Transcript Highlights:

• Now, nuclear waste is kind of weird. There's two parts to it.
• So again, there's two different types of waste.
• And everyone keeps saying the same is the waste for 100,000 years.
• It was only narrowed politically in the '80s to take only transuranic waste, some of the bomb waste that
• repository for this type of waste.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. House Bill 2272 would update state park inspection language for ski lifts and related equipment to better match current equipment and federal standards; the sponsor and State Parks said it was a simple modernization bill, and there was no opposition. House Bill 2245 would expand Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to port districts that distribute electricity, utilities with a single customer, and certain affected market customers such as data centers; supporters said it closes loopholes and applies clean-energy rules more fairly, while ports, business groups, and some utilities warned of unintended consequences, added reporting burdens, and impacts on cogeneration and rural economic development. Ecology and Commerce supported the goal but raised concerns about allowance allocation, fiscal impacts, and possible double counting, and WAPUDA asked that existing single-customer PUDs be grandfathered. House Bill 2215 would lower Climate Commitment Act thresholds for gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, and propane suppliers and extend coverage to some purchasers; supporters said it would prevent entities from gaming the system and cover significant emissions now below the threshold, while Ecology, fuel distributors, propane suppliers, grocers, and business groups warned of compliance costs, supply-chain impacts, possible linkage issues, and the need to preserve existing reporting authority for natural gas. Ecology estimated about 50 additional covered entities could be brought in, and several opponents argued the bill would sweep in small family-owned businesses not intended to be regulated. House Bill 2090 would direct Commerce to develop a nuclear strategic framework for inclusion in the state energy strategy, contingent on outside funding. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill is only a planning measure to ensure Washington considers advanced nuclear as a firm, low-carbon, small-footprint resource amid rising demand, grid constraints, and land-use concerns; supporters included Energy Northwest, local governments, labor/environmental Democrats, and pro-nuclear groups. Opponents, including the Sierra Club, Columbia Riverkeeper, tribal representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several environmental advocates, said the bill gives nuclear special treatment, relies on private funding that could bias the study, and risks advancing projects at Hanford without early, meaningful tribal consultation. Tribes requested explicit consultation, independent and publicly funded analysis, and attention to treaty rights and historic nuclear impacts. Testimony also sharply divided over cost, waste, and land use, with supporters emphasizing reliability and footprint and opponents citing high costs, unresolved waste disposal, and the immaturity of small modular reactors. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• California has actually really been forward... ...of organic waste.
• California has actually really been forward-thinking in trying to address organic waste, food waste,
• But, you know, abundant organic waste continues to be a high cost for local communities.
• I'm just kind of grappling with bio-waste and the circular life cycle.
• In the background is that cocoa waste stream domestically made here in California.

Transcript Highlights:

• The law does not explicitly cover wasteful, but legally, the use of state resources.
• Stopping wasteful or fraudulent spending, so we agree on that.
• Just a question: wasteful. Everybody understands kind of what fraudulent spending is, but wasteful.
• Wasteful in whose eyes?
• Activity, and then we just let them know this is not wasteful.

Bills: HB551 , HB 1281 , HB1378 , HB1617 , HB2868 , HB2881 , HB3374 , HB4439 , HB4726 , HB4732 , HB4878 , HB4914 , HB4921 , HB4958 , HB5200 , HB5318 , HB5360 , HB5402 , HB5568 , HB5573 , HB5623 , HJR218

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, homeowners and developers who diligently abide by local waste diversion programs can lose
• Because he just mentioned that the waste would be in California.
• Kayla Robinson with Californians Against Waste, the proud sponsor of AB 2253.
• Erin Martinez, on behalf of Rethink Waste and Clean Water Action, in support. Thank you.
• Good afternoon, Kayla Robinson with California Against Waste in support.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It does nothing to reduce waste, fraud, or abuse.
• It does nothing to reduce waste, fraud, or abuse.
• It just reduce waste fraud or abuse.
• </c><00:33:33.440><c> Uh</c> eliminate waste fraud and all that.
• Uh eliminate waste fraud and all that.

Bills: SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167 , SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: school psychologist, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure compact, license reciprocity, portable license, equivalent license, professional licensing, psychology board, school mental health, student services, educational services, interstate practice, reciprocal licensing, background check, continuing education, workforce shortage, military spouse, active duty military, compact commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Waste that comes out of, typically, weapons legacy waste from, like, weapons development processes.
• There's some uses for that, but generally it's a waste, kind of a waste product or just a product that
• You're still going to have waste forms from that recycling, high-level waste as well... ...waste forms
• The electrochemical molten salt waste is not in this liquid form.
• So recycling e-waste feedstock.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many wastewater treatment facilities already recover some waste heat internally for their own processes
• treatment facilities already<00:01:56.760><c> recover</c><00:01:57.280><c> some</c><00:01:57.640><c> waste
• </c><00:01:57.920><c> heat</c> already recover some waste heat already recover some waste heat internally
• <00:03:40.000><c> effort</c><00:03:40.239><c> to</c><00:03:40.320><c> capture</c><00:03:40.720><c> waste
• </c><00:03:41.000><c> heat</c> Paul, an effort to capture waste heat Paul, an effort to capture waste

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, and then lastly, our forest and ag waste are those potential feedstocks for this?
• We did look at publicly available data on waste feedstock availability.
• So this question about whether there is enough waste feedstock is a good question.
• Yeah, if you're using the waste feedstock.
• Waste oils that would otherwise be going to the landfill. SAF builds on that progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment changes the bill's title to waste management.
• means of solid waste disposal.
• means of solid waste disposal.
• Waste to energy is critical infrastructure for Florida.
• Joe Kilsheimer, Executive Director of the Florida Waste to Energy Coalition, continued: “Waste is critical

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• And statewide benefits and burdens of major solid waste facilities.
• </c> major solid waste facilities. major solid waste facilities.
• if the public benefit of a solid waste facility outweighs the adverse impacts.
• </c><00:38:31.760><c> facility</c> benefit of a solid waste facility benefit of a solid waste facility
• </c> against the public need for solid waste against the public need for solid waste disposal.<00:44:

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• but we'd like for it to be a more robust program and certainly try to stem any challenges that our waste
• Keena Corey, and you are recognized to speak for the Florida chapter of the National Waste and Recycling
• I'm here on behalf of the Florida chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association.
• Lance Lozano, who is waiving in support from the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority.
• It also clarifies the intent of solid waste credit for eligibility purposes and corrected a previous

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources considered several environmental and infrastructure bills, most of them sponsored or presented by Senator McLean, along with measures on stormwater, wastewater, brownfields, marine facilities, and a confirmation package. SB 492 on mitigation banking would allow mitigation credits to be purchased outside an impact area when local credits are unavailable, with distance-based multipliers and a statutory credit release schedule; Senator Smith raised concerns about how far credits could be moved from the impacted ecosystem, while supporters said the bill would preserve net environmental benefit and provide predictability. The bill was reported favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. SB 800 would update Florida’s battery recycling program and require manufacturers to support more robust recycling and disposal information, prompted by testimony from waste, recycling, and industry groups describing truck, landfill, and facility fires caused by batteries. SB 1228 would advance a spring restoration project for Kentucky Springs and the Santa Fe spring flows by allowing JEA to amend a compliance plan to deliver more than 35 million gallons per day of reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it was reported favorably without debate. SB 796 would create a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems to help local governments address failing septic tanks, and SB 736 would update the Brownfields program with technical changes, revised definitions, and a change allowing smaller ownership interests to participate in cleanup efforts; both were reported favorably after supportive testimony. SB 810 on stormwater management required annual inspections of local government waterways and drainage works before hurricane season, motivated by flooding after recent storms. Senators Harrell and Smith questioned who would be responsible for inspections and repairs, the scope of structures covered, and the fiscal impact, and the sponsor said the bill would be refined to better define responsibilities and possibly narrow the scope to higher-risk infrastructure. The bill drew opposition from the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Stormwater Association, but also strong support from senators who emphasized the need for better preparedness; it was reported favorably. SB 1162 on water access facilities would add a clean marine manufacturer designation, provide a lease fee discount, and include parking for boat-hauling vehicles and trailers in the grant program; it was reported favorably. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of five Florida Inland Navigation District appointees, and Senator DeSantis? no, Senator DeCeglie recorded affirmative votes on SB 492, SB 800, and SB 1228 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hundreds of millions of dollars lost to waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.
• In total, more than $600 million in taxpayer dollars have been lost to waste, fraud, and abuse in state
• Let's demand accountability for waste, fraud, and abuse. Members, vote Green.
• So, you know, you're saying that, "Oh, we're wasting money." Well, you know what?
• I would note for the record that the original definitions of this bill for waste, fraud, and abuse were

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think maybe they don't want to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse.
• To suggest that this caucus wants waste, fraud, and abuse to go on is imputing our motives.
• And so to impugn us by saying we want waste, fraud, and abuse, that's going a little far because...
• We want waste, fraud, and abuse.
• We want waste, fraud, and abuse.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, Transportation and Technology heard HCR 2048, as amended by a strike-everything amendment. The amendment would constitutionally prohibit the state from confiscating scholarship account monies from children of military families who are eligible for education scholarship accounts (ESAs) and can use the funds for tuition and fees at eligible postsecondary institutions. It also would make any later bill or voter-approved measure that violates that prohibition void in its entirety, with no severability, for measures enacted or approved on or after November 1, 2026. Representative Way, the sponsor, said the measure was intended to protect military families from having education funds taken away and argued that military children face unique disruptions because of deployments and frequent moves. Supporters including Matt Beinberg of the Goldwater Institute, Kevin Beasty of the Arizona Christian Education Coalition, Peter Gentala of the Center for Arizona Policy, and Senator Rogers said the amendment was needed to safeguard military families and preserve their ability to use ESA funds flexibly, including for college savings. Opponents, including Senators Alston, Fernandez, Kuby, and Epstein, argued the proposal was unnecessary, overly broad, and an attempt to preempt or invalidate a pending ESA-related citizen initiative. They also raised concerns about ESA accountability, public school funding, and constitutional issues involving voter initiatives and judicial review. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then voted on HCR 2048 as amended. The final committee vote was 6 ayes, 4 noes, and 1 not voting, giving the measure a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not going to compromise any kind of fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We see very little fraud, waste, and abuse from small local public bodies.
• When auditing decreases, the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse naturally increases.
• doing it and not making sure that there's not fraud and waste?
• And it's not going to open anything up to fraud, waste, and abuse.

Bills: SB145 , SB143

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not going to compromise any kind of fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We see very little fraud, waste, and abuse.
• When auditing decreases, the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse naturally increases.
• , how are other states doing it and making sure that there's not fraud and waste?
• So I do not believe that it would open up for additional fraud, waste, or abuse.

Bills: HB2 , SB145 , SB143

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 143, which would raise caps on certain agriculture fees so they can keep pace with inflation. Senator Woods explained that the bill only adjusts fee ceilings, not automatic increases, and an amendment was adopted to tie the caps to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the U.S. Department of Labor. There was no public support or opposition testimony, and the bill was then passed on an 8-0 do-pass vote, with several members excused. The committee then took up Senate Bill 145, which would change the state audit system by raising thresholds for smaller local public bodies and creating a statewide federal single audit for state agencies. The State Auditor and DFA said the bill was intended to streamline audits, reduce delays, and align New Mexico with federal rules and other states, but multiple CPA and audit witnesses opposed the statewide single-audit concept, warning it could reduce transparency, weaken accountability, and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Committee members pressed for clarification on how the audit structure would work, which agencies would be covered, and whether DFA or independent auditors would conduct the work; the sponsors said amendments were needed to clarify the bill and remove problematic language, including the appropriation and references to gifts and donations. The committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation language and then continued questioning without taking final action in the excerpt. The final portion of the meeting shifted to the House Bill 2 budget presentation. Committee members reviewed the Senate Finance version of the budget, which included about a 2.7% increase in recurring spending, 30% reserves, and major investments in health care affordability, early childhood, public education, housing, clean energy, water, and agriculture-related priorities. Members asked about water testing needs, water settlement funding, career technical education funding, and the contingency fund/disaster reserve structure. The presenters said some items still needed technical work and that additional adjustments would be made before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human waste and waste from the dairy must be kept separate.
• Human waste and waste from the dairy must be kept separate.
• Human waste and waste from the dairy must be kept separate.
• </c> facility human waste and waste from the facility human waste and waste from the dairy dairy dairy
• and the Industrial Residential Waste and the Industrial Waste<00:59:37.480><c> and</c><00:59:37.599>

Bills: HF220 , HF230 , HF240 , HF241 , HF295 , HF429 , HF490 , HF505 , HF574 , HF576 , HF581 , HF865 , HF918 , HF1085 , HF1449 , HF1452 , HF1454 , HF602

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF220, Minnesota transportation, highway user tax distribution fund, trunk highway fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT, transportation finance, dedicated funds, funding restrictions, arts in transportation, cultural strategies, transportation project planning, project design, project construction, placemaking, public art, infrastructure spending, state statutes 161.045, HF230, Wyoming

Transcript Highlights:

• Truck hauling waste to our facility have started on fire.
• These impacts extend beyond solid waste facilities.
• </c><00:23:33.760><c> stream</c> materials are lost in the waste stream materials are lost in the waste
• Counties are being asked waste stream.
• <c> remain</c><00:24:29.280><c> significant</c> and broader e-waste remain significant and broader e-waste

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I go through the spreadsheet, there'll be two lines that talk about e-waste expenditure and e-waste
• </c><00:05:11.759><c> part</c> that deletes it's with the e-waste part that deletes it's with the e-waste
• um expenditure and talk about e-waste um expenditure and e-waste<00:05:22.840><c> revenue.
• Um, line 36 dealt with the old e-waste e-waste e-waste program.<00:13:03.920><c> That's</c><00:13:04.240
• Next, we go to the uh e-waste.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• HB3071 is Chairman Guerin's bill relating to the cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits
• Through our public-private funding model, we enable the collection and recycling of waste, over a billion
• It saves cities money on waste management by diverting waste from landfills.
• It's a huge waste. They have a resource value of $3.8 billion.
• An important step of getting your waste hollers, the different types of manufacturers in Texas.

Bills: HB1730 , HB1823 , HB2048 , HB2266 , HB2440 , HB3333 , HB4086 , HB4271 , HB4413 , HB4839 , HB4841 , HB5151

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• How does your agency go about identifying waste, fraud, and abuse, and how much money have you saved
• I don't believe there have been. been any identified instances of waste, fraud, or abuse in the last
• biennium. waste, fraud, and abuse in the last two years?
• Opportunities for efficiencies, but no waste fraud or abuse how big is your agency? Total budget?
• Or they have their own water well, frankly, and septic tank system for waste water. Whatnot.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII