Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:02.720> trained protections for service animals trained protections for service animals
• therapy animals or service dogs. therapy animals or service dogs.
• This guidance benefits first animals.
• That emotional support animal provides support to its owner.
• That emotional support animal provides support to its owner.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the Office of Animal Welfare...
• Since the official launch of OAW in 2015, it has successfully regulated Delaware's animal shelters.
• However, in the initial legislation, no procedure for regulating new animal shelters was included.
• This means that a new animal shelter could open without prior inspection and would have to have animals
• Recently, an animal shelter from Pennsylvania moved to Delaware after the owner was charged with animal

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill: An act authorizing the town of Lancaster to dissolve its animal control commission
• Third reading of the bill: An act authorizing the town of Lancaster to dissolve its animal control commission

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine reports and local bills. It adopted a resolution commending the AADC Family Network and recognizing October 23, 2025, as AADC Deficiency Awareness Day in Massachusetts. The House also concurred with a Senate petition on energy-conservation windows being referred to the Committee on Housing. The chamber then acted on a slate of bills scheduled by the Committee on Steering Policy and Scheduling. It advanced House Bills 1194, 2280, 2644, 2646, and 1301 to third reading, covering cleanup of accidental home heating oil spills, permitting reforms for businesses and landowners, fire protection, public fire safety and professionalism, and primary insurance. Each was taken up under suspension of Rule 7A and ordered to a third reading without objection. The House also passed several local bills to be engrossed: House Bills 3896 on recall elections in Berlin, 3901 exempting Natick’s assistant fire chief from civil service, 4212 allowing Lancaster to dissolve its animal control commission, and 4347 concerning Williamsburg Library Trustees. House Bill 4380, amending Agawam’s charter, was amended on the floor to change the election timing language and add an effective-date section, then passed to be engrossed as amended. The House then recessed briefly, adopted an order to meet the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and adjourned to an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1539, Animal Breeders, Dogs, Cats, Taxes. Transportation Technology and Natural Resources.
• SB 1462, Animal Control Officers Mandatory Training. SB 1463, Data Centers Tax Relief Repeal.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded attendance, and approved the prior day’s journal. The chamber recognized Lucid Motors Day at the Capitol, highlighting the company’s Arizona operations, investment, and job creation, and also welcomed county officials and noted a temporary committee replacement appointment and a governor’s nomination for the State Liquor Board, which was referred to the appropriate committee. The main floor business was the introduction and first reading of a large slate of bills and resolutions covering commerce, elections, immigration, education, water, transportation, public safety, labor, housing, taxation, and appropriations. One measure, SB 1429, was further referred to the Senate Finance Committee. The Senate then proceeded through second reading of numerous bills, including measures on roads, collective bargaining, tax relief, school mapping, assisted living, crime-free lease addenda, utility disclosures, public pensions, and several local appropriations and tribal-related items. No substantive votes on the listed bills were taken in the transcript beyond referral and placement on the calendar. The majority leader used a personal privilege statement to criticize the Attorney General’s recent remarks, saying they were inappropriate and should be retracted, and then moved to adjourn. The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And where are the animals? Uh, sorry, no animals today, Madam Chair.
• Obviously, this is elevating the risk for staff, animals, and specifically the 1.5 million visitors that
• have some support to renovate our A building, which is the campus' oldest structure and our current animal
• We've raised over $12.5 million privately for this animal hospital project, but we're still $6 million

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So this proposal is on the importation of bovines and domestic animals.
• Uh, the first is on... of boines and domestic animals. Uh it is of boines and domestic animals.
• The definition cites to the national list of reportable animal diseases, but that is not a definition
• Paragraph D states that the permit or CVI pertaining to the transported animals needs to be either attached

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then took up Department of Safety Rule 25161 on administrative license suspension forms. After discussion of a staff concern that the rule text should expressly require a defendant’s signature or refusal to sign, and the officer’s witness signature, the agency agreed to revised language. The committee voted to grant conditional approval with those edits. The committee next considered Department of Agriculture rule 192, concerning importation of bovines and domestic animals. Staff identified several issues, including an overly broad federal citation, an unclear definition of infection, a possible conflict between provisions on telephone-issued permits and documents that must be carried, and missing struck-through repeal language. Because the department had not proposed written fixes, members moved to postpone the item until next month, and the motion passed. A second Agriculture item, 25207, was discussed as a long-expired set of rules that the agency said were still needed to run its programs; the committee granted conditional approval. The Public Utilities Commission’s competitive natural gas supplier and aggregator rules prompted the most extensive debate. Staff argued the cited statutes did not clearly authorize the commission to impose fines on natural gas suppliers, while the agency responded that authority could be read from related Department of Energy transition language and general rulemaking provisions. Members discussed whether the issue reflected a statutory gap created when responsibilities were split between the Department of Energy and the commission. The committee ultimately voted to waive and postpone the item to next month so the attorneys could work out the authority question. The committee also postponed Department of Energy items 219 and 220 at the agency’s request, and it noted that the Liquor Commission’s emergency rule had been revised to reduce reporting from monthly to quarterly before being reissued, with the item also postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• so he wasn’t aware of These warnings say there are some components that could be toxic to ruminant animals
• Look at the numbers that we have found in just the animal tissue on that crop seed stillborn calf.
• We have continued animal loss, and it's not just the cows that are dying that are a tremendous concern
• Neighbors near biosolid sites are subjected to explosions of flies tormenting humans and animals.
• less than 150,000 people, the lives of the farmer, his family, his property, his neighbors, and his animals

Summary: The committee hearing focused on biosolids, sewage sludge, and PFAS contamination, with the opening remarks and first three presenters arguing that land application of municipal sludge poses serious risks to soil, water, livestock, and human health. Representative Shaw cited EPA and state data on detected pollutants and PFAS in biosolids, while Denise Travick Poyer described her background in chemical engineering and PFAS work and said the EPA’s draft sewage sludge risk assessment shows unacceptable risk at very low PFOS/PFOA levels. She urged source reduction, more testing, and consideration of total organic fluorine, and noted examples from Michigan where industrial pretreatment and source reduction reduced PFAS in biosolids. Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Larry Woolley and Investigator Dana Ames presented a case study of alleged runoff from land-applied biosolids affecting a ranch, with high PFAS readings in soil, water, fish, cattle tissue, and a stillborn calf, and said the county and state had pursued investigations, lawsuits, and legislative responses. Sandra Trawick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches argued that Oklahoma’s biosolids program relies heavily on Class B sludge, that current rules are outdated, and that land application exposes farms and rural communities to pathogens, chemicals, odors, flies, and runoff; she cited examples from Maine, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma to support calls for stronger regulation or a ban. After the testimony, members asked about sampling methods, lab testing, EPA limits, and whether the cited PFAS blood levels were comparable to the soil and sludge measurements. Witnesses said the Johnson County samples were collected by a Texas A&M PhD contractor and tested at a single lab, and they explained that the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion figure applied to municipal drinking water standards. Questions also addressed whether sludge is incorporated into soil; Trawick said it had often been left on the surface, though she had seen better disking after public scrutiny. Members asked how biosolids compare with manure and feedlot waste, and witnesses responded that municipal sludge is more contaminated because it includes industrial, hospital, and household waste streams, unlike animal manure. The committee then moved to alternative solutions, hearing from Doug McKinney of Advanced Microbial Solutions, who promoted biological sludge removal using bacteria to reduce sludge volumes and avoid land application, citing cost savings for wastewater plants and correctional facilities. Jason Jepsen of Eden Energy followed with a pitch for an eight-stage waste-to-energy system that converts mixed waste into clean energy, biochar, and reusable products, framing waste as an asset and presenting his company’s technology as a no-land-application alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• When they overdose on Ivermectin, whether it was used for animals or otherwise. ...Outside of a doctor's
• to fill it with, to the point where people went to the feed store to take Ivermectin that was for animals
• Ivermectin that was meant for external application to animals, sheep dip, horse paste, stuff that you
• having trouble getting it, prescribed me the exact dosage of the same kind of medicine that's used for animals
• contrary opinion to the vet, who I would respectfully agree understands horse medicine, who knows about animal

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192, HCR3, HCR4, HCR5, HCR6, HCR8, HCR14, HCR16, HR1, HR2, HR3, HR4, HR6, HR7, HR8, HR9, HR12, HR11, HR13, HR14, HR15, HR16, HR20, HR22, HR23, HR24, HR25, HR26, HR27, HR28, HR29, HR30, HR31, HR32, HR33, HR45, HR48, HR49, HR51, HR52, HR55, HR56, HR57, HR59, HR60, HR61, HR62, HR63, HR64, HR65, HR66, HR70, HR71, HR72, HR74, HCR2, HCR7, HR10, HR21, HR35, HR36, HR37, HR38, HR39, HR40, HR42, HR43, HR44, HR46, HR47, HR50, HR53, HR54, HR67, HR69, HR75, HCR 5, HCR 6, HCR 8, HCR 14, HCR 16, HR 1, HR 3, HR 4, HR 6, HR 7, HR 8, HR 9, HR 12, HR 11, HR 13, HR 14, HR 15, HR 16, HR 20, HR 22, HR 23, HR 24, HR 25, HR 26, HR 27, HR 28, HR 29, HR 30, HR 31, HR 32, HR 33, HR 45, HR 48, HR 49, HR 51, HR 52, HR 55, HR 56, HR 57, HR 59, HR 60, HR 61, HR 62, HR 63, HR 64, HR 65, HR 66, HR 70, HR 71, HR 72, HR 74, HCR 7, HR 10, HR 21, HR 35, HR 36, HR 37, HR 38, HR 39, HR 40, HR 42, HR 43, HR 44, HR 46, HR 47, HR 50, HR 53, HR 54, HR 67, HR 69, HB 25, HB 48, HB 149, HB 254, HB 26, HB 192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• She believed in fairness and justice for both animals and people, as she would often volunteer at her
• local animal shelter.
• She believed in fairness and justice for both animals and people, as she would often volunteer at her
• local animal shelter. as she would often volunteer at her local animal shelter.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file. Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold. The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception. The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• protecting the public by ensuring the best and highest quality of veterinary care for the people and animals
• your support for these exceptional item requests to ensure the best protection of the people and animals
• one relates to these and summarizes some key statutory provisions related to parimutuel racing and animal
• Since the inception of the Racing Commission, TVMDL has provided, on a fee-for-service basis, race-animal
• For TVMDL and the Racing Commission of its intent to cease animal laboratory testing services at the

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our emergency feeding response must balance. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Emergency Animal Care and Help. >>
• My name is Aya Mater, executive director and founder of Emergency Animal Care and Help, or EACH.
• Safety nets for their pets and service animals.
• Foundation for Animal Care and Education. Aloha.
• I'm the program director for Foundation for Animal Care and Education.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing on Act 310 grants and aid focused on organizations describing how federal funding cuts, Medicaid/SNAP changes, and related policy shifts are affecting their services and budgets. Committee members explained there would be no Q&A, testimony would be limited to one minute, and in-person participants would be heard before Zoom callers. Members repeatedly asked testifiers to identify the amount of federal funding lost or at risk. Testimony came from a wide range of nonprofits and community providers, including Aloha Care, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Literacy, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, the Tsunami Museum, The Kohala Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Dynamic Community Solutions, Feeding Hawaii Together, Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Homana, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Most described reduced or threatened federal support and requested state funding to maintain services such as health care access, food security, disaster preparedness, literacy and digital inclusion, youth mentoring, arts education, housing, and climate or agricultural resilience. Several speakers emphasized direct impacts on vulnerable populations, including kūpuna, low-income families, immigrants, homeless youth, and people with disabilities. Requests ranged from relatively small planning or program grants to multi-million-dollar stabilization asks, with some organizations citing specific losses such as reduced Medicaid or USDA funding, canceled EPA or FEMA support, or expiring federal grants. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It protects animal and plant health. It improves food safety.
• plant decrease funding for the animal plant animal<02:53:39.520> and<02:53:39.760> plant
• c><02:53:40.000> health<02:53:40.399> inspection animal and plant health inspection animal
• <02:54:54.080> and the hard work of the USDA's Animal and the hard work of the USDA's Animal
• They reflect the treatment of animals.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lovely for legislation relative to animal telehealth, reports... ...by a bill of Joan B.
• Lovely for legislation relative to animal telehealth.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up final passage of two bills: one directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Jason Villian, and another authorizing DCAMM to convey certain parcels of land in Brockton. Both bills passed to be enacted and were sent to the Governor. The chamber also adopted a resolution celebrating the commissioning of the U.S.S. Massachusetts. The Senate then considered several committee reports and procedural orders. Ways and Means reported a new draft for Senate Bill 2801, fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts, and the Senate ordered the bill to a second reading with amendment deadlines and later-stage procedures set. The Rules Committee also recommended suspending the joint rule for a petition on animal telehealth, which the Senate approved, along with additional Joint Rule 12 suspensions to refer House petitions to the appropriate committees. Later, the Senate took up Senate Bill 1646 on violations of regulations regarding hot work processes. After suspending the rules to proceed forthwith, the Senate rejected an amendment to establish a Board of Hoisting Machinery Regulations, adopted the Ways and Means amendment, and ordered the bill to a third reading. Following remarks from Senator Collins about the Walsh-Kennedy Commission and fire safety reforms, the bill passed to be engrossed. The Senate also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Dan McColl, a South Boston artist and newspaper man, and then adjourned to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• infectious energy and love of people that led him to change his career path from aspiring service animal
• Whereas the Hortman family volunteered with Helping Paws, an organization that trains service animals

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She said, in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You can't run from danger.
• From predators, no animal can survive long enough for a broken leg to heal.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• practice still falls under Rule 3.2 for every civil case, and family law is its unique, own little animal
• practice still falls under Rule 3.2 for every civil case, and family law is its unique, own little animal
• practice still falls under Rule 3.2 for every civil case, and family law is its unique, own little animal
• practice still falls under Rule 3.2 for every civil case, and family law is its unique, own little animal
• practice still falls under Rule 3.2 for every civil case, and family law is its unique, own little animal

Summary: The Child Custody Review Task Force met to approve prior minutes and then worked through draft legislation related to a possible family court study committee. The group discussed the proposed 15-member committee’s makeup in detail, including whether to add parent representation, judges, family law section members, child support, clerks of court, domestic violence advocates, and other stakeholders. The task force ultimately agreed to keep the committee at 15 members, reduce the legislative membership from eight to six, add two judges from different districts, add two family law section members with rural and urban representation, include one parent subject to a custody order, and replace the mental health professional with a clerk of court representative appointed through the trial court administrator’s office. The draft was also revised to keep domestic violence advocacy representation and to clarify that the study could consider juvenile court issues as part of the family court umbrella. The committee voted to approve the revised draft and recommend it to Legislative Management, with one recorded “no” vote from Judge Hovey after the meeting resumed. The task force then turned to a second draft dealing with requiring participation in a family transition program, which was renamed in discussion to a parenting education course. Members debated whether the bill should simply refer to an existing program like Parents Forever or instead specify broader education about the court process, parental rights, co-parenting, and related issues. Some members supported the requirement as a way to reduce conflict and improve understanding of the system, while others raised concerns about vague language, cost to parents, lack of exemptions, and whether the bill was too open-ended or potentially duplicative of other legislation. The discussion became lengthy and unresolved, with the drafter noting that more specific direction would be needed to revise the bill. The transcript cuts off before a final vote or action on this second draft is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Protecting wildlife and ensuring animals are treated humanely isn't a partisan issue.
• Animals are treated humanely, isn't a partisan issue.
• instead of investing this energy at the legislature in undermining protection for these endangered animals
• Sam Richard from Concilium Consulting here today on behalf of Humane World for Animals as well as the
• Animal Defense League of Arizona, here in respectful opposition to the bill.

Bills: HB2014, HB2055, HB2145, HB2150, HB2696, HB2755, HB2763, HB2781, HB2782, HB2787, HB2795, HB2889, HB2975, HB2985, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2020, HCR2038

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee approved the March 17 minutes and then took up a long calendar of bills, holding HCR 2038. HB 2787, which would bar the state and its political subdivisions from using personnel or financial resources to enforce, administer, or cooperate with the Mexican wolf reintroduction program, drew opposition from Sierra Club and Humane World for Animals/Animal Defense League of Arizona, who argued it would hinder wolf recovery and undercut science-based wildlife management. The committee nevertheless gave HB 2787 a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2055 on a Brackish Groundwater Recovery Program Fund and HB 2782 on disclosure requirements for regulatory assets in utility rates. Testimony on HB 2055 raised concerns that brackish groundwater is still groundwater and that pumping it could cause localized impacts, but the bill initially received a do-pass recommendation before a later vote failed on reconsideration. HB 2782 prompted discussion about Corporation Commission authority and utility regulation, but it ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 2781, a solar energy decommissioning and financial assurance bill, with testimony from environmental groups, industry representatives, and a local official; an amendment by Senator Sundareshan to strengthen financial assurance and remove the remediation fund failed, and the underlying bill also failed on a tied 4-4 vote. Later, the committee approved HB 2975, which would suspend use of solar scoring maps on state trust lands and require new mining and housing scoring maps, despite opposition from environmental groups and neutral comments from the State Land Department that the solar map is only a guidance tool. HB 2696, as amended, passed after the committee adopted amendments shifting the Arizona Commerce Authority’s fuel-price mandate and creating a fuel resiliency task force; testimony focused on fuel supply, pipeline capacity, refinery access, and whether the ACA was the right agency to lead the effort. The committee also passed HCM 2009 urging Congress to require legislative approval for new national monuments and to streamline mining and land-swap processes, and HB 2889, which funds ADEQ monitoring of uranium contamination and creates a statewide registry and tribal partnership program. Finally, the committee approved HB 2763, which would require legislative approval before the Arizona Game and Fish Commission could close a shooting range. Supporters said it was meant to protect facilities like Ben Avery and preserve safe shooting locations, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary because existing review steps already exist and there was no imminent closure threat. The committee also heard testimony on the bill from Game and Fish, which said the measure would add another layer to an already extensive closure process and that the department was neutral on the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• The animals freeze, and it hinders their natural habitat, and you can't see outside of that beam of light
• The animals freeze, and it hinders their natural habitat, and you can't see outside of that beam of light
• the ability to sell their licenses and get the money that we need to take care of our biology, our animals
• <01:04:04.559> our<01:04:04.880> biology,<01:04:05.440> our<01:04:05.680> animals
• ,<01:04:05.920> and care of our biology, our animals, and care of our biology, our animals

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > motans<00:30:05.120> rightly<00:30:05.600> have This bill makes cuts to large animal
• say<01:11:23.679> that<01:11:24.000> the<01:11:24.320> large<01:11:24.640> animal
• <01:11:24.960> veterinarian say that the large animal veterinarian say that the large animal
• Uh, it is especially around preserving the large animal loan forgiveness program and the agriculture
• At a time when we need large animal vets and agriculture educators, it's a clear disregard for the needs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that's really good to keep that habitat for the animals.
• You want some program to come through here and we want to have Animal Day or we want to have anything
• You want some program to come through here and we want to have Animal Day or we want to have anything

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum and heard presentations focused on land conservation and agricultural preservation in Florida. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services briefed the committee on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, explaining that it protects active agricultural lands through permanent conservation easements while keeping land in private ownership and on the tax rolls. The presentation emphasized eligibility for greenbelted active agricultural operations, required best management practices, and the program’s role in protecting food supply, water resources, habitat, and military buffering. Officials said the program’s 2025 ranked list includes 428 projects, with about 75 projects expected to start this year, and noted strong partnership funding from federal, local, and conservation partners. Committee members asked about eligibility, annual re-ranking, local government involvement, and the number of projects likely to receive funding. Tracy Dean of Conservation Florida testified in support of continued and increased funding for land conservation, arguing that Florida is losing agricultural and natural lands and that conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions are complementary tools. She said land trusts work with willing landowners to protect ranches, wetlands, forests, and wildlife corridors, and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum so projects do not stall as land values rise. In discussion with senators, she said public access to conserved lands depends on the specific deal and the landowner’s goals, and that access is more commonly provided through lands acquired for parks, forests, and other public green space. The Department of Environmental Protection then updated the committee on the Florida Forever program. DEP said the program uses both conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions, with about half of acquisitions done through easements, and that it provides benefits including water quality, habitat protection, recreation, and military readiness. Officials reported 60 projects on the 2025-26 work plan, most in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and said the state has invested more than $1.4 billion since 2019, acquiring over 374,000 acres. They highlighted recent acquisitions for Sandy Creek State Forest, Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, and a new state park in Walton County, as well as the program’s 200th conservation easement. The committee also discussed funding levels, payment in lieu of taxes impacts on small counties, and broader priorities such as citrus, roads, and support for agriculture; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.