Video & Transcript : 'federally declared natural disaster' :

Page 53 of 500
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And then, to the sponsors, why are we moving ahead of federal regulators here?
  • and negative declarations.
  • These wildfires now are considered among the most costly natural disasters.
  • disasters and increase the risks of floods and fires.
  • The motion is do pass to the Natural Resources and Water Committee.
Summary: The committee heard AB 1603, which would restrict new PFAS pesticides from being registered in California and add transparency requirements for pesticide use reporting. The author and supporters argued PFAS are persistent, harmful chemicals that contaminate water, soil, and food, and said the bill would reduce future contamination and public health costs. Supporters included environmental and public health groups, water agencies, nurses, teachers, and local governments. Agricultural and chemical industry groups opposed the bill’s registration ban, arguing California already has strong pesticide review, that the measure could limit future safer formulations, and that it could raise costs and reduce farmers’ access to pest-control tools. Committee members raised questions about affordability, water contamination, and the role of state versus federal regulators; the author said the bill was needed because existing regulation is too slow and incomplete. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard AB 2635, the Just Transition for Landscapers Act, which would create voucher programs and other support for landscapers transitioning from gas-powered to electric equipment, while limiting penalties and adding privacy protections. The author and supporters said many landscapers are low-wage immigrant workers who cannot afford the upfront cost of electric equipment and should not be punished for complying with local air-quality rules. Air district representatives and other opponents said the bill could be too prescriptive, could divert limited air district resources, and could create administrative and language-assistance burdens; one air district moved to neutral after amendments. Committee members discussed the health benefits of electric equipment and the need to avoid placing penalties on workers. The bill was held pending a quorum. The committee also heard AB 1732, which would extend CEQA streamlining to public university and community college housing projects. The author, UC student representatives, and the University of California said the bill would help address student housing insecurity and speed construction on already planned campus sites. There was no opposition. The committee then took up AB 1744, the Clear Labels, Clear Seas Act, which would prohibit sunscreen products marketed as reef safe or reef friendly from containing certain chemicals that harm marine ecosystems. The author said the bill is a transparency measure, not a ban, and the committee expressed support; no opposition appeared. Additional bills discussed included AB 2152, which would streamline CEQA review for fire station projects and was supported by firefighters and local governments but opposed by contractors over a project labor agreement requirement; AB 2231, which would streamline two hospital projects in Santa Clara and Emeryville and drew broad support with no opposition; AB 2410, which would create temporary CEQA and Coastal Act exemptions for wildfire fuel-reduction projects and drew support from counties, cities, utilities, and fire officials but opposition from Sierra Club California over the breadth of the exemptions; and AB 2234, which would update geothermal exploratory project rules to reflect newer technologies, supported by clean power advocates and opposed or opposed-unless-amended by utility groups concerned about impacts on existing geothermal operations. Several of these measures were discussed with amendments, but votes were deferred where a quorum was not yet present.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

PBS Info Briefing - Mon July 28, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:22:47.919><c> immigration</c> the directives of federal immigration the directives of federal
  • Uh we have a federal funding.
  • </c> federal law and to protect federal federal law and to protect federal property<00:31:07.919><c>
  • <01:05:24.559><c> formal</c> disaster as declared in a formal disaster as declared in a formal declaration
  • </c> not take our orders from the federal not take our orders from the federal administration.
Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on federal and state authority over National Guard deployment in response to civil protest or unrest, prompted by recent federal actions and the California litigation in Newsom v. Trump. The chair explained the purpose was to help lawmakers and the public understand the legal background, the status of the California case, and possible Hawaii policy responses. David Day of the Attorney General’s office outlined several recent federal immigration-related executive actions and enforcement directives, then described Hawaii’s participation in multiple lawsuits challenging federal funding conditions, data-sharing demands, and the birthright citizenship order. A major portion of the briefing focused on Newsom v. Trump. Day summarized the June 2025 Los Angeles protests and the president’s memorandum federalizing National Guard units under 10 U.S.C. 12406, which California challenged as ultra vires, procedurally improper, and violative of the Posse Comitatus Act, the Tenth Amendment, and the APA. He said the district court initially granted relief, but the Ninth Circuit stayed the TRO and held, in a published decision, that review under section 12406 is highly deferential and that the president lawfully exercised authority under paragraph 3. He also noted California-law issues about orders being issued through the governor, and said Hawaii had supported California through amicus briefs and would continue to do so; the bench trial was scheduled for August 11-13. Members then asked how Hawaii law differs from California’s and whether the Ninth Circuit ruling would control here. Day said the standard-of-review aspects would likely apply, but the California-specific procedural language about orders issued in the governor’s name does not appear in Hawaii law. The committee also heard from Colonel Lloyd C. Phelps of the Hawaii Department of Defense, who explained that National Guard activations generally occur under Title 10 federal orders, state orders, or other statuses, and said the June 2025 federalization mechanism was a Title 10 call-up. He began addressing the president’s authority, the Posse Comitatus Act, and Hawaii’s own preparedness, but the discussion was cut short and members indicated they would return to the topic later. No votes were taken.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Naturally, and I was very empathetic to that.
  • However, they weren't able to have children naturally anymore.
  • I'm just... ...which includes pre-disaster, during, and post.
  • During disaster and post-disaster, our calls and alert media messages can include: please notify us of
  • My husband and I were able to have our children naturally.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 18th, 2025

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're fixing a few bad federal references to law and some cross-references.
  • We're fixing a few bad federal references to law and some cross-references.
  • We are also disaster-prone, with an extent of the state... ...of the state.
  • We're bringing in 41 federal dollars. The trend currently is 53 to 1.
  • Emergency funding and disaster relief: we are that safety net for those veterans.
Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Declare the vote. One nay. We'll report that as due pass.
  • Declare the vote. Yes, one, nay, ten more with the vote of 13 to 9.
  • Declare the vote. Representative with the vote of 13 ayes, zero nays.
  • Declare the vote. Representative with the vote of 12 ayes, 1 nay.
  • Declared vote. Chairman Boles with a vote of 12 ayes, one nay.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session May 5th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I declare the bill to be advanced.
  • I declare the same to have passed.
  • I declare the bill to be advanced.
  • I declare the same to have passed.
  • I declare the bill to be advanced.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Intergovernmental Affairs Apr 15th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • disasters.
  • limit cannot exceed the actual costs incurred due to the disaster.
  • Whether it's the no new revenue rate, the voter approval rate, or the natural disaster rates, we have
  • Federal funds are excluded in population times inflation. That would be one change we'd suggest.
  • If natural gas prices go up, the cost of electricity is going to go up.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:04:01.439><c> resources</c> Department of land and natural resources Department of land and natural
  • It exempts vessels operated by a federal, state, or county agency.
  • emergency in these very narrow circumstances that were declared a disaster emergency by either the governor
  • </c> circumstances uh that uh were declared circumstances uh that uh were declared an<00:58:32.440><c
  • </c> 438 promotes conservation and of natural 438 promotes conservation and of natural resources<01:38
Summary: The Water and Land Committee heard several measures related to DLNR, coastal management, and public lands. SB 561, which appropriates funds for conservation enforcement equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, drew broad support from DLNR and multiple organizations, with the chair noting 18 supporters and no opposition. SB 465 would require DLNR to study the carrying capacity of Kīkiʻola Small Boat Harbor on Kauaʻi and report to the Legislature; DLNR supported the intent but suggested the study be timed with an ongoing $41 million capital improvement project. Senator Kouchi explained the bill was meant to close a permit loophole that has allowed operators to increase passenger capacity without additional approval, while one testifier opposed the measure as unnecessary and late. Supporters included county and community representatives, while some written testimony opposed it. The committee also heard SB 1456, which broadens the definition of beach restoration to include work on eroded beaches and degraded dune systems, including sand management, native vegetation, and removal of abandoned materials. DLNR, the University of Hawaiʻi, and other testifiers supported the measure as an administrative update. SB 1460 would require BLNR lease extensions to use updated forms reflecting current leasing practices; DLNR supported it as an administrative bill. SB 1517 would authorize public land leases for recreational residential use by public lottery limited to county residents. DLNR supported the bill, and Chipper Wiman and others testified that it would help preserve Kauaʻi’s historic recreational cabins and create fairness for local families; the committee also heard concerns about older cabins, market-based auction prices, and the need to keep these leases affordable for residents. The committee then heard SB 1511, which would prohibit vessels longer than 75 feet from entering Honoliʻi Bay, with an exemption for government vessels; DLNR and at least one additional testifier supported it. SB 1019 would allow the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for beach restoration planning and grants to nonprofits for cleanup, but DLNR said that purpose fit better under the separate Beach Restoration Special Fund, and the Ocean Tourism Coalition opposed the bill on that basis. Finally, SB 1457 would authorize DLNR to issue interim rules on commercial and recreational water sports equipment use for up to two years; DLNR described it as an adaptive-management tool for changing conditions, while multiple water-sports operators and residents opposed it, arguing it would reduce public participation, expand agency power, and target the foiling community. The hearing closed with the chair noting heavy opposition to SB 1457, including 88 written testimonies against it and only a few in support.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Finance Jan 20th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • You’ve heard from previous speakers about the regressive nature of the public utility tax.
  • You’ve heard from previous speakers about the regressive nature of the public utility tax.
  • I’m here today on behalf of Northwest Natural.
  • So I would ask that you at least exempt natural gas utilities from this piece of the legislation.
  • disaster flood events.
Summary: The House Finance Committee heard briefings and public testimony on several bills related to local tax authority and exemptions. HB 2559 would let cities and counties impose an additional 4% lodging/short-term rental excise tax starting in 2027, with revenues dedicated to affordable housing programs and up to 15% for administration. Staff explained existing lodging tax limits and estimated substantial local collections, while the prime sponsor and supporters argued it would give local governments a needed tool to address housing shortages caused in part by short-term rentals. Opponents, including short-term rental owners and hosts, said the tax would hurt tourism communities, reduce supplemental income for owners, and should not single out one lodging segment. The hearing on HB 2559 was suspended and later reopened for additional testimony; no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 2133, which would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose nonprofit senior citizen centers. Staff said the exemption is currently set to expire in 2028 and that the bill would remove it from the automatic 10-year sunset. The sponsor and a veteran/senior center perspective emphasized that the exemption helps keep senior centers open and supports isolated older adults. A question was raised about whether a broader nonprofit community center with senior-focused space would qualify, and staff said they would follow up. The hearing on HB 2133 was then closed. HB 2135 would increase and extend the adaptive housing sales and use tax remittance for disabled veterans, raising the individual lifetime cap from $2,500 to $5,000, increasing the statewide annual cap, and extending the program’s expiration to 2038. Staff said the fiscal impact would be minimal because use is low, and a veterans coalition representative supported the bill as a way to ensure more federal grant dollars go toward home modifications. The hearing on HB 2135 was closed. The committee spent the most time on HB 2442, an eight-part local government tax and fund-flexibility bill. It would expand uses of existing REET revenues, allow cities to adopt an affordable-housing REET under certain conditions, authorize county public utility taxes with a low-income assistance set-aside, create a new local sales tax for children and family services, broaden housing-related sales tax uses, restructure mental health and veterans property tax levies, extend levy lid lift periods, and allow rental car tax revenues to be used for criminal justice purposes. Supporters from counties, cities, housing groups, and some local officials said the bill would provide needed fiscal flexibility and new tools to address housing, public safety, and service demands. Opponents from utilities, realtors, water and sewer districts, wireless carriers, auto dealers, and tax critics argued the bill would raise regressive costs, especially on housing and utility customers, and that some provisions lacked a sufficient nexus to the original taxes. The hearing on HB 2442 was closed after extensive testimony.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environmental Quality Committee Jun 24th, 2026

Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then to the sponsors, why are we moving ahead of federal regulators here?
  • and negative declarations.
  • These wildfires now are considered among the most costly natural disasters.
  • disasters and increase the risks of floods and fires.
  • The motion is do pass to Natural Resources and Water Committee.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 21st, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a record vote on Senate Bill 2037 regarding expedited natural gas permitting.
  • It provides an extension to the federal budget.
  • There is only—and again, these two federal registries, if you will.
  • I want to move on to the discussions about Texas and the federal farm bill.
  • That's confidential medical information protected by federal law under HIPAA.
Bills: SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB4 , SB23 , SB1762 , SB34 , SB60 , SB706 , SB1814 , SB1220 , SB523 , SB565 , SB1253 , SB840 , SB764 , SB2383 , SB2155 , SB1535 , SB1423 , SB1566 , SB1804 , SB1728 , SB1816 , SB1952 , SB75 , SB2068 , SB1455 , SB213 , SB627 , SB2037 , SB670 , SB896 , SB917 , SB1184 , SB971 , SB1255 , SB1261 , SB1283 , SB991 , SB1733 , SB21 , SB231 , SB739 , SB1252 , SB1371 , SB646 , SB3 , SCR27 , SB552 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SJR1 , SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB546 , SB647 , SB648 , SB1493 , SB1709 , SB2001 , HB5669 , HB3115 , HB5655 , HB5675 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HB5653 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB2775 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Intergovernmental Affairs Mar 11th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • These reports include timely... information on federal actions from executive orders to federal funds
  • It's a federal program. It's from Treasury, not HUD.
  • Congress does at the federal level.
  • I thought they were actually a credit on federal.
  • Most of them are natural causes? Yes sir, that is correct. So what type of natural causes?
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2025-04-02

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • the Code of Federal Regulations.
  • Or if they were employees of, say, the Department of Natural...
  • In 2023, we had a federal request for $5.3 million in funding.
  • We're really excited about federal funding for Farm to School, and we were saddened when we saw the federal
  • disasters and helps keep money in the account available to lend during disasters when it's needed most
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • This measure complies with the Federal Uniform Time Act, moving forward in the spring and back in the
  • Current federal law allows states to opt out of DST altogether, such as Hawaii and Alaska have done;
  • Please keep permanent standard time, which is federally pre-approved, as Arizona has done.
  • Permanent daylight saving time would be a disaster, just as it always has been.
  • This bill does not allow any individual to violate state or federal law.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Senate in Session May 2nd, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Provides for the tolling and extension of wetlands determination when a natural emergency is declared
  • disaster.
  • disaster.
  • disaster. >> Additional questions of the sponsor?
  • THEY CAN INVESTIGATE THE NATURE OF ADVERSE ACTIONS.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Human Services Committee Apr 8th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will be limiting this to only the governor-declared state of emergencies.
  • It would make sure that anyone going through a publicly declared disaster emergency is not kicked off
  • of the disaster, folks are automatically re-enrolled in the public benefit programs.
  • And so, unfortunately, the devastating wildfires earlier this year will not be our last disaster.
  • The reality is that federal law allows more flexibility to keep domestic violence survivors safe.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Signs, placards, or other objects of similar nature are prohibited.
  • If nobody buys them, then we can declare them salvageable and destroy them.
  • disaster or an industrial, uh, accident.
  • , if we have a chemical disaster or something that requires immediate action.
  • Um, to activate our emergency management plan requires a disaster declaration, which opens up extra overtime
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Emerging Issues Mar 2nd, 2026

Emerging Issues

Transcript Highlights:
  • We know about natural disasters, and we understand that Mother Nature can rear her ugly head.
  • These disasters were both considered 500-year floods.
  • As I said before, Mother Nature makes no excuses.
  • These disasters were both considered 500-year floods.
  • As I said before, Mother Nature makes no excuses.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Oct 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • A budget bill that will significantly cut federal funding to many vital programs, whereas health care
  • Whereas federal funding cuts will lead to the expiration of certain federal tax credits, which will result
  • Whereas federal funding cuts to New Mexico, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, public
  • Whereas New Mexico has recently experienced an unprecedented amount of natural disasters which have required
  • Appropriating funds in response to recent federal budget cuts. 5.