 , HB4488 , HB2955 , HB3781 , HB3783 , HB3802 , HB2471 , HB2937 , SCR16 , HB2960 , HB3466 , HB3262 , HB3269 , HB3152 , HB4140 , HB4142 , HB3148 , HB3378

Keywords: corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, driver license, reading proficiency, minors, education requirements, alternative testing, attendance, remedial reading, public school, oath of enrollment, court financial obligations, cost hearing, payment plan, community service, court compliance program, debt relief

Transcript Highlights:

• from the general fund recognizes that angling is big business in Minnesota, whether it's filling your boat
• whether it's business in Minnesota whether it's filling<00:03:26.480><c> your</c><00:03:26.560><c> boat
• with</c><00:03:27.159><c> gas</c><00:03:27.799><c> staying</c><00:03:28.120><c> at</c> filling your boat
• up with gas staying at filling your boat up with gas staying at a<00:03:28.400><c> resort</c><00:03:

Summary: The committee heard House File 276, sponsored by Rep. Jim Nash, which would reduce the cost of fishing licenses by $10 for anglers age 65 and older. Nash described the bill as a modest fee reduction for longtime anglers, emphasizing the role of older fishermen in mentoring kids and supporting community activities, and noting that the bill includes a fiscal impact. He also said the proposal was a more conservative alternative to a previous bill and framed it as a way to recognize seniors who have long paid full-price license fees. Pat Rivers, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Division, testified that unlike the previous bill, HF 276 would not affect sport fish restoration dollars coming to Minnesota. He said the general fund reimbursement acknowledges that angling is a major economic driver for the state, supporting spending on gas, resorts, bait, and related purchases. Members echoed support for the concept, with comments about helping older residents stay engaged in fishing and about the need to keep the fund sustainable. The chair noted that the packet included letters of support from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and Conservation Minnesota. No opposition testimony was presented. At the end of the discussion, the motion was renewed and House File 276 was laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• as running red lights or stop signs and failing to yield if they lead to crashes that result in fatality
• If found guilty of these specific infractions that result in fatality or serious injury, the first offense
• And in those states, we have seen an immediate reduction, measurable reduction in traffic fatalities
• Last year, when I was advocating for this, the average number of road fatalities was nine every day in
• When they measured the road fatalities in October, there was a 25% drop in deaths.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 678, which would allow pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; it drew support from a business representative and was reported favorably. Members then heard several bills by Senator Leak, including SB 466 to designate St. Johns County as the site of the Florida Museum of Black History and create a board to work with the museum foundation and Florida Memorial University; the bill drew supportive testimony about preserving accurate Black history and the significance of the site, and it passed favorably. Leak’s CS/SB 578 would let Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers for larger wine sales, and it also passed favorably. SB 582 would increase penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, limiting the higher penalties to certain nationally or internationally recognized historic properties; it was supported by preservation advocates and reported favorably. CS/SB 1168 would create an aggravated offense for installing or using tracking devices or apps in furtherance of crimes such as murder, domestic violence, or robbery, and it passed favorably after a brief discussion about stalking and violent crimes. CS/SB 806 would make the Florida Attorney General the exclusive public official with standing to enforce Florida charitable trusts, limiting out-of-state attorneys general from suing over Florida-administered trusts; members debated whether this would burden out-of-state beneficiaries, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1228 would advance spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee Springs and Santa Fe spring flows and allow a utility compliance plan amendment to deliver reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 304 would require a qualified medical opinion in child protective investigations involving infants and young children with possible genetic or medical conditions that can mimic abuse, and it drew emotional support from parents and advocates before passing favorably. SB 1286 would clarify that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities like biking or playing outside do not constitute neglect absent reckless endangerment, and it was reported favorably. SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, generated the most extensive debate: it renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the prohibition to handheld device use, and adds penalties in work zones and school zones; supporters cited fatal crash statistics and personal loss, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, racial disparities in traffic stops, and the need for broader distracted-driving and insurance reforms. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably after amendments. The committee also approved two claims bills, SB 14 for the estate of Penao-Hanvier against Miami Beach and SB 20 for J.N. against Hillsborough County, both settled claims recommended favorably by the special master. Finally, CS/SB 68 would modernize health facilities authority financing for private not-for-profit health systems, and CS/SB 172 would restrict misuse of health care specialty titles while preserving titles authorized under existing practice acts; both were discussed with questions about doctors, optometrists, and CRNAs, and both were reported favorably after amendment and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• reported everywhere that said that they were taking out... ...that said that they were taking out boats
• Some were fishing boats, some were unknown, and I think... ...number of different boats.
• Some were fishing boats, some were unknown, and I think again we still don't have a clear understanding
• of what was on those boats.
• Madam Chair, what the facts were on the news is that they were all drug boats.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicles to the rooms and meals taxes, which could probably be summarized as mostly taxing rental boats
• probably be summarized as mostly<04:11:30.560><c> taxing</c><04:11:31.680><c> rental</c><04:11:32.080><c> boats
• </c> mostly taxing rental boats. mostly taxing rental boats. Any<04:11:35.279><c> discussion?

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• under 900 fatality crashes we went to, 896 to be exact.
• We were trying to drive this number of fatalities and aggressive driving in lower serious, fatal, and
• So how can we help drive down impaired driving, fatal crashes, or other problems in the community, or
• They were noticing that they were having a large collision, large fatal picture from their members.
• They were noticing that they were having a large collision, large fatal picture from their members.

Committees: Joint Transportation , Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee first heard from WSDOT on capital program estimating, risk management, and cash flow. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, how estimates are built from base cost, risk, inflation, and unknowns, and how risk reviews scale up by project size. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects have much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; WSDOT cited a P85 budget approach for legislative funding and a lower P45 management target. Members asked about the large cost growth on the I-5 Columbia River Bridge project and about value engineering; WSDOT said the project is unusually complex and that cost containment is limited by project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed the idea of a risk pool, saying it would not reduce overall program risk and would still require appropriation, while emphasizing the need for more realistic early budgeting and cash flow assumptions. The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT already uses a robust estimating process, but recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking award growth and cost growth over time, and monitoring market conditions and letting schedules to improve competition. The report also discussed surety bonding, recommending that the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or allowing phased or alternative securities, and reviewed indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, including job order contracts and multiple-award task order contracts. The consultant said these tools could help with smaller work packages and competition, but current Washington law is restrictive and would need changes for broader use. Next, the committee heard a follow-up report on transit-oriented development policy from the Urban Institute. The consultant said Washington’s HB 1491 is nationally notable, but warned that housing construction has slowed sharply, especially in the Puget Sound, due to high construction costs, financing costs, and other market pressures. The report recommended filling the infrastructure-funding gap created by reduced impact fees, revisiting MFTE affordability requirements so they better match local market conditions, considering minimum rather than averaged density requirements near transit, expanding public land and public development options, and creating a state system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent stabilization, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the consultant said only five private developers were interviewed and offered to provide the question framework and additional follow-up materials. Finally, the committee began a study on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants explained how shore power lets ships plug into the electrical grid and shut off auxiliary diesel engines, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, reactive organic compounds, and greenhouse gases near ports. The presentation reviewed California’s at-berth regulation, which Washington could only mirror if it acts under federal preemption limits, and outlined the study’s phases on vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, and competitiveness impacts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• in Arizona fewer than four times in a calendar year from the requirement to maintain a commercial boat
• liability policy or personal lines boat liability coverage endorsement.
• Boat liability coverage endorsement. Members, any comments or questions?
• But some people will sort of do an ad hoc, oh, you know, I'll, yeah, sure, you can rent my boat to a
• She was on a tube behind their boat. Another watercraft literally ran her over.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call, then approved the journal and spent much of the early session on personal privilege remarks, guest introductions, and proclamations. Recognitions included Arcadia High School’s 2026 state championship boys basketball team, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, Diné College and Navajo sovereignty/Indigenous higher education, Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, and Route 66’s centennial. The chamber also honored Senator Lela Alston for her long legislative career and retirement, with remarks from colleagues and a musical tribute after recess. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole and considered three House bills. HB 2048, dealing with orders of protection and process service, was amended and recommended do pass. HB 2398, concerning watercraft insurance requirements and penalties, was amended after debate over a floor amendment exempting some infrequent boat rentals; the amendment was adopted over opposition from Senator Epstein, and the bill was recommended do pass as amended. HB 2611, relating to child welfare and group home safety, was amended with changes requiring DCS reporting and standards for group foster homes, and was also recommended do pass as amended. On third reading, the Senate passed HB 2198, HB 2434, HB 2764, HB 2772, HB 2837, HB 2868, HB 2906, and HB 2996, with HB 2772 drawing a 17-9 vote after Senator Gonzales objected that it could affect emergency responders seeking driver’s licenses from patients. HB 2868 passed 25-1, HB 1668 passed 25-1, and the rest passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to SB 1168, SB 1254, and SB 1668, then passed SB 1168 and SB 1254 on final reading and sent them to the Governor; SB 1668 also passed final reading and was sent to the Governor. The chamber then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, I ran a bill yesterday about dumping boats in waterways and gross litter.
• So under the law now, when we take them out on the boat, we'd have to tag 250 vats.
• I encourage everyone to come visit Shell Beach and see our boats.
• I encourage everyone to come visit Shell Beach and see our boats and our facilities. And Rep.
• We've brought them out on boats to see the damage done by the opening of the spillway and the freshwater

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a series of coastal, seafood, wildlife, and environmental measures. House Bill 851 by Rep. Ilg, which adds intentional mass balloon releases to the gross intentional littering statute, drew support from agriculture, wildlife, and environmental groups because of impacts on livestock, wildlife, power lines, and waterways; members clarified it targets organized intentional releases, not accidental releases by children, and it was reported favorably. House Bill 652 by Rep. Broe adding a non-voting Department of Agriculture appointee to the Oyster Task Force was also reported favorably, as were House Bills 349 and 588 by Rep. Domain to expand the imported seafood safety fund’s uses and add oyster, crab, and finfish representation to the Seafood Safety Task Force. House Bill 721 by Rep. Kerner setting a 5:30 a.m. shrimp trawling start time in certain bays, House Bill 857 clarifying labeling rules for commingled imported and domestic seafood, House Bill 669 expanding state property use for Grand Isle oyster research, and House Bill 889 creating bulk tagging for oysters were each supported by industry and agency witnesses and reported favorably. House Bill 688 by Rep. Ogeron adding Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish was backed by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and fishing guides and was also reported favorably. The committee spent significant time on House Bill 653 by Rep. Beham, which would require one of two United Commercial Fishermen appointees to the Oyster Task Force to be a St. Bernard Parish resident. Rep. Beham argued the parish deserves a guaranteed voice because of oyster industry impacts from freshwater intrusion and the BP spill, while opponents including the Oyster Task Force chairman said the parish-specific requirement would make vacancies harder to fill and should be worked out through the task force or by amending another bill. After debate, an amendment was adopted, but the bill itself ultimately received a favorable report. Testimony throughout the meeting emphasized the economic and cultural importance of Louisiana seafood, the need to combat imported seafood fraud, and the role of oyster cultivation and shrimping in coastal communities. House Resolution 20 by Rep. McCormick, urging the Department of Conservation and Energy to study industrial water use from Caddo Lake, prompted a broader discussion about data centers and water withdrawals. Department witness Monique Edwards explained current state limits on regulating surface water withdrawals and said more authority may be needed for comprehensive water management; committee members asked for a future departmental presentation on data center water use. The resolution was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Rep. Sawyer moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.