Transcript Highlights:

• that load of fertilizer coming in.
• that load of fertilizer coming in.
• that load of fertilizer coming in.
• Fertilizer is up. And it's interesting, I think, when we think about fertilizer.
• </c><01:25:29.520><c> Um,</c> we think about fertilizer. Um, we think about fertilizer.

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't cut fertilizer.
• This adds an organic form of nitrogen so we can start cutting synthetic fertilizers over time. Mr.
• They are helping us save water and save synthetic fertilizer by using more organic forms of fertilizer
• So with... ...save synthetic fertilizer by using more organic forms of fertilizer.
• But with higher labor costs, equipment costs, fertilizer costs, seed costs going up dramatically, that

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• yards, golf courses have some of the highest contamination levels there are from both chemicals and fertilizer
• yards, golf courses have some of the highest contamination levels there are from both chemicals and fertilizer
• really, the way I see it, in an ag process, it could be anything like sediment, manure, could be fertilizer
• row crop fields to help drain water off of a field to prevent wet areas, and the application of fertilizers
• does generally separate itself from the permit and becomes basically a product like commercial fertilizer

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where House Bill 2686 was voted do pass on a 10-0 roll call. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 3076, sponsored by Representative Doyle Justice, which would remove the words “water contaminant” from a Clean Water Law provision. Justice and supporters said the change is intended to clarify that routine agricultural practices and non-point sources, such as runoff, sediment, manure, fertilizer, grazing, and field drainage, are not subject to DNR permitting, while point sources like wastewater plants and CAFOs would still remain regulated. Committee members focused heavily on the distinction between point sources and non-point sources and on whether the bill would exempt harmful pollution. Justice and witnesses explained that the bill would not remove DNR authority over point sources or egregious conduct, but would prevent permits for diffuse, routine runoff that cannot realistically be permitted event-by-event. Several members used examples like deer, dogs, cattle, and rain runoff to probe the issue, and witnesses repeatedly said the bill is meant to eliminate uncertainty and avoid absurd permitting requirements. Support came from the Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Dairy, and Missouri Wine and Grape Board/Missouri Grape Growers Association. They argued the bill aligns state law with existing federal and state practice, preserves voluntary soil and water conservation programs, and provides regulatory certainty. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing on HB 3076 concluded with no further business before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• . forces companies to estimate the metric tons of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and fertilizer
• Farmers and food producers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides for crop growth, in addition to producing
• Similar to the disastrous policies in Sri Lanka and elsewhere, nitrogen-based fertilizer use is being
• It's an industrial byproduct from fertilizer production. It's not a natural substance.
• It's tainted with traces of oil. fertilizer production. It's not a natural substance.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee heard House Bill 651, described by sponsors as the Florida Farm Bill and a comprehensive FDACS agency package. The bill combined technical agency updates with several policy provisions, including changes to water additive rules, labeling requirements for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, criminal penalties related to drones over agricultural land, mail theft, and retail fuel theft, updates to disaster recovery loan programs, an FFA scholarship, school infrastructure provisions, land purchase authority for converted agricultural land, and a Florida Farmer Financial Protection Act addressing ESG-related banking practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on the bill’s fluoride language, with supporters arguing for local choice and consumer consent and opponents warning about public health impacts and loss of local control. Members also questioned the C-4 registry language and whether it was duplicative or could affect organizations’ status. Public testimony was split. Opponents included Florida for All and the Florida Dental Association, with testimony arguing the bill protected agribusiness interests and that removing fluoride would harm dental health, especially for low-income families. Proponents included Heritage Action, Heartland Impact, and several individuals who argued the bill protected farmers from ESG-driven banking restrictions and supported informed consent and the removal of fluoride from public water. Several agricultural and advocacy groups also waved in support. During debate, some members praised portions of the bill such as housing for agricultural workers, drone penalties, and school-related provisions, but said they could not support the fluoride preemption or the C-4 language. Others supported the fluoride provision as a matter of individual and local choice. On final passage, the committee reported HB 651 favorably. The vote was 11-4, with Chair Esposito, Vice Chair Botana, Representatives Barnaby, Benaroch, Black, Mayfield, Mooney, Plasencia, Salzman, and Weinberger voting yes, and Representatives Alvarez, Bartleman, Henson, and Rainer voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Fertilizer Act, '76. Commercial Feed Act, '73. So that's 52 years ago, okay?
• So regarding fertilizer, the current fee of 35 cents per ton was set in rule in 1976.
• My name is Katie Laney, and as last stated, I oversee the feed, seed, and fertilizer program.
• So I didn't know if that inspection, the mismatch in the price of the fertilizer...
• So I didn't know if that inspection, the mismatch in the price of the fertilizer.

Bills: SB47 , SB110 , SB122 , SB143 , SB168

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• It shows that it's sod and fertilizer is what we're doing in the original language.
• So by taking out the sod and fertilizer, it shows that.
• Out the sod and fertilizer, it makes it that all of the BMPs are still there.
• The concern is to ensure that we are still regulating or managing the fertilizer.
• and sod, we're removing that so that it's clear that it's all BMP practices, not just fertilizer and

Summary: The Housing, Agriculture, and Tourism Subcommittee heard five bills and reported all of them favorably. House Bill 827, by Rep. Anderson, would require online real estate listings to disclose estimated ad valorem taxes based on the listing price rather than the seller’s current taxes, to reduce surprise tax increases for homebuyers. The bill drew support from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties, and passed unanimously after a technical amendment. House Bill 483, by Rep. Cobb, aimed to support Florida’s manufacturing sector by formally recognizing the chief manufacturing officer, creating a workforce development grant program, launching a voluntary promotional campaign for Florida-made products and manufacturing careers, and requiring biennial reporting. The bill received broad support from manufacturing, economic development, and business groups, was amended with technical cleanup language, and passed unanimously. House Bill 675, by Leader Driscoll, sought to expand affordable housing efforts by limiting Live Local Act incentives to affordable housing, extending affordability periods from 30 to 50 years, lowering the income cap for eligible units, and eliminating documentary stamp taxes for certain first-time homebuyers. After two amendments and supportive testimony from United Way Suncoast, the bill passed on a party-line style roll call with all members voting yes or excused. House Bill 495, by Rep. Albert, transferred golf course best management practices certification from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services without changing the underlying BMP requirements. After an amendment clarified that all BMPs remain in place, the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association testified in support, and the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 1497, by Rep. Hunschofsky, revised the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program by narrowing eligibility to lower-income associations, removing a coastal-only requirement, and tying grants to completion of opening protection for all common elements; two amendments further refined eligibility and grandfathered pending applications. The Community Associations Institute supported the measure, and it also passed unanimously. The committee ended with remarks about the prior night’s softball game and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Klevorn, I assume you're talking about potash fertilizer.
• Representative Klevorn, I assume you're talking about potash fertilizer.
• Representative Klevorn, I assume you're talking about potash fertilizer.
• Representative Klevorn, I assume you're talking about potash fertilizer.
• </c><00:08:27.560><c> used</c> a major component of the fertilizer used a major component of the fertilizer

Bills: HF1704 , HF1722

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh if you are a retailer, you sell fertilizer.
• Uh if you are a retailer, you sell fertilizer.
• And um this gives them some fertilizer.
• But the this fertilizer to the farmers.
• Uh, and it’s based on an international model around fertilizer recommendations.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fertility insurance, families strain fertility insurance, families strain savings,<01:57:21.920>
• </c> country that have passed fertility country that have passed fertility coverage<01:57:41.720><c>
• </c><01:58:18.000><c> Even</c> fertility insurance coverage. Even fertility insurance coverage.
• Without fertility insurance coverage, Without fertility insurance coverage, families<01:58:28.160><c>
• </c><02:01:46.800><c> through</c> ability to preserve fertility through ability to preserve fertility

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• With AB 643, it's narrow, and it allows for an agricultural fertilizer product to be added to the list
• Beneficial uses such as a nutrient-rich fertilizer Beneficial uses such as a nutrient-rich fertilizer
• And AB 643 proposes to allow 1383 procurement credit based on organic waste processed into fertilizer
• Are there not exemptions for recycle and for actually fertilizer beneficial use?
• Are there not exemptions for recycle and for actually fertilizer beneficial use?

Summary: The committee heard several natural resources bills focused on wildfire resilience, recycling, forest management, and organic waste diversion. AB 442 would remove a requirement that a harvest area be limited to a single watershed for working forest management plans; the author and supporters from the California Forestry Association and Pacific Forest Trust said it would reduce barriers to forest resiliency work, and there was no opposition. AB 623 would require state agencies to report on the use of CEQA and Coastal Act suspensions for wildfire and fuel-management projects after the governor’s emergency proclamation; the author said the bill would provide data on how well the suspensions are working, and it drew support with no opposition. AB 35 would exempt Proposition 4-funded programs from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed implementation of climate, water, wildfire, and environmental projects; the author and a large coalition of local governments, water agencies, conservation groups, and fire organizations argued the exemption would help get funds out faster, while no opposition was present. The committee also discussed AB 3333, which would create a market-development payment to support end users of non-container glass, such as ground glass pozzolan used in cement, in order to divert glass from landfills and reduce carbon emissions. Supporters said the bill would create a productive use for hard-to-recover glass, while opponents from the Glass Packaging Institute, Californians Against Waste, and waste management interests argued it would divert beverage container recycling funds away from the bottle-to-bottle system and could undermine existing recycling investments and recycled-content goals. Members raised questions about the fund’s revenue sources, the purpose of the beverage container recycling program, and whether the bill would amount to “downcycling”; despite those concerns, the bill advanced on a due-pass-as-amended recommendation, with members noting fiscal and policy issues for further work. AB 643 would allow certain diverted organic material used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, including CDFA-licensed fertilizer products made from biosolids, to count toward SB 1383 recovered organic waste procurement targets. Supporters from wastewater agencies and Clean Water SoCal said the change would expand options for meeting procurement requirements and help move biosolids out of landfills, while Californians Against Waste and other opponents argued the bill could expand procurement credit beyond SB 1383’s original intent and weaken investments in composting infrastructure. Committee members questioned what kinds of biosolids would qualify, how the procurement credit would work, and whether the bill could be narrowed to historically landfilled materials; the author said she would continue working with opponents and wait for CalRecycle technical assistance. The committee adopted the bills’ amendments and passed AB 35 with urgency, AB 3333, AB 442, AB 623, and AB 643 to Appropriations, and also approved consent-calendar AB 946. After roll calls, all of the measures were reported out of committee, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would have a direct impact as farmers could choose green fertilizer as a way to reduce their carbon
• But out-of-state ammonia fertilizer costs are both too high and, many times, too uncertain.
• And with local and regional electricity as a primary ingredient for locally produced ammonia fertilizer
• I first want to say that we need ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer.
• We're at the end of the pipeline supply for a lot of these fertilizer products.

Bills: HF2103 , HF2793

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there were looking maybe more a controlled release, fertilizer.
• The controller these fertilizer program is one where if we can, if we can use a type of fertilizer that
• Well, the blue dyes moving towards the fertilizer and we were able to track that.
• This the ability of this blue dye is equal to nitrogen seibel nitrogen fertilizer sources.
• year in the types of fertilizer that we used to accomplish to go to grow the crop.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertilizer is our second are we doing? Fertilizer is our second biggest<01:20:54.080><c> expense.
• </c> to have the right amount of fertilizer to have the right amount of fertilizer out<01:25:19.840><
• So much of this year's fertilizer bill, high as it is, cost of fertilizer.
• Um so the logistics cost of fertilizer.
• Um of the fertilizer business is this.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertilizer is another one that we're already doing from coal just next door here.
• , as well as potentially the yield of the fertilizer.
• In terms of the quality of the fertilizer, as well as potentially the yield of the fertilizer.
• no question in North Dakota that we need a fertilizer facility in this state.
• We can figure out how to get a fertilizer plant in North Dakota. We've got to get it done.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• With AB 643, it's narrow and it allows for an agricultural fertilizer product to be added to the two
• Beneficial uses such as a nutrient-rich fertilizer...
• Beneficial uses such as a nutrient-rich fertilizer are a priority.
• And AB 643 proposes to allow 1383 procurement credit based on organic waste processed into fertilizer
• Are there not exemptions for recycle and for actually fertilizer beneficial use?

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• He also said they have concerns about the cuts to green fertilizer and the dairy with an eye program.
• </c><00:07:56.400><c> and</c><00:07:56.479><c> the</c> the cuts to green fertilizer and the the cuts
• to green fertilizer and the dairy<00:07:56.800><c> with</c><00:07:56.879><c> an</c><00:07:57.039><c>
• ,</c> the application of synthetic fertilizer, the application of synthetic fertilizer, introducing<00
• So, thank you. ...three that we'd appreciate further consideration on are, first, the green fertilizer

Bills: HF2446

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertility rates for Massachusetts are also decreasing over time in most age groups.
• And this is where the peak fertility cohort is, the 30- to 34-year-olds.
• Thank you. 34, so they will be passing through that higher fertility period.
• Yeah, yeah. 34, so they will be constantly that higher fertility period.
• They're meeting in, like, right at fertility age right now.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion. Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertilizer, data centers, industrial uses—anything that gets the molecules flowing through the economy
• It's about energy diversity, fuel diversity, energy security, and because our fertilizers are made from
• We just wanted to come today to uplift our low-carbon fertilizers study budget ask with Senator McNerney's
• Ammonia is fertilizer. It's used in fertilizer in different degrees.
• The fertilizer in California mainly comes into the Port of Stockton through the Panama Canal from places

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy held an informational hearing on California’s hydrogen leadership, with the chair framing hydrogen as a complementary clean-energy pathway for hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty trucking, transit, rail, ports, industrial uses, and backup power. The first panel of private-sector witnesses from the California Hydrogen Business Council, Bosch, Hyundai, and Sierra Northern Railway described existing deployments in California, including hydrogen buses, trucks, fueling infrastructure, and the nation’s first hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive. They emphasized that the technology is commercially ready but scaling is constrained by permitting delays, high fuel and equipment costs, infrastructure gaps, and uncertainty around federal support and incentives. Witnesses urged stable state policy, targeted investment, and concentrated deployment in high-impact corridors such as ports and freight hubs. Committee members also asked about labor standards, community engagement, and the current size of the hydrogen vehicle fleet in California and abroad. The second panel focused on air quality, climate, safety, and public health. Testimony from CAPCOA, the Coalition for Clean Air, the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, and a UC Berkeley researcher argued that hydrogen fuel cells can reduce diesel-related pollution and health harms when used in the right applications, especially in ports, rail yards, warehouse corridors, transit depots, and backup power for facilities like data centers. Witnesses cautioned that hydrogen should be used selectively, produced as cleanly as possible, and paired with early community engagement, safety planning, and environmental justice protections. The researcher cited projected reductions in NOx, particulate exposure, premature deaths, and health costs under broader hydrogen adoption. Committee members discussed workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and how to balance near-term costs with long-term infrastructure value. The final panel provided public-sector updates from SamTrans, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the Port of Long Beach, and First Public Hydrogen Authority. SamTrans described its transition to a large hydrogen bus fleet and said the loss of expected ARCHES funding created a major infrastructure gap; it asked the state to protect transit funding, restore a sales tax exemption for zero-emission buses, and address axle-weight rules. GoBiz said the state should focus on creating demand, reducing costs, and streamlining permitting, while acknowledging the disruption caused by the federal cancellation of ARCHES funding. The Port of Long Beach reported hydrogen truck deployments, port incentives, and a planned public fueling station, but said high costs, fuel shortages, and uncertainty have slowed momentum. First Public Hydrogen Authority described efforts to aggregate municipal demand and support new green hydrogen production projects, stressing the need for long-term market signals and financing. Committee members repeatedly emphasized the need for state support, infrastructure investment, and a diversified fuel strategy to keep hydrogen deployment moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertilizer is another one that we're already doing from coal just next door here.
• , as well as potentially the yield of the fertilizer.
• no question in North Dakota that we need a fertilizer facility in this state.
• We can figure out how to get a fertilizer plant in North Dakota. We've got to get it done.
• no question in North Dakota that we need a fertilizer facility in this state.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision 2 goes to MDA's pesticide and fertilizer management, lab services, plant protection, Dairy
• The commissioner must review a minimum fertilizer reduction rate, as well as qualifying products that
• It’s hugely popular with our members. [00:37:10.390] This proposal cuts green fertilizer grants by $3
• </c> this proposal Cuts uh green fertilizer this proposal Cuts uh green fertilizer grants<00:36:57.040
• production and uh in green fertilizer production and uh both<00:37:10.560><c> lower</c><00:37:10.880

Bills: HF1704

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy