Video & Transcript Research : 'deer'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Session - Senate Floor Session - Part 1 - 06/09/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Jun 19th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Higher Education Institutions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I want to introduce you to one of our John Deere Tech students.
- Gavin, the John Deere program you referenced—yes.
- So thank you to Gavin and to the John Deere program. NDSCS is doing great things.
- John Deere—this is just an example that we are one of two John Deere platinum programs in the country
- They have a John Deere dealer that they partner with, but they don't have the John Deere program.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 46 Apr 23rd, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Du, we have The great honor of recognizing an extraordinary group of student athletes from Deer
- This past fall, the Deer Creek Boys cross-country team once again brought home the class 6A state championship
- Aidan Taylor, I would also like to recognize the Deer Creek girls cross-country team who are with us
- Head coach David Yden has led the Deer Creek cross-country program for more than 20 years.
- team to the House floor. from the Deer Creek cross-country team to the House floor.
Keywords:
4-H, youth development, community service, education, volunteering, Oklahoma, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, SB171, state government, Capitol security, peace officer commission, legislative security, Department of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Safety, President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- We can treat the white-tailed deer; we feed them ivermectin-treated corn.
- We can treat the, the white-tailed deer. They, we feed them ivermectin treated corn.
- So we're over those species, and Parks is over the white-tailed deer and the mule deer, but it can affect
- We're in charge of, or we have authority over, the exotic susceptible species, the elk, the red deer
- So we're over those species, and Parks is over the white-tailed deer and the mule deer, but it can affect
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase.
The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We're in the middle of our deer management, our five-year midpoint deer plan review.
- They've been living together, deer and wolves, for a long time.
- We are finding some new deer that have popped up.
- We are finding some new deer that have popped up.
- We are finding some new deer that have popped up.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Jun 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I want to introduce you to one of our John Deere Tech students.
- Gavin, the John Deere program you referenced. Yes.
- said, ‘I’ve been doing this for—’” “John Deere, one of the dealers.
- John Deere—this is just an example that we are one of two John Deere platinum programs in the country
- They have a John Deere dealer that they partner with, but they don't have the John Deere program.
Summary:
The committee reconvened at North Dakota State College of Science for a presentation from President Dr. Flanagan and college leaders about NDSCS’s mission, enrollment growth, workforce training, and facilities needs. Flanagan highlighted student success in national competitions, strong placement and retention, growing enrollment, and new or expanding programs in aviation maintenance, fire science, dental hygiene, community health worker training, surgical technology, HVAC/plumbing, and precision agriculture. He also emphasized the college’s partnerships with industry, including John Deere, Fargo Jet Center, Sanford, and Comdel Innovation, and said NDSCS plans to seek approval next session for a revenue bond to build a new dorm and to remodel the library into academic and allied health space. Allied health dean Deb Smith testified that her division is at capacity and needs a simulation center, more lab and classroom space, and expanded dental and OTA facilities to meet demand and accreditation needs.
Committee members questioned Flanagan and staff about workforce shortages, especially faculty pay, and whether the college can staff additional growth. Flanagan said the biggest challenge is recruiting instructors because industry pays more, but noted some health care and adjunct hiring is possible because of schedule flexibility and benefits. He also discussed shifting resources away from lower-demand programs like power sports toward higher-demand areas such as automotive and aviation maintenance. Members also asked about the college’s identity as a technical institution, with Flanagan arguing North Dakota would benefit from a more defined tech-school system.
The committee then received a University System presentation from Jamie Wilkie on the cost of delivering dual credit. Wilkie explained the methodology used to allocate direct and overhead costs across subsidized and unsubsidized dual credit, noting that dual credit and early entry account for about 5.9% of total credit hours and 2.7% of formula funding. The analysis showed subsidized dual credit tuition revenue of about $5.5 million and unsubsidized revenue of about $2.9 million, with some institutions showing margins and others losses depending on the model. Members discussed whether K-12 funding should also be reflected, how payments to high schools and teachers are structured, and whether tuition-free dual credit would require replacing both tuition revenue and the current dual credit scholarship. No votes were taken; the committee simply received the presentations and discussed the findings.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Jun 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I want to introduce you to one of our John Deere Tech students.
- Gavin, the John Deere program you referenced—yes.
- John Deere, one of the dealers. And he said, “I’ve been doing this for 10 years.
- John Deere—this is just an example that we are one of two John Deere platinum programs in the country
- They have a John Deere dealer that they partner with, but they don't have the John Deere program.
Summary:
The committee met at North Dakota State College of Science for a presentation from President Flanagan and campus leaders on the college’s mission, enrollment growth, workforce programs, facilities needs, and industry partnerships. Flanagan highlighted student success in national competitions, strong placement and retention, the college’s strategic plan, and new or expanding programs such as aviation maintenance, fire science, dental hygiene, community health worker, surgical technology, HVAC/plumbing, and precision agriculture. He also described the need for a new dorm and a remodel of the library into academic and allied health space, including a simulation center, to address capacity limits and support growth. Several committee members asked about program demand, faculty recruitment, pay competitiveness, and how the college shifts resources from lower-demand programs to high-demand ones. Industry partner Jim Albright of Comdell testified that the college has been essential to the local manufacturing workforce and that many employees and interns come from NDSCS.
A major topic was dual credit. Flanagan said dual credit is important but financially challenging, noting that only a small share of dual credit students ultimately matriculate to NDSCS and that the college’s dual credit model is close to break-even. He explained that many dual credit credits are general education rather than CTE, and that the college pays instructors, supports high schools, and absorbs indirect costs. Williston State College President Bernal Herning added that his institution loses money on the front end but has shifted toward helping students complete associate degrees before high school graduation because many go directly to work after high school. Committee members questioned how dual credit is delivered, how instructors are qualified, and whether students are truly doing college-level work.
The committee then received a University System presentation from Jamie Wilkie on the cost of delivering dual credit statewide. Wilkie explained the methodology used to allocate direct and overhead costs and said the analysis shows dual credit is not profitable at several institutions once tuition, instructor payments, and overhead are included. Members asked how much of the cost is borne by students, families, and the state, and whether K-12 funding should also be considered. Discussion also covered the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized dual credit, payments to high school teachers or schools, and the possibility of waiving tuition in the future. No votes were taken, and the committee mainly gathered information for the ongoing dual credit cost study.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Feb 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Deer was recognized. Thank you for acknowledging that.
- Senator Deers, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr.
- Senator Deers, you're recognized.
- Senator Deers, you're recognized.
- Senator Deers, are recognized. Thank you.
Bills:
SB1519, SB1775, SB1900, SB1948, SB2080, SB1226, SB1456, SB1462, SB1463, SB1980, SB1479, SB1608, SB1923
Keywords:
municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Agriculture Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Everglades has been a John Deere dealer for over 62 years.
- Additionally, John Deere started to you. That's a memorandum of understanding.
- We have John Deere has a gender universities at tax come out of.
- And we too, have sold the John Deere Service adviser, the customer version.
- There is this memorandum of understanding the John Deere in several the other way.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Mar 25th, 2026 at 01:12 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Follow up, Senator Deers. Thank you, Mr. President.
- Follow up, Senator Deers. Thank you, Mr. President. And, Mr.
- Or or Follow up, Senator Deers. Thank you, Mr. President. So we're we can.
- Senator Deers, you're recognized for a question on the bill.
- Senator Deers, you're recognized for an additional question. Thank you.
Bills:
SB1778, SB1570, SB134, SB1966, SB1636, SB1725, SB1726, SB259, SB504, SB592, SB2030, SB1572, SB843, SB1242, SB1255, SB1262, SB1264, SB1286, SB1581, SB1290, SB1316, SB1319, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1400, SB1427, SB1436, SB1461, SB1496, SB1509, SB1534, SB1553, SB904, SB1592, SB1645, SB1684, SB1767, SB1772, SB1813, SB1894, SB1928, SB1946, SB1980, SB2040, SB2060, SB2061
Keywords:
reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, child welfare, child safety, administrative transition, Department of Child Safety and Well-being, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, juvenile justice, foster care, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, memorial highways, bridge designations
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Natural Resources Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 09:38 am
Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- licensee to participate with the same privileges and restrictions as youth hunters in any special youth deer
- that provision, which would no longer allow a class XS licensee to participate in a special youth deer
- season. ...which would no longer allow a class XS licensee to participate in a special youth deer season
- this expand the opportunity for a youth or an individual with special needs to also harvest a buck deer
- eliminate the ability of a person that holds a class XS license to participate in the special youth deer
Summary:
The Natural Resources Committee met, established a quorum, and first approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee then considered and adopted an originating concurrent resolution to study the decline of the eastern gray fox population in West Virginia and to have a joint committee report findings to the Legislature in 2027. It also adopted a second originating concurrent resolution to study the economic feasibility of requiring an upland game bird stamp for hunters, with the same 2027 reporting deadline. Both resolutions were reported to the full Senate with recommendations that they be adopted.
The committee next took up engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4176, which amends the law governing the senior citizen lifetime hunting, fishing, and trapping license (class XS). Counsel explained that current law allows class XS license holders to participate in special youth deer season, and the bill would remove that privilege. A senator asked for clarification about whether the bill expanded youth or special-needs hunting opportunities, and counsel confirmed it did not; it only eliminates the XS holder’s participation in youth deer season.
After discussion, the Vice Chair moved the committee substitute, and the committee voted to report House Bill 4176 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The meeting then moved to adjourn.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AGR Public Hearing - Fri Mar 21, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Agriculture & Food Systems
Transcript Highlights:
- Deer Control and<00:28:53.919>
Benison <00:28:54.640>Initiative. - The Maui Access Deer Control and Venison Initiative. Anybody on Zoom? Okay.
- The Maui Access Deer Control and this?
- This is the Maui access deer control and venison initiative.
- This is the Maui access deer HR1 192.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Larson, my first thought was this is a deer problem, not a farm problem.
- And the reason why is when a deer is infected with CWD, those prions are shed in its urine and feces
- Um, having grown up on a farm, when you see a herd of deer on the edge of a alfalfa field and if 60%
- first thought was this is a a deer first thought was this is a a deer problem,<00:27:07.279>
- <00:27:31.039>
is the reason why is when a when a deer is the reason why is when a when a
Keywords:
beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Tue Jan 6, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- tried to at every point that that deer tried to at every point that that deer is<00:13:37.839>
bugaboo, right, is how long it took deer bugaboo, right, is how long it took deer to<00:34:49.119- um the former uh before I came to deer um the former uh deer<00:28:25.360>
director <00:28:26.320 - um the former uh before I came to deer um the former uh deer<00:28:25.360>
- But then once it leaves deer list back.
- for deer uh for HR issues and whatnot. for deer uh for HR issues and whatnot. um<01:24:03.440>
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture (11-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so, morning and the deer population.
- So, you mentioned earlier something about nuisance permits for deer.
- Kind of a follow-up to Senator Boswell's question a little bit about the deer.
- With a depredation permit, you're able to take the deer.
- So, we've from deer, but other sources.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:01:00
Approval of Minutes 00:02:31
Kentucky Farm Bureau 00:02:42
Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:28:18
Kentucky Cattlemen's Association 01:48:13, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products.
Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December.
Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (02/06/2026)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- The Fish and Game people think I'm going to be shooting deer from my truck or whatever, and they are
- believe they call it spotting, where people used to pull up at a field with the big bright lights on the deer
- game people think I'm going to be game people think I'm going to be shooting<00:49:37.920>
deer - 38.480>
my <00:49:38.640>truck <00:49:38.880>or <00:49:39.119>or shooting deer - from my truck or or shooting deer from my truck or or whatever<00:49:40.160>
and <00:49:40.400
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
JLCAR Administrative Rules (05/16/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- And the same is the case during our deer archery season.
- We've done it in the past with our deer seasons.
- We've done it in the past with our deer seasons.
- We've done it in the past with our deer seasons.
- We've done it in the past with our deer seasons.
Summary:
The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal.
The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver.
The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
LAB Info Briefing - Fri Aug 22, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- within two weeks. and deer only gets within two weeks. and deer only gets involved<00:23:03.600>
- >> We uh I believe the bill requires deer >> We uh I believe the bill requires deer
- positions um those don't come to deer positions um those don't come to deer for<01:23:05.120>
- <01:33:51.199>
you important is how quickly can deer you important is how quickly can deer - <01:51:57.440>
herd doesn't this speak to maybe deer herd doesn't this speak to maybe deer
Summary:
The House Committee on Labor held an informational briefing on August 22, 2025, to receive an update from DEH on statewide recruitment efforts aimed at reducing vacancies across state departments. Director Hashimoto, joined by DEH staff, presented on two hiring initiatives: Wikiwiki Hire and Operation Hire Hawaii. The committee focused on how each program works, how quickly applications are screened and referred, and how the programs differ from standard recruitment procedures.
For Wikiwiki Hire, DEH described it as an accelerated recruitment pathway used mainly for classes with multiple vacancies. DEH screens applications every two weeks, then sends qualified applicants a list of participating departments and recruiter contact information so applicants and departments can connect directly. Committee members asked about effectiveness data, timelines, and whether the process aligns with the merit principle. DEH said the program is intended to speed hiring, that departments are not required to interview every person on a list, and that applicants can be hired as vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so long as all qualified applicants have the same opportunity. DEH also said it could provide data later and that it is working through a backlog of screenings.
The committee then discussed Operation Hire Hawaii, an executive-order-based hiring effort launched in February to expedite hiring, including for displaced federal workers but open to all applicants. DEH reported more than 6,000 applications, 127 recruitments, 81 closed recruitments, and 142 hires, with a goal of conditional offers within two weeks. DEH said it turns applications around daily, while departments do the initial screening, interviews, and hiring decisions, with DEH completing final qualification screening and suitability checks at the end. Members asked about the program’s duration, its low conversion rate, and what happens to applicants who are not hired; DEH said it can refer qualified applicants to other vacancies and that the pilot was originally intended to run about a year, with possible extension if departments want it to continue.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The grizzly bear has not benefited like deer.
- Deer have been able to come up to people's neighborhoods.
- My family is from New York, and so that's the only place, really, I've seen a lot of deer.
- Deers have been able to come up to people's neighborhoods. My family is from New York.
- “I can go now where I don’t see a deer my entire way home.
Summary:
The committee heard several wildlife and water-related bills. SB 872, by Senator McNerney, would create a Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund and allow waiver of local cost-sharing for Delta levee repairs to protect the State Water Project and Delta infrastructure. Supporters from water agencies, environmental groups, counties, and agricultural interests said the bill is needed to address levee failure and canal subsidence; there was no opposition, and the bill was held open until a quorum was present, with broad support expressed.
SB 1108, by Senator Caballero, would establish the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the Central Valley to coordinate conservation, habitat restoration, public access, and voluntary easements in a region described as the largest remaining wetland/grasslands complex west of the Mississippi. Support came from the Grasslands Water District, Audubon, conservation groups, and local stakeholders, who emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, wildlife corridors, and land-use transition under groundwater sustainability. There was no opposition, and the bill received favorable committee support.
SB 1135, by Senator Blakespear, would reestablish and strengthen the statewide wildlife coexistence program to reduce human-wildlife conflict through nonlethal deterrence, education, and compensation for livestock losses. Supporters cited rising wildlife incidents, wolf depredation, and the need for proactive tools; opponents and some committee members raised concerns about rural impacts, funding, and the absence of law enforcement/public safety as a specifically named advisory role. After discussion and amendments that moved the cattlemen and Farm Bureau to neutral, the bill passed out of committee on a due-pass motion, though some members voted no or abstained.
SB 1305, by Senator Richardson, would direct CDFW to study the feasibility of grizzly bear reintroduction and prepare a roadmap, with tribal consultation and stakeholder engagement, but would not itself authorize reintroduction. Tribal sponsors and conservation groups supported the bill as a planning and cultural restoration effort, while hunting, ranching, and county groups opposed it, arguing California already faces major wildlife-management and funding challenges and that the proposal would create new conflicts. Committee members debated costs, appropriations, and whether the study should include funding estimates; the bill was amended and passed on a due-pass motion. The committee also heard SB 1250, by Senator Cortese, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning; supporters said it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, and the bill was presented in support as the hearing continued.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- reclassification and working with Deer reclassification and working with Deer first?
- recruiting and they point to deer. recruiting and they point to deer.
- I really question the role of Deer.
- I really question the role of Deer.
- Maybe that's something that deer badges.
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work.
The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.