Video & Transcript : 'water utilities' :

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Apr 8th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB number 422 by Gonzales of El Paso relating to limitations on the issuance of bonds. by the Texas Water
  • I really appreciate your attention on trying to bring water and wastewater infrastructure to rural and
  • We believe that Everybody should have the basic ability to open their tap and get some water.
  • No, this is... we... the subchapter in the utilities code that's a... amended here only applies to the
  • houses all the El Paso electric components. bill do anything at all to provide incentives for massive utility
Bills: HB10 , HB 12 , HB147 , HB1522 , HB422 , HB675 , HB204 , HB748 , HB912
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/13/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Transcript Highlights:
  • treatment systems, clean water and drinking water treatment facilities.
  • treatment systems, clean water and drinking water treatment facilities.
  • That can mean things like conveyance of water, storage of water, reuse of water, groundwater replenishment
  • more water?'
  • acre-feet of water.
Bills: HB2024 , HB2053 , HB2097 , HB2116 , HB2117
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/03/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Conservation Grant Fund that receives water from a multi-county water conservation district.
  • from a multi-county water conservation district.
  • water savings and the water supply being conserved.
  • Let me... ...water savings and the water supply being conserved.
  • We need continued water security. We need continued water security.
Bills: HB2029 , HB2096 , HB2116
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/10/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • And again, these utility rates, these utility services are just for the little guys.
  • Paco Sewer and Water Company.
  • It's already somebody's water.
  • , how treating water, if it be the AWP, you know, recycling water, et cetera.
  • The fact of the matter is, if we're looking for all the different ways that we can utilize water that
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Apr 29th, 2025

Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:
  • The gross sales utility is one and a half percent. What this does...
  • This gross sales utility will freeze the rates at those levels.
  • . when it comes to the relocation of utilities.
  • Utilities are reimbursed for fully funded projects.
  • We also locate utilities in the right-of-way because... also locate utilities in the right-of-way because
Bills: HB606 , SB271
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Energy Feb 11th, 2026

Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • He said that right now, a user only has to report water use, not measure how much water is actually applied
  • , and that there has been a long-time fear that underground water users would lose water if they did
  • He said he would like a bill that would stop all outside, out-of-state water users from pulling water
  • water before it's returned to the water table?
  • brine water, back into the water table.
Bills: HB2976 , HB4459 , HB3142 , HB4316 , HB4338 , HB4230
Committee: House Energy
Summary: The House Energy Committee met for its second scheduled meeting and announced it would need to meet again the following week because of bill reassignments and new agenda items. The committee first considered House Bill 2976, which requires the Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate water quality criteria rules for aluminum. An amendment was adopted to extend the rulemaking deadline to December 31, 2027, to allow time for an OU study on aluminum in water to be completed. The bill then passed 9-0. The committee next heard House Bill 4459, which would create a five-year averaging option for certain water users, mainly irrigators, allowing flexibility in annual use while requiring measurement and reporting over the five-year period. Members questioned whether the bill could encourage excessive use during drought years and whether it would improve reporting accuracy; the author said he was open to discussing a possible reduction from 200% to 150% and emphasized long-term aquifer conservation. HB 4459 was reported out due pass. House Bill 3142, described as a revised version of a bill vetoed last year, also passed unanimously after the author said it addressed the governor’s veto concerns. The committee then advanced House Bill 4316, which updates outdated language related to rural water districts and passed 11-0. House Bill 4338, the so-called Brine Act, was adopted with a PCS and would allow wastewater or produced water to be used in ways that could expand Oklahoma’s iodine production industry; the author said it would create value from material now disposed of and would not change disposal rules. Members asked about treatment and environmental safeguards, and the author said the bill only recognizes the activity as legal and does not mandate it. HB 4338 passed 11-0. Finally, House Bill 4230, which expands the ability to use qualified outside suppliers for training and technical assistance, passed 11-0 after brief questioning about who those suppliers might be.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Thu Apr 9, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Requires the PUC to water carrier.
  • Hawaii water any requirement under the Hawaii water carrier<01:12:24.040><c> act.
  • </c> Andrew Kawano from the Public Utilities Andrew Kawano from the Public Utilities Commission<01:12
  • The regulatory compact, at a very high level, says the utility provides service and that the utility
  • Water is a pass-through. pass-through. Water is a pass-through.
Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on April 9, 2026, and heard testimony on several measures. SB 3302 SD1 HD1, dealing with homemade food products, would require the Department of Health to adopt rules for farm kitchens producing homemade food products that are no more stringent than rules for home kitchens. The Department of Health said it supported the bill with technical amendments, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii also supported it. No opposition was heard. A lengthy discussion focused on SB 2061 SD2 HD1, which concerns a 99-year leasehold residential condominium project and HCDA’s rules for sales, income restrictions, and buyback pricing. HCDA supported the bill and said the House draft clarified unclear provisions and would help move the project to pre-sales. Testimony and committee questions centered on whether the project should remain owner-occupied in perpetuity or allow investor purchases after an initial sales period. HCDA explained that the bill was revised to make the project feasible in the market, that 60% of units would be income-restricted for buyers at or below 140% of area median income, and that the remaining units could be sold without owner-occupancy restrictions. Some members and testifiers expressed concern that the bill had shifted away from the original owner-occupancy vision and could become an investment property model, while others argued the changes were necessary for the project to pencil out and compete with fee-simple developments. No vote was taken during the discussion shown. The committee also heard SB 2050 SD1 HD1, which would allow chiropractic students in accredited programs to engage in clinical practice beginning July 1, 2028. The Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association supported the measure, and one testifier described personal experience with student chiropractic care in California. Members questioned why the board requested delaying implementation until 2030, and the board said it needed more time to develop rules because it meets only a few times a year and rulemaking is lengthy. Finally, SB 2102 SD2 HD1, on industrial hemp in commercial feed, was introduced; the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity offered comments, the Department of Health raised concerns about regulating pet food and possible jurisdictional conflict, and a farmer testifying in support suggested narrowing the bill to federally approved livestock feed rather than pet food.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Licensing & Administrative Procedures May 6th, 2025

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill will also require that all staff be trained in basic water rescue and first aid.
  • And all we're asking is that the staff be trained in basic water rescue and first aid.
  • He panicked, breathed in water.
  • That services young children who don't know how to swim in water.
  • A body of water is deadly, unintentional, preventable death. That's what we're trying to stop here.
Bills: SB 28
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources Apr 30th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • CCNs are a regionalized approach, uh, to providing water and wastewater utility services that avoids
  • water quality.
  • It remains the responsibility of the utility to provide clean and safe water to its customers.
  • Water utilities, both large and smaller, laser focused on ensuring water quality and customers have those
  • water quality.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 30th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a nonprofit with a membership of over 900 utilities that
  • CCNs are a regionalized approach to providing water and wastewater utilities.
  • It remains the responsibility of the utility to provide clean and safe water to its customers.
  • Water utilities, both large...
  • And smaller utilities are laser-focused on ensuring water quality and that customers have those protections
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:09:34.080><c> season,</c> of just during the open water season, of just during the open water
  • </c><01:13:00.080><c> and</c> with the Minnesota Board of Water and with the Minnesota Board of Water
  • ><c> permit</c><01:38:04.639><c> transfer</c> support for water permit transfer support for water permit
  • Even though the water permit was already in place, the water use never changed.
  • </c> the state where we already have water the state where we already have water concerns<01:42:11.280
Bills: HF4253 , HF4257 , HF3236 , HF4264 , HF4149 , HF4019
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 3rd, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • the Water Caucus and the Texas Water Foundation.
  • We represent about over 900 utilities that provide water and wastewater utility services to rural communities
  • We represent about over 900 utilities that provide water and wastewater utility services to rural communities
  • Texas Water Code.
  • water, Especially as our state water supply, infrastructure, treatment, groundwater, and surface water
Bills: SB480 , SB767 , SB790 , SB971 , SB1066
Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met on Texas Water Day and limited public testimony to two minutes. The chair emphasized the need to move quickly because of scheduling conflicts with other committees and noted the importance of water policy and related stakeholders. The committee heard several bills focused on water administration, rural utilities, emergency response, and public works contracting. Senate Bill 790 by Senator Alvarado would let the Public Utility Commission create a simplified process for resolving tenant complaints over water or wastewater bill discrepancies; it was described as a way to avoid lengthy contested-case hearings for small disputes. Senate Bill 971 by Senator Sparks would clean up conflicting statutory definitions of “rural political subdivision” so Texas Water Development Board programs are applied consistently; Texas Rural Water Association testified in support. Senate Bill 767, also by Senator Sparks, would expand and improve a statewide database of fire-response equipment so departments, including volunteer and rural departments, can locate and share resources more effectively during emergencies; fire service witnesses supported the bill and suggested annual updates to keep the database current. Chair Perry laid out Senate Bill 480 to clarify that local governments and special districts may enter interlocal agreements for water-related planning and research, including aquifer management and flood/water planning. He also presented Senate Bill 1066, which raises payment and performance bond thresholds for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department public works contracts to $150,000, arguing the change would reflect inflation and help smaller vendors on lower-risk projects. Witnesses were heard on the bills, with no opposition recorded in the transcript. The committee voted out all five bills favorably. SB 1066, SB 480, SB 767, SB 790, and SB 971 each received unanimous committee approval and were recommended to the local and contested calendar, with SB 767 noted as amended by a suggested annual-update requirement for the equipment database.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources Apr 24th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm with the Texas Water Association, which is a statewide water policy association focused on water
  • Um, any water that's made available to meet water needs that wasn't previously available is new water
  • going to need a lot of water, not a lot of money for both, uh, water, flood infrastructure and water
  • And would you agree that lost water is new water?
  • Someone else mentioned new lost water is new water because you're capturing that water.
Bills: SB 7
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - House Appropriations

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Trent Blomberg, chief legislative liaison with the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
  • The 2007 agreement mandated a series of reductions as water levels decreased, measured by water levels
  • Water is number one issue or one of the top issues this year and will continue to be.
  • on what is or is not appropriable water.
  • So you pay your utilities, I think based on seeing what the utilities are depositing or asking for those
Bills: HB2053 , HB2116 , HB2148
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee Apr 2nd, 2025

Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mobile's water utility recently decided they had the authority to close our chairs like other public
  • Our water utility shut down our reservoir permanently as of February 5th, 2025.
  • Our water municipality has brought to the table the assurance that they will be the model utility.
  • utilities.
  • water quality.
Bills: HB471 , HB473
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 3rd, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is Texas Water Day at the Capitol.
  • All the offices have received invitations to participate in the Water Day activity from the Water Caucus
  • and the Texas Water Foundation.
  • It's a great way to learn more about Texas water.
  • We represent over 900 utilities that provide water and wastewater utility services to rural communities
Bills: SB480 , SB767 , SB790 , SB971 , SB1066
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources May 27th, 2026

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, House Bill 1209 by Representative Fuhrman provides for the withdrawal of surface water.
  • House Bill 1209 places a pause on the issuance of new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water
  • Issuance of new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals while allowing existing
  • The purpose is to give the state time to take a hard look at how we're managing our surface water resources
  • and people have invested life savings to buy waterfront property, and you can't even tell there's water
Bills: HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HB1209
Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on March 27 with a quorum present, approved prior minutes, and then took up several resolutions and one bill related to wildlife, water resources, and conservation. H.C.R. 79, as amended, urged the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work together to allow the use of dogs for hunting in Kisatchie National Forest; supporters described it as a traditional hunting practice that has been restricted for years and could benefit local hunters and businesses. H.C.R. 104, as amended, asked the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study and modernize the collection, retention, and access to subsurface data, with members emphasizing the need to avoid sharing company-specific information. H.C.R. 87 was reported favorably to support correspondence from U.S. Sen. Kennedy regarding duck flyway management, H.C.R. 54 was reported favorably to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl and restore an enforcement mechanism related to hunting over intentionally flooded crops, and H.C.R. 94 was reported favorably to require annual boating safety reports to legislative committees. The committee then heard HB 1209, which would have paused new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals while allowing existing agreements to continue and be renewed through December 31, 2036. The author said the bill was intended to give the state time to develop a more comprehensive, data-driven surface water strategy and to address invasive species such as giant salvinia, which he said has severely affected waterways in his district. Members and witnesses acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, but there was concern that the bill was too complex to move quickly in the session. The committee discussed converting it into a study resolution instead, and the bill was deferred without objection. The meeting then adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 24th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • water supply portfolio.
  • I'm with the Texas Water Association, which is a statewide water policy association focused on water
  • We need water at the tap, water in the fields, and water to run our economic engine. is not going to
  • over the Water Development Board's use of dedicated revenues to the Texas Water Fund.
  • Any water that's made available to meet water needs that wasn't... ...previously available is new water
Bills: SB7
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 24th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • communication between all stakeholders to utilize existing right-of-ways for new water pipelines.
  • Governing water supply contracts for in-state water do not apply to contracts for water import.
  • water facilities.
  • This time, we focused on water loss and water management.
  • water allocation.
Bills: SB7