Transcript Highlights:

• It includes a provision that allows for public access for the purposes of recreation, hunting, fishing
• We go after other things where we regulate that.
• Before they're even able to regulate themselves from overuse, the U.S.
• Before they're even able to regulate themselves from overuse, the U.S.
• Thank you. regulations. They were after the types of videos children are watching.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working on some regulations now just to improve our waste tire program overall.
• So most of the changes to the regulation within the bill are to get more in line with federal regulation
• We fish our tags. We collect 50,000, well, we permitted for 50,000 eggs. We haven't hit that yet.
• resident to buy a duck stamp and his license to go kill a duck or any other thing you're going to fish
• And to be clear, I'm not sure what the rules and regulations are going to be regarding the ability to

Summary: The committee first adopted the 2025 minutes, then took up House Bill 727, which would allow burning untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber such as two-by-fours. The bill was presented as a narrow exemption to existing restrictions on burning construction debris, and it was reported favorable without objection. Members then heard from DEQ Secretary Courtney Burdett on House Bill 697, the department’s sunset/recreation bill. She outlined DEQ’s work on permit modernization, interagency coordination, field inspections, spill response, criminal investigations, environmental education, and small business assistance. Members raised issues including a large waste-tire site, an oil spill response, and a stormwater discharge issue at Smitties. The committee praised DEQ’s responsiveness and reported the bill favorable without objection. House Bill 758, dealing with DEQ fees, was then considered. The bill and amendment package would update and increase various permit and program fees, add annual or biennial CPI-based adjustments, and remove outdated provisions, with the stated goal of aligning revenues with expenditures and reducing reliance on the state general fund. Several industry and landowner groups supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorable. The committee also advanced House Bill 726, which increases penalties for abandoning vessels and related gross littering. Members discussed how abandoned boats are identified, owner notice procedures, registration versus title issues, hurricane-related losses, and protections for older or distressed owners. Wildlife and Fisheries said the bill targets intentional dumping and that existing law allows case-by-case discretion for true hardship situations. The bill was reported favorable. House Bill 756, concerning personal watercraft, was also reported favorable after testimony that it would require reasonable suspicion for vessel stops, align state rules more closely with federal boating safety standards, and update provisions on accident reporting and inflatable PFDs. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 767, which creates recreational alligator hunting license and lottery fees contingent on separate legislation authorizing the season. Supporters said the measure would help create a recreational opportunity while generating conservation funding, but landowners and commercial harvesters warned the fee may be too low, the proposal may be moving too quickly, and recreational harvest could affect commercial operations and landowner interests. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorable. House Bill 964, authorizing a state property transfer in Caddo Parish, was also reported favorable, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They regulate the equipment of vehicles.
• And I'm just curious, when do those regulations, the regulations in your proposed column, go into effect
• First of all, the proposed regulations...
• And I'm just curious, when do those regulations, the regulations in your proposed column go into effect
• First of all, the proposed regulations. We just actually ended a the proposed regulations.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• But it turns out they were already doing that with fish and wildlife and other portions of state government
• already<00:04:36.080><c> doing</c><00:04:36.240><c> that</c><00:04:36.800><c> with</c><00:04:37.040><c> fish
• </c><00:04:37.199><c> and</c> already doing that with fish and already doing that with fish and wildlife
• House Bill 941 is an act relating to municipal regulation of agriculture.
• </c><00:28:11.679><c> of</c> relating to municipal regulation of relating to municipal regulation of

Transcript Highlights:

• I'M A CHARTER FISHING CAPTAIN LIVING IN APALACHICOLA FLORIDA.
• YOU WOULDN'T FISH IN WATERS POLLUTED WITH INDUSTRIAL RUNOFF.
• WE ARE BASICALLY REGULATE THIS. THIS IS A VERY UNREGULATED FIELD.
• ON CHEMICALS, THIS DEALS WITH A STATEWIDE REGULATION ON AUXILIARY CONTAINERS. >> Sen.
• AND YET ON THE PLASTICS ISSUE IT YOU MAY REGULATE, YOU'RE NOT OFFERING ANY REGULATION AND TO SENATOR

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Sophia Smith and I am a fly fishing guide and avid hunter based in Taos, New Mexico.
• I'm about to be And strive to guarantee all New Mexicans have quality places to hunt and fish.
• Flexible meaning now, so we have the Endangered Species Act under the federal regulation.
• You already fish there. You can go there and zip line. You can do all kinds of stuff.
• You can't go trout fishing on the Rio Ruidoso.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 180, a disaster-funding measure that was amended with a substitute adding reporting requirements for the Natural Disaster Revolving Fund, creating a new funding “waterfall” that could draw first from the executive orders for disaster fund, then the appropriation contingency fund, and then the revolving fund, and removing language tied to the end of a fiscal year. The sponsor said the bill clarifies which disaster funds may be used for natural and non-natural disasters, limits and structures executive authority, and improves transparency. Supporters included the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts and the Village of Ruidoso; DFA raised concern that the transfer language could unintentionally create a deficit and threaten bond obligations. After questions about non-natural disasters, executive orders, and the fiscal impact, the committee voted do not pass on the original bill and do pass on the committee substitute. House Bill 158, dealing with the Government Results and Opportunity Expendable Trust, was amended with a technical change replacing “expendable trust” with “program fund” in several places. The bill would require agencies receiving GROW appropriations to submit accountability and evaluation plans to the state budget division director and LFC director. Sponsors said they had worked with DFA and tried to address concerns raised in a prior veto message. There was no public opposition, and the committee approved the bill as amended. House Bill 271 proposed a one-time $100 million general fund appropriation to the Office of Natural Resources Trustees for public land expansion and restoration, plus up to $30 million for state matching funds for political subdivisions with approved federal disaster assistance. Supporters from outdoor recreation, conservation, wildlife, and local government groups said the bill would help restore fire- and flood-damaged lands, expand access, and support rural economies; opponents or skeptics raised concerns about land management, tax base loss, tribal consultation, and whether the state should acquire more land given New Mexico’s already high public-land percentage. After extended debate, the committee tabled the bill. Finally, House Bill 246 was heard as a Lincoln County/Ruidoso floodplain mitigation bill. It would provide state matching funds so local governments can leverage federal Emergency Watershed Protection dollars to buy out and rehabilitate repeatedly flooded properties, with the goal of reducing future disaster risk. The sponsor and county officials said the program is voluntary, based on pre-disaster valuation, and intended to help residents relocate while restoring floodplains; supporters from conservation and recreation groups said it could become a model for disaster recovery. Committee members asked about property priority levels, voluntary participation, ownership after acquisition, and climate-related planning. The discussion ended with the sponsor describing the bill as a Lincoln County-specific effort tied to ongoing flood recovery and forest-management concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're just asking for a few weeks a year with a lot of regulations and to make sure that they're being
• Members, House Concurrent Resolution 54 by Representative Fontenot urges and requests the United States Fish
• is just a beautiful, pristine, cypress-covered lake that used to be really world-renowned for its fishing
• Can't fish. Can't get to your duck line.

Bills: HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HB1209

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on March 27 with a quorum present, approved prior minutes, and then took up several resolutions and one bill related to wildlife, water resources, and conservation. H.C.R. 79, as amended, urged the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work together to allow the use of dogs for hunting in Kisatchie National Forest; supporters described it as a traditional hunting practice that has been restricted for years and could benefit local hunters and businesses. H.C.R. 104, as amended, asked the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study and modernize the collection, retention, and access to subsurface data, with members emphasizing the need to avoid sharing company-specific information. H.C.R. 87 was reported favorably to support correspondence from U.S. Sen. Kennedy regarding duck flyway management, H.C.R. 54 was reported favorably to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl and restore an enforcement mechanism related to hunting over intentionally flooded crops, and H.C.R. 94 was reported favorably to require annual boating safety reports to legislative committees. The committee then heard HB 1209, which would have paused new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals while allowing existing agreements to continue and be renewed through December 31, 2036. The author said the bill was intended to give the state time to develop a more comprehensive, data-driven surface water strategy and to address invasive species such as giant salvinia, which he said has severely affected waterways in his district. Members and witnesses acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, but there was concern that the bill was too complex to move quickly in the session. The committee discussed converting it into a study resolution instead, and the bill was deferred without objection. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> board that regulates the prescriber. board that regulates the prescriber.
• Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Uh, specifically, I had a question about fish. Um, does this cover fish, specifically eels?
• ,</c> fish.
• Um does this cover fish, fish. Um does this cover fish, specifically<01:29:06.600><c> eels?

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ALSO REGULATE SPECIFIC ENTITIES THROUGH THEIR PERMITS.
• SOMETHING THAT CAME ALONG WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AND HAD THE FISH KILLS AND BISCAYNE BAY AND THE FISH ONE
• SOMETHING THAT CAME ALONG WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AND HAD THE FISH KILLS AND BISCAYNE BAY AND THE FISH KILLS
• QUALITY DATA AND THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR OWN PLATFORM AND THEIR OWN WEBSITE AND IN IRL IF THERE IS A FISH

Transcript Highlights:

• seeing none please call the regulations seeing none please call the next<00:08:14.639><c> regulation
• The next regulation is from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
• Any questions for Fish and Wildlife on this set of regulations?
• and wildlife on this set of fish and wildlife on this set of regulations<00:13:39.000><c> co-chair</
• Seeing none, please call the next regulation. "Seeing none, please call next regulation."

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a long agenda of administrative regulations, most of which were advanced with staff-suggested amendments and no objection. Early items included the Kentucky Public Pension Authority’s 105 KAR 1:451, which updates reporting language and adds the contractor wizard for certain employers, and a large package of Board of Veterinary Examiners regulations that revise fees, facility and AHP registration requirements, continuing education, liability, and practice rules. The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology’s compact-related regulation and the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors’ complaint and compact rules were also reviewed and approved with amendments, along with fish and wildlife rules affecting elk hunting, youth deer season length, bear-dog approvals, and foxhound enclosure permits. The committee also approved transportation, education, workplace standards, horse racing, and several health and human services regulations, including Medicaid waiver reimbursement updates and a child care regulation that sends certain large claims to the Office of Inspector General for review. Several agencies briefly explained their regulations when members asked questions. Fish and Wildlife said the elk population is strong and the baiting change is intended to support harvest monitoring and fair chase, while the longer youth deer season was meant to give young hunters more opportunity. The Department of Community-Based Services said the $10,000 and $5,000 claim thresholds were meant to clarify rare cases involving possible fraud or unresolved recoupment issues. The Department of Financial Institutions’ 808 KAR 5:305 drew the most discussion: it would allow certain state-chartered credit unions with a low-income designation to participate in federal programs, including limited non-member deposits and supplemental capital, but the regulation was deferred again amid continued discussions. The Kentucky Bankers Association testified against the credit union regulation, arguing that allowing non-member deposits conflicts with existing statute limiting credit union deposits to members and other credit unions, and that an administrative regulation cannot override that statutory restriction. Committee members heard the agency’s explanation that the proposal is intended to help underserved communities and that the non-member deposit authority would be limited, but no final action was taken because the item was deferred. The meeting otherwise concluded with the remaining regulations being called, discussed briefly, and approved or advanced without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Flexible meaning now, so we have the Endangered Species Act under the federal regulation.
• You know, they need to—the state needs to get that land, give people a place to go fishing.
• You know, they need to—the state needs to get that land, give people a place to go fishing.
• You already fish there. You can go there and zip line. You can do all kinds of stuff.
• You can't go trout fishing on the Rio Ruidoso.

Bills: HB2 , SB193 , SB132 , SB35 , SB145

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects

Transcript Highlights:

• It is highly regulated. It pays for hourly wages by their workers. It pays for costs.
• It is highly regulated. peer-reviewed. It is highly regulated.
• I've hunted and fished my whole life.
• ><01:29:48.560><c> Wildlife</c> Association of Fish and Wildlife Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
• </c> committees at the Association of Fish committees at the Association of Fish and<01:30:28.560><c>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in in fish or not. in in fish or not.
• and learn to fish.
• and learn to fish.
• and learn to fish.
• and learn to fish.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:51.519><c> privatelyowned</c> not impact or regulate privatelyowned not impact or regulate
• Um, thanks for taking my question. and regulations and and that that we and regulations and and that
• ><c> I'll</c><00:10:43.519><c> again</c> somewhat self-regulated, but I'll again somewhat self-regulated
• </c> organisms live, insects, where fish organisms live, insects, where fish spawn,<01:25:50.159><c>
• </c> who actually if there's no regulation who actually if there's no regulation know<03:58:26.720><c

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So now I'm going to call the hearing on HB 568, allowing subdivision regulations concerning water supply
• We all know that Fish and Game and local law enforcement are understaffed.
• So to finish up here, that's really why the Fish and Game Commission is opposed to this bill.
• </c><04:27:26.840><c> it</c> straightforward they would regulate it straightforward they would regulate
• So FDA regulates bottled water because that's food, and then EPA regulates the community water fluoridation

Summary: The committee took up several bills in executive session, beginning with HB 568 on subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Representative Donnelly moved ITL, arguing the bill would create costly studies, that towns already have jurisdiction over needed studies, and that the issue was not widespread. The committee voted ITL 9-7. HB 582, dealing with safety requirements for personal watercraft, was also moved ITL on the grounds that existing law already covers the issue and the bill was unnecessary after recent action on personal flotation devices. Representative Derby opposed the ITL, saying the bill was a common-sense safety measure and would restore a misdemeanor penalty, but the committee voted ITL 9-7. The committee then retained HB 595, relative to coastal resilience zones, after members said the bill was important but needed more work and time because of its complexity. Members noted it should be revisited later, and the motion to retain passed 16-0. HB 607, funding the Hampton Beach Area Commission and making appropriations, received an ought-to-pass recommendation 15-1, with support from members who described Hampton Beach as an important economic driver and one dissenting member saying the state should not bear the full cost. The committee also adopted Amendment 2025-3 on HB 624, establishing a local river management advisory committee grant program, by a 16-0 vote; the amendment shifted funding decisions to the Department of Environmental Services based on demonstrated need and a first-come, first-served process. The bill as amended then received an ought-to-pass recommendation 16-0 and was placed on consent. Later, the committee retained HB 629, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams, after members said the dams need attention but the bill required more work because suggested amendments had just been received. That motion passed 16-0. HB 644, concerning drones in state parks, was ITL’d because the Department of Parks and Recreation is already working through rulemaking on UAS use in remote areas, and the committee voted 16-0 for ITL. HB 657, the short notice booking act access for New Hampshire residents to state parks, was also ITL’d at the request of the prime sponsor, passing 16-0. The committee then adjourned and announced a later hearing on HB 663, which would allow the Division of Historical Resources to use a portion of Moose plate funds for administering its grant program; testimony from the sponsor and the division supported the bill as clarifying existing authority, and no final vote on HB 663 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe Rogerson, I'm the Wildlife Section Administrator with the DENREC Division of Fish and Wildlife.
• Increasingly, we're asked about additional drugs that are regulated.
• We're not saying that they can't be used, but the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the department wanted
• We're not saying that they can't be used, but the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the department wanted
• this, included in here, would be allowed to do this because they are permitted through Division of Fish

Summary: The committee met in hybrid format on June 18, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so minutes were not approved until later in the meeting after additional members joined. The committee heard a series of bills, with most receiving supportive testimony from sponsors, agency officials, advocacy groups, and frequent public commenter Robert Overmiller. Several measures focused on transportation and public safety, including HB 363 on residential speed limits, HB 384 extending DelDOT open-end contracts from three to five years, HB 413 allowing green flashing lights on road work and emergency vehicles, HB 456 streamlining subaqueous lands permitting, and HB 388 letting drivers with temporary medical suspensions keep their license for ID purposes while being flagged in the system as not allowed to drive. Members asked questions mainly about implementation, enforcement, and scope, and sponsors or agency witnesses explained that the bills were intended to improve safety, efficiency, and administrative clarity. The committee also took up HB 111, which would require single-use food service items such as utensils, straws, napkins, and condiments to be provided only upon request, with exemptions for schools, nonprofits, health care facilities, correctional facilities, and similar settings. Supporters, including Plastic Free Delaware and the Sierra Club, said the bill would reduce waste and save businesses money, while opponents from the restaurant industry argued it could confuse customers, hurt tourism, and be difficult to enforce. Sponsors emphasized that restaurants could still ask customers if they wanted items and that the bill included a phase-in period and capped penalties. The committee also heard HB 393, a consumer protection bill for third-party electric suppliers that tightens oversight, training, reporting, renewal notices, and rate limits after concerns about misleading sales and unexpectedly high bills; it drew support from environmental advocates and members who had seen constituent complaints. Finally, the committee heard HB 412 on hunting and trapping education and wildlife drug administration, which was described as a safety and modernization measure and supported by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and sportsmen’s groups, and SB 346, which would speed up Environmental Appeals Board hearings and decisions. SB 346 drew broad support from DNREC, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and business groups, though one witness asked to clarify that Superior Court appeal rights would remain intact; DNREC confirmed they would. The committee also approved the June 10, 2026 minutes after quorum was established, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it mandated inside your rules and regulations between the two agencies?
• You know, there's no regulation or anything that says that they have to notify us at all.
• We do it with fish, so this sort of clarity—movement of deer, transportation of deer?
• Other states have disabandoned stuff and just don't have any rules and regulations.
• So they need to have some regulation. That ought to be part of your considerations.

Summary: The committee and invited witnesses discussed chronic wasting disease surveillance and response in Louisiana, focusing on both wild deer and captive deer facilities. LDWF staff said surveillance goals are being met in about 32 of 64 parishes, but there are gaps in low-sample areas, and they described current efforts using voluntary hunter-harvested deer sampling, targeted sampling in higher-risk animals, and coordination with D-MAP properties. Witnesses and members raised possible ways to improve detection, including incentives for testing, use of taxidermists and processors to collect samples from older bucks, possible mandatory testing tied to special doe days or special seasons, and better use of D-MAP or mobile sampling units. Several members also suggested environmental testing, better deer-density data, and clearer mapping of hotspots and source areas. A major portion of the discussion centered on how to respond when a positive CWD case is found. Members debated whether Louisiana should follow an Arkansas-style approach, including allowing baiting during hunting season while using other tools to manage disease, versus stricter no-bait or no-feeding rules. Some members argued that immediate restrictions after a positive discourage hunters from submitting samples and hurt landowners and feed businesses, and suggested delaying new restrictions until the end of the season while intensifying sampling. Others emphasized that any response should be science-based and should preserve hunter participation. There was also discussion of whether control areas should be parish-based or based on geographic distance, and whether the state should establish thresholds that would allow a control zone to be reduced or removed if enough negative samples are collected. For captive deer facilities, LDWF and LDAF staff reviewed the USDA herd certification program and current surveillance practices. They said Louisiana has about 350 licensed deer facilities, including breeder and hunting facilities, and that a 2024 positive in Jeff Davis Parish led to depopulation and 12 quarantine farms; follow-up testing in 2025 found no new positives in the traced facilities. Staff said the state has relied on USDA competitive grants for diagnostic testing in the last two years, covering roughly $100,000 to $150,000 annually, while department self-generated funds covered more than $800,000 over the last three years. Members and witnesses recommended mandatory enrollment in the USDA herd certification program, mandatory 24-hour reporting of positives to LDWF and USDA APHIS, and clearer, reciprocal communication between LDWF and LDAF when positives are found. No votes were taken; the chair said staff would compile the discussion and written recommendations for consideration at the April 9 commission meeting, with the understanding that the committee will later make formal recommendations to the Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and fish is proposing. and fish is proposing.
• Uh, but I did work with the department that regulates fish to ask what their thoughts were.
• that regulates fish to ask uh department that regulates fish to ask uh what<00:32:02.320><c> their</
• </c> and fish commission. and fish commission.
• </c> Medicaid regulations. Medicaid regulations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $250,000 is for compensating ranchers and also being able to use with the Game and Fish for wolf
• I'm here as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, functioning as a subject matter expert
• Ten percent of that is drawn by the Fish and Wildlife Service for administration, leaving $900,000 split
• for almost a decade at the same amount of one million dollars ten percent of that is drawn by the fish
• farmers that lose their cattle to the wolf, we did appropriate $250,000 from the game to non-game fish

Bills: HB2014 , HB2156 , HB2180 , HB2554 , HCR2047 , HR2002

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, appropriation, University of Arizona, education, state budget, biennial budget, state funding, appropriations, budget procedures, fiscal years, Judea

Transcript Highlights:

• They will allow commercial fishing in Papa Namoku.
• They will allow commercial fishing in Papa Namoku.
• </c><00:17:48.640><c> in</c> overall allowed aquarium fishing in overall allowed aquarium fishing in
• </c><00:17:58.320><c> in</c> They will allow commercial fishing in They will allow commercial fishing
• </c> under HRS 1889 and aquarium fishing under HRS 1889 and aquarium fishing under<00:26:58.480><c> 187A

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.