Transcript Highlights:

• Four years later, the Legislature passed the Coastal Act and the Coastal Conservancy Act, two landmark
• And this goes hand in hand with the work of the Conservancy.
• You know, together, the work of both the Commission and the Conservancy, we've conserved over half a
• We are deeply honored to be joined by both members of the Commission and the Conservancy.
• We are deeply honored to be joined by both members of the Commission and the Conservancy.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several recognitions during privileges of the floor, including students from the Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The body also approved the Senate journals and proceeded to confirmations, including Heather Lynn Gonzalez to the Court Reporters Board and reappointments of Anacubas and David Hübner to the California Law Revision Commission, each confirmed by roll call votes of 26 ayes and 10 noes. The chamber then took up SCR 136, commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, habitat protection, resilience, and the economic value of the coast, while Senator Grove raised concerns about regulatory overreach, delays, and impacts on local control and development. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with extensive remarks focused on survivor support, accountability, and the need for trauma-informed systems; it passed unanimously, 37-0. SCR 130, recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, also passed unanimously after remarks about child abuse, trafficking, and prevention efforts. Several bills then passed on unanimous roll call, including SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement flexibility, SB 930 requiring end-to-end encryption for certain school exam proctoring services, SB 917 expanding farmers’ market sales opportunities for wineries, SB 1002 on continuity of out-of-state telehealth care for eligible patients, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissal, SB 969 on remote developmental services, and SB 1418 and SB 1429 on the consent calendar. The Senate also adopted SCR 131 on unsheltered homelessness after debate over interim shelter, permanent housing, self-sufficiency, and housing-first approaches; it passed 34-0. Finally, SCR 157 recognizing School Bus Driver’s Day passed unanimously, committee announcements were made, and the Senate adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, with the next floor session scheduled for April 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Zoe Barker, and I am the legislative director with Conservation Voters New Mexico.
• The Arming Darus, it just sold to a conservation group, 362,885 acres.
• Most of what NRCS does is Farm Bill money, is conservation practices.
• Most of what NRCS does is Farm Bill money, is conservation practices.
• It's really not to do conservation or anything else.

Bills: HB2, SB193, SB132, SB35, SB145

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects

Transcript Highlights:

• It protects the state from takings claims through very by the Oil Conservation Division.
• Among others, the Oil Conservation Division approves the resumption of operation.
• The Oil Conservation Division is not responsible for any air quality testing.
• This approach avoids placing wholly new responsibilities on the Oil Conservation Division.
• The Oil Conservation Division could allow them to continue and drill close to the school.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about the conservation fund. Mr.
• We have a conservation fund that only 20% of those.
• Who pays that conservation tax?
• Number one, we did pay into the conservation.
• But with the conservation fund, do we have the funding?

Transcript Highlights:

• This has taken place under an emergency rule by Conservation on... an emergency rule by Conservation
• So, now you're saying that you don't want conservation to own the... conservation to have the right to
• Conservation. Yes.
• We fully support the North American model of wildlife conservation American model of wildlife conservation
• The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must be Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water conservation does tend to fall more into those urban water conservation does tend to fall into
• I'm going to pass it on over to the Coastal Conservancy to give their overview.
• And I'm going to pass it on over to the Coastal Conservancy to give their overview.
• I'm going to be talking about the State Coastal Conservancy coastal resilience funding in Prop 4.
• Climate conservation projects on the coast are extremely expensive.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on water and coastal resilience heard an overview of the governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan, with presentations from the Department of Finance, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and later coastal agencies. Members discussed the water chapter’s major allocations for drinking water and wastewater, recycled water, tribal water infrastructure, groundwater recharge and SGMA implementation, dam safety, flood protection, integrated regional water management, Salton Sea projects, and water data/stream gauges. The LAO noted that many programs are established and have clear funding processes, but some newer or less-defined programs may warrant more detailed future budget requests and reporting. No votes were taken on the agenda items. Members raised concerns about groundwater subsidence, water deliveries from the Delta, the pace of water storage investments, instream flows, and whether bond dollars were being used to backfill General Fund reductions. Administration witnesses said groundwater recharge spending is being paced because prior years already funded substantial SGMA work, that Delta operations are governed by water quality, salinity, and species requirements, and that Proposition 1 storage projects have moved slowly because they are locally led and require permitting and financing. The Water Board and DWR said they use public needs assessments, annual plans, and existing grant processes to prioritize projects, and Finance said some General Fund programs were shifted to Proposition 4 to help balance the budget. Members also asked for clearer public tracking of bond spending and more concise future reporting. In the coastal resilience portion, the Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Conservancy described Proposition 4 funding for sea level rise adaptation, coastal flood management, habitat restoration, public access, and San Francisco Bay projects, with a multi-year rollout based on project readiness and recent large state investments. The Conservancy said it would use its existing rolling grant process, while OPC said its sea level rise grants would build on existing programs and new technical assistance. The Department of Fish and Wildlife explained its proposed use of bond funds for climate-ready fisheries, hatchery modernization, salmon monitoring, whale- and turtle-safe fishing gear, and a specific hatchery operations request tied to the Friant settlement. The LAO said the coastal chapter’s proposed first-year spending is relatively modest but generally reasonable given staffing and project readiness, while members emphasized oversight, transparency, and coordination across agencies and jurisdictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're talking about the state energy and conservation construction code.
• ...and conservation construction code?
• Does this bill include review of the state energy conservation codes? Thank you.
• Energy conservation codes?
• I'm not sure what reasonable energy conservation techniques are. It would seem rather than...

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met with quorum present and considered a full agenda of housing, code enforcement, and rent regulation bills, many of which had passed the Senate in prior years. Early measures included a statewide residential rental registry (S.912), penalties and reporting for vacant and abandoned properties (S.925), and extending tenant response time for major capital improvement rent increase applications (S.1461). The committee also advanced several code-enforcement and fire/building-code bills, including measures to expand remedies for Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code violations (S.3406), increase the Secretary of State’s code enforcement powers (S.4165 and S.4534), and authorize investigations into code administration and enforcement (S.4535). Members raised concerns about local fiscal impacts, the scope of state authority, contractor use, and whether the bills adequately define or limit “imminent threat” and related enforcement powers. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on S.4852, which would require the Codes Council to review and act on updates to international model codes within 18 months. Senators debated whether the bill would speed up code adoption or, as some feared, weaken economic reasonableness considerations by striking the word “economically” from the statutory standard. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure prompt review of widely used model codes and noted other statutory safeguards remain in place; opponents worried about reduced attention to cost and practical impacts, especially amid housing and utility capacity constraints. The committee also discussed S.6368A, requiring complainants to receive copies of compliance orders issued after code complaints, and S.6600B, mandating inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings in New York City. Additional bills advanced included standards for all-gender bathroom design and construction (S.7131A), compensation for required code-enforcement personnel training (S.7159), and audits of individual apartment improvements in rent-regulated units (S.8046A). Several measures were reported to Finance, while others were reported to the floor. Throughout the meeting, votes were largely along expected lines, with some members voting negative or “without recommendation” on the more expansive code-enforcement bills. No bill was defeated, and all items on the agenda were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• With me, I have, um, the, uh, Debbie Hughes, who's the New Mexico Association of Water Conservation District's
• My name is Eddie Vihill, also a registered lobbyist for New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
• They're not within the entire, let me see, in within the soil and water conservation district of where
• The conservation district might be up here, but the watershed district might be down here.
• On the soil and water conservation Board.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are leading conservation efforts through the Florida Forever program.
• They are leading conservation efforts through the Florida Forever program.
• Conservation is made up of three basic principles: research, management, and enforcement.
• And third is our premier conservation law enforcement agency in the nation.
• Florida's disaster response due to the unique equipment that we use for our conservation mission.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process. Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales. Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Al has been a longtime leader in farmland conservation and recently conserved his 400th farm in Vermont
• [Applause] housing, land conservation, and historic housing, land conservation, and historic preservation
• <00:13:44.639> of affordable housing, the conservation of affordable housing, the conservation
• <00:14:02.880> and leader in farmland conservation and leader in farmland conservation and
• > farm<00:14:05.600> in recently conserved his 400th farm in recently conserved his 400th

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with devotional remarks from Representative Mark Higley, who read poems about maple sugaring and Groundhog Day and offered a Valentine’s Day reminder to give maple sugar candy. The chamber then recognized the first class of legislative pages for their service during the 2026 session, presented them with pins, and took photos. Several guests and groups were welcomed, including representatives from Vermont’s natural resources conservation districts, members of the St. Albinstown Fire Department for its 50th anniversary, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition, which highlighted housing, land conservation, and historic preservation work supported by the Housing and Conservation Board. The House also recognized former legislators in the gallery and several members’ birthdays. On the legislative calendar, H.900, relating to exempting Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax, was introduced and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. HCR 164, congratulating the St. Albinstown Fire Department on 50 years of service, was read and adopted. The House also voted to relieve the Committee on Education of H.750, relating to school districts pursuing construction projects during the moratorium on state aid, and commit it to Ways and Means. Later, H.527, extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248A, passed third reading, and J.R.S. 37, supporting gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition and urging gender-equal new Olympic sports, was adopted in concurrence. The House then took up H.898, concerning copper-to-fiber telecommunications network transitions and consumer protections. The committee explained that the bill requires advance written notice to customers and state agencies, reporting on backup power and E911 issues, public safety coordination, consumer education, and ongoing monitoring by the Department of Public Service. The committee reported an 8-0-1 vote, and after a question about whether the bill would affect provider-of-last-resort obligations, the House ordered the bill to third reading. The session ended with announcements about an upcoming report on Women, Work, and Wages and a motion to adjourn until the next meeting day, which was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• all that, but also with the cooperation of the dairy producers of New Mexico, the Association of Conservation
• Districts, the Keller growers, the cotton growers, the hay growers, The Association of Conservation
• Bureau, Federal Land Council, wool growers, Protect Agriculture Now, Pecos Valley, Hartees, and Conservancy
• Oil and Gas Conservation Tax Act Changes. Representative Murphy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Oil and Gas Conservation Tax Act Changes. Representative Murphy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Back up here a little bit: House Bill 80 returns the proceeds of the conservation tax to conservation
• The conservation tax to conservation and reclamation activities as it was originally legislated and intended
• The conservation tax initially went to what was called the conservation or regulatory fund.
• fund was abolished, and the majority of the conservation tax was diverted to the general fund.
• The conservation fund was abolished, and the majority of the conservation tax was diverted to the general

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's pretty conservative, isn't it?
• Why are we funding this from a conservation fund?
• Conservation and MoDOT obviously used GIS data pretty extensively.
• being used for conservation purposes, which is what the Constitution says.
• And are we getting permission from conservation department or...

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• suggestions that was thought to be made, specifically carve-outs to wetland buffers or areas of conservation
• But what we did put in here by that carve-out of the conservation subdivision, this would give time for
• So, where it conservation subdivision.
• The municipalities have some time to turn into a conservation subdivision, but they don't put a poison
• Conserved. So it sounds good. >> Okay. All right. Anything further? No? No? No? All right.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered Senate Bill 564 and discussed two related amendments, which were ultimately combined. The main amendment would create carve-outs for wetland buffers and conservation subdivisions, allowing certain facilities or utilities to proceed by conditional use permit or special exception while still requiring site plan review and DES permitting. Supporters said the change would open up developable land and provide a path forward for housing development without an automatic denial. Members also focused on the effective date. The amendment was revised to take effect March 1, 2027, to give municipalities time to update ordinances and, if desired, designate conservation subdivisions. To prevent towns from undermining the bill before it takes effect, a second amendment was added stating that municipalities may not impose additional building or lot-size restrictions on affected properties before the effective date. Senators said this would avoid a “poison pill” response such as increasing minimum lot sizes. After brief discussion, members agreed the amendments were consistent with the bill’s housing and conservation balance. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the combined amendments, agreed to place the bill on consent, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• New York State Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation
• Our first bill, S. 5440A by Senator Liu, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in relation
• Our next bill is S. 6833A by Senator Harckham, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in
• Our next bill, S. 9294 by Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law in relation
• An act directing the Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a study on ecological restoration

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, chaired by Senator Pete Harckham, met earlier than scheduled because of budget-related scheduling conflicts. The committee considered a 10-bill active list focused on environmental regulation, waterways, wildlife management, and remediation issues. Bills included a ban on lead in aviation gasoline (S.5440A), changes to air quality permit modification and enforcement procedures (S.6833A), adding waterways in Monroe and Putnam counties to the inland waterways definition (S.9062 and S.9506), an urban deer management pilot program extension (S.9098), expanded technical assistance grants and brownfield remediation provisions (S.9294), a DEC study on Jamaica Bay restoration needs (S.9311), repair of damaged pesticide containers (S.9587), and a prohibition on using drilling fluids, brine, and flowback water on highways (S.9635).

Transcript Highlights:

• Expanding access conservation models.
• In summary, conservation and change.
• in conservation and outdoor recreation. in conservation and outdoor recreation.
• conservation of natural resources. conservation of natural resources.
• > outdoor Third, that conservation and outdoor Third, that conservation and outdoor recreation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And hopefully, if we do this in a timely manner, Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board
• And hopefully if we do this in a timely manner, Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board
• , ...forward, and hopefully if we do this in a timely manner, Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation
• Districts, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, the Wildlands Conservancy, Peninsula Open Space
• , Sustainable Conservation, and I was asked to register support for the Nature Conservancy.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we discovered is that having a conservation restriction in this particular scenario...
• either by conservation restriction or by MassWildlife.
• It is my understanding that the conservation...
• However, the fiscal year 24 grant application contained the conservation restriction requirement.
• They did this without conservation restrictions and oversight.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on a proposed Massachusetts baby bonds program, including H. 3429, S. 2146, and the Treasurer’s related bill H. 48. Treasurer Goldberg and a broad coalition of advocates, researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience said the program would create trust accounts for children born into low-income families or in DCF custody, with funds available at age 18 for education, homeownership, business startup, or other long-term asset-building uses. Supporters argued the program would help close the racial wealth gap, improve economic mobility, and not affect eligibility for financial aid or public benefits. Committee members asked about administration, investment returns, eligibility, and withdrawal rules; the Treasurer said the accounts would be held in trust and managed by her office with an advisory board, with funds accessible at 18 and usable through age 35 if the beneficiary remains a Massachusetts resident. No vote was taken during the testimony shown. The committee also heard testimony on legislation establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including S. 2666 and H. 4625. Senator Ross, Representative Badger, physicians, survivors, and advocates described invasive lobular carcinoma as difficult to detect because it often grows in lines rather than forming a lump, can be missed on mammography, and is underfunded and underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Witnesses said the bill would codify an annual October 15 proclamation to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and encourage more targeted research and treatment. Committee members asked why the disease is so hard to detect, and medical witnesses explained the imaging challenges and the lack of lobular-specific protocols. The witnesses urged favorable reports. The committee then took testimony on H. 4648, a bill concerning the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm in Stockbridge by the Stockbridge-Munsee community. Representative Davis, the Stockbridge Land Trust president, and the tribal president testified that the bill would remove a conservation restriction tied to a state MVP grant so the tribe could manage the land without a restriction that they said would conflict with tribal sovereignty and Indigenous stewardship practices. They said the parcel is a sacred site connected to Monument Mountain and that the restriction is unnecessary because the land is already surrounded by conserved property. The witnesses asked for favorable action on the bill. Finally, the committee heard testimony on H. 3416, a resolution urging Congress to create a national infrastructure bank. Representative Senna and several advocates argued that an off-budget infrastructure bank could finance major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, rail, water systems, broadband, and housing without adding to the state budget, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Witnesses cited historical precedents for national infrastructure banks and said Massachusetts could benefit substantially from such a program. The transcript shown does not include a committee vote or final action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then a conservator was appointed: East Valley Fiduciary Services, in December.
• William May Clark, during this time, was always representing the conservators.
• Sir, so you said something that they did appoint your wife as a conservator.
• At this point, I was still guardian and conservator.
• The only thing the conservator... Just a moment, Susan.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These 10 lessons cover soybeans, corn, Missouri as a diverse crop state, soil and water conservation,
• So this isn't stopping the conservation from catching anyone.
• But he can give the conservation department right to enter your land without a search warrant.
• This isn't going to affect the conservation land. This isn't going to affect the conservation land.
• We're all focusing on conservation land.

Keywords: 959, house, all