Video & Transcript : 'hazard map' :

Page 53 of 351
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Mar 11th, 2026

Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this map shown here highlights areas where economic activity may be particularly sensitive to enforcement
  • The map highlights areas where economic activity may be particularly sensitive to enforcement disruptions
  • organizing at Clean, car washers lead outreach and advocacy efforts around job safety, workplace hazards
Keywords: 987, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, I was just going to comment in terms of our supplemental project update report that will kind of map
  • of those things were local assistance grants, defensible space inspections, public education, fire hazard
  • severity zone mapping, as examples, but it was outlined in there.
Summary: The Budget Subcommittee No. 4 hearing focused on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and cap-and-trade reauthorization, with members and panelists discussing how to balance climate goals, affordability, and legislative oversight. The chair emphasized the hearing as a broad review of past GGRF spending and future options, while the LAO outlined how GGRF revenues are generated, how variable they have been, and the tradeoffs between continuous appropriations and annual budget control. Two academic panelists, Dr. Kyle Meng and Danny Cullen Ward, argued that cap-and-trade remains an effective climate policy, but stressed that future revenue will depend heavily on market design, allowance allocation, and price levels. They also raised the idea that GGRF could be used more directly for affordability, especially by lowering electricity costs, and for targeted investments in technologies that the market would not otherwise support. Committee members pressed the panelists on where revenues come from, how much has actually been spent, and whether continuous appropriations reduce oversight. CARB staff said more than $33 billion has been generated to date and a little over $11–12 billion has been spent, with the rest committed or in process, and noted that project timelines can be lengthy. Members also asked about ways to lower electricity rates, reduce wildfire-related utility liabilities, and support electrification. The panelists said transportation fuels are the largest source of GGRF revenue, that industrial emitters receive a smaller share of free allowances, and that reducing wildfire liability and investing in grid-scale batteries could help lower costs and speed decarbonization. Public commenters largely urged the Legislature to preserve or expand continuous appropriations for specific climate programs. Speakers supported funding for nature-based solutions, natural and working lands, urban greening, agricultural climate solutions, waste and composting programs, clean transportation, AB 617 community air protection, clean cars, transit, affordable housing near transit, and dairy digesters. Several groups argued these programs are cost-effective, provide public health and affordability benefits, and should receive dedicated shares of GGRF. Others urged reducing free allowances and using more GGRF revenue to directly lower energy costs for households. No votes were taken during the hearing.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 29, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The map to my left here shows exactly what's happening in America today, and it's a great thing.
  • That's why I think people, as I've mentioned before in this map, it's so important that people have the
  • ensure the department has focused and accountable leadership to more fully protect the public from all hazards
  • to return. 81 Lebanese neighborhoods have been violently depopulated and demolished, erased from the map
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division I (03/19/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh for significant hazard low hazard.
  • So you have a list of high hazard, medium hazard, low hazard. Is that it? That's correct.
  • So it's less for non-hazard, less for low hazard, and it goes up by hazard classification.
  • So you have a list of high hazard, medium hazard, low hazard. Is that it? That's correct.
  • So you have a list of high hazard, medium hazard, low hazard. Is that it? That's correct.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee reviewed a handout comparing House Bill 2 to current retirement law and walked through the bill section by section with staff from the retirement system. The discussion focused on vesting, earnable compensation, average final compensation, compensation-over-base limits, special duty pay, normal retirement age, re-retirement, and maximum benefit rules for Group 2/Tier B members. Staff explained that some provisions would restore pre-2011 rules, including counting certain end-of-career payments such as unused sick and vacation time in earnable compensation and reducing the AFC averaging period from five years back to three. They also described how the bill would eliminate the current cap on compensation over base, which mainly affects overtime, and noted that the actuarial cost of the AFC-related changes is interrelated rather than easily broken out by feature. A separate discussion covered the special duty pay limitation, which currently applies to Tier A and would be removed under the governor’s bill for both Tier A and Tier B members after their vested buy date. Staff said the actuary estimated that removing the special duty limitation would increase costs by about $13.9 million. Members also asked about the practical difference between overtime and special duty, with staff explaining that special duty generally involves work for a private third party, often police detail work, while overtime depends more on staffing and scheduling. The committee also reviewed the normal retirement age changes for Tier B and the possibility that some members would need to work longer to reach the new vested buy date. Members raised concerns about an ambiguity in the bill that could allow already-retired Tier B members to return to work, then re-retire and claim the higher benefits, or allow vested deferred members to stop working and wait for the new vested buy date. Staff said the governor’s office did not intend to allow that result and requested clarifying language, noting that the bill as drafted does not expressly prohibit it. The committee also discussed part-time and seasonal work after retirement, with staff explaining that such work generally does not restore membership unless the person takes a full-time position requiring enrollment. Finally, the committee reviewed the maximum benefit provisions and noted that HB 2 in the current year does not change the maximum benefit date or include the 1.5% annual escalator that had been part of the 2023 proposal, making the current bill more costly than the earlier version.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Local Government Committee Jul 1st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Allowing concurrent review of parcel maps, splits, and these housing projects can create efficiency in
  • But in practice, these projects still face challenges when the building application, subdivision map,
  • safeguards would still remain, such as the ability to condition occupancy on the recordation of a final map
  • safeguards would still remain, such as the ability to condition occupancy on the recordation of a final map
  • and communities that endure a disproportionate share of environmental pollution and public health hazards
Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, coastal, and infrastructure bills. AB 306 would create a statewide appeal and code-interpretation process for building code issues at the California Building Standards Commission; supporters said it would reduce inconsistent local interpretations and speed housing delivery, while no opposition testified, and it was moved on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 956 would clarify ADU law to allow up to two detached ADUs on a property and address ADUs in HOAs/common interest developments; supporters framed it as a flexibility and housing-supply measure, while local government and county groups raised concerns about ministerial approval, parking, density, and impacts on neighborhood character. After committee questions, the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote, with the bill remaining on call. Members also considered AB 1751, which would create a ministerial approval path for qualifying townhome projects and allow local inclusionary ordinances for larger projects. Supporters said it would expand attainable homeownership and help produce missing-middle housing, while cities and counties objected to reduced density, by-right approval, and potential housing-element net-loss issues. The bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and remained on call. AB 912, which would revise the governance structure of the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District board, drew unanimous support from the district, city, and county; it passed 3-0 to Appropriations and remained on call. AB 1710, aimed at preserving housing project entitlements from later regulatory changes, also advanced on a 4-0 do-pass-as-amended vote after opponents said they were awaiting the committee amendments. The committee also heard AB 2080, which would make county treasurer investment authority delegations ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal; supporters said it would reduce technical noncompliance and administrative burden without reducing oversight, and it was moved to the Senate Floor. AB 1740, a coastal bill for Santa Monica, would set timelines and reporting for a local coastal program and create an expedited Coastal Commission process for bike, transit, and pedestrian projects; supporters said it reflected a negotiated path forward with the city and commission, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2181, backed by Unite Here, would limit use of hypothetical density bonus value in hotel and motel appraisals; supporters said it would protect hospitality jobs from speculative lease-rent increases, and it was moved to the Senate Floor on a 4-0 vote. Finally, AB 2469 on data centers and water use drew the most extended debate. The bill would require water supply and water use assessments before approval, and shift infrastructure costs to project proponents; supporters said it would improve transparency, protect ratepayers, and ensure local governments have information before approving water-intensive facilities. Opponents, including business, city, county, and tech groups, argued existing law already covers water assessments and fees, warned the bill could create a separate permitting regime, and raised concerns about privacy, security, and investment impacts. The committee had not yet taken final action on AB 2469 when the transcript ended, and members were still asking technical questions about data center cooling and water reuse.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Apr 29th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And what we're doing with this bill is making sure that FWC will create a map of five districts in the
  • Went up in flames and basically started to have all sorts of hazardous toxins in the air for about three
  • Very similar to a map that you can, well, I guess people my age and older used to be able to go to the
  • gas station or Walmart and buy a map, and you could see where you're supposed to go.
  • There is not a single map or a single resource that I've seen anywhere in the state of Florida promulgated
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing interns, guests, and advocates. The Rules Chair added CS for CS for SB 622 to the special order calendar, and SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills when the measures were identical or nearly identical. The Senate passed SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, requiring DEP to develop a recycling and waste diversion roadmap by 2026; SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking, after adopting amendments related to mitigation credit use and former phosphate mine lands; and SB 494/HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, which increases sentencing consequences and creates a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, with an amendment clarifying the database language. The Senate also passed SB 500/HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, SB 524/HB 1089 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 592/HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education, SB 936/HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, and SB 1156 on a home health aid program for medically fragile children. Most of these bills were adopted after brief sponsor explanations, questions, and in some cases amendments or House-substitute motions. Debate centered on several policy issues. Senators raised concerns about the constitutional and environmental implications of mitigation banking credits in SB 492, the scope and privacy implications of the animal abuse database in SB 494, the funding and eligibility details of the condo resilience program in SB 592, and the public-school/charter-school balance in SB 822, which drew extensive questioning about enrollment, governance, discipline, accountability, and data sharing before being placed on the third-reading calendar after amendments. The Spectrum Alert bill drew support from members who compared it to the Purple Alert and emphasized the risks faced by children with ASD. The medically fragile children home health aid bill also drew strong support, with senators describing it as a long-needed fix to help families provide in-home care without losing Medicaid coverage. Votes on the measures reported in the transcript were overwhelmingly favorable, with bills passing by margins such as 38-0, 35-3, 37-0, 36-0, and 35-0.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Agriculture (01/27/2026)

Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • capacity if Turnkey expands and they choose not to expand, then that kind of takes a good site off the map
  • pertains to oil. 146-C refers to underground storage as it's regulated currently. 147A and B pertain to hazardous
  • pertains to oil. 146-C refers to underground storage as it's regulated currently. 147A and B pertain to hazardous
  • </c> underground storage and uh hazardous underground storage and uh hazardous waste<05:43:16.080><c>
  • , and referred to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> when you're disposing of hazardous when you're disposing of hazardous weights<00:42:02.440><c> the
  • <00:47:33.079><c> waste</c> hazardous waste hazardous waste collection<00:47:35.000><c> ask</c><00:47
  • It's a pretty well-accepted concept in hazardous waste management.
  • </c><01:12:10.199><c> the</c> typically is not hazardous the typically is not hazardous the solvent-based
  • </c><01:17:45.480><c> waste</c> days for for household hazardous waste days for for household hazardous
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 451, which would create a postconsumer paint stewardship program in New Hampshire. Prime sponsor Representative Karen Ebel described the bill as a bipartisan, broadly supported model based on PaintCare programs used in other states. She said consumers and businesses could drop off leftover paint at participating retailers or municipal household hazardous waste sites, with the paint then collected and recycled by the stewardship organization. She emphasized that the program is intended to reduce landfill disposal, improper dumping, and contamination of groundwater and soil, while also helping municipalities save on hazardous waste handling costs. Members asked several questions about how the program would work and how it would be funded. Ebel explained that the program would be financed by a small fee charged at the point of sale on paint products, not a general sales tax, and that retailers could either list it separately or roll it into the price. She said the fee would cover the Department of Environmental Services’ administrative costs, which were described as minimal, and that the program’s structure was developed with DES and industry input. Questions also addressed whether cans would be recycled and how collected paint would be processed; Ebel said the ACA and PaintCare representatives could provide more detail, but that the paint and containers would be handled through recycling or other approved disposal methods rather than landfilled. Representative Judy Aron, a co-sponsor and chair of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, testified in support, saying the bill had been developed over several years with stakeholders and would keep toxic paint out of landfills while saving municipalities and taxpayers money. Representative Peter Bixby, the ranking member of Environment and Agriculture, also supported the bill, saying his committee had heard it many times and that it had strong bipartisan enthusiasm. No vote was taken during the hearing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Hayash law also has prohibitions on retaliation for reporting workplace hazards.
  • Uh, the Hayash law also has prohibitions on retaliation for reporting workplace hazards.
  • as well as control workplace hazards as well as responsibilities<00:11:27.120><c> for</c><00:11:27.360
  • </c><00:11:38.160><c> Um,</c><00:11:38.480><c> and</c> reporting workplace hazards.
  • Um, and reporting workplace hazards.
Keywords: 910, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • They cannot easily be removed, so they pose costly and hazardous safety issues at every point in the
  • It's clear that vapes are a hazard for both our youth and our waste management facilities.
  • waste is not considered hazardous.
  • waste is not considered hazardous.
  • And cannabis isn't considered hazardous waste. Right.
Summary: The committee heard AB 839, which would allow up to three sustainable aviation fuel projects to qualify for expedited CEQA judicial review. The author and airline and airport supporters argued SAF is a key emissions-reduction strategy for aviation and that California needs to signal investment certainty after prior project litigation. Environmental Justice and Earthjustice opposed, saying the bill weakens the public’s ability to challenge polluting projects and that SAF facilities can harm already overburdened communities. The committee later took a roll call on the bill and it was held on call after a 3-0 vote, with the motion being due pass to Judiciary. Members then took up AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes in California. The author and a broad coalition of waste, public health, local government, and environmental groups said the devices create fire hazards, add lithium batteries to the waste stream, and burden local recycling and hazardous waste systems. Opponents, including retailers and business groups, argued the bill would mainly affect a small legal market while the illicit market would continue to supply most disposable vapes, and warned of unintended consequences. After discussion about illicit sales, EPR ideas, and reuse alternatives, the committee voted 2-2 on the motion to pass as amended to Revenue and Taxation, so the bill was kept on call. The committee also heard AB 907, which would compensate the six local air district representatives who serve on the California Air Resources Board the same as other board members. The author and supporters said the change would improve equity and help ensure local representation on CARB, and no opposition was presented. The chair expressed support, noting similar legislation had passed the committee previously, and the bill was held for a later vote once quorum issues were resolved.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Jul 15th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • You'll notice in this map, I've...
  • So there is a map in your handouts that describes how that was done.
  • They run the models, they hand you the map, modeled available groundwater district.
  • We've had so many fights over whether this map. is a hard cap on annual production.
  • And if you look at the map, you can pull up the map on the, on. Redtown Ranch.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/08/25

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, these devices help boaters navigate safely, avoid hazards, and account for fluctuating water levels
  • :19.920><c> navigate</c><00:49:20.400><c> safely,</c><00:49:21.040><c> avoid</c><00:49:21.440><c> hazards
  • ,</c> boers navigate safely, avoid hazards, boers navigate safely, avoid hazards, and<00:49:22.079><c
  • may remember last week I presented Senator McEwen's bill, uh, 35, which talked about the need for mapping
  • may remember last week I presented Senator McEwen's bill, uh, 35, which talked about the need for mapping
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
  • hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
  • hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
  • hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
  • hazardous foods and selling hazardous foods.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So batteries, we all know, are a significant source of household hazardous waste.
  • And we were shocked to see that in the back lot, they actually had a hazardous waste facility.
  • And we were shocked to see that in the back lot, they actually had a hazardous waste facility.
  • And they said, because we pull so much hazardous waste. facility.
  • That includes hazardous waste collection and recycling.
Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three main bills after initially lacking a quorum and deferring the consent calendar. SB 501 by Senator Allen would expand California’s battery extended producer responsibility program to include medium-format batteries, such as those used in e-bikes, lawn equipment, and portable power systems. Supporters from local governments, recycling groups, environmental organizations, and battery stewardship interests said the bill would reduce fire risks, improve collection and recycling, and close a gap in existing law. One industry witness sought clarification about off-highway vehicles and a battery association requested guardrails for mixed battery formats; the California Retailers Association moved from opposition to neutral after discussions with the author. SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide, state-funded low-income drinking water rate assistance program administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, contingent on funding. The author and supporters said many Californians face water debt and that the bill would help address affordability while working around Proposition 218 limits on local ratepayer-funded assistance. Water districts, local governments, environmental justice groups, and conservation organizations testified in support, and there was no opposition. SB 1259 by Senator Blakespear, as amended, would require refineries to provide advance information on closure, cleanup costs, and timelines to help communities plan for refinery transitions and remediation. Supporters, including the City of Benicia, environmental justice groups, and advocacy organizations, argued that communities need transparency before closures occur and that other energy sectors already provide similar planning information. Opponents from labor, petroleum, and business groups argued the bill was unnecessary, burdensome, and could discourage refinery investment or signal premature decline of the industry. After extensive debate, the committee voted to pass SB 1259 as amended to the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, and also approved SB 501 and SB 1125; the consent calendar items SB 1253 and SJR 13 were adopted.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Apr 29th, 2025

Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is AB 998, dealing with household. hazardous waste and vape pens whenever you're ready.
  • Vapes confiscated by schools cannot be considered household hazardous waste and cannot be accepted by
  • a household hazardous waste facility.
  • AB 1031, dealing with geothermal hazardous waste. I want to stand in front of Assemblymember.
  • Welcome, Assemblymember Ward, this is AB 864, dealing with hazardous waste and solar panels.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Rules Committee Jan 21st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, anyway, back to this Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. I apologize.
  • So in the context of health hazard assessments, ideally you have real data. Ideally. Ideally.
  • So in the context of health hazard assessments, ideally you have real data, ideally. Ideally.
  • Can we make an inference that it's going to have the same hazard characteristics?
  • This building may or may not contain chemicals deemed hazardous by Prop 65.
Summary: The Senate Rules Committee established quorum and first approved several non-appearing gubernatorial appointees and procedural items on unanimous 5-0 votes, including Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgements. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access and equity, continuing CalAIM and behavioral health transformation, and drawing on personal experience with family members needing care. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, eligibility redeterminations, fraud oversight, provider reimbursement, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the impact of federal changes; Sadwith said the department is working on expedited payments, monitoring distressed hospitals, county technical assistance, and strategies to reduce disenrollments and improve program integrity. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee advanced his nomination to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee next considered Chris Thayer, PhD, for Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and supporting tools such as Prop 65, CalEnviroScreen, and risk communication. Senators pressed him on the use of models versus real-world data, fenceline monitoring, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and whether OEHHA’s work adequately reflects lived experience and local conditions. Thayer responded that the office often must rely on the best available evidence, including animal, human, and alternative methods, while continuing to improve communication and community engagement; he also discussed EnviroScreen updates, Prop 65 warning reforms, and research gaps. Public testimony in support highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role and the importance of biomonitoring and PFAS work. The committee approved Thayer’s nomination to the full Senate on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Grove voting no and Senator Jones not voting.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Rules Committee Jan 21st, 2026

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • So anyways, back to this Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. I apologize.
  • So in the context of health hazard assessments, ideally you have real data, ideally.
  • So in the context of health hazard assessments, ideally you have real data, ideally. Ideally.
  • “Can we make an inference that it’s going to have the same hazard characteristics?
  • This building may or may not contain chemicals deemed hazardous by Prop 65.
Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointees and routine committee actions. Members approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, three not-required-to-appear appointments: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. The committee also approved references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, each by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard testimony on Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith emphasized protecting Medi-Cal access for 14 million Californians, navigating federal changes, and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators focused heavily on hospital financial distress, rural access, Medi-Cal redeterminations, work requirements, provider reimbursement, fraud oversight, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and the effectiveness of CalAIM and community supports. Public commenters from county, hospital, and provider groups largely supported the nomination, citing his experience and collaborative approach. The committee voted 5-0 to send his appointment to the full Senate. The committee also considered Chris Thayer’s appointment as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, science-based health assessments, improving risk communication, and supporting tools such as CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 guidance. Senators raised concerns about reliance on models versus real-world data, PFAS, environmental justice, wildfire and battery-fire impacts, and whether CalEnviroScreen and Prop 65 are working as intended. Public testimony from environmental and health organizations supported the nomination and highlighted OEHHA’s scientific role. The committee approved Thayer’s appointment 3-1, with one senator not voting, and forwarded it to the Senate floor.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EDN Info Briefing - Mon Jan 13, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • With the heat map, it tells you where you should build preschool hubs.
  • With the heat map, it tells you where you should build preschool hubs.
  • With the heat map, it tells you where you should build preschool hubs.
  • With the heat map, it tells you where you should build preschool hubs.
  • With the heat map, it tells you where you should build preschool hubs.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • One of the other things we have to do is assess our hazard trees.
  • How are the L.A. fires impacting the generation of hazardous waste?
  • So, DTSC was responsible for the phase one cleanup of hazardous waste. cleanup of hazardous waste, and
  • hazardous waste that was recovered from the properties themselves.
  • How has it addressed the structural deficit in the hazardous waste control account?
Keywords: 988, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Duty retirees that retire hazardous Duty retirees that retire after<00:04:21.959><c> 20</c><00:04:22.320
  • Non-hazardous employees on the health subsidy hired before September 1, 2008, will see an increase, and
  • </c> contribution only uh non-hazardous contribution only uh non-hazardous employees<00:05:04.960><c>
  • employees they will paying for hazardous employees they will begin<00:05:24.840><c> contributing</c>
  • fund is currently while the Hazardous fund is currently 10.5%<00:05:52.240><c> funded</c><00:05:53.000
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 10, which would revise CERS retiree health subsidies for members who began participating on or before July 1, 2003. Senator Mills said the bill was developed with employee and employer groups to improve retiree health benefits while protecting the system’s financial footing, using a shared-cost structure. Testimony from sheriffs, police chiefs, firefighters, and the League of Cities strongly supported the bill, emphasizing recruitment and retention, affordability of retiree health coverage, and limited taxpayer risk. Members echoed those points, and the committee approved SB 10 with a 9-0 favorable recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Senator West, which would codify the Administrative Regulations Committee’s annual practice of placing certain deficient regulations into statute so they cannot take effect. West explained that the committee’s role is limited to finding regulations deficient or asking for deferral, and that SB 65 is the fifth version of this measure. He described the specific regulation at issue as a Medicaid Services rule that would have required behavioral health associates to hold a master’s degree; providers testified that it would reduce the workforce and harm behavioral health services statewide. West said the committee had deferred the matter eight times before deciding to side with providers. The bill received favorable expression and was reported out. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, sponsored by Senator Madon, concerning Kentucky Deferred Comp for state employees. The bill would establish a codified fiduciary standard, authorize fiduciary liability insurance, add self-correcting mechanisms to keep the plan in compliance with federal law, and allow self-directed brokerage accounts. Personnel Cabinet representatives said the changes would align the plan with other public pension plans, reduce risk, and offer participants a useful investment option with strong account growth among users. SB 104 also received favorable expression and was reported to the floor. The committee then adjourned.