Video & Transcript Research : 'native forests'

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NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Session (12/17/2025)

New Hampshire House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • denied ability to use their native denied ability to use their native names.<01:57:29.360> They
  • <01:57:34.719> culture, to wear their their native culture, to wear their their native culture
  • And um if you didn't native culture.
  • <02:00:01.760> um Many of the natives ended up leaving. um Many of the natives ended up leaving
  • And natives have learned to not trust.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Floor Session 5/19/25 - Part 1

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Whereas Native American communities continue to demonstrate resilience and leadership in areas such as
  • <00:11:31.040> communities injustices faced by native communities injustices faced by native
  • Native American communities Whereas Native American communities continue<00:11:46.959> to<00:
  • <00:12:17.519> Be<00:12:17.760> it Native American communities.
  • Be it Native American communities.
Keywords: 1183, house
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 7th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I rise today as chair of the Legislative Native American Caucus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  • I rise as chair of the Legislative Native American Caucus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  • We have 84% of Native American people who will experience violence in their lifetime.
  • Four out of five Native American women have already experienced violence in their lifetime.
  • This is not a distant issue. 84.3% of Native Americans have experienced violence in their lifetime.
Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call, heard a prayer and pledge, and then moved through a large daily file of bills and resolutions. Early procedural motions were adopted, including re-referrals and a motion to allow the Appropriations Committee to notice SB 73, which passed 46-15. Members also introduced several guests, including young legislators, schoolchildren, a championship girls’ basketball team, realtors, and CASA advocates. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1389, a tribal gaming compact urgency bill for the Yurok Tribe, which passed 55-0 on the urgency and measure. The body then passed a series of bills on topics including trespass enforcement (AB 1632), pest control fees (AB 2380), county investment authority (AB 2080), pupil achievement gap reporting (AB 2149), transit board stipends (AB 1625), e-filing for workplace violence restraining orders (AB 2179), election eligibility restrictions for registered sex offenders (AB 2753), juvenile firearm possession and deferred entry of judgment (AB 2636), court access and First Amendment issues (AB 1544), physician medical record integrity (AB 1637), forced marriage protections (AB 2534), and local authority to restrict under-12 e-bike use in San Mateo County (AB 2595). Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, with votes ranging from 53-0 to 63-0. The Assembly also adopted ACR 173, reaffirming California’s sister-state relationship with Jalisco, Mexico, after adding 50 coauthors. Later, it adopted ACR 163 designating May as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month after extensive testimony from the author and multiple caucus members emphasizing the crisis, data gaps, tribal sovereignty, and the need for more resources and action; 64 coauthors were added before the resolution passed by voice vote. The chamber likewise adopted ACR 180 designating Compost Awareness Week and ACR 182 establishing Youth Mental Health Awareness Week, both after coauthor roll calls and voice votes. The day concluded with urgent action on AB 108, which provides up to $25 million in one-time emergency bridge funding for distressed hospitals facing imminent closure. Members from both parties spoke in support, citing rural access, prior hospital closures, and the need to protect community health care; the bill passed 59-0 and was sent to the Governor immediately. The Assembly then handled consent calendar items, heard an adjournment in memory for labor leader Larry Mazzola Sr., and adjourned until Monday, May 11 at 1 p.m.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • We already see 53% of Native Hawaiians live in the mainland, while only 47% remain in Hawaii.
  • This bill favors select operators and ignores Native Hawaiian interests.
  • This bill favors select operators and ignores Native Hawaiian interests.
  • <02:20:18.120> Hawaiian operators and ignores native Hawaiian operators and ignores native
  • <02:41:05.720> American um Native American um Native American casinos<02:41:08.040> uh<
Keywords: 910, house, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • website for the commission on Native website for the commission on Native Affairs<03:56:50.199><
  • <04:03:35.120> American Native American Native American representation<04:03:37.960> if
  • Are you asking me why, as a Native American, I am not allowing another Native American tribe in here
  • American I am not allowing as a Native American I am not allowing another<04:08:00.520> Native
  • <04:47:48.558> person there was a federal uh Native person there was a federal uh Native person
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And both American Indian and Alaska Native males...
  • And both American Indian and Alaska Native males and females are murdered at higher rates than our non-Native
  • So Native women, of course, have a 6.3 per 100,000 rate, which is 3.7 times higher than non-Native females
  • times higher than the rate for non-Natives.
  • So we do Native people...
Summary: The House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a field hearing on the Puyallup Reservation, where members first received an overview of sports betting in Washington. Tribal casino representatives and the Washington State Gambling Commission explained that sports betting became legal in 2020 under HB 2638 and is currently limited to tribal casinos through sportsbook, kiosk, and on-premise mobile wagering. Testimony covered how odds are set, compliance with federal anti-money-laundering rules, and the role of third-party vendors. Tribal representatives said sports betting supports tribal economic development and asked to expand betting to include Washington college teams, while warning that prediction markets and other unregulated products pose a threat. Committee members asked about geo-fencing, betting limits, in-state college betting restrictions, and regulatory oversight. No votes were taken. The committee then heard from Vicki Lowe of the American Indian Health Commission on tribal data sovereignty and health data. She described tribal sovereignty and the federal trust responsibility, and said tribes should have equitable access to their own health data and control over how it is used. She explained that during COVID, tribes often lacked direct access to state health data, which complicated case tracing and other public health work. Lowe said the Department of Health stopped collecting tribal affiliation in some contexts because of Public Records Act concerns, and she argued that this is inconsistent with tribal data-sharing principles adopted through the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council. Members asked for clarification about what counts as tribal data and how public records concerns affected data collection. No formal action was taken. Finally, Lucy Smartlut gave an update on the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force. She reported on the task force’s structure, its extension through 2027, and progress on recommendations including a fully funded cold case investigation unit in the Attorney General’s office, an updated missing persons resource, and forensic genetic genealogy work on unidentified remains. She said the cold case unit has active investigations, has helped locate missing Indigenous people, and made its first homicide arrest. She also presented data showing Native people are disproportionately represented among homicide and missing persons cases, and noted survey findings that many law enforcement agencies rely on officer observation for race data and have limited consultation with tribes. Committee members asked about funding, interagency coordination, and whether the task force is shifting toward prevention. The presenter said sustainability, continued awareness, and stronger collaboration remain priorities, and no vote was taken.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 7th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I rise today as chair of the Legislative Native American Caucus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  • I rise as chair of the Legislative Native American Caucus. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  • We have 84% of Native American people who will experience violence in their lifetime.
  • Four out of five Native American women have already experienced violence in their lifetime.
  • This is not a distant issue. 84.3% of Native Americans have experienced violence in their lifetime.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a long daily file with several procedural motions and guest introductions. Members also adopted a resolution recognizing CASA volunteers and welcomed student, school, sports, and community groups to the chamber. The body approved a motion to suspend rules for several procedural purposes, including moving bills between committees and allowing a bill to be heard on shortened notice. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1389, which ratifies and extends a tribal-state gaming compact with the Yurok Tribe through December 31, 2026. Members then passed a series of bills on third reading, including AB 1632 on removing the notarization requirement for trespass letters, AB 2380 on county pest control fee authority, AB 2080 on county investment delegation, AB 2149 on reporting pupil achievement gaps, AB 1625 on Sacramento Regional Transit board meeting and stipend changes, AB 2179 on expanding e-filing for workplace violence restraining orders, and AB 2753 barring registered sex offenders from running for or holding elected office. AB 2636, AB 1544, AB 1637, AB 2534, and AB 2595 also passed, addressing juvenile firearm possession, court access, medical record integrity, forced marriage protections, and local e-bike restrictions for children under 12 in San Mateo County. The Assembly adopted several resolutions, including ACR 173 reaffirming California’s sister-state relationship with Jalisco, ACR 163 designating May as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month, ACR 180 designating Compost Awareness Week, and ACR 182 establishing Youth Mental Health Awareness Week. These resolutions drew extensive supportive remarks from members across caucuses, with strong emphasis on Indigenous justice, mental health, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. AB 108, a budget bill providing up to $25 million in emergency bridge funding for distressed hospitals, received broad bipartisan support and was sent to the Governor immediately after concurrence in Senate amendments. The chamber also added coauthors to multiple resolutions and removed AB 2512 and AB 1956 from the consent calendar at the author’s request.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee Mar 18th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • I was once a Native student.
  • As LAUSD reported only 242 Native tribal students, L.A.
  • And erasure means lack of funds and resources for American Indian and Alaska Native students.
  • as Native in our data systems.
  • It shows that 9 out of 10 Native American students in California are not counted.
Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, with the chair outlining hearing procedures and several bills on consent. The committee heard and advanced AB 1581, which would improve collection of tribal affiliation data for California students so Native students are more accurately counted and better served; supporters said current systems undercount Native students and erase their needs. AB 1586 also passed, requiring school resource officers who volunteer to carry naloxone to receive opioid overdose response training every two years; supporters emphasized student safety and the need for rapid response to overdoses on campus, while one school employees’ group raised concerns about retaliation protections for non-volunteers. Both bills were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations, with roll calls held open for absent votes. The committee then approved AB 1943, which updates school notices about secure firearm storage by making the information clearer, more visible, and more likely to reach families at key moments such as counseling or discipline interventions. Supporters from gun violence prevention groups, educators, and parents argued that many school shooters obtain guns from home and that plain-language, digital, and timely notices could help prevent child deaths and suicides; the author shared a personal story about a child accessing a gun at home. AB 1792 also advanced, directing the Instructional Quality Commission to consider updating health education to address digital safety issues such as deepfakes, extortion, grooming, and AI-generated exploitation; supporters said students need instruction that reflects modern online risks, while an opponent objected to language referencing LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse students. AB 1653 passed as well, adding heat-illness guidance to the health framework after a young Girl Scout described students suffering during extreme heat and not recognizing symptoms. Later, the committee approved AB 1861, which would require the California Department of Education to create a public database of special education investigation reports with personal information redacted; supporters said families need better access to complaint outcomes and accountability, while an opposition witness warned of unintended consequences, misuse of incomplete information, and added burdens on districts. AB 1721 also moved forward, creating a stakeholder work group to review and streamline school safety plan requirements so plans remain practical and focused on emergency preparedness. AB 1631, which would make kindergarten mandatory, received mixed testimony: supporters argued it would help close achievement gaps and improve readiness, while opponents framed it as an intrusion on parental choice; the bill was held on call after a split vote. Finally, AB 1809, extending job order contracting authority for school and community college districts, was also held on call after opposition from contractors who argued project labor agreement requirements raise costs and reduce competition. The committee then began hearing AB 1659, aimed at improving transitions for court school students back to their home districts, with testimony describing re-enrollment barriers and the need for a designated district contact.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

House Chamber - Thu Apr 10, 2025, 12:00PM HST - Day 48

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • On behalf of the Native Hawaiian Caucus chair, along with the good representative from district 5 and
  • in addition to our Native Hawaiian public charter school from Kula na niha okaha, we also have more
  • On behalf of the Native Hawaiian Caucus chair, along with the good representative from district 5 and
  • :19:03.600> Caucus<00:19:04.080> chair of the Native Hawaiian Caucus chair of the Native
  • district 5 and in addition to our Native district 5 and in addition to our Native Hawaiian<00:19
Keywords: 910, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Indian Affairs Aug 14th, 2025

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Not native to New Mexico, you came in. I'm sure that's correct.
  • I've helped over a hundred native families become homeowners, and I've engaged with thousands of native
  • Especially if that contractor is non-native and they leave.
  • We could go with this guy who had his Native preference.
  • And that's actually owned by a non-native. But that land is not trust land.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 28th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have a grant from the USDA Forest Service to strengthen wildfire response and preparedness capabilities
  • They have a grant from the USDA Forest Service to strengthen the capacity of state and local fire protection
Keywords: 1204, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/07/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we need them in our forests.
  • I have crawled through that forest during pinyon picking, and I have never been attacked by Pinyon picking
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, representatives from the Arizona LEND Program, Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses, and other visitors. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on two calendars. On the first calendar, SB 1280 drew the most discussion and a failed floor amendment by Representative Gutierrez related to Mexican gray wolves; members debated wildlife recovery, federal conservation efforts, ranching impacts, and state funding restrictions before the amendment was defeated and the bill received a due pass recommendation. The committee also recommended due pass for SB 1418 and SB 1785, while SB 1200 was retained on the calendar. On the second calendar, members debated SB 1053 on concealed carry permit fees, SB 1259, SB 1372 on health care provider recruitment and anesthesia access, SB 1475 on student participation in interscholastic activities after certain criminal offenses, and SB 1478 with a technical floor amendment changing its effective date. SB 1053, SB 1259, SB 1372 as amended, SB 1475, and SB 1478 as amended all received due pass recommendations. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, placing SB 1372 and SB 1478 on engrossing and SB 1053, SB 1259, and SB 1475 on third reading. The House then took up third-reading votes on several bills. SB 1078, SB 1107, SB 1123, and SB 1142 were passed by recorded vote, with SB 1142 prompting extended debate over a federal education tax credit and whether it would divert resources from public schools; supporters argued it would not affect state revenues and would help Arizona families, while opponents said it favored wealthier households and undermined public education. The session ended with personal announcements and adjournment until the next morning.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor (3-5-26)

Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:
  • This partnership is vital for maintaining biodiversity and supporting healthy forests.
  • maintaining biodiversity and supporting maintaining biodiversity and supporting healthy<00:12:10.839> forests
Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a roll call showing members present, then first took up Senate Bill 343, which would extend the Workers' Compensation Funding Commission and preserve the independent funding mechanism for the Kentucky Department of Workers' Claims. The chair explained that the bill would keep the current assessment structure in place beyond its scheduled 2029 expiration and support the department’s independence and budgeting flexibility. The committee voted 11-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then heard a presentation on Senate Bill 19, relating to a state mushroom. Senator Scott Madon and Representative Mitch Whitaker introduced students and a biology teacher from Letcher County Central High School, who presented research supporting the indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo) as Kentucky’s state mushroom. The students described the mushroom’s blue color, ecological role, edible qualities, and possible educational and scientific value, and tied the proposal to Kentucky’s identity as the Bluegrass State. Senators praised the students’ presentation and the effort to involve young people in the legislative process, and one senator asked how to identify edible mushrooms, prompting advice that experience is important and that local mushroom groups can help. The committee then voted 11-0 to report Senate Bill 19 favorably. Before adjourning, members briefly discussed the presentation and the educational value of involving students, with comments noting the strong participation of young women in science. Senate Bill 324 was on the agenda but was passed over and held for one week. The meeting then adjourned.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture and Wildlife Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am

Agriculture and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:
  • The value increase would be that we brought our forester on last year.
  • number we anticipate would definitely go up, but we need some auction cycles now that we've got our forester
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • But we also have the Gila National Forest.
  • We've got a lot of camping, a lot of beautiful. wilderness and forest areas.
Keywords: 996, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Jan 20th, 2026

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our focus is on working agricultural lands, ranch land, farmland, forest land.
  • Our focus is on working agricultural lands, ranch land, farmland, forest land.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of local claims, public records, growth management, permitting, and nuisance bills. It first heard and approved SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24, all uncontested claims bills providing relief related to injuries or settlements involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County. The committee also approved SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, which narrows statutory language to protect co-op decisions on generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections, and SB 830, which creates a public records exemption for certain personal information of county and city managers and their families due to reported threats against local officials. Members then considered SB 1138 on qualified contractors and development review, which would create a registry of licensed professionals to help local governments process pre-application reviews and plats more quickly. Local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, while private-provider supporters backed the bill; Senator Sharief voted no, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 168, expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increasing penalties, and SB 686 on agricultural enclaves, which revises the enclave process, adds a public hearing path, limits it to certain residential projects in urban service areas, and was amended to change a date to June 30, 2026 before being reported favorably. The committee next approved CS for SB 548 on growth management and impact fees, which clarifies plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for improper fee collections. Testimony reflected support for clearer standards but also concerns about fee increases and refund administration. Finally, SB 1234 on building permits and inspections was reported favorably; it would extend permit validity, exempt some low-value work from permitting, create a statewide residential permit form, speed review timelines, and expand private-provider use, drawing opposition from a Miami-Dade building official who argued for continued local oversight and support from private-provider advocates. Senator Jones requested to be recorded as voting affirmatively on several tabs and negatively on tab 9, and the committee adjourned after all bills were disposed of.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Jul 16th, 2025

JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Transcript Highlights:
  • instead of wood poles going with the metal and, you know, when you do have a fire, but we’ve got forest
  • the science comment because, as I said, whether we’re talking about stormwater, we’re talking about forest
Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes. The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Minnesota House passes environment and natural resources finance bill, SF2077 5/5/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We gather here representing every corner of the state: the boreal forest of the north, hardwood forest
Keywords: 1183, house
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Mar 5th, 2025

Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:
  • and fruity with a touch of Menthol, specifically noting flavors of blueberry, mixed berries, and Forest
  • mint. ...mixed berries and Forest mint.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Jan 28th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • member_22659), and Dow (member_12870), an act relating to natural resources, amending sections of the Forest
  • House Bill 175 is eligible for funding from the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund.