Transcript Highlights:

• through the state and the identified source that I've already indicated, we're also dealing with the NRCS
• County or in San Miguel County, we have different resources that we do... ...use, which would be the NRCS

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're dealing with things like fuel rods for nuclear reactors, that's still NRC jurisdiction.
• As I stated earlier, the NRC leaves it to the United States Department of Transportation and, of course

Transcript Highlights:

• privately located earthen dams provide over $600 million in... annual benefits, having been built by USDA NRCS

Bills: HB294, HB405, HB519, HB294

Keywords: food production, property owners' association, home gardening, cottage food, urban agriculture, livestock, community standards, renewable energy, ethanol, biodiesel, incentives, agriculture, grants, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties

Transcript Highlights:

• NRCS is helping with the design under the Emergency Watershed Repair Program.
• There are some federal funds that I have listed: Army Corps, NRCS, and FEMA. and FEMA.

Transcript Highlights:

• much help the individual growers have received from the Kittitas County Conservation District and NRCS

Summary: The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting by electing new leadership. After brief discussion of the committee’s membership and the usual practice of alternating leadership between chambers and parties, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Mazzal as chair and Representative Christine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Mazzal’s request. The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Rosa Irrigation District on the severe 2025 water year. Park said Rosa is facing very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, and an earlier-than-planned end to the irrigation season. She described the district’s conservation and drought response measures, including canal shutdowns, pump-backs, leased water, on-farm fallowing and water pooling, emergency well permits, and long-term investments in piping, sealant, drip irrigation, and storage. Park also urged continued emergency drought funding, more efficient state lease funding processes, and support for water releases that benefit fish during drought conditions. Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He described widespread on-farm conservation, reduced acre allocations, early shutoffs expected in late summer, and ongoing infrastructure work such as piping, lining, telemetry, and the Springwood reservoir project. He emphasized that these projects are intended to improve water delivery, support fish flows, and provide future storage, including possible hydroelectric generation as part of feasibility work. In response to a question, he said the districts are monitoring aquifer impacts from canal lining and are working on managed aquifer recharge to direct conserved water to beneficial groundwater areas. No additional votes or formal actions were taken after the leadership elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• by increasing, and as we build our relationships with other government entities—local government, NRCS

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met with a quorum and heard two Department of Agriculture presentations. First, the Director of Rural and Family Lands described the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which buys development rights through perpetual conservation easements on private agricultural land to preserve farming, wildlife habitat, water resources, and open space while keeping land taxable and avoiding state maintenance costs. He said the program has expanded rapidly since 2023 through streamlined applications, templates, and an online portal, increasing acreage protected from about 66,000 acres through 2022 to more than 210,000 acres, with a higher share in the Florida wildlife corridor. He also said review times were reduced by more than 85 days and that projects under $5 million can move faster under statutory authority. The department is seeking $200 million in nonrecurring funding on top of $100 million recurring, citing 203 existing projects and 224 new applications totaling nearly $2 billion in estimated need. Members asked about the scientific ranking process, South Florida participation, project prioritization, maintenance responsibilities, and whether landowners can exit the program; staff said land remains privately owned, easements are in perpetuity, and partnerships and cost-sharing are prioritized. The committee then heard from the Florida Forest Service director, who outlined the agency’s dual mission of wildfire response and land management. He said the service responds to roughly 2,200 to 2,500 wildfires annually, manages 38 state forests and one ranch totaling more than 1.1 million acres, and receives about 15 million visitors each year. He highlighted the impact of Senate Bill 1638 gaming compact funds, which provided $32 million for land management, recreation, equipment, roads, invasive species control, habitat restoration, prescribed burning, reforestation, and staffing support. He said Florida leads the nation in prescribed fire, with 277,818 acres burned on state forests last year and 2.47 million acres burned statewide, and noted ongoing restoration work such as Picayune Strand. He also described challenges including aging equipment, deferred maintenance, contractor availability, and timber market instability caused by hurricanes and mill closures, and suggested longer-term funding and a higher capital asset allowance. Members discussed timber markets, public communication and marketing, recreation fees, and coordination with other agencies and FDOT. The meeting ended with the chair noting that next week’s meeting would report out agency conversations and budget recommendations, and the committee rose.

Transcript Highlights:

• we have agencies, industrial sighting, that review these applications and they all have to meet the NRC
• all have to these applications and they all have to meet<01:23:37.120> the<01:23:37.280> NRC
• <01:23:39.040> Having<01:23:39.280> this meet the NRC requirements.
• Having this meet the NRC requirements.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I, uh, the NRC has control of the roads, and that's why we're trying to say, hey, help out the people
• c> and<00:36:55.079> I<00:36:55.520> uh<00:36:56.240> the<00:36:56.400> NRC
• advisory committee and I uh the NRC advisory committee and I uh the NRC has<00:36:58.240> control

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working with the NRCs or NRCDs to do some of the stuff they're doing up in the Gila to try to maybe
• up and putting them down in the ground that's why it's really costly we're we're working with the NRCs

Bills: SB1088, SB1156, SB1157, SB1169, SB1245, SB1273, SB1330, SB1332, SB1391, SB1498, SB1531, SB1550, SB1598, SB1677, SB1707, SB1811, SB1818

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• docketed or permitted phase, to where they at least have shown a significant amount of data to the NRC
• They have to get a permit through the NRC, which sometimes takes 5-10 years before they're docketed.

Bills: SB801, SB867, SB2717, SB2919, HJR7, HB4, HB14, HB27, HB42, HB46, HB100, HB111, HB112, HB121, HB126, HB146, HB186, HB223, HB229, HB322, HB367, HB500, HB521, HB640, HB705, HB783, HB1052, HB1056, HB1105, HB1106, HB1178, HB1211, HB1234, HB1306, HB1403, HB1449, HB1506, HB1661, HB1690, HB1871, HB1960, HB2017, HB2078, HB2128, HB2240, HB2243, HB2348, HB2407, HB2512, HB2820, HB2844, HB2853, HB2854, HB2885, HB3000, HB3005, HB3053, HB3057, HB3181, HB3333, HB3372, HB3425, HB3441, HB3516, HB3749, HB3783, HB3812, HB3848, HB3923, HB3963, HB4070, HB4134, HB4157, HB4158, HB4211, HB4449, HB4623, HB4638, HB4687, HB4690, HB4748, HB4749, HB4795, HB4848, HB5093, HB5115, HB5129, HB5138, HB5294, HB5616, HB5629, HB5646, HB5661, HB5672, HB5674, HB5699, HCR40, SJR5, SJR27, SJR59, SB4, SB6, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB12, SB22, SB23, SB25, SB27, SB34, SB36, SB37, SB38, SB40, SB57, SB140, SB261, SB293, SB441, SB447, SB467, SB512, SB650, SB777, SB785, SB924, SB1188, SB1281, SB1318, SB1333, SB1398, SB1448, SB1566, SB1579, SB1621, SB1723, SB1838, SB1862, SB2167, SB2405, SB2406, SB2407, SB2878, SB3059, SB3070, SB1, SB17, SB21, SB260, SB379, SB509, SB1198, SB1405, SB1506, SB1637, SB1833, SB2155, SB2308, SB2601, SB2778, HB300, HB2011, HB2525, HB5246, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HJR7, HB5115, HB3053, HB1403, HB223, HB748, HB5652, HB3395, HB180, HB1306, HB322, HB126, HB5650, HB4894, HB1629, HB5698, HB3171, HB2694, HB5664, HB4690, HB4464, HB3623, HB2520, HB2213, HB252, HB146, HB5596, HB3619, HB5320, HB5651, HB5670, HB5665, HB5437, HB5679, HB5699, HB5661, HB5662, HB5654, HB5672, HB5656, HB3812, HB3057, HB2035, HB721, HB346, HB2512, HB5695, HB5694, HB5674, HB3185, HB2348, HB1871, HB1135, HB101, HB5666, HB5677, HB5682, HB5658, HB4144, HB3642, HB3815, HB2686, HB2012, HB1960, HB227, HB654, HB1690, HB2128, HB4158, HB4630, HB1523, HB2078, HB1973, HB3333, HB3697, HB3546, HB3225, HB3181, HB2820, HB1506, HB1234, HB640, HB521, HB229, HB186, HB119, HB4795, HB4466, HB3749, HB1106, HB4, HB4170, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4157, HB4285, HB4463, HB4995, HB5138, HB5624, HB1449, HB2598, HB3629, HB4361, HB824, HB1868, HB4848, HB2243, HB40, HB117, HB3686, HB500, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB1056, HB42, HB3000, HB100, HB2240, HB718, HB27, HB4904, HB4202, HB2853, HB5129, HB5093, HB4765, HB4748, HB4559, HB4350, HB4214, HB3388, HB3112, HB5196, HB4211, HB3516, HB3092, HB4233, HB4687, HB705, HB1094, HB2037, HB3005, HB3848, HB1105, HB121, HB3372, HB367, HB783, HB3336, HB3441, HB4449, HB5616, HB2407, HB2854, HB3425, HB5294, HB1178, HB4623, HB14, HB3963, HB1211, HB5646, HB5629, HB3783, HB4236, HB46, HB4638, HB1052, HB4070, HB5509, HB5435, HB4134, HB3923, HB3520, HB3320, HB2517, HB2488, HB5663, HB2731, HB3073, HB2655, HB2399, HB541, HB4099, HB111, HB1532, HB3483, HB2963, HB4580, HB3748, HB713, HB632, HB426, HB4730, HB127, HB5690, HB5689, HB5655, HB3385, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB20, HB123, HB549, HB5606, HB2217, HB2594, HB796, HB150, HB1057, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59, HCR76, HCR81, HCR46, HCR111, HCR83, HCR84, HJR7, HB4, HB14, HB27, HB42, HB46, HB100, HB126, HB150, HB322, HB367, HB500, HB640, HB705, HB783, HB1105, HB1178, HB1211, HB1234, HB1506, HB1690, HB1871, HB2078, HB2128, HB2240, HB2243, HB2407, HB2512, HB2853, HB2854, HB3000, HB3057, HB3181, HB3372, HB3425, HB3441, HB3749, HB3783, HB3812, HB3923, HB3963, HB4070, HB4134, HB4157, HB4211, HB4449, HB4623, HB4638, HB4687, HB4748, HB4795, HB5093, HB5129, HB5616, HB5629, HB5699, HB229, HB521, HB1056, HB1106, HB5138, SR583, SCR52, HB223, HB229, HB521, HB1056, HB1106, HB1403, HB3053, HB5115, HB5138

Keywords: SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we're also working through an agreement and MOU with the NRCS for free office space right there in
• Um, we've also are working through an agreement and MOU with the NRCS for free office space right there
• Um, we've also been working through an agreement and MOU with the NRCS for free office space right there
• for<02:36:56.080> free<02:36:56.680> office<02:36:57.080> space with the NRCS
• for free office space with the NRCS for free office space right<02:36:57.680> there<02:36:58.080

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be used toward an early site permit, construction permits, or a combined operating license from the NRC

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then the clerk called the roll and a quorum was declared with 34 members present. The journal from Thursday, January 8, 2026 was approved without objection, and there were no committee reports or second-reading bills on the calendar at that point. The clerk then introduced new measures, including Senate Bills 51 through 56 on topics such as property tax exemptions, permitting and licensing practices, planning and zoning, short-term rentals, water fluoridation, and Medicaid utilization controls for nonopioid analgesics, along with Senate Resolutions 31 and 32 honoring cancer patients and Tatum Elizabeth Dale. The committee on committees later reported Senate Resolutions 15 and 24 to the floor and announced a committee assignment change: Senator Chambers Armstrong was removed from the transportation committee and Senator Clemens was added. Both memorial resolutions were then adopted by voice vote: Senate Resolution 15 honoring Joyce Leverne Johnson and Senate Resolution 24 honoring Myra Friend Ellis. During announcements, senators discussed the upcoming schedule, including the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday closure and a return to the floor on Tuesday, January 20 at 4:00 p.m., with committee meetings still possible that day. Senator McCracken also filed and described a bill on nuclear energy development, creating a Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority; he said it would support at least three sites through public-private partnerships and funding contributions from the state, utilities, and industry. The session ended with remarks recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and an adjournment motion adopted without objection, adjourning the Senate until 4:00 p.m. Monday, January 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was the first permit I've ever seen from the NRC, and it's because they didn't issue any during the
• ever seen uh was the first permit I've ever seen uh from<01:02:46.720> the<01:02:46.960> NRC
• > and<01:02:47.680> it's<01:02:47.839> because<01:02:48.079> they from the NRC
• and it's because they from the NRC and it's because they didn't<01:02:48.480> issue<01:02:48.799

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked with the NRCS and ran water lines, planted and fertilized new forages, and fenced in hayfields
• c><01:36:06.600> worked<01:36:06.840> with<01:36:06.920> the<01:36:07.040> nrcs
• <01:36:07.719> and<01:36:07.840> ran land we worked with the nrcs and ran land we worked
• with the nrcs and ran water<01:36:08.320> lines<01:36:09.239> planted<01:36:09.600>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Headed to or very close to getting NRC um approval, so something that can start being deployed, um, I

Transcript Highlights:

• These earth and dam embankment ponds were built by the NRCS and, to an extent, the soil and water conservation
• These earth and dam embankment ponds were built by the NRCS and, to an extent, the soil and water conservation
• :58:50.000> the embankment ponds uh were built by the embankment ponds uh were built by the NRCS
• :52.880> extent<01:58:53.199> the<01:58:53.360> soil<01:58:53.520> and NRCS
• and uh to an extent the soil and NRCS and uh to an extent the soil and water<01:58:54.000> conservation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen other research that shows that to be 70%, done by the NRCS and others.
• We've seen other research that shows that to be 70%, done by the NRCS and others.
• We've seen other research that shows that to be 70%, done by the NRCS and others.

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendments 15 and 17 would also add member-owned electric cooperatives to the exemptions regarding NERC or NRC
• Amendment 15 and 17 would also add member-owned electric cooperatives to the exemptions regarding NERC or NRC

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• docketed and permitted phase, to where they at least have shown a significant amount of data to the NRC
• They got to get a permit through the NRC, which sometimes takes five, ten years before they're docketed

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 8:00 p.m. that day, also allowing the Secretary to make the calendar available as soon as practicable. The chamber then took up and passed several House bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 2128, relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue capabilities, passed unanimously. HB 4157, on liability protections for commercial spaceflight and exploration, passed 28-3. HB 2240, concerning certain void marriages, passed after adoption of a Birdwell amendment extending filing deadlines to 90 days for certain active-duty service members and Foreign Service officers. HB 367, on verification of excused absences for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses, passed unanimously after clarifying school district forms and TEA model forms. HB 1506, expanding expedited handgun license eligibility to certain retired county court judges, passed 29-2. HB 4449, on alcohol sales in annexed municipal areas, passed 29-2. HB 3812, on health plan prior authorization requirements, passed 30-1. The Senate also announced a long list of bills and resolutions signed in the presence of the Senate. A major portion of the meeting centered on HB 521, a voting-related bill on curbside voting for voters with disabilities. Senator Paxton described it as an anti-misuse measure requiring a signed eligibility form for curbside voting, creating a 20-foot electioneering buffer, limiting election officer assistance in marking ballots unless a second officer is present, and adding reporting requirements for people who assist seven or more curbside voters. Senators Miles, Menendez, Johnson, Campbell, Cook, and others questioned whether the bill would burden disabled voters, create a de facto registry of volunteers, and impose a harsh Class A misdemeanor penalty for failing to complete the form. Paxton said the bill was intended to protect legitimate curbside voters and curb abuse, and the chamber adopted Paxton Floor Amendment No. 1 after a recorded vote. Zaffirini’s Floor Amendment No. 2, allowing an escorting voter to receive his or her own ballot at the curbside or entrance, was adopted. Menendez’s Floor Amendment No. 3 to reduce the penalty failed. The bill was then passed to third reading on a 20-11 vote, with a motion by Senator Miles to have the exchanges reduced to writing and placed in the journal adopted. The Senate also passed HB 3000, creating a grant program for rural ambulance service providers, after a comptroller-related amendment; HB 5616, establishing the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program and funding for traveling exhibits, after narrowing the bill to mobile exhibits only; HB 4211, addressing certain residential property interests controlled by entities, which passed 30-1; HB 1178, creating temporary educator certificates for out-of-state certified educators and military spouses, which passed unanimously; HB 2243, creating the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, which passed after debate over the need to streamline education mandates; and HB 42, increasing and reallocating the constitutional Higher Education Fund appropriation by 50% to $1.18 billion, which passed 31-0. Finally, HB 2512, a Fort Worth-specific bill limiting ETJ release for land subject to active development agreements, passed after debate over broader ETJ and de-annexation policy, with a local-only clarifying amendment adopted and a proposed broader amendment withdrawn. The meeting ended with the Senate beginning consideration of HB 3372, which would bar school district administrators from receiving financial benefits tied to outside consulting or contracting with education entities, though the transcript cuts off during questions on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• program run through the US Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS

Keywords: 914, all