Transcript Highlights:

• All right, at this time we'd like to welcome each of you for joining us with our Natural Resources and
• probably wind solar. probably wind solar.
• They're for wind projects, but only if properly sited, so, you know, to not harm wildlife.
• I think we can kind of agree on that to some degree, but that may not be the best place to catch wind
• ,<00:45:33.280> I I've served on Natural Resources, I I've served on Natural Resources, I

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 02:25 SB 100 Discussion 02:59 SB 100 Roll Call Vote 31:10 SJR 134 Discussion 32:41 SJR 134 Roll Call Vote 33:43 SB 222 Discussion 34:43 SB 222 Roll Call Vote 39:55, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're surrounded, of course, in this region by world-class mineral resources.
• Resources, including rocks, soils, and even water.
• Stop at the Department of Mineral Resources, talk to NRC.
• And these are words that begin with the letter W: waste, wattage, wind, water.
• come up, and how do resources work together like they never did before.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hurricane Helene had max wind speeds at 140 miles an hour.
• However, max winds were around 120 miles an hour.
• But the resources outside of the personnel, the resources and the finance and the grants that get passed
• We can get high wind-velocity shutters on your homes and better shingles.
• They see that as a denial, so they think, well, I've got no resources available.

Summary: The committee received a program review from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and FEMA reimbursement process. Deputy Director Keith Pruitt described the impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including major storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, debris removal, power restoration, flood-control deployments, sheltering, and logistics missions. He emphasized that Florida’s approach is “federally funded, state managed, locally executed,” and said the division has already obligated large amounts of public assistance funding and mitigation dollars while continuing to work on remaining missions and reimbursements. A major focus of the discussion was how local governments can better document and vet debris-removal and other disaster costs so they are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Chair DiCeglie and other senators raised concerns about local planning, commercial debris collection, and whether counties and municipalities that spend money up front will be reimbursed. Pruitt explained that eligibility depends on documentation, scope of work, insurance, and FEMA rules, and that the state’s FROC process is intended to help counties identify eligible work before costs are incurred. He also said commercial debris may be eligible in some cases but is not guaranteed, and that counties should coordinate early with FDEM and FEMA. Senators also asked about possible FEMA reforms, the age of outstanding reimbursement claims, and a proposed state fund to advance money to fiscally constrained counties while they wait for FEMA payments. Pruitt said Florida’s system is a national best practice, but that more county-level training and clearer coordination would help reduce de-obligations and audit problems. He said the reimbursement-advance idea is still being developed, and that the state continues to look at ways to streamline mitigation through programs like Elevate Florida. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after closing comments from senators praising FDEM’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE BUILT OUT THIS WEBSITE THAT REALLY IS A ROBUST WAY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITY
• IN THE MEANTIME, THIS IS THE MAIN VEHICLE THAT WE'VE BEEN USING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
• MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE MORE THAN $30 MILLION IN RESOURCES.
• WE HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE CONCRETE BUILDING THAT HAS SUSTAINED 20% DAMAGE FROM WIND.
• THEY WERE PAYING $339,000 PER YEAR IN WIND PREMIUM. AND WE DROPPED DOWN TO 140.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jason Smith, you're just here as a resource, is that correct?
• Any need for the resource witness? Senator Bettencourt?
• Any need for the resource witness? Senator Bettencourt?
• Any need for the resource witness? Senator Bettencourt?
• And there is a resource witness if we need them, Mr. Chairman.

Bills: SB530, SB757, SB769, SB1085, SB1241, SB1242, SB1409, SB1878, SB2138, SB2314, SB2231, SB2361, SB2431, SJR59

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a large agenda and repeatedly recessed for floor activity and other committee conflicts. The committee heard and left pending several higher education bills, including SB 2361 to transfer University of Houston-Victoria from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M System and rename it Texas A&M University Victoria; testimony from university officials, local leaders, and industry representatives strongly supported the move as a way to better align degree programs with regional workforce needs in engineering, agriculture, and STEM. SB 530, which would align Texas accreditation statutes with federal rules allowing institutions to choose among nationally recognized accreditors, also received supportive testimony and was left pending. SB 1085, allowing Sul Ross satellite campuses to offer lower-division coursework toward bachelor’s degrees, was laid out and left pending as well. The committee also took up a series of education policy bills. SB 1241 would expand the standardized tests Texas public universities may accept for admission beyond the SAT and ACT, with supporters from the Classic Learning Test, homeschool advocates, and student-choice groups arguing it would increase access and competition; it was left pending. SB 769 would require a TEA/Higher Education Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education, and testimony from The Arc of Texas and others emphasized the need for better data and accessibility; the bill was left pending. SB 2231 would designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week, and SB 1878 would modernize terminology and support workforce-oriented programs at the Josie School; both were laid out and left pending. The committee reported several bills favorably after adopting committee substitutes. SB 605, concerning charter school expansion applications while under conservatorship or a management team, passed on a 9-0 vote. SB 1871, SB 1873, and SB 1874, all related to school discipline and teacher immunity/placement review provisions, were adopted and reported favorably, with members noting the need for further discussion on some language. SB 762, dealing with flag displays in public schools, passed on a 7-1 vote. SB 1962, relating to public school accountability and challenges to school system operations, passed 7-1 after a corrected vote. SB 1750, replacing a $60 million statewide charter facilities cap with an attendance-growth-based allotment, passed 7-1 with one member voting present not voting. SB 2252, supporting kindergarten readiness and early literacy/numeracy, SB 2253, concerning educator preparation and certification, SB 2365, on student use of wireless devices during instructional time, and SB 1924, restoring local peace officer citation authority for school offenses and adding reporting and parent-notification requirements, were also reported favorably. The committee additionally heard SB 37 on higher education governance and compliance oversight, which passed 7-1 after a substitute that refined curriculum review, governing board authority, faculty senate rules, and a new compliance office within the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy will come to
• I'm for the CERCO and for the Cadamo offshore wind project.
• We talk about why we do these things and why do we spend money on offshore wind when all these things
• Chris Nielsen on behalf of the world, the resources do.
• And before we take that vote, I would like to note that today the California Air Resources Board, and

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy met for a vote-only hearing on budget items that had been discussed in prior hearings. Public comment focused on support for funding the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, rejecting special fund position cuts at CDFW and the State Water Board, preserving Proposition 1 and Prop. 68 funding for conservation and local corps, supporting offshore wind and the Safer Consumer Products Program, and rejecting the Governor’s proposed Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credit and light-duty incentive changes. Several speakers argued the SAF credit would be costly, unnecessary, and could raise fuel prices or divert funds from transportation and environmental programs. The chair also addressed concerns about the California Air Resources Board’s cap-and-invest amendments and said the Senate budget plan would withhold Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations, including continuous appropriations, until specified conditions are met. She said the Legislature should preserve prior agreements and protect transit, affordable housing, air quality, and safe drinking water programs from being reduced or zeroed out. The committee then took a series of roll-call votes on grouped budget items. Most staff recommendations were approved, with some items passing unanimously and others on 3-1 votes, with Senator Choi occasionally not voting or voting no. The hearing concluded after the committee approved the remaining vote-only items and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, they might wind up having to divert funds from other things. I understand what you're saying.
• And either one of you, so districts like mine and all of my friends west to me say we have a wind project
• that's come online, and all of a sudden we go from a 5,000-acre to 5 $0 million wind project, and that
• We talked about wind, you know, a real popular topic these days.
• What is your thought about how they pay for staffing if they wind up with, say, even a 30% cut in ad

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• but just to use it as a resource. Mhm. but just to use it as a resource. Mhm.
• result of property damage claims wind result of property damage claims wind hail<00:43:06.640>
• This is a new nonprofit, and I think it's a really important resource for Minnesota, um, particularly
• And a lot of that is the hail and the wind.
• Um, the Alabama program, I talked with them earlier this morning, they set aside a pool of resources

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force met on October 22, 2025, with a quorum present and several members participating remotely. Members approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Michelle Urick of the Legislative Coordinating Commission then gave an administrative update on proxy voting and the task force’s operating procedures. She said the enabling statute only authorizes the officially appointed member to act and vote, so proxy voting is not allowed, and votes must be cast in person at the meeting where the item is considered. She also said members may submit written positions, but not vote before or after a meeting. In response to concerns about attendance for future votes, the chair said the January meetings would be rescheduled if possible using a Doodle poll so more members could be present in person. The group also agreed to treat the revised document as operating procedures rather than a formal charter, with no separate adoption action needed at that time. The task force then moved into testimony on homeowners and commercial property insurance. Paul Edgar of Minnesota Realtors said rising insurance costs are adding to housing affordability pressures, citing an increase in the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payment on a median-priced Minnesota home from $1,622 in 2021 to $2,642 in September 2025. He said higher insurance costs and limited coverage can affect buyers’ financing, especially for condominiums and townhomes, and urged continued work on liability and insurance-related laws that may discourage condo development. He also referenced prior bipartisan reforms to Minnesota’s condominium construction defects law and said his organization supports further improvements to encourage more condo production. Keenan Ravery of the Minnesota Mortgage Association focused on how insurance requirements affect mortgage lending. He explained that lenders require insurance both at origination and throughout the life of the loan, with standards aimed at protecting collateral rather than providing full homeowners coverage. He said replacement-cost coverage has long been the norm, but recent issues with roofs, deductibles, HO-6 policies, and force-placed insurance have become pain points for consumers and lenders. He said his association is working with national trade groups on reforms that could allow more flexibility in coverage types and deductibles, and he expressed hope that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency may announce policy changes in the coming months or by early 2026. No votes or substantive policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and agreeing to pursue scheduling adjustments for January.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, other than the fact that the wind power in Texas comes to mind when you talk about wind power.
• Chair, other than the fact that the wind power in Texas comes to mind when you talk about wind power.
• Chair, other than the fact that the wind power in Texas comes to mind when you talk about wind power.
• Chair, other than the fact that the wind power in Texas comes to mind when you talk about wind power.
• It does not have to necessarily be funded toward wind or solar, but as you said, if wind or solar becomes

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are certain resources that are kind of here and now.
• So there are certain resources that are kind of here and now.
• Um and you know was solar and wind.
• are kind of here certain resources that are kind of here and<00:18:11.360> now.
• Bidirectional EVs, what is going to happen to the offshore wind? Beats me.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's long, long ago, yet somehow not so very long, when all the animals and rocks and winds and waters
• As the first breeze that whispered, he is a wind who is never still, quiet as the stone that answered
• He is swift and free as the wind, and still as solid as a great rock. She is the life of the world.
• Let us take a moment to be still, to listen as the winds listen, as the stars listen, as Old Turtle once
• legislation that funded. instituted the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and established the wind

Transcript Highlights:

• The Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts testified recently that there were more than
• So, of course, as you can imagine, this has required significant staff resources, and thus we've asked
• Three I'd like to highlight specifically are erosion control, both wind and water, water infiltration
• First of all, erosion—specifically wind erosion.
• By growing and establishing a cover crop, we can reduce wind erosion and the dirt in the ditches.

Transcript Highlights:

• [laughter] She dug in deep on topics like wind energy, combined heat and power, and more.
• [laughter] She dug in deep on topics like wind energy, combined heat and power, and more.
• strengthens one of the wind and strengthens one another." another." another."
• Over 90% of the resources have been committed at this time.
• Over 90% of the resources over here.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will now come to order.
• Hurricanes and tropical storms cause DVs from wind and storm damage, as you can imagine, or storm surge
• Hurricanes and tropical storms cause DVs from wind and storm damage, as you can imagine, or storm surge
• on the water because maybe there's an area that's a great anchorage because it's protected from the wind
• on the water because maybe there's an area that's a great anchorage because it's protected from the wind

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources received a presentation from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on derelict vessels, enforcement challenges, and a long-term stored vessel study. FWC reported about 1,040 derelict vessels currently in its database, with roughly 600 new cases entering each year, and noted that hurricanes account for a large share of recent cases. The agency explained the legal definition of derelict vessels, the environmental and navigation hazards they create, and its enforcement process, including investigation, notice to owners, administrative hearings, removal authorization, and recovery of costs through registration holds. FWC also described prevention efforts such as at-risk vessel enforcement, nuisance vessel designations, public awareness campaigns, and the vessel turn-in program, which has received more than 250 applications and removed more than 145 vessels since rollout. Committee members asked about owner resistance to removal, rapid-response options for hazardous vessels, county differences in derelict vessel numbers, and how local governments participate. FWC said only a small percentage of owners contest removals, that the agency relies on contractors and does not generally have its own removal equipment, and that local governments may conduct removals with their own funding but must still provide due process. Members also asked where removed vessels go; FWC said they are taken to landfills, with recyclable materials recovered, and that storage is used only when necessary for public safety because it is costly. The presentation also highlighted the long-term stored vessel study, which found a strong correlation between long-term anchored vessels and later derelict vessels, especially in Monroe County. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the committee adjourned after Senator Errington moved to adjourn and there was no objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the spaceport was here, I kind of took a chance that I might wind up with a job there.
• The Port of Entry in Santa Teresa was upgraded by TPI, the owner of the wind blades.
• They made the investment there through the acceptance program with CBP to accommodate the wind blades
• Vernova-Arcosa wind turbine operation that's in Valencia County.
• Has been somewhat reduced, but there still are available water resources there.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it will focus our resources on treatment, long-term recovery, and stability.
• It provides the resources. It allows local communities...
• Provide the roadmap, it provides the resources.
• We're not putting enough resources to reduce the list.
• Senate Bill 2506, a bill to be entitled: An act relating to natural resources.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to my estimate, it's $30, $38 million that, you know, that use our water, our resources.
• If we get the federal designation, they will be opened up to other resources that are available, like
• I don't know if a data center would help us or hurt us as far as the resources needed for that.
• I don't know if a data center would help us or hurt us as far as the resources needed for that.
• that may cross over from one program to another or reallocate resources?

Bills: HB4138, HB4139, HB4140, HB4141, HB4142, HB4143, HB4144, HB4145, HB4146, HB4147, HB4148, HB4149, HB4150, HB4151, HB4152, HB4153, SB1831, SB1832, SB1833, SB1834, SB1835, SB1836, SB1837, SB1838, SB1839, SB1840, SB1841, SB1842, SB1843, SB1844, SB1845, SB1846

Keywords: appropriations, education funding, health care, general fund, state budget, local funding, gaming, pari-mutuel, horse racing, regulatory assessment, first-time starters, budget implementation, federal funds, government services, budget stabilization, financial reporting, capital outlay, infrastructure, veterans services, highway construction

Summary: The committee met in a special joint appropriations session to review the FY 2027 budget package, including House Bill 4138 and Senate Bill 1831, the general appropriations or “feed” bills. Staff described the budget as including a one-time transfer of state funds, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general-fund budgets, continued funding for the state health insurance plan and school facilities, and various one-time restorations or reversions of prior appropriations. Members spent much of the meeting clarifying how the 5% reductions would work, noting that formula and mandatory funding such as K-12 basic aid are excluded, while the governor’s executive branch would decide how to implement the cuts within agencies. The chair repeatedly emphasized that the committee was not specifying line-item cuts and that agencies would have discretion over implementation. A large portion of the discussion focused on the practical effects of the budget on universities, public safety, health care, rural programs, and fund sweeps. Arizona Board of Regents and university representatives said the proposed reductions would amount to more than $85 million statewide and could affect programs such as the Arizona Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and tuition freezes, though no specific program cuts were written into the bill. Other testimony raised concerns about fund sweeps from encumbered balances, including university research funds, housing trust funds, utility regulation funds, and ADOT-related accounts, with some members warning about possible impacts on rural infrastructure and federal matching dollars. The committee also discussed the state employee health plan, including a $228 million general-fund infusion and proposed employee premium increases over three years, as well as questions about corrections, forestry and fire management, and rural critical access hospitals. Public testimony was largely opposed to the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, health care, and local government argued that the package would reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care access, and rural communities while preserving tax benefits for data centers and wealthy taxpayers. A mayor from Globe described severe flood damage and asked for state help for a flood relief fund, while a motorcycle safety advocate questioned a proposed transfer from the motorcycle safety fund. Committee members debated whether the budget’s effects should be described as speculative or as likely consequences of the broad cuts, and several exchanges became contentious over comparisons to the Great Recession and references to federal tax policy. The meeting ended with continued public testimony and no final vote taken in the portion provided, though leadership had earlier said the committee planned a mass roll-call vote on all the bills at the end.

Transcript Highlights:

• provides revenue for the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, from which distributions are made to natural resource
• I'm with Western Resource Advocates, and we support HB 184.

Bills: HB63, HB64, HB184, HB200, HB47, HB48, HB2, HB9

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Bills: HB407, HB871, HB882, HB2011, HB3572, HB3578, HB4038, HB4866, HB4897, HB4978, HB5380, HB5555, HB5668, HB5670, HB5674, HB5676, HB5679, HB5688, SB673

Keywords: solar energy, residential construction, building code, municipal regulations, energy compliance, building codes, interconnection, education, funding, teacher support, student resources, school infrastructure, municipal requirements, environmental sustainability, municipalities, construction, agricultural operation, International Code Council, county regulations, construction fees