Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:19.960> wherein of land wherein of land wherein the<00:02:22.040> Dancing<00
• New applicants for these monies.
• prioritizes applications. prioritizes applications.
• there's a backlog of grant applicants there's a backlog of grant applicants that<00:14:57.360>
• other places, but we ended up landing other places, but we ended up landing with<00:19:24.760>

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 26 February, 2026; 11:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several public property bills and reported each one out after brief discussion. HB 1041, authorizing the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River, was explained as a flood-control measure and passed without questions. HB 1520, which would allow the Department of Archives and History to convey about 23 acres associated with the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty back to the tribe, was also reported out. HB 1732, concerning sale of DPS property in the Lauderdale County/Meridian area, was amended so proceeds from any sale or lease would go to the state general fund, then passed as amended. HB 1731, the ABC warehouse bill in Gluckstadt, drew the most discussion. Members clarified that the bill concerns the old warehouse and not current ABC operations. Two amendments were adopted: one corrected a reference to the Department of Finance and Administration and directed proceeds from the sale to defray Department of Revenue costs tied to the new warehouse, and another specified the property recipient as the Madison County Economic Development Authority rather than a generic entity. After questions about whether sale proceeds should instead return to the general fund and whether the language properly covered warehouse debt, the committee voted to report the bill out as amended. The committee then discussed HB 1716, a Mississippi Main Street revitalization grant bill. Supporters said the bill expands eligible recipients to include Main Street network associate communities and business improvement districts, requires only local cash matches, bars state funds from being used for the match, shifts administration to MDA, and caps administrative costs at 2 percent. Members also reviewed how the bill was intended to address a backlog of grant applicants and the governor’s concerns about prior administration of the program. After questions about the grant list, funding process, and the 2 percent cap, the committee voted to report HB 1716 out, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• land to the public.
• Additionally, applicants are allowed to bundle multiple parcels into a single application.
• Additionally, applicants are allowed to bundle multiple parcels into a single application, and the auction
• State land has to go to auction, and they have appraisals.
• State Land Department's being very unreasonable.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• lands.
• , so it's not other lands, agricultural lands, with that landowner and exchange state lands near the
• , so it's not other lands, agricultural lands, with that landowner and exchange state lands near the
• , so it's not other lands, agricultural lands, with that landowner and exchange state lands near the
• It's not other lands, agricultural lands, with that landowner and exchange state lands near the rail

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing opened with committee procedures and then took up SB 1, relating to vegetation management near utility lines. DLNR opposed the bill, saying it would shift rights, responsibilities, and liability onto the state and private landowners. Hawaiian Electric supported the measure with amendments, describing it as a first step to address wildfire risk and improve public safety and system reliability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and Command Schools both raised concerns that the bill could impose significant costs, liability, and access burdens on farmers, ranchers, and other landowners, especially where easements are old or unclear. Life of the Land argued the issue belongs before the Public Utilities Commission, and PUC staff explained that the commission is already reviewing Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire mitigation plan and vegetation management in a docket, with a decision expected by September and public meetings scheduled for April 23 and 24. Committee members questioned the need for legislation versus negotiated solutions, and witnesses said private parties could potentially renegotiate easements without statute. The committee then heard HB 1296, relating to disaster recovery. DLNR and OPSD supported the bill, saying it would ease regulatory burdens in post-disaster rebuilding and help speed permit review. Testimony and member questions focused on the bill’s five-year rebuilding timeline, the role of the coastal zone/SMA process, and how long permit reviews typically take; OPSD said SMA major/use permits generally take about six months, while minor permits are faster. Members also discussed whether the bill would apply to existing structures damaged in disasters and whether the amendments from the Attorney General’s office and OPSD were acceptable; no objections were raised. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170, relating to the expeditious redevelopment and development of affordable rental housing. HHFDC supported the bill, and testimony from a Maui affordable housing project said the measure is needed to rebuild the Weinberg Court Apartments, a 63-unit affordable project in Lahaina, using insurance funds rather than government money. Members asked whether the bill would help existing affordable rental projects damaged before the enactment of related coastal rules, and the response was that the bill is aimed at existing structures damaged during events and intended to speed rebuilding of affordable housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• land conservation planning, and the restoration and enhancement of agricultural lands protected under
• or do a new grant application cycle?
• , and they manage public lands.
• The question about, as the director pointed out, not all the 30-by-30 land is state-acquired land, but
• So if you could look back to when we took the land, when the State Lands Commission acquired the land

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the administration’s spending plan for Proposition 4’s climate smart agriculture and biodiversity chapters, along with related trailer bill language. CDFA outlined proposed funding for existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, Urban Agriculture, and invasive species work, plus new or phased-in programs including year-round and mobile farmers’ markets, tribal food sovereignty, and regional farm equipment sharing. The Department of Conservation described funding for the California Farmland Conservancy Program and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program, while the Department of Finance and LAO discussed pending allocations and generally found the overall approach reasonable, though LAO suggested the Legislature may want more statutory guidance and reporting, especially for new programs. Members focused on implementation details, equity, and accountability. Questions covered how programs would serve vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, whether new solicitations would be reopened for previously oversubscribed grants, how outcomes are tracked, and how to structure guidance for new programs such as farm equipment sharing. The chair emphasized that the Legislature wants clearer direction on program design and noted that AB 2313 should guide implementation of the regional farm equipment sharing allocation. The committee also discussed the administration’s request to directly appropriate bond funds to departments and to exempt bond program guidelines from the Administrative Procedures Act; LAO supported the APA exemption with possible legislative guardrails for public notice and comment. The committee then heard on the farm-to-school proposal, with CDFA requesting $24.9 million General Fund for incubator grants, technical assistance, and network support. CDFA said the program has reached nearly half of California schoolchildren and has shown strong demand and positive evaluation results. LAO supported the core program but recommended rejecting the $3 million technical assistance component as too broad and suggested the Legislature consider using Proposition 98 for some of the funding. Members debated that point, with some expressing concern about using General Fund dollars for a new discretionary request during a tight budget year. The biodiversity and nature-based solutions chapter included funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, state conservancies, and tribal nature-based solutions. WCB described major recent investments and proposed projects tied to 30 by 30, habitat restoration, tribal partnerships, and public access. Members raised concerns about long-term stewardship, the size of the WCB allocation, and whether the Legislature should receive more detail on how funds will be distributed. The committee also heard requests for Bolsa Chica wetlands maintenance and Rincon Island decommissioning funding from the State Lands Commission, with members questioning long-term liability, remediation costs, and the role of private oil operators. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with public comment from stakeholders largely supporting the APA exemption, farm-to-school funding, biodiversity investments, and related conservation programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• as qualified open-space land.
• as qualified open-space land.
• as qualified open-space land following a transfer.
• as qualified open-space land following a transfer.
• land.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of HB 74 creating the Puerto Verde Port Authority District, and heard a recognition from Senator Hancock about a weekend human trafficking operation in Fort Worth in which Unbound Now and the Fort Worth Police Department freed 19 victims. The Governor also submitted nominations to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. The chamber then repeatedly suspended rules to take up and pass a series of House bills and one House joint resolution, mostly by wide margins, along with several local and honorary designations. Among the substantive measures, the Senate passed HB 1244 on open-space appraisal after property transfers, HJR 99 and HB 1399 to exempt animal feed from ad valorem taxation, HB 166 expanding child/endangered-person protections to fentanyl-related conduct, HB 1672 speeding DMV enforcement against unsafe motor carriers, HB 2018 clarifying the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, HB 140 creating a DFPS advisory committee on child protective investigations, HB 467 providing for dissolution of the Cedar Creek Hospital District, HB 2000 requiring sex-offender registration for child grooming, HB 331 creating presumptions for first responders who suffer heart attacks or strokes after strenuous shifts, HB 1089 creating the Gulf Coast Protection Account, HB 2730 limiting when appraisal districts may require new homestead exemption applications, HB 2723 easing cemetery tax-exemption procedures, HB 353 creating a trespass offense near schools and day care centers, and HB 3248 authorizing defense-based development authorities to employ and commission peace officers. Several of these bills drew brief explanations and, in some cases, questions from other senators about their scope and purpose. The Senate also passed numerous memorial highway and facility designations, including HB 767 for Paul P. Mendez, HB 1708 for Trooper Kevin Ramirez-Vasquez, HB 2415 for Senior Police Officer Louis Andy Taylor, HB 2143 for Army Specialist Joey Lenz, HB 2457 for the Molly Mullins Mile, HB 2523 for Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia, HB 2198 for Officer Jacob Candinoza, and HB 2763 naming a TxDOT facility for Eduardo Eddie Garcia Jr. Other local or administrative measures included HB 3513 on the Moore County Juvenile Board and HB 3135 creating specialty plates for retired firefighters. The chamber also adopted several concurrent resolutions and later moved through a large local calendar, including HCR 80, which designated Brenham as the ice cream capital of Texas. Most measures passed with little or no opposition, though a few votes on rule suspensions and final passage recorded small numbers of nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a member of Climate Land Leaders, the Land Stewardship Project, and the Minnesota Farmers Union,
• I was only able to buy 160 acres of land I was only able to buy 160 acres of land to<00:25:57.240
• and based on what is the is applicants and based on what is the is the<00:30:24.360> applicant
• <00:41:08.240> as they had received from applicants as they had received from applicants as
• fewer and fewer fewer and fewer land fewer and fewer land<01:36:04.840> and<01:36:04.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, Laura Schreiber from the Land Stewardship Project.
• This will especially help grantees in the face of soaring land prices.
• And land access opportunities overall.
• I have not been able to find land with that award amount, and I personally have struggled to find land
• To haul water out to a sprayer, the applicator who is licensed and registered...

Bills: HF2446

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:

• to go to a licensed applicator? to go to a licensed applicator?
• licensed applicators licensed applicators >> for<00:40:55.440> for<00:40:55.599>
• applicators to use Neoix. applicators to use Neoix.
• applicator or for the environment. applicator or for the environment.
• , and highway lands.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh applied to restricted use applicators uh applied to restricted use applicators to<00:05:06.480
• to all my pesticide applicators, to all my pesticide applicators, including<00:05:09.120> EPA
• back on the land, right? back on the land, right?
• one is really making egg land one is really making egg land productive,<00:19:06.120> right?
• land.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard gubernatorial nominations for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. For GM 615, Matthew Liam was nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, CGAPS, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in strong support, citing his landscape industry leadership, pesticide training background, and prior service. Members asked about his experience in Australia and his approach to restricted-use pesticides; he said he avoided using restricted-use pesticides in his landscaping business but applied related safety and recordkeeping practices. Testimony was unanimous in support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 616, N. Young was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Support testimony from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council highlighted his experience with Lanai agriculture, Sensei, the Food Basket, Pacific Gateway Center, Kamehameha Schools, and institutional purchasing. In response to questions, he discussed balancing public and private funding, the need for adequate capitalization of agricultural projects, and using financial tools to help farmers and accelerate agricultural income streams. He also said the board should focus on making agricultural land productive and strengthening food security. The nomination drew strong support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 617, Jason Moniz was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council supported him, emphasizing his decades of veterinary and animal disease control experience, ranching background, and knowledge of biosecurity, leases, and livestock issues. Moniz said his priorities would be preserving agricultural land and water resources, improving biosecurity, supporting farmers and ranchers, and increasing food production in Hawaii. He also said he would be willing to speak up for agriculture and not let the department be sidelined. The nomination received 29 written and oral supports, with no opposition or comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• pay a fee per door to get an application pay a fee per door to get an application which<00:08:42.080
• Is It's about $20,000 an application.
• So, in the 16% of buildable land that's out there, or land available for that, this does not usurp any
• So, in the 16% of buildable land that's out there, or land available for that, this does not usurp any
• ,<00:39:14.480> the liaison between the applicant, the liaison between the applicant, the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing focused on Senate Bill 153, a proposal to speed up Department of Transportation driveway/entrance permitting for larger residential developments, generally 20 units or more. Senator Mark McConkey, the prime sponsor, said long permit delays can stall financing and housing construction, and explained that the bill creates a second, expedited permitting lane funded by a per-door fee. He said the original 90-day mandate was replaced with a more workable process developed with DOT and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, and noted that the fiscal note had been removed. Committee members asked about the fee structure, timing, whether the bill applied to 20 doors/units, and whether it affected income-restricted housing; McConkey said it does not include income-based incentives and does not change zoning or local planning requirements, only the DOT permit timeline. Industry witnesses strongly supported the bill. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the proposal is a public-private partnership the industry requested, that time delays can jeopardize financing, and that builders are willing to pay for faster review as long as safety remains the top priority. Joshua Reap of Associated Builders and Contractors gave similar support, saying DOT bottlenecks have long slowed projects and that the bill would help move approved developments forward without burdening taxpayers. Questions from members focused on whether the expedited lane would pressure DOT to approve unsafe projects, whether consultants would already be vetted, and how the process would work alongside local approvals; witnesses said DOT would still retain final sign-off and that the process would be transparent and safety-focused. Alan Hanscom of DOT then explained the department’s role in more detail. He said the bill would require DOT to issue permits within 60 business days after approval of the traffic impact study for qualifying residential projects, and would create a $120 per-unit fee to fund a dedicated liaison position and software upgrades. He said the applicant would also pay for third-party consultant engineer review under DOT oversight, with the consultant costs passed through at no DOT markup and any unused funds returned to the applicant. Hanscom said DOT has been working with the sponsor and builders to clarify the process and improve transparency, and estimated the fee would support a position that coordinates between applicants, districts, consultants, and DOT bureaus to reduce dead time in the review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got five land grants: Carnival, Chula Lee, Torreonti, Hickey. And Manzano.
• In weeks of an application process, we got out $98 million in that timeframe.
• And then lastly, we are able to take applications monthly.
• We actually just received applications for that. We have one round a year.
• I've been working with the land; that's another really great one.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Reon, um, I will agree, and, um, no, that in the hearing people had worried that the landing
• for the stairs worried that the landing for the stairs would<00:05:03.600> become<00:05:03.800
• The point of the bill was to say that an annual application is not required; an initial application is
• is so small the likelihood affected land is so small the likelihood of<00:10:45.440> this<00:
• words applicable words applicable Municipal<00:16:18.920> zoning Municipal zoning Municipal

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is<00:02:24.560> extremely So getting your land is extremely So getting your land is extremely
• government relations director for Land government relations director for Land Stewardship<00:14:
• to require that applicants are connected to or in conversation with a land access navigator.
• to require that applicants are connected to or in conversation with a land access navigator.
• to require that applicants are connected to or in conversation with a land access navigator.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But unfortunately, the statutes apply not just to land, but to real property being sold by the land.
• We've already recognized... ...and sensitive land uses.
• What we're doing here is just adding another sensitive land use.
• And then, but it says Texas General Land Office underneath that. So we will fix that.
• meets all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Bills: SB2082, SB2203, SB2351, SB2550, SCR48

Keywords: concrete crushing, hospital proximity, environmental regulation, public health, zoning laws, SB 2203, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, contested case, administrative law judge, ALJ, discovery, scope of discovery, certification, administrative procedure, permit dispute, agency rules, Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney with SK Law practicing in land development and entitlement.
• That dispute has now landed in federal court, where it remains ongoing.
• By background, I'm a land use attorney living in the city of Austin.
• Every land in a mud. is subject to county regulation the same as if the land weren't in the mud.
• the developer wants to do a land application permit right next to the municipal wells of a city.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh then we have a application phase.
• be applicable to rare earth.
• their land. Subsection C2 allows access. their land. Subsection C2 allows access.
• it's there when they buy the land. it's there when they buy the land.
• . land. land.

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• for job applications.
• rather than agricultural land?
• or natural land.
• When they came, they actually purchased land from Fairpot and Farrington, Farrington, land from Fairpa
• were already—they purchased the land and worked the land.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , our state lands that the state acquires and the federal lands that house themselves in the state of
• There’s development that we do in our land management operations of managing vast swaths of land across
• So I'm here to speak as Josh Kellam is one of my Land Council members.
• We are ones who want to hold on to our land to continue good stewardship of our land and keep that in
• Kellam owns Discussion is the primary land that Garcia and Mr.

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first took up the appointment of Joshua Kellum to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellum described his background in diversified land, agricultural, materials, and real estate operations and said he views himself as a conservationist. Senators questioned him closely about his development background, the balance of perspectives on the commission, his vote supporting the black bear hunt, and the use of Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds for the “Yes on 2” campaign. Supporters argued he is primarily a land steward and conservation-minded landowner, while opponents said the commission is already dominated by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kellum’s confirmation, with Senator Smith voting no and the rest of the voting members in favor. The committee then received a presentation from FWC on implementation of recently enacted boating and vessel laws. Bill Holcomb outlined changes under SB 1388 (the Boater Freedom Act), including limits on vessel stops and boarding, a new Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection decal, and revised rules for Springs Protection Zones. He also reviewed SB 164 on derelict and at-risk vessels, including new enforcement tools, a long-term anchoring permit, and updated penalties; HB 289, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties and education requirements; SB 830 on the disposition of migrant vessels; and HB 735 on water access facilities and boating infrastructure. Holcomb said FWC is in rulemaking, training officers, and updating forms and permitting systems to implement the laws. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and whether penalties go back to the state, and about the Springs Protection Zone standard. Holcomb said the state can recover removal costs from responsible owners and that the new springs standard requires “significant harm” and that vessel activity be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make those determinations. He said Silver Glen Springs remains a proposed zone but was paused pending the new criteria and rulemaking. The committee took no further action on the presentation and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under draft Article 97 regulations currently, does the application of EEA's land disposition policy to
• One is the exchange of Article 97 land between two entities that are eligible to hold Article 97 land
• applicability...
• responsible for land conservation.
• and community preservation land.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held an oversight hearing on draft regulations implementing Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution under Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, the Open Space Act. Chairs Cabral and Collins framed the hearing as a review of how the new process for dispositions or changes in use of Article 97 land would work, including public notice, environmental justice protections, replacement land, appraisals, and the role of the legislature. Under Secretary Stephanie Cooper and Commissioner Adam Bakke testified for EEA/DCAM, followed later by Deputy Inspector General O’Neill and Deputy Inspector General Giles on appraisal review. Much of the discussion focused on how the draft regulations would operate in practice. EEA said the regulations would require advance public notice, define “comparable location” for replacement land, and allow the Secretary to make findings on whether an action would adversely affect environmental justice communities. Members pressed for longer public comment periods, clearer notice to local officials, more frequent updates to the site evaluation tool, and a clearer definition of terms such as “limited duration” for permits and licenses. EEA said the regulations are intended to standardize a process that has been handled through policy and case-by-case review, and that the legislature still retains the final authority to approve any Article 97 disposition. Committee members also questioned whether the draft rules shift too much discretion to the Secretary and whether the proposed “proponent” process could allow private entities to drive Article 97 actions. EEA responded that non-public proponents would still need municipal support and legislative sponsorship, and that the regulations do not create a new avenue to bypass the existing home rule and legislative process. Members raised concerns about the current policy’s unanimous-vote requirements for municipal commissions, the proposed waiver provisions, whether MEPA applies, and the lack of explicit enforcement or penalty language in the act or regulations. EEA and DCAM said the act does not provide an enforcement mechanism and that disputes would generally be handled through the courts or the Attorney General. The Inspector General’s office explained its role in reviewing appraisals for special legislation, including Article 97 matters, to ensure compliance with USPAP standards and to forward its review to DCAM. The hearing did not include any votes or formal committee action; members indicated that the committee may later issue recommendations to the executive agencies based on the testimony and questions raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um there are currently many applicants.
• :40:37.520> is<00:40:37.760> very public land trust inventory is very public land trust
• <00:53:29.040> use without interference by the land use without interference by the land use
• fines and fees are unlawful applications fines and fees are unlawful applications of<01:00:15.839
• There needs to be agricultural lands.

Keywords: 910, house, all