Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Pesa with the Western Wood Preservers Institute, Tree Wood Council, and North American Wood Pole
• These are farm workers, our teachers, small business employees, caregivers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on utility rates, wildfire safety, carbon capture, methane reduction, large energy users, low-income energy programs, and clean energy supply chains. Early items included SB 613, which would direct state agencies to prioritize reducing methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, and SB 614, which would allow California to move forward with carbon dioxide pipeline safety rules and potentially lift the state’s moratorium on new CO2 pipelines. Both bills drew support from advocates and industry-related witnesses, with no opposition registered at the time they were presented, and the committee indicated it would vote once quorum was established. After quorum was called, the committee took up SB 57, which would require the Public Utilities Commission to establish tariffs for large energy users such as data centers to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers and address stranded infrastructure costs. Supporters argued the bill would protect affordability and encourage clean energy use, while opponents, including utilities and business groups, warned it could create uncertainty and interfere with existing regulatory processes. The committee also heard SB 256 on wildfire mitigation and emergency response, including undergrounding, PSPS communication, and removal of abandoned lines; supporters emphasized the need for stronger action after recent fires, while utilities raised concerns about duplicative requirements and public disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information. Both SB 57 and SB 256 were approved on roll calls. The committee then heard SB 647, which would expand and standardize oversight of low-income energy savings programs and performance metrics, with strong support from community advocates and some neutral or “tweener” positions from utilities that sought further work on data collection and implementation. SB 787 followed, proposing a state strategy to coordinate supply chains and workforce development for clean energy industries including EVs, building decarbonization, and offshore wind; it received broad support and no opposition. The committee also considered SB 332, a study bill on utility ownership models and affordability reforms, which drew strong support from consumer and climate advocates but opposition from utilities and business groups concerned about bias, investor signals, and executive compensation provisions. The consent calendar was later approved, and several bills were reported out with votes or held open for absent members to add on.

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent time in the Florida parks, sat beneath the trees that have stood longer than I've been alive.
• down the road in Blountstown, Florida, where my family has lived and operated a southern pine timber farm

Summary: The committee first took up SB 80, the Parks Preservation Act, which would define state park purposes around conservation-based recreation and public access, prohibit uses such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, and hotels, require more public notice and advisory input on land management changes, and mandate reporting on park spending and maintenance backlogs. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with conservation groups, youth advocates, and other members of the public backing stronger protections for state parks. The bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 200, directing DEP to develop a statewide waste reduction and recycling plan, and CS for SB 496, which clarifies that timeshare facilities are governed by Chapter 721 and only need annual board meetings. CS for CS for SB 1404, dealing with illegal gambling, was amended to add reporting requirements, tighten penalties, preempt local gambling legalization, and create a process for vetting certain machines and veteran-service-organization gaming questions; the bill drew significant concern from veterans groups and others over vague machine definitions and the need for clearer standards, but it was still reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 622 to allow pari-mutuel permit holders to lease facilities across horse-racing classes. The committee next approved CS for CS for SB 712 after adopting a strike-all and amendment that covered synthetic turf rules, change-order timelines, public works scoring, elevator and alarm contractor issues, mass timber code updates, pool and spa contractor scope changes, spaceport building-code exemptions, and solar/energy-storage inspection provisions. Support came from timber, construction, and industry groups, while pool contractors objected to parts of the scope changes. The committee also reported favorably CS for CS for SB 1742, a major condominium reform bill that pauses reserve funding after milestone inspections, expands financial flexibility, adds disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules, and increases data collection and oversight; members from both parties praised the sponsor’s work on condo issues. Finally, the committee approved SB 1574 on renewable natural gas infrastructure and SB 1580 authorizing DEP coastal resiliency public-private partnerships. It also passed CS for SB 1760, which requires certain public officials and agency leaders to meet Florida residency or proximity requirements. The last bill, SB 820, would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s office; while supporters said it would permanently support faith-based and community organizations and improve coordination, several senators raised concerns about church-state separation, the office’s ties to Hope Florida, and whether codifying it could make the program more political. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• tariffs, you know, as you mentioned, impacted a certain type of folks growing, you know, I think, nut trees
• supported by many companies in the northern San Joaquin Valley including E&J Gala Winery and Foster Farms

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a very wide-ranging group of utilities and pipeline companies and excavators and home builders and Farm
• He added that vegetation management is another issue, such as when crews cut trees in a neighborhood,
• How many calls you get when they come butcher the trees in your neighborhood?

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a statement, but I know when I come down here to Cimarron County, we can't grow trees; it's
• , cut them, and use them for Christmas trees.
• I saw you know they do those historical pictures from Oklahoma City, and they had a 60-foot cedar tree
• there Oklahoma City's official tree back in the 60s, yeah.
• when you used to do the same thing as I did years ago, it takes a lot of water for those dead cut trees

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, it includes $5,000 for trees at Bemidji State.
• it took down 200 of their most, uh, mature trees at Bemidji State University.
• So, you know, if we can put in 200 trees for $5,000, I'll do that any day.
• Let's plant some trees. Let's vote green.
• Let's plant some<00:15:36.280> trees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first took up a resolution commemorating Peace Officer Memorial Day and Police Week in Minnesota. Members read a series of “whereas” clauses honoring fallen peace officers, including the addition of three names to the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Honor Roll, and recognizing the service of the state’s more than 10,000 peace officers. The resolution was adopted without objection. The chamber then moved to conference committee reports and calendar actions, including a Rules and Legislative Administration report placing several bills on the calendar for the next day. The main substantive item was the conference committee report on House File 4252, the higher education finance and policy bill. Supporters said the bill included $3 million for identity verification systems to combat enrollment fraud or “ghost students,” $2.7 million to cover a shortfall in the Fostering Independence grant program for foster youth, and $5,000 for tree replacement at Bemidji State University. They also noted the bill did not address the larger state grant shortfall, which several members described as a structural problem. During debate, supporters emphasized the need to stop enrollment fraud and protect foster students’ access to higher education, while also praising the conference committee process and public deliberations. Opponents criticized the bill for failing to fix the state grant deficit and argued that Minnesota students were not being prioritized. After discussion, the House adopted the conference committee report, gave the bill its third reading, and then repassed House File 4252 as amended by conference by a vote of 101 yeas to 33 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelly Tree Maryland program to include stewardship in addition to planting native trees and shrubs.
• trees and shrubs as a program purpose. trees and shrubs as a program purpose.
• of heaven, including by prohibiting a person from: number one, selling listed invasive trees or trees
• of heaven; number two, planting listed invasive trees or trees of heaven; and number three, allowing
• trees of heaven or other listed invasive trees to grow on the person's property as specified.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 9, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first outlined its plan to clear pending concurrence items, focusing on Senate bills with House amendments and not taking up unamended House bills. Members then approved several motions not to concur with House amendments, including Senate Bills 514, 626, and 866, with the clerk reading the formal Senate messages in each case. The chamber also addressed an excused-vote question, with the presiding officer explaining that excused votes do not count as missed votes. The Senate then concurred in House amendments and passed a series of Senate bills, including SB 11 on campaign finance reporting and the Fair Campaign Financing Fund, SB 164 on the Pamela J. Kelly Tree Maryland program, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees, SB 509 on workforce Pell Grant implementation, SB 553 reestablishing the lithium-ion battery safety commission, SB 581 on statewide technology master plan reporting, SB 670 on polling-place authority, SB 848 on municipal election reporting, and SB 940 on water quality testing. Most of these House amendments were described as technical, clarifying, or conforming changes, and each bill received the required constitutional majority on final passage. The chamber also took up House Bill 862, a rail safety bill requiring certain freight trains to have crews of at least two under specified interstate conditions. After questions from the minority leader about the bill’s trigger conditions and effect on an Eastern Shore rail line, a senator explained support for the measure and the bill passed with 33 affirmative votes. Additional special-order House bills passed as well, including HB 497 on protective order durations, HB 552 establishing a commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, and HB 573 on fair housing and discriminatory effect standards. Later, the Senate continued with more concurrence items from Finance, including SB 22 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, SB 412 on forensic review boards and community forensic aftercare, SB 413 on morticians and funeral directors board operations, SB 496 on Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, SB 555 on dementia services and brain health resources, and SB 579 on no-cost preventive cancer screening for retired volunteer firefighters. These bills were generally amended in the House with clarifying or conforming changes, and the Senate adopted the amendments and passed the bills by constitutional majority.

Transcript Highlights:

• die off markets you have uh the uh tree die off markets you have uh the problem<01:01:00.359> you
• The spruce budworm is knocking down balsam trees and spruce trees.
• They pinned every elm tree or ash tree that showed symptoms, and there's hundreds of them in that one
• <01:08:11.599> or they they pinned every uh elm tree or they they pinned every uh elm tree
• facilities to burn these um waste trees facilities to burn these um waste trees is<01:08:56.560>

Keywords: 1183, house

Bills: HB111, HB103, HB60, HB108, HB120, HB145, HB154, HB164, HB291, HJR6, HR1, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB38, HB47, HB63, HB64, HB127, HB165, HB184, HB200, HM20, HM51

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• And we like to call this Melissa Hortman's trees.
• <00:41:10.760> and in a fund that was to provide trees and in a fund that was to provide trees
• Melissa Hortman's trees. Melissa Hortman's trees.
• ,<00:41:25.800> which taking money from Hortman trees, which taking money from Hortman trees
• , ask Melissa, um she'd prefer the trees, ask Melissa, um she'd prefer the trees, but<00:41:39.600

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One time there was this huge flock of turkeys roosted in the trees by our school, and we watched them
• turkeys<00:34:55.399> roosted<00:34:55.800> in<00:34:55.879> the<00:34:55.960> trees
• <00:34:56.240> by<00:34:56.360> our turkeys roosted in the trees by our turkeys roosted
• in the trees by our school,<00:34:57.120> and<00:34:57.240> we<00:34:57.320> watched
• These things include working with plants in the greenhouse, speaking contest, running hydroponics farms

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• alternate is that it's really a good I alternate is that it's really a good I say<00:17:30.720> farm
• system or whatever you want to say farm system or whatever you want to call<00:17:32.080> it<
• so that you're not having—nobody wants an airplane flying into a tree next to the airport.
• the trees so that you're<02:33:11.359> not<02:33:11.600> having<02:33:12.640> nobody
• next to the airplane flying into a tree next to the airport. airport. airport.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are always a variety of issues on Dollar Tree locations. Yes.
• There are always a variety of issues on Dollar Tree locations. Yes.
• On average, Dollar Trees. Again, I am not speaking about the other dollar stores, Dollar Tree.
• There are plenty of Dollar Trees. This is under your umbrella, correct? Dollar Tree? Correct.
• And I have seen one person working in one of your Dollar Tree stores.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first disposed of several measures without debate, including deferrals of House Bill 460, House Bill 561, Senate Bill 322, and another deferred Senate measure, before taking up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz. HB 819 would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with ODG by MCG, a private evidence-based guideline system used in other states. Cruz and Troy Prevo argued ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and could reduce claim duration, medical costs, and premium rates; Dr. Jason Picard said Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference for gaps in the state schedule and that the bill would not change appeals or variance procedures. Opponents, including injured-worker advocates Joseph Jola St. and Robin Crumholt, argued Louisiana’s current guidelines are working, that ODG is more cost-cutting and insurer-driven, and that the bill could increase denials and delay care. Members discussed amendments to add a two-year sunset, allow tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and raise the carrier’s burden to challenge care; the committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 819 favorably by a 7-6 vote. The committee then began Senate Bill 409 by Senator Myers, the Louisiana Living Donor Leave Protection Act. The bill would provide paid leave protections for living organ donors, set eligibility and verification procedures, and prohibit forfeiture of leave in certain circumstances for private employers. Myers said the measure is intended to remove job and paycheck barriers for people willing to donate organs and to support better transplant outcomes. Technical amendments were adopted at the start of the presentation, and the bill was introduced for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect to plant approximately 15,000 to 20,000 trees with these funds.
• And the real difference is the focus of urban forestry is on the trees and everything.
• I think tree planting is probably our most funded activity.
• So do you have statistics on how many new trees have been planted? Yes. Great.
• One thing, and one of the other things we have to do with are hazard trees.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, trees in the outside the right away that fall and bring down lines and poles.
• Underground facilities are risks to in-store events, uprooted uprooted, tree roots and erosion and also
• the on one side is the is the underground facilities that have been disrupted through an overturned tree
• the storm protection plan processes, vegetation management, which includes routine trimming azure, tree
• Trees, about 200 miles of lateral overhead had been converted to underground 3,900 feet up.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've kind of worked on for a couple years, and I think it's important and timely to designate the Treeing
• The Treeing Walker Hound is a genuine American favorite, and it's a people's choice wherever we are in
• <00:02:08.720> The<00:02:08.800> tree<00:02:09.119> walker sensible hunter.
• The tree walker sensible hunter.
• actually the tree and walker coonhound. actually the tree and walker coonhound.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:20 SB 37 Discussion: 01:37 SB 37 Roll Call Vote: 06:21 SB 214 Discussion: 07:48 SB 214 Roll Call Vote: 09:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Robin Webb, which would designate the Treeing Walker Hound as Kentucky’s state dog. Webb described the breed as Kentucky-originated, a working and hunting dog, and a fitting symbol of the commonwealth. Several members voiced support, including comments about preserving full-bred dogs and recognizing the breed’s working-dog status, and the committee voted unanimously to pass the bill. The next item was Senate Bill 214, presented by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Dana Feldman and Mark Manley explained that the bill would allow the department to accept and distribute non-federal grant funding directly, without going through the usual loan procedure with finance. They said the measure was needed in part because an emergency clause would let Kentucky pursue time-sensitive grant funding tied to a food-is-medicine initiative before July 1. Members expressed support for the funding opportunity and the bill passed unanimously. The meeting ended after both bills were approved without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had put in these trees when we moved in 35 years ago to shade the parking lot, and the tree has subsequently
• uh to shade the parking lot and the tree uh to shade the parking lot and the tree has<00:45:04.960
• And I said, "Then what are our tree And I said, "Then what are our tree options?"
• I have seen bunch of the tree options.
• So I offer up a tree as a York State.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:00:59.440> at appropriation of $5,000 for trees at appropriation of $5,000 for trees at
• We don't have a money tree.
• We don't have a<01:19:49.160> money<01:19:49.440> tree. a money tree. a money tree.
• <01:33:07.880> for going to in this bill provide trees for going to in this bill provide trees
• for 250 trees. for 250 trees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4252, the higher education finance and policy bill, which the author described as a bipartisan agreement. Representative Wolgamott highlighted a $1.5 million appropriation to Minnesota State to create an identification verification system to combat “ghost students,” a one-time $5,000 appropriation for trees at Bemidji State University, and other noncontroversial recommendations from the Office of Higher Education. He urged support for the bill and noted that amendments would be considered. The main debate centered on an amendment by Representative Rarick to change how University of Minnesota regents are selected if the legislature fails to elect them. Rarick argued the amendment would keep the governor from appointing regents outside the legislative vetting process and prevent “pay-to-play” or donor influence, citing recent gubernatorial appointments and campaign contributions. Representative Kotter offered a secondary amendment to require that any fallback appointees meet RCAC eligibility criteria and to bar candidates who had recently contributed to legislative caucuses or leadership; supporters said it would reduce the appearance of pay-to-play while preserving the RCAC process. Opponents of the secondary amendment, including Representatives Robbins and others, argued it did not address the real concern because it did not restrict contributions to the governor and would weaken the legislature’s role in regent selection. Supporters of the secondary amendment said it was a more objective, statute-based approach and raised separation-of-powers concerns with the underlying amendment. After debate, the secondary amendment failed on a 67-67 tie and was not adopted. The House then continued discussion on the underlying Rarick amendment, with members divided over legislative authority, gubernatorial appointment power, and the influence of campaign donations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because farm worker housing... We'll pass and retain on file item 90.
• Because farm worker housing Housing instability in our state.
• I see it on my family farm when suppliers no longer exist.
• Domestic farm workers are the backbone of California's agricultural industry.
• workers and now own their own farms.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all of them spend their time up in the trees where she does keep most of her time up in the trees
• <00:02:51.960> where spend their time up in the trees where spend their time up in the trees
• It's a great way to the trees.
• because it spends its time in the tree because it spends its time in the tree has<00:03:48.360><
• great for us to have her on the tree. great for us to have her on the tree.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all