Video & Transcript : 'Fix Our Forests Act' :
Page 64 of 500
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (01/30/2025)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- New Hampshire forestry and forest management is a big part of our economy.
- Our association represents landowners, but we also represent loggers, foresters, and wood processors.
- Act, and both deal with the taxation of forest land and timber.
- New Hampshire forestry and forest management is a big part of our economy.
- Act, and both deal with the taxation of forest land and timber.
Committee:
House Municipal and County Government
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining Jan 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Our members within the Forest Service can be required to work double their normal hours on a given day
- Our members within the Forest Service can be required to work double their normal hours on a given day
- In Article 26, we are requesting additional personal protective clothing for our members in the Forest
- In Article 26, we are requesting additional personal protective clothing for our members in the Forest
- So we'd like the committee to review our proposal and support our proposal.
Summary:
The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met to hear impasse presentations from the Department of Management Services and several bargaining units. The department reported that most articles had been resolved in each of the full-book contracts, with remaining disputes centered largely on wages and a handful of non-economic issues. For the FDLE special agents, security services, law enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida State Fire Service units, the state described its wage offers as generally a 2% competitive increase plus a 3% special pay increase, along with various bonuses, retention funds, or career-development funding in some units. The department also said it wanted to keep existing language on work schedules, seniority, grooming, equipment, grievance procedures, and other items, often characterizing its changes as housekeeping or alignment with current practice. The department noted that insurance had been agreed to with no increased employee cost, and it confirmed that correctional officers do receive overtime pay.
Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association strongly disputed the state’s position, arguing that firefighters should not be required to perform major construction work, that their work schedules and on-call/callback arrangements unfairly suppress overtime, and that wildfire and fire-rescue employees are underpaid and underprotected. They also pressed for better compensation for EMT/paramedic-certified firefighters, additional protective clothing, on-site decontamination and shower/laundry facilities, and stronger cancer-prevention language. The association said the state had not bargained in good faith and urged the committee to support the union’s proposals.
The Police Benevolent Association’s Florida Highway Patrol unit focused on wages and a career development plan, saying troopers remain underpaid compared with other states and are leaving for better-paying agencies. It also sought a veteran stipend, broader grooming/tattoo language, safety improvements for high-mileage vehicles, and changes to seniority and inflation-related pay. The PBA law enforcement unit raised similar safety concerns about aging vehicles, sought limits on performance evaluations tied to case presentations, and requested a $7,000 across-the-board wage increase. The security services unit, representing correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers, said its main issue was wages and asked for an $8-per-hour starting pay increase, retention bonuses, special pay for death row and close-management staff, added pay for SOTEC officers, and overtime pay for lieutenants and captains who currently receive comp time instead. No votes were taken, no public testimony followed, and the committee adjourned after taking the presentations under advisement.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Our pay is still a challenge. This lady was... ...does still happen. Our pay is still a challenge.
- It was added after the fact as we started to watch the trend in our population and our staffing and had
- So I want us to keep that in mind before we're talking about our calling our constituents, our neighbors
- Missourians and our fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
- This also includes our award-winning conservationists, news and social media, and our education curriculum
Committee:
House Budget
Summary:
The committee first heard the Missouri National Guard’s FY 2027 budget request in House Bill 2008. Brigadier General Bob Payne outlined the Guard’s dual state and federal mission, recent deployments and state activations, counter-drug work, and the need to maintain readiness and aging armory infrastructure. Members questioned several items, including a proposed internal auditor position required by statute, a World Cup-related NDI, the use of general revenue versus other funds, and a federal match for base operations support at Rosecrans Airport. The presentation then shifted into executive session, where the committee reviewed a House committee substitute and several amendments. One amendment to fund the Missouri State Fair’s Great American State Fair participation with ag and tourism funds was rejected, while an amendment reducing $50,000 in House and Senate legal contingency funding was adopted. Another amendment directing budget information to all committee members rather than only chairs was rejected. The committee then adopted the substitute and voted House Bill 2014 do pass by a 24-0-1 vote.
The committee next took up the Department of Corrections FY 2027 budget in House Bill 2009. DOC described a new CERT stipend increase, a reduction in the Office of Director’s Staff, and several core items including professional standards, federal funds, community treatment programming, education grants, population growth pool, restitution payments, human services staff, telecommunications, general services, fuel and utilities, food purchases, food service, staff training, employee health and safety, overtime, adult institution staff, institution E&E, wage and discharge, and individual institutions. Members asked about the CERT stipend, PREA allegations, education funding, restitution payments, the population growth pool, the working capital revolving fund, food service costs, overtime, retention, warden turnover, the prison nursery, and the use of inmate canteen funds. DOC said CERT members are full-time employees who volunteer for additional duty, that staffing has improved but remains a challenge, that the food service increase reflects the end of inventory credits and inflation, and that the department generally spends non-GR funds first when possible. Discussion also turned to whether DOC facilities could be repurposed for pretrial or mental health populations; DOC said it is legally limited to post-sentence inmates and that staffing and labor-market constraints make reopening closed facilities difficult.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm excited about the crossing in our, in our, that overlaps with our districts, and, you know, just
- First, our community wants to protect our trees. We know what we're doing.
- We love our trees. Most of us have dozens in our yards.
- We just think the flexibility to fix these issues already exists in the act and with these administrative
- now, with the Mello Act having changed the act.
Summary:
The committee heard SB 1393, an omnibus update to the Fish and Game Code covering steelhead trout and Dungeness crab management. Supporters from The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, CalTrout, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said the bill would strengthen the steelhead report card program, refine crab fishery rules, and clarify vessel transit through closed crab areas. There was no opposition, and the bill was accepted with amendments and moved on a 4-0 vote to the Appropriations Committee.
The committee also heard SB 1250, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning and asset management, with performance targets and coordination with wildlife agencies. The author and supporters argued it would improve ecosystem connectivity, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and save money by integrating crossings, culverts, and fencing into planned projects. The California Building Industry Association moved to neutral after amendments clarifying the bill would apply to transportation rights-of-way and not create exactions on private property. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations.
Members then considered SB 1212, which would repeal California’s ban on importing and selling kangaroo products. The author argued kangaroo harvest in Australia is tightly regulated and that California’s ban is outdated, while opponents from Humane World for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and others said the bill would reopen the market to products from a cruel commercial slaughter industry and undermine long-standing wildlife protections. No motion was taken at that point. The committee also heard SB 1268, codifying the Outdoors for All initiative, which supporters said would protect and expand equitable access to parks and outdoor recreation; it advanced 3-0. Finally, the committee heard three Western Joshua Tree bills from Senator Arreguín: SB 1061, SB 1062, and SB 1063. Supporters from water agencies, local governments, and industry said the bills would reduce fees and streamline permitting for tree relocation, public infrastructure, and basic utility hookups in desert communities. Opponents withdrew or softened opposition on the first two bills after amendments, but objected to SB 1063 as too broad. SB 1061 and SB 1062 each passed 2-0 to Appropriations, while SB 1063 was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs Mar 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For our community, these homes represent our permits and our future.
- Welcome to our home. Welcome to our home.
- This land is our past and our future. This land is our past and our future.
- constituents, our personnel, and our tribal members.
- We share all of our knowledge and our resources and our lessons learned, our wins and losses throughout
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- You think of our communities and the National Forest System lands that we have so much of in the 7th
- To see how we improve our forests.
- our neighbors, and our family.
- We'd like to be able to keep our foresters going. Thank you for your time. We took a huge hit.
- We'd like to be able to keep our foresters going. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much.
Summary:
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on several bills and a joint memorial, with testimony largely focused on steelhead recovery, agricultural viability, wildfire funding, and shellfish fees. On SB 6241, which would create a wild broodstock conservation program for steelhead, staff described a statewide program with a fiscal note of about $14.6 million in FY 2027, while sponsor Sen. Braun argued the concept could boost wild populations and fishing opportunity at lower cost than the fiscal note suggests. Proponents, including anglers and conservation groups, said broodstock programs could improve fisheries, preserve genetics, and support local economies; opponents, including Trout Unlimited, argued the bill was too broad, not sufficiently science-driven, and should be left to agency and co-manager discretion. The public hearing closed with a strong pro/con sign-in count in favor of the bill.
The committee then heard SB 6104, a broad agriculture-protection bill that would require agricultural impact statements for certain agency actions, annexations, and zoning changes, and would direct mitigation measures when actions harm agricultural or natural-resource-based commercial activities. Sponsor Sen. Muzzall said Washington agriculture is under severe pressure and losing farms, while supporters from farm groups said the bill would force agencies to consider ag viability and compensate for impacts. Opponents, including a small farmer and environmental advocates, said the bill was too procedural, could burden modernization or conservation efforts, and might create uncertainty around existing conservation funding accounts. The hearing ended with more testimony in opposition than support.
The committee also heard SJM 8015, urging the federal government to ensure wildfire-response consolidation does not reduce capacity or firefighter safety. Sponsor Sen. Short and many testifiers, including private forest owners, tribes, students, conservation groups, and local officials, emphasized the importance of maintaining and fully funding Washington’s wildfire response and forest-restoration investments, especially the 1168 account. Testimony highlighted fuel breaks, early detection, community protection, and the economic costs of wildfire. The memorial drew overwhelmingly pro testimony. Finally, the committee suspended the five-day notice rule to hear SB 6318 on commercial shellfish fees; staff explained it would cap Department of Health fee increases after a recent fee review, and shellfish growers strongly supported the bill as necessary to keep small farms viable. The committee also took a work session on beaver relocation and habitat restoration, where presenters described beavers as a water-retention and wildfire-resilience tool and discussed coexistence, relocation, and possible future management changes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 10th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You can imagine our disbelief and our gratitude.
- to not have discrimination in our school settings, in our housing settings, Our ability to not have
- discrimination in our school settings, in our housing settings, in our economy, in our work settings,
- Latino students, our Black students, our Indigenous students, our LGBTQ students, in this moment in
- actions by our current president threaten our democracy.
Summary:
The Assembly met after a quorum call and prayer, then handled a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor actions. Members welcomed student groups from Hope International University and Vacaville High School, and later recognized several guests connected to public safety dispatch. The chamber also adopted multiple re-referrals and procedural requests, including moving bills between committees and taking up AB 100 on concurrence from the Senate.
A major portion of the session was devoted to ACR 34, designating April 14 as Sylvia Mendez Day. Assembly Member Ta and several colleagues spoke in support of honoring Sylvia Mendez and the Mendez v. Westminster case as a landmark in civil rights and school desegregation. The resolution drew extended partisan debate over the framing of the measure and broader issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but it ultimately passed on a roll call vote, with the resolution adopted.
The Assembly also recognized Dolores Huerta on her 95th birthday through guest introductions and celebratory remarks, then moved through several bills and resolutions. AB 471 on air district board compensation, AB 677 on pupil records and access to screenings for housing-insecure students, ACR 31 designating California Public Safety Telecommunications Week, and AB 1150 on airport customer facility charges all passed. HR 30 recognizing Khmer New Year also was adopted with broad support.
The most contentious policy action was AB 100, the early action budget bill. Supporters said it provided funding for wildfire prevention, hospital payments, Medi-Cal, and recovery in Los Angeles fire areas, while opponents criticized the bill for health care spending and high-speed rail. After a failed attempt by Assembly Member DeMaio to amend the bill and an unsuccessful appeal of the chair, the Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments and sent AB 100 to the Governor. The day ended with consent calendar approvals and adjournments in memory for several community members, including Larkin Carol Wells, Carmen O. Perez, and Oscar B. Ramos.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- You think of our communities, national forest system lands that we have so much of in the 7th Legislative
- So we're looking at our fisheries, our forestry, our natural resources people to see how we improve our
- forests.
- We'd like to be able to keep our foresters going. Thank you for your time. We took a huge hit.
- We'd like to be able to keep our foresters going. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources
Keywords:
agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Natural Resources and Water
Transcript Highlights:
- First, our community wants to protect our trees. We know what we're doing.
- We love our trees. Most of us have dozens in our yards.
- that act, we provided no fees.
- We just think the flexibility to fix these issues already exists in the act and with these administrative
- Act without making other changes created this new imbalance in the act.
Committee:
Senate Natural Resources and Water
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- public assets, our state forests.
- And then it would also seek to improve our forest health in our forest stands so that we can treat invasive
- Our forests are an outstanding public asset in so many ways.
- 26:54.679><c> public</c> >> Our forests are an outstanding public >> Our forests are an outstanding
- Our forests face many threats.
Committee:
Senate Capital Investment
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Jul 1st, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- If we were to fix all our deficient dams, as you saw in my presentation, we have about more than that
- Drought has weakened our ecosystems, it has shrunk our reservoirs, and it makes Forests more vulnerable
- We know our system. We know our watershed.
- processes and our functions and how we report back. ...more aggressive about our processes and our functions
- George is our manager of our Groundwater Quality Bureau's remediation team.
Committee:
House Water & Natural Resources Committee
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/18/2026 - House Transportation & Infrastructure
Transportation & Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- Congress passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, which formally designated
- Congress passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, which formally designated
- We’ve completed 52 of those projects to date, our Forest Road extension.
- I tell our people back home, it's our mission.
- fix it.
Bills:
HB2067 , HB2068 , HB2127 , HB2164 , HB2200 , HB2201 , HB2242 , HB2283 , HB2284 , HB2285 , HB2286 , HB2287 , HB2304 , HB2306 , HB2399 , HB2601 , HB2609 , HB2760 , HB2761 , HB2859 , HB2887 , HB2892 , HB2893 , HB2894 , HB2978 , HB4027 , HCM2012 , HCM2016
Committee:
House Transportation & Infrastructure
Keywords:
appropriation, transportation, infrastructure, Apache Junction, funding, Show Low, road extension, special license plates, nonprofits, charitable contributions, Reay Lane, Graham County, HB 2200, State Route 89, SR 89, Chino Valley, Arizona Department of Transportation, ADOT, road widening, highway expansion
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:20:12.880><c> be</c><00:20:13.039><c> private</c> our forests, and they may be private our forests
- If we do not allow management of our forests, then we limit the ability of our agricultural producers
- </c><00:24:04.080><c> forests</c> do not allow management of our forests do not allow management of our
- forest but our agricultural industry, even to the point of recreation.
- Norris talked about, but also the savings to our natural resources, our forested resources.
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, June 11, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And I pray for today, Father, for our leaders, our president, our congressmen, and our senators, that
- This week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the beauty of our national forests.
- Every year, corps members have protected our forests and built and maintained trails so that many of
- They failed to act. Today's resolution affirms our commitment to combating waste, fraud, and abuse.
- It must be reflected in our schools, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and in our democracy.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And in our case, our city... ...to relinquish our taxing authority dollar for dollar with the new fire
- And in our case, our city had pledged to give back 88 cents per thousand to our residents, while Washington
- We get our cars serviced by our trusty local mechanic.
- And every year, we show our gratitude for our good-paying jobs by lifting our communities up with generous
- cranes and our... ...cargo, we have a lot of excess capacity in our cranes and our, we have Terminal
Summary:
The Senate Local Government and State Parks Committee heard several bills focused on local government finance, land use, and public safety. SB 5903 would deem a cemetery district commissioner elected if only one qualified candidate files, with sponsor Senator Cortez saying it would save ballot-printing costs and local resources; there was no testimony in opposition. SB 6037 would create or modify a voter-approved option for cities and towns to form a single-city fire protection district, adjust levy and notice rules, allow administrative service contracts with the city, and clarify commissioner elections; Senator Cortez and multiple city and fire officials said it would give communities more flexible, locally controlled funding tools for fire service, while committee members asked about how it would work and the fiscal impact. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transferred to a government entity for right-of-way from rollback taxes when the transfer is tied to development conditions and stays within a 20% acreage limit; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid an unfair tax bill, and there was no testimony on the bill.
The committee also heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against using port funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor witnesses argued the bill protects jobs, keeps public dollars from underwriting automation, and still allows zero-emission, human-operated equipment; port and labor representatives testified in strong support, while the sign-in sheet showed substantial public interest both for and against. SB 6016 would change how urban growth area swaps treat critical aquifer recharge areas, making the rules for annual and periodic updates more consistent and allowing swaps if they do not increase net CARA acreage within the UGA; the sponsor, Commerce, housing, business, and development interests said it was a technical fix that supports housing and consistency, while one witness warned it could weaken groundwater protections and create litigation risk.
Finally, the committee heard SB 6066, which would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, require a public hearing and engineering review, double certain traffic penalties in the zone, and dedicate half the extra revenue to safety improvements before dissolving the zone. Supporters from cities, counties, and Pasco said it could help address dangerous intersections and fund fixes, though several witnesses raised liability and implementation concerns and asked for further stakeholder work. No votes were taken in the transcript; the chair closed each hearing after testimony and sign-in counts were noted.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It's just a better way to use our... and it aligns with the Read Act standard, maybe a better way to
- Um, it's just a better way to use our... and it aligns with the Read Act standard, maybe a better way
- Our students and our teachers benefit if Q Comp stays.
- </c><01:18:17.840><c> benefit</c><01:18:18.400><c> if</c> our students and our teachers benefit if our
- our commitment to our English language learners, keeping investments in our student support, personnel
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- listed within our system.
- our current diversions.
- And then, of course, the pipe carries our water from the aquifer to our customers.
- That concludes our business on rules. I will turn this back to our chair.
- our fire chiefs.
Committee:
House Resources and Conservation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 04/02/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> forest</c><00:18:34.799><c> upon</c> upon forest upon upon forest upon forest.<00:18:36.720><c>
- You know, we follow forest management guidelines that protect our soils, water quality, cultural resources
- You know, we follow forest management guidelines that protect our soils, water quality, cultural resources
- This gives us a great opportunity to manage our forest systems. And it's not just the waste.
- This gives us a great opportunity to manage our forest systems. And it's not just the waste.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- The Freedom to Move Act is about spending our public dollars efficiently and moving more people for fewer
- The Freedom to Move Act is about spending our public dollars efficiently and moving more people for fewer
- time to protect the well-being of our children and our grandchildren.
- And while the sort of dispersed nature of our region does not lend itself to fixed-route transportation
- I am here to express our strong support for three bills being heard today: H. 3753, S. 2359, an act relative
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Transportation
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a wide range of transportation bills focused on rural microtransit, commuter rail fares and service, rail electrification, climate alignment, and safety. Several speakers supported H. 4054 and related microtransit proposals, arguing that rural communities need stable, permanent funding for services like the Tri-Town Connector and Quaboag Connector, which have strong ridership, high satisfaction, and measurable economic and health benefits. Testimony also supported a commission bill to study microtransit funding and definitions, with witnesses emphasizing that current grant programs are helpful but short-term and insufficient for long-term service planning.
A major theme was commuter rail equity and expansion. Boston-area officials and advocates backed bills to make all Boston commuter rail stations Zone 1A, citing large fare disparities between nearby stations in Hyde Park, Roslindale, and Readville. Related testimony supported studying an Orange Line extension from Forest Hills to Roslindale Square and expanding The Ride to Foxborough, as well as restoring commuter rail service to Cape Cod via Middleborough to Buzzards Bay and beyond. Speakers said these projects would improve access, reduce car dependence, and better serve neighborhoods and regions that currently face limited rapid transit options.
Multiple panels urged action on electrification and climate-focused transportation planning, including H. 3726, the Freedom to Move Act, and bills to electrify commuter rail, buses, school buses, and public fleets. Advocates from environmental, transit, and public health groups said transportation is the state’s largest emissions source and argued that statutory goals, coordinated planning, and streamlined permitting are needed to speed decarbonization while improving safety, affordability, and reliability. The committee also heard support for a bill to streamline rail electrification permitting, a bill to exempt certain transit projects from MEPA review, and a bill to improve commuter rail pedestrian safety with gates, fencing, and warning devices at at-grade crossings. No votes were taken during the hearing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:04:16.400><c> that</c> do have some other financial fixes that do have some other financial fixes
- And last year, we had a fix anticipated. And last year, we had a fix on<00:14:07.000><c> there.
- Just really a class act. I thank you, Chair Lilly.
- </c><00:18:55.880><c> political</c> Minnesota or any of our political Minnesota or any of our political
- </c> districts go to borrow money, if our districts go to borrow money, if our credit<00:19:00.400><c
Committee:
House Ways and Means