Video & Transcript Research : 'litter reduction'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • There is a contingent reduction that the commission or management budget looks at, but that's subject
  • The surcharge charge is not subject to the levels of revenues and expenditures that the contingent reduction
  • to say is that the surcharge charge is not subject to it, but the provider tax is subject to that reduction
  • to say is that the surcharge charge is not subject to it, but the provider tax is subject to that reduction
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • These targets are to be aligned with the greenhouse gas reductions of 90% for the portfolio, so that's
  • measuring energy use, we keep all those measurements, but the target is actually measured in the reduction
  • 35.080><c> the</c> the target is actually measured in the the target is actually measured in the reduction
  • gas, reduction of greenhouse gas, right?
  • We have one bite of the apple for all of these buildings to get energy efficiency reductions in the most
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Environment and Natural Resources Jan 13th, 2026

Environment and Natural Resources

Bills: S0544, S0636, S0848, S0546
Summary: The Environment and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. SB 636 on beach management, by Senator Leek, would create additional pathways for counties and municipalities to obtain critically eroded beach or area of critical state concern designations, shifting the process toward a more proactive approach. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell raised concerns about local capacity and funding, and the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association said the bill was an alternative pathway but emphasized the need for more recurring funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 544, which transfers the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Program from DEP to FDACS and establishes certification and training standards there. Senator Smith and Senator Harrell asked about environmental oversight, taxation, and whether the change would affect state park restrictions; the sponsor said it would not change tax treatment or park rules and that DEP would still handle enforcement if BMPs are not followed. The Florida Springs Council opposed the bill, arguing golf courses are not agriculture and warning of weaker protections for springs, while the Florida Golf Course Superintendent's Association supported the move as a continuity and participation measure. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. SB 848 on stormwater treatment, also by Senator Trunow, was amended to clarify the role of water quality enhancement areas while stormwater rules are still being finalized and to make public-land project review forward-looking. Resource Environmental Solutions supported the amendment and bill as providing a clearer market for water quality credits, and the Florida Home Builders Association supported the measure. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 546 by Vice Chair Mayfield would require 30-day public notice before meetings reviewing the sale or exchange of state conservation lands, including at water management districts; after a technical amendment, it received support from conservation groups and was reported favorably. The committee also received a DEP presentation on the State Park Amenities Report, which said Florida’s 175 state parks drew over 28 million visitors and generated a $3.6 billion economic impact. DEP identified nearly $759 million in needed repairs and upgrades over 10 years and $1.39 billion in contemplated new construction and development in unit management plans. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Wed Apr 22, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • think the impetus behind this is that if we went all the mail order, there probably going to be a reduction
  • think the impetus behind this is that if we went all the mail order, there probably going to be a reduction
  • Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the best paths to maximize cost reduction
  • , Maria to on behalf of Michelangelo, we will stand on our written testimony with comments. cost reduction
  • and minimize financial cost reduction and minimize financial risk<00:25:16.640><c> to</c><00:25:16.880
Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard several Senate concurrent resolutions related to utilities, pharmacy access, critical infrastructure, and energy policy. STR 96 SD1 asked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to report on the progress of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator; the PUC offered written comments and the measure later advanced as is. STR 109 SD1 urged the insurance commissioner to study expanding mail-order pharmacy use. Testimony was split: DCCA’s insurance division, HMSA, and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported the study, while Shipa and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association opposed it, arguing mail-order pharmacy is already available and that in-person pharmacist counseling should be preserved. The measure was ultimately deferred. The committee also heard STR 164 SD1 on protecting Hawaii’s critical infrastructure from foreign influence. Greenpeace Hawaii and 350 Hawaii strongly supported the resolution, framing it as a consumer protection and resilience measure tied to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local food and energy systems. No opposition was presented, and the resolution was moved out as is. STR 172 SD1 HD1 directed the PUC to conduct a comprehensive analysis of ways to maximize cost reduction and minimize financial risk while meeting state goals. DCCA, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the PUC offered comments, and Earthjustice supported the measure; it was also advanced as is. For STR 166 SD1, which concerns how the PUC should evaluate generational energy commitments, DCCA, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the PUC provided comments, while 350 Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, and others opposed any move toward LNG, arguing it would harm ratepayers and conflict with Hawaii’s renewable goals. After discussion, the committee amended the resolution to add language directing the PUC to evaluate any LNG or other imported-fuel proposal for its potential effects on or delays to the state’s renewable portfolio standards, including the 2045 deadline. The amended resolution then passed, and the committee adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 4/14/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><01:29:43.360><c> The</c><01:29:43.560><c> amendment</c> reduction aid payment.
  • The amendment reduction aid payment.
  • And I was just flipping through the front and I saw with interest disparity reduction aid, right?
  • So they're sort of subject to these maximum rate reduction amounts.
  • But other than rate reduction amounts.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Rules Feb 9th, 2026 at 09:11 am

Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • prevention program, which would include implementation of overdose prevention centers and other harm reduction
  • actually preventing overdose deaths, these centers are shown to reduce public drug use and drug-related litter
  • About four years ago, we updated our harm reduction statute to allow for fentanyl test strips.
Bills: SB238, HJR1, SM21, SM22
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Rules Feb 9th, 2026

House Rules & Order Of Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • prevention program, which would include implementation of overdose prevention centers and other harm reduction
  • preventing overdose deaths, these centers are shown to also reduce public drug use and drug-related litter
  • About four years ago, we updated our harm reduction statute to allow for fentanyl test strips.
Bills: SB238, HJR1, SM21, SM22
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 238, which would rename the governor’s residence advisory commission as a governor’s residence management committee and clarify its duties, membership, and authority over furnishings, maintenance, inventories, and hospitality functions at the governor’s residence. Senator Worth and Secretary Designate Anna Silva said the change was needed to remove ambiguity during the transition to a new administration and to improve transparency around the residence, the General Services Department fund, and the separate Mansion Foundation fundraising role. Several senators questioned whether the bill concentrated too much authority in the governor and whether it could enable a large renovation project without sufficient legislative oversight; supporters said major renovations would still require legislative appropriations. The committee ultimately advanced the Senate Rules Committee substitute for SB 238 on a 5-2 vote. The committee then approved House Joint Resolution 1, which would create bipartisan nominating commissions to vet and recommend university and special school regents to the governor, rather than leaving appointments entirely to the governor’s discretion. Senator Steinborn said the resolution would improve qualifications and reduce conflicts of interest, including by changing the student regent selection process. After brief discussion about party-affiliation restrictions, the resolution received a due pass with no objection. Two memorials followed. Senate Memorial 21, presented by Senator Stephanics for Senator Bergman, calls for a Department of Health study of overdose prevention tools, including overdose prevention centers and other harm-reduction strategies, in response to New Mexico’s high and rising overdose death rates. Supporters cited rural access challenges and the need to explore all available tools; one senator asked for more accurate county and demographic data in the memorial’s background. The committee gave SM 21 a due pass. Senate Memorial 22, presented by Senator Charlie and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group to map how domestic-violence funding flows through CYFD and related agencies, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and provider input. Witnesses said funding streams are fragmented and sometimes unclear, and senators discussed whether the work should remain within CYFD or be overseen elsewhere. The committee also gave SM 22 a due pass. The chair then announced that the committee would hear SB 264 and SB 261 at its next meeting and recessed.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Jan 14th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Environment, Energy & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2025 alone, this program collected almost over 200 tons of litter in public spaces, and plastic bags
  • were often included in that litter.
  • Our county solid waste program strongly supports the environmental goals of this bill to reduce litter
  • Or had you heard any—would you like in managing plastics and having the reduction of having plastics?
  • The resulting fewer but thicker plastic bags just didn't meet the plastics reduction target.
Summary: The committee first heard SB 5965 on retail bags, which would prohibit single-use plastic and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge from 8 cents to 20 cents, preserve exemptions for SNAP/WIC-related transactions, and add penalties for manufacturers and distributors. The sponsor and supporters argued the current law has led to thicker plastic bags that are not being reused as intended and are contributing to litter, microplastics, and ocean pollution. Environmental groups, local governments, health advocates, and some retailers supported the bill, while grocery, hospitality, retail, packaging, and manufacturing groups opposed it, saying the 20-cent paper fee is regressive, the plastic ban could create food-safety and delivery problems, and the state should wait for more data on the current 12-cent fee. The hearing ended with the chair noting 1,240 people chose not to testify, with 541 pro, 695 con, and 4 other sign-ins. The committee then heard SB 6030, a competing bag bill that would allow film plastic and paper carryout bags if they meet recycled-content standards, keep paper bags at 8 cents, and reduce the plastic bag fee from 12 cents to 8 cents while eliminating the reusable-bag thickness requirements. Staff explained that most of the prior carryout bag restrictions would be repealed, though recycled-content standards and the SNAP exemption would remain. There was no public testimony on the bill, and the chair noted 208 non-testifiers, with 192 pro, 11 con, and 5 other. Next, the committee took up SB 5975 on lead in cookware, which would narrow the covered cookware definition, delay the drop to a 10 ppm lead standard until 2030, and allow compliance through FDA or European testing methods. Supporters said the current law is hard to implement, lacks a clear test method, and should be aligned with practical enforcement standards; opponents from Ecology, Health, environmental groups, and consumer advocates said the bill would weaken Washington’s current protections, create broad exemptions, and allow high-lead cookware to remain on the market. The hearing ended with 609 non-testifiers, including 54 pro, 552 con, and 3 other. Finally, staff briefly introduced SB 5941, which would direct the Building Code Council to exempt certain small school districts in central and eastern climate zones from on-site renewable energy system requirements, and the sponsor said the bill is intended to provide flexibility rather than eliminate the code.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Finance Committee 2/27/25

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Lee said, “Two points, because this is Ed Finance, and I think it — I guess a reduction
  • is I'm being asked, and this committee will probably be asked, where are you going to find the reductions
  • going<01:38:10.040><c> to</c><01:38:10.159><c> find</c><01:38:10.360><c> the</c><01:38:10.480><c> reductions
  • </c><01:38:11.320><c> this</c><01:38:11.400><c> is</c><01:38:11.560><c> a</c> going to find the reductions
  • this is a going to find the reductions this is a start<01:38:14.199><c> thank</c><01:38:14.360><c> you
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses May 7th, 2026

Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Transcript Highlights:
  • MLRI's mission as an anti-poverty organization underscores the interrelatedness of poverty reduction,
  • The NERI's mission as an anti-poverty organization underscores the interrelatedness of poverty reduction
Bills: S3022, H5187
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Jan 27th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • And would this be a reduction in carbon to not be driving those miles? Thank you.
Bills: SB5987, SB6170
Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee began with a work session on the Fairfax Carbon River SR-165 Bridge closure and replacement. Wilkeson Mayor Jamie Pololi described the bridge as a long-standing state investment that was closed after years of documented deterioration, saying the closure severed access to Mount Rainier-area recreation, hurt local businesses and municipal revenue, and created emergency access problems for Fairfax and nearby communities. Pierce County’s Melissa Littleton and WSDOT’s Steve Rourke said the bridge is 105 years old, was weight-limited before closing, and is now being studied for replacement; WSDOT outlined seven alternatives, said greenfield options were ruled out, and explained that the project is in early geotechnical and pre-NEPA planning, with construction still estimated to take years. Senators asked about detour length, emergency response, historic-preservation issues, and whether the project could be accelerated; WSDOT said the bridge’s status and the need for a new alignment limit the usefulness of emergency authority, and that additional funding will be needed beyond the $7 million already spent from preservation funds. The committee then held a public hearing on SB 5987, which would declare the Fairfax Bridge closure an emergency, direct WSDOT to restore access across SR-165 as soon as possible, grant the transportation secretary limited emergency authorities, exempt the work from Executive Order 25-07 project labor agreement requirements, and make the act effective immediately. Supporters, including the mayor, local residents, recreation advocates, and trail groups, said the bill would recognize the closure as a public safety and access emergency and help restore access to public lands, businesses, and emergency routes. WSDOT testified in opposition to the bill’s practical effect, warning it could create false expectations because most delays are driven by federal NEPA and historic-preservation processes that the secretary cannot waive. The committee reported 606 people signed in support, one opposed, and two other. The committee also heard SB 6170, which would raise the dollar limits for work performed by state highway crews and for certain procurement thresholds that allow small, veteran-, minority-, and women-owned businesses to compete. The bill would increase the state-force limit from $60,000 to $100,000 in normal circumstances and from $100,000 to $160,000 in emergencies, with similar increases for related contracting thresholds; staff said the current limits have not been updated since 2005 and the bill has no fiscal impact. Senator King, the prime sponsor, said the change would better match inflation and help state workers do more routine and emergency work in-house. WFSE and WSDOT supported the bill, saying it would help maintenance crews keep up with rising costs while preserving opportunities for outside contractors; Senator Valdez asked whether it would affect minority- and women-owned contracting programs, and WSDOT said it did not expect an adverse impact but would monitor it. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with 55 signed in favor and none opposed.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Care & Wellness Jan 13th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Health Care & Wellness

Transcript Highlights:
  • partners and the public about overdoses locally and help us guide more targeted prevention and harm reduction
  • Thanks. ...us guide more targeted prevention and harm reduction efforts.
  • effectively and more precisely utilize overdose spike alerts for our opioid prevention and harm reduction
  • effectively and more precisely utilize overdose spike alerts for our opioid prevention and harm reduction
  • prevention and response partners that can do the most with it—partners such as treatment and harm reduction
Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee heard public testimony on several bills. HB 2152 would require hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to allow qualifying terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis under facility policies that prohibit smoking/vaping, require patient self-administration and secure storage, and protect facilities from licensure consequences; the prime sponsor and supporters framed it as a compassionate end-of-life measure based on the experience of Ryan Bartel, while the Washington State Hospital Association asked for amendments to limit it to inpatient beds and to bar staff from retrieving cannabis. HB 2122 would require hospitals to offer flu vaccines to inpatients age 65 and older and to inpatients with chronic conditions during flu season; supporters cited rising flu deaths and benefits for high-risk patients, while opponents questioned the need and urged stronger informed-consent language, and hospitals raised cost and operational concerns. HB 2110 would relax staffing rules for inter-facility specialty care transports by allowing a registered nurse without EMT certification to serve when no paramedic or RN-EMT is available; rural hospitals and ambulance providers said the change would improve timely transfers, while nurses’ representatives raised concerns about training, medical oversight, and staffing impacts on hospital units. The committee also heard HB 2113, which would update supervision rules for radiologic technologists performing IV contrast procedures by allowing virtual direct supervision by a physician and direct supervision by an ARNP or PA for contrast administration, while keeping other parenteral procedures under physician supervision. Supporters said the bill would align state law with current practice and federal CMS rules and improve access in rural areas; radiology stakeholders supported the bill but asked for a proximity requirement for virtual physician supervision. Finally, HB 2168 would require the Department of Health to rapidly share overdose data from the EMS information system to ODMAP within 24 hours, with privacy protections and limits on law-enforcement use; supporters said it would improve near-real-time overdose response and save lives, while the Washington Poison Center asked to be added as a data source and to clarify the bill’s overdose terminology. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after public hearings.