Transcript Highlights:

• every year on water, of course it's on water supply and...
• on water supply and water quality.
• So the benefits, when constructed correctly, you know, they can lower water surface elevations, they
• What you have to realize is when you set back a levee, it lowers the water surface elevation, which in
• We also have a program called Our Water, Our Water, Our... beyond water quality or anything else, you're

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• sea surface height, sorry, the wave height and direction, surface temperature and velocity, surface
• Thank you. 2,000 breaths versus a couple of liters of water, and usually filter your water before you
• Imperial Beach deserves clean water.
• We also finance a lot of water projects in the state, and importantly as well, we oversee water quality
• And within six months, we had really clean water. We had the cleanest water we could have.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a water bank.
• We need water for finding new supply, new sources of water, and then we need water to firm up our existing
• water that is not. makes the water not meet drinking water standards. or drilling new wells, things like
• and waste water.
• What can the water?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• entities to be able to invite this federal agency to come in there and help them resolve soil and water
• entities to be able to invite this federal agency to come in there and help them resolve soil and water
• entities to be able to invite this federal agency to come in there and help them resolve soil and water
• water use.
• water use.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's protect Texans, our health, water, and future by supporting this bill.
• This is pretty close to surface mining. Okay.
• ; you throw a small rock into the water, it makes...
• You throw a big rock into the water, it makes a bigger ripple. It goes for a lot longer.
• That Black Mountain Cement said that you were going to be doing mostly surface.

Bills: SB1757, SB1758, SB1898, SB2050

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• water testing.
• Cranberries are 90% water, and they need clean water.
• Cranberries are 90% water, and they need clean water.
• My goal here is to inform you of the effects of gravel mining on groundwater and surface water resources
• the distance from the land surface to the water table is relatively small.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered a broad set of environmental and water-related bills, with much of the testimony focused on blue economy and circular economy proposals, drought management, drinking water safety, flood resilience, and water infrastructure funding. Supporters of bills such as H. 987 and H. 988 described grant programs for blue economy workforce development, research, small businesses, and public education about a circular economy. Other speakers backed measures on coastal erosion research, recreational boating dredging, cranberry water-right transfers, sand mining oversight, and a voucher program for home water filtration in PFAS-impacted communities. Several elected officials and advocates also urged passage of bills to require private well testing, improve school drinking water safety, and address sand mining pollution and PFAS contamination. Water supply and drought issues drew extensive testimony. Senator Eldridge and others supported legislation to let the state, through DEP and the drought management task force, impose regional water-use restrictions during droughts and make the task force permanent in statute. Advocates from watershed groups, farms, and environmental organizations said the current town-by-town approach is inconsistent and ineffective, and they described drought impacts on rivers, farms, private wells, and wildfire risk. A related bill on private wells was supported as a way to help homeowners test and remediate contaminated wells, especially in rural areas without public water. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to allow the Lynnfield Water District to join the MWRA, with local officials saying the move would help address PFAS and other contamination and improve supply reliability. Another major panel supported a water infrastructure funding bill, arguing that aging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems need major new investment, including support for PFAS treatment, sewer rate relief, biosolids research, and regional interconnections. Members asked about costs, funding sources, and the relationship to existing revolving loan funds; witnesses said the bill would need to be paired with future bond funding and new revenue ideas. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs repeatedly invited written testimony and noted the large number of speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• owner agreement pursuant to the Surface Damages Act is executed with the landowner.
• No, or is are you saying the surface owner?
• The geothermal side deals with the well bore and circulating in the water.
• A new Surface Damage Act agreement could not be instated without voiding the existing contract.
• Any transfer that happens on the surface is still subject to that lease.

Bills: HR1038, HB3263, HB3127, HB2997, HB3115, HB2123, HB3587, HB3028, HB2035, HB3369, HB3620, HB3621, HB3622, HB3624, HB3175, HB3173, HB3178, HB1979, HB4476

Keywords: Oklahoma Youth Expo, OYE, 4-H, FFA, agriculture, agricultural education, youth expo, livestock show, junior livestock, scholarships, youth leadership, Oklahoma City, rural communities, ag mechanics, engineering contest, farm youth, student recognition, ceremonial resolution, house resolution, livestock competition

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, in my district we have a massive shortage of water right now and a lot of commissioners and
• Certainly, our houses don't sell if there isn't water to them.
• the development community or whoever finding new water sources and bringing it in.
• I'm assuming utility companies, power companies, water companies have to basically do the same.
• , sewer, which we talked a little bit about water services earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, in my district we have a massive shortage of water right now and...
• Um, our houses don't sell if there isn't water to them. And so in areas where...
• community or whoever to find new water sources and bring it in.
• But there's other authority related to the provision of water, sewer, utilities.
• Is it water, sewer, which we talked a little bit about water services earlier? Thank you.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:54:02.000> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.
• Senator<01:27:51.520> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.
• Is that your understanding as well of what could get into the groundwater and the surface water?
• the surface water? the surface water? Oh,<02:08:23.880> yes.
• <02:22:58.040> not<02:22:58.240> the surface water in question, and not the surface

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is HB 306 relating to state water code penalties.
• Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of state water code and authorizes the Commission
• Specifies as a state or county may undertake limited resurfacing of an existing road and surface of any
• 00:32:19.039> existing<00:32:19.360> road<00:32:19.600> and<00:32:19.760> surface
• road and surface of any street<00:32:20.640> of<00:32:20.799> which<00:32:20.880> the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a long decision-making agenda on numerous House bills, largely in the tax, appropriations, public safety, agriculture, and land-use areas. Early action included HB 476, which passed with amendments after discussion of tax impacts and a committee report change; HB 796 also passed with amendments to protect several individual income tax credits from the bill’s effect. Other measures were advanced with amendments or without changes, including HB 1059, HB 1145, HB 1173, HB 1439, HB 800, HB 934, HB 990, HB 101, HB 106, and a series of bills in the 1026–1055 range, many of which were passed unamended or with technical/effective-date changes. Several bills were deferred, including HB 1147, HB 807, and later items on the agenda. The committee also approved a number of policy and agency-structure changes. HB 430 was amended to create or expand an internship/workforce development program with reporting requirements; HB 505 and HB 506 were amended to adjust appropriations and FTEs; HB 774 added an appropriation section for two FTEs; HB 1052 limited use of universal service fund money; HB 1296 shifted a reporting requirement from BNF to the Department of Defense; and HB 1064 moved the State Fire Council and Fire Marshal Selection Commission to the Department of Law Enforcement and set the fire marshal salary. HB 427 made major biosecurity-related changes, including moving the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity in 2026 and adding new appropriations. HB 830 was amended to allow third-party historic preservation reviewers under ethics and conflict rules, with a two-year sunset and committee-report comments on vacancies. Public safety and regulatory bills also moved forward. HB 302 on cannabis drew opposition from Senator Awa, who said it would shut down a medical provider in his district; the bill nevertheless passed with amendments adding criminal penalties, enforcement authority, and a 2027 effective date for cultivator licenses. HB 306 on water code penalties passed unamended, HB 860 on liability for road resurfacing passed with amendments to limit liability to the work actually performed and eliminate joint and several liability, and HB 141 on public land leases passed with technical amendments. HB 1159 establishing a commercial harbor emergency evacuation working group passed as is, and HB 1482 on hemp passed with amendments exempting existing permit holders and certain retailers, aligning THC limits, and setting a far-future effective date. Most votes were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on specific measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:00.400> loan Authority to present three uh water loan Authority to present three uh
• water loan requirements<00:26:01.440> requiring<00:26:01.919> action.
• of 3-inch water line along Hilltop Drive will also be replaced with new Class 250 SDR17 pipe.
• fund, the East Clark County Water fund, the East Clark County Water District's<00:26:52.640>
• water line along Mount Sterling Road. water line along Mount Sterling Road.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the February minutes and noted there had been no March meeting. Staff then provided a series of information items, including quarterly capital project status reports from state agencies and postsecondary institutions, a University of Kentucky equipment purchase report, notice that the committee took no action on certain March transactions, school district debt notices for Fayette and Jessamine counties, lease-space advertisements due to building conditions, a Kentucky Asset/Liability Commission report, and asset preservation project reports from KCTCS and Eastern Kentucky University. The committee then heard and unanimously approved Murray State University’s request for interim authorization to use institutional revenues for a $1.5 million roof replacement at the Curs Center student center. University of Kentucky also received unanimous approval for a $115 million public-private partnership project to expand Parking Structure 7 and the Johnson Center recreation space; testimony emphasized the loss of parking from hospital expansion, increased student enrollment, a planned $21 per semester recreation fee increase, and the goal of improving student retention and campus capacity. Next, the committee received a report on a Kentucky State Police Post 11 renovation in London funded at $1.138 million, with members asking how long the repairs would extend the building’s useful life; KSP said the work was a long-term investment and replacement was still many years away. The committee also approved multiple real property lease actions, including a new CHFS lease in Scott County, several lease renewals for the Commonwealth’s Attorney, CHFS, Transportation Cabinet, and a Secretary of State relocation lease tied to a capital renovation project. Members questioned one Jefferson County lease rate and the witness said it had been in place since 2007. Finally, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented three water loan items, which were rolled and then approved: an $841,383 East Clark County Water District loan for waterline upgrades, a roughly $6.13 million Oldham County Water District loan for US 42 improvements, and a $619,180 increase for Canonsburg Water District’s Schopes Road project due to higher-than-expected bids. The committee then approved eight K-12 school facility issuances, including projects in Clinton, Franklin, Fulton, Lincoln, McLean, Paris, Somerset, and Spencer counties, covering early childhood, new school construction, HVAC, energy conservation, and renovations. The meeting ended with notice of the next meeting date and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to water.
• Senate File 69, sponsored by water, waste and storm water infrastructure study, an act relating to water
• study, an act relating to water. Mr. study, an act relating to water. Mr.
• Senate File 84, sponsored by Water Voluntary Water Conservation Program, an act relating to water within
• voluntary water conservation program. voluntary water conservation program.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To amend and reenact two sections of the Cota, Virginia, relating to public utilities, water and sewage
• Senate Bill 650, on page 9, is legislation relating to public utilities, water and sewage companies,
• The House Bill 496 relates to zoning, commercial and industrial facilities, and water use disclosures
• House Bill 1234 relates to land development and solar canopies in surface parking areas.
• House Bill 1234 relates to land development, solar canopies in surface parking areas.

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2010, 20 years after the GPA passed, when the nitrogen problem in Minnesota surface water was obvious
• <00:15:55.600> getting surface water was obvious and getting surface water was obvious and
• water by protecting groundwater that was flowing to the surface water.
• . waters. waters.
• facilities, so are going to our surface facilities, so are going to our surface waters.<02:25:21.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In recent years, reports have surfaced of elderly Jewish individuals being harassed in public, attacked
• They also poisoned the water pipelines.
• We knew to boil the water pipelines to keep. from getting sick.
• One day I saw Jakob, my brother, drinking the water without boiling it.
• It's also the surface web, X, Facebook, Instagram, et cetera. The threats are incredibly pervasive.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this water, ground and surface water, is at risk from salt contamination due to excessive and
• waters of the groundwater and surface waters of the state.<02:53:40.720> About<02:53:41.120><
• 02:53:53.840> water<02:53:54.160> is<02:53:54.399> at water, ground and surface
• water is at water, ground and surface water is at risk<02:53:54.880> from<02:53:55.200> salt
• to drain the surface water in that area. to drain the surface water in that area.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > water environment including drinking water environment including drinking water wells<00:19:
• of water.
• of water.
• <02:27:19.200> surface<02:27:20.000> uh close to a body of water surface uh close to
• a body of water surface uh speed<02:27:21.640> being<02:27:22.040> different<02:27:22.399

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two main items. First, the solid waste subcommittee reviewed draft language for HB 707, focusing on landfill siting and permitting standards. Members and the Department of Environmental Services discussed replacing repeated references to “aquifer” with “drinking water well,” clarifying that aquifer is a broad term, and considering whether a statutory definition was needed. They also debated the bill’s setback and time-of-travel provisions, including the 10^-5 standard, a 1,500-foot distance, and whether the bill should rely more on performance-based criteria than prescriptive distances. Another major topic was permit denial language tied to applicants with significant histories of repeated serious violations or landfill-related litigation; the department said it already has related authority in current rules, but noted some wording was still too vague and could be tightened. No vote was taken, and the chair closed the hearing with plans to continue work later. The second item was a work session on HB 424, which would direct the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to create forms for businesses to request information about service animals and establish a study committee on fraudulent or untrained service animals. Several members said the problem raised by the bill was real but expressed concern that the legislature may be limited by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Others argued that a study committee would likely not produce a workable solution and might conflict with leadership’s direction to avoid unnecessary study committees. Members discussed whether the bill should be retained, amended, or instead replaced with a letter or resolution to the federal delegation. The committee appeared to lean toward ITL and possibly pursuing a letter to federal officials, but no final vote is reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• DNR cannot lease water rights separately from surface rights.
• And currently all of DNR's water rights are utilized on other projects in connection with those surface
• So it's non-potable water, not a USDW, an underground source of drinking water.
• These are much deeper and not used as drinking water or agricultural water.
• They are much deeper and not used as drinking water or agricultural water. Okay, thank you.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee’s interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), with presenters from industry, nonprofits, and state agencies describing Washington’s geologic potential, the role of basalt formations, and the difference between point-source capture, direct air capture, utilization, and permanent storage. Industry and project developers emphasized that Washington has major opportunities to reduce industrial emissions, create jobs, and support hard-to-electrify sectors, while state agencies explained current policy touchpoints in the Cap and Invest Program, emissions exemptions for permanently stored CO2, and the Clean Energy Transformation Act. Several presenters urged clearer statutory and regulatory pathways, including rules for pore space, subsurface rights, pipeline siting, and long-term liability; others cautioned that CCUS should be limited to real emissions reductions and not treated as a substitute for broader clean energy measures. Committee members asked about public comment opportunities, whether mineralized carbon would qualify for exemption under the Climate Commitment Act, the energy intensity of capture systems, aquifer protection, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Ecology said it is developing guidance through a public engagement process running through late June and that mineralized or otherwise permanently stored CO2 would likely qualify if it meets the 1,000-year permanence standard. DNR and outside experts also discussed trust lands, water rights, and the need for additional geophysical surveys and test wells. The panel did not take any votes or formal actions. The second half of the meeting turned to hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility. Ecology reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described how moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste are currently collected through county facilities and events. Ecology said the electronics program is its best model, while the mercury lamp program is currently in transition after the prior stewardship organization exited and a new organization is seeking approval. Ecology recommended that future EPR programs have clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong enforcement authority. Local government witnesses from King County and Douglas County described rising costs, access barriers in rural areas, and the need for stable funding and flexible local delivery models. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and argued that EPR could reduce costs for ratepayers and improve equity. Douglas County stressed that rural residents are willing to participate when services are available, but travel distance and operating costs make access difficult. An industry representative supported narrowly scoped stewardship programs like PaintCare but warned that broad household hazardous waste EPR systems can become difficult to administer and may require legislative revisions if responsibilities are not clearly defined. No votes were taken on the hazardous waste topic either.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rowling it down, making a nice from surface to surface because the goal is that any to will drive vehicle
• water quality, and reduces erosion and flooding.
• Many WMA is have water control structures that we must ensure water availability for habitats and wildlife
• Any public waters of the state. The vessel is wrecked.
• Some of those at risk conditions include taking on water without an effective means to the water.