Video & Transcript : 'infectious waste' :

Page 71 of 356
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • needed upgrades to IT systems, and both parties recognize without these upgrades leave us vulnerable to waste
  • ><00:01:54.280><c> us</c><00:01:54.480><c> vulnerable</c><00:01:54.960><c> to</c><00:01:55.120><c> waste
  • </c> upgrades leave us vulnerable to waste upgrades leave us vulnerable to waste and<00:01:55.640><c>
  • </c><00:04:56.680><c> It</c><00:04:56.800><c> hits</c> just waste taxpayer dollars.
  • It hits just waste taxpayer dollars.
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: Senate DFL leaders held a press conference outlining a fraud-prevention agenda centered on transparency, accountability, and modernization of state systems. Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Minnesotans are angry about fraud and that the caucus has already passed multiple fraud-prevention measures, but more work is needed. She and other senators emphasized that outdated county and state IT systems leave programs vulnerable to waste and abuse, and said they want to pursue both immediate upgrades and longer-term funding solutions, including possible bonding for technology infrastructure. Senator Zena Mohamed described legislation to overhaul program integrity in Medicaid and human services by adding safeguards before, during, and after provider enrollment and service delivery. She said the goal is to prevent theft before dollars are spent, rein in third-party entities that profit without accountability, and improve consumer protections and reporting pathways. Senator Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger highlighted a bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks, arguing they are heavily used in scams targeting seniors and vulnerable people, and also backed a state consumer financial protection bureau and stronger False Claims Act enforcement. Senator Rob Kupec focused on ethics and conflicts of interest, including a proposal to bar legislative members and certain state employees from quickly moving into jobs tied to entities receiving state appropriations or grants. He also said lawmakers should strengthen penalties for theft of public funds and restrict state contracts for people convicted of fraud. Senator Heather Gustafson promoted her Office of Inspector General bill, saying oversight is fragmented and an independent office is needed for investigations, safeguards, and early detection; she said the Senate passed the bill 60-7 last year and she wants it enacted. In response to questions, Murphy and Gustafson said the OIG should have law-enforcement powers, that bipartisan support exists in principle, and that the House needs to settle on a single proposal. The senators also said prepayment review can be useful but can disrupt services, and they argued agencies must use the tools already given to them while lawmakers continue oversight.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • would be Kelly McLean with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Heather Trim with Zero Waste
  • would be Kelly McLean with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Heather Trim with Zero Waste
  • I'm executive director of Zero Waste Washington.
  • that include renaming the program, including dairy products otherwise at risk of ending up as food waste
  • Waste. It's been life-saving for many small- and medium-sized food banks.
Bills: HB2279 , HB2463 , HB1941 , HB2238
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • would be Kelly McLean with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Heather Trim with Zero Waste
  • I'm executive director of Zero Waste Washington.
  • that include renaming the program, including dairy products otherwise at risk of ending up as food waste
  • Waste. It's been life-saving for many small- and medium-sized food banks.
  • Our organization connects farmers, truckers, volunteers, and communities to reduce hunger and food waste
Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2279, which would require the Department of Agriculture to create a program and criteria to evaluate PFAS chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides. The prime sponsor argued PFAS are persistent “forever chemicals” that are entering soil, water, wildlife, and people, and said Washington should begin acting now rather than waiting for federal action. WSDA said the bill is implementable but would require rulemaking, ongoing staff resources, and likely a 12-month extension to complete stakeholder engagement; it also noted the bill should be clarified to address all pesticides, not just new ones. Agricultural and industry witnesses opposed the bill as duplicative of EPA review and warned it could reduce product availability and put Washington farmers at a competitive disadvantage, while environmental advocates supported it as a needed food-safety and environmental measure. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2463, which would expand the Washington Commodity Donation Program and create a Farm to Food Pantry Program to help hunger-relief organizations buy Washington-grown food directly from farmers. The sponsor said the bill is part of a broader state response to reduced federal food-security support and is intended to keep families fed by strengthening local food purchasing. Testimony was largely supportive from food banks, food hubs, farmers, AARP, and hunger-relief groups, who said the programs help move surplus produce, dairy, protein, and other products to people in need while supporting local farms and reducing waste. Several witnesses, however, raised concerns about language limiting participation to organizations that “solely” function for food sourcing, saying it could exclude many existing regional organizations and reduce resilience; one tribal representative also requested an amendment to include tribally owned small-scale farms. No action was taken on HB 2463 during the hearing. After the hearings, the committee went into caucus and then held executive session only on House Bill 1941, which authorizes licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural associations for collective processing, handling, and marketing. Supporters said it would help smaller cannabis producers cooperate and prepare for possible federal changes, while opponents argued it was premature given marijuana’s federal status and too broad in scope. The committee approved HB 1941 on a 6-5 vote and reported it out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2238 was deferred to the following day for further review of amendments.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • I also know that there was a big budget push from your caucus regarding finding out fraud, waste, and
  • ><00:19:48.080><c> and</c><00:19:48.280><c> abuse</c><00:19:48.720><c> right</c> finding out fraud waste
  • and abuse right finding out fraud waste and abuse right that<00:19:49.000><c> could</c><00:19:49.120
  • </c><00:19:54.799><c> in</c> the the fraud the fraud and waste in the the fraud the fraud and waste in
  • </c> programs that help people as waste programs that help people as waste Economic<00:24:07.279><c>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Mar 10th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Can you tell me a little bit about how the waste tire program...
  • Can you tell me a little bit about how the waste tire program works?
  • My question is kind of follow up on the waste tire line item.
  • to what of wasteful tires, similar to what Rep.
  • It is exempted as a hazardous waste. It is no longer now.
Keywords: 965, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's really just to clear some confusion regarding our Waste Management boards.
  • In fact, I've only known our Waste Management board, I guess, affectionately as the 109 board because
  • we have specific statute that directs our Waste Management boards about procedures and term limits and
  • Management boards um we have Waste Management boards um we have specific<00:02:23.000><c> Statute</c
  • </c><00:02:36.519><c> Management</c> um that directs our Waste Management um that directs our Waste Management
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 88, which was described as a short bill to clarify procedures for Waste Management boards, including term limits, appointments, and making sure consolidated governments actively recruit community members and make openings easier to find. The sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve confusion about members staying on after terms expire. The bill received no opposition, passed the committee unanimously, and was reported favorably for the floor. The committee then took up House Bill 346, as amended by a committee substitute. The sponsor explained that the bill responds to a dispute over air emission fees, especially for emergency generators and backup generators used for worker safety and limited non-emergency testing. The bill would exempt emergency generators and backup generators operating 100 hours or less for maintenance/testing from fees, while also removing an existing 4,000-ton cap so the per-ton fee would drop for most permitted sources. Members discussed the possible impact on utilities and ratepayers, with concerns raised that costs could be passed through to consumers and affect coal-dependent areas. The sponsor and another member argued the change would generally reduce fees for most sources and incentivize emissions reductions; the cabinet was described as neutral, and the affected utilities were identified as TVA, LG&E, East Kentucky Power, and Big Rivers, with only TVA having raised comments. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed the committee with a favorable recommendation, though one member voted no and several members explained yes votes while expressing ongoing concerns about future rate impacts. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed broader concerns about utility surcharges and the need to monitor the effects of legislation on ratepayers, but those comments were not part of the bill under consideration. The chair noted that future meetings may include more bills and could start earlier if needed, and the committee then adjourned.
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Mar 9th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • It has six budgetary programs, which span from administration to air quality, water quality, waste management
  • fund and the Emergency fund and the solid waste regulatory fund, which is the new fund that was created
  • would cash flow the program for the first year, and there is an available balance in the hazardous waste
  • personnel costs and support the agency's online permitting system, and add $400,000 from the Solid Waste
  • Regulatory Fund for Solid Waste Oversight pursuant to House Bill 555 of 2006.
Keywords: 989, all
Summary: The committee first considered the Department of Environmental Quality budget. Janet Jessup outlined enhancements for Triumph Mine monitoring and maintenance, a transfer for the Cordilleran Basin Superfund cleanup, and a fund shift to move two positions from federal support to the IPDES Program Fund. Members also discussed language to consolidate air permitting and drinking water permitting fee funds, and a separate cash transfer related to the new solid waste regulatory fund created by House Bill 555. The budget motion and the related language both passed, and the committee issued do-pass recommendations. The committee then took up the Department of Lands budget, focusing on Forest and Range Fire Protection funding. Members debated a one-time General Fund restoration for fire preparedness in FY 2026 and a similar request for FY 2027, with concerns raised about prior reversions and whether dedicated funds could be used instead. Director Dustin Miller explained that the other funds cited were restricted to forest practices enforcement and equipment replacement, and that the preparedness money supports standby crews, including seasonal firefighters in eastern Idaho and other regions. The FY 2026 request passed, the initial FY 2027 request failed, reconsideration was later allowed under parliamentary ruling, and the FY 2027 request then passed. The committee also adopted language limiting General Fund firefighter bonus appropriations to firefighters, after some discussion about whether the wording was too narrow. Next, the committee considered Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. The agency’s request included career ladder adjustments, a van for student transport, staffing for a new 18-bed residential building in Gooding, replacement items, and an endowment fund adjustment. A substitute motion to add the cottage staff funding failed, but the original motion passed, providing funding for the career ladder, replacement items, and the endowment adjustment, with a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the State Department of Education budget was reviewed. The agency requested additional spending authority for school bus camera grants, an extended USDA farm-to-school grant, and ongoing technology grants for the child nutrition program. A substitute motion to increase the farm-to-school authority to cover the anticipated extension failed, but the original motion passed, approving the school bus camera fund increase, the farm-to-school grant authority, and the child nutrition technology funding, with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then announced the next day’s agenda and adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - House Science & Technology

House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • There are no long-lived radioactive waste products that come out of a fusion reaction.
  • Because of all the things that I said, there's no radioactive waste.
  • When systems share a common address, they don't waste energy reconciling mismatched data.
  • Millions and millions of dollars wasted on software technology that failed.
  • Millions and millions of dollars wasted on software technology that failed.
Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met with a full audience and began with brief introductions, including an intern from Arizona State University. The committee heard two presentations before taking up its only bill. The University of Arizona’s Thomas Diaz de la Rubia spoke about fusion energy, describing it as a potential clean, safe, baseload power source and arguing Arizona should build the talent, supply chains, and research infrastructure to commercialize fusion. Members asked about timelines, regulation, competition with China, and the relationship to small modular reactors; he said fusion could be commercially relevant in roughly 12 to 15 years if public and private investment continues, and that the U.S. should avoid losing manufacturing and supply chains as it did in other technologies. He also discussed the university’s broader space and national security work. XRDNA CEO Charles Ableman then presented a spatial addressing and coordination system called EVA, describing it as a way to align data about where and when physical objects exist across systems, with a security layer called a sphere of influence. He said the company is testing with space and logistics partners, uses AI provenance tools, and sees its near-term use case in space operations and interoperability. The committee then considered HB 2809, which would require state agencies handling sensitive or protected data to implement post-quantum encryption meeting or exceeding CMMC 2.0 standards, using a U.S.-based vendor and U.S.-developed or maintained components. The bill would place the master encryption key with the Auditor General and set procedures involving the Auditor General and Attorney General. Sponsor Rep. Gillette explained that the bill was simplified from a prior version after concerns that agencies would have to connect offline systems to the internet; the amendment clarified that encryption can be installed without internet connectivity and without requiring other systems to be online. He argued the measure is needed to modernize weak legacy systems and protect data after prior breaches and failed IT projects. Members generally supported the concept but raised questions about implementation, costs, vendor neutrality, and the Auditor General’s role; the Secretary of State’s office was described as neutral and still evaluating implementation. The committee adopted the Pingarelli amendment and then passed HB 2809 as amended on a 9-0 vote, with several members explaining that they supported the bill but wanted continued stakeholder input and careful attention to execution.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 7th, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we strongly oppose bills like this one as a waste of public dollars and a waste of human lives.
  • Furthermore, profit-driven... ...be found in these waste deposits.
  • Toxic waste is being dumped in our backyards.
  • versus solid waste.
  • Kayla Robinson, with Californians Against Waste, in support. Thank you.
Committee: House Public Safety
Keywords: 988, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources and Environment Mar 31st, 2026

Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's not toxic waste or sludge.
  • It's not a question of if it's a waste, it's what kind of waste. Secondly, unitization.
  • It now becomes a waste. Now, they're not going to say you have gasoline waste.
  • Waste-wise, that's the definition of waste.
  • When you say hazardous waste, codes, everything else, solid waste. Thank you. Thank you.
Keywords: 965, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • If we incentivize SAF, we’re going to produce it on top of what we’re already doing using these waste
  • So my question is, are those waste fats and oils just sitting there not being used right now?
  • You’ve got to buy the waste oils and fats to put in there. And so that’s...
  • Kayla Robinson with Californians Against Waste. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair.
  • Kayla Robinson with Californians Against Waste.
Keywords: 988, house, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Apr 15th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chronic wasting disease. Okay.
  • Well, that established the Chronic Wasting Disease management zone. Okay. All right.
  • And they, you know, to address dealing with the chronic waste of dealing with the chronic waste disease
  • The threat of this disease, such as chronic wasting disease, such as chronic wasting disease pose a very
  • If a person eats a deer that has this wasting disease, what impact would it have on the person?
Keywords: 1136, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EIG-HRE, EIG DEFER, EIG, EIG Public Hearings 02-04-2025

Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Creating a nuclear task force is unnecessary because it would waste time and taxpayer resources.
  • It's just a waste of time and money, and please defer this bill. Thank you so much.
  • I think it would be a waste of opportunity to not look at all of the changes that have happened in the
  • time of our for and taxpayer time waste time of our for and taxpayer resources<00:20:22.000><c> three
  • of time and study it it's just a waste of time and money<00:20:48.440><c> and</c><00:20:48.760><c> uh
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures, with the main discussion centered on energy policy. SB 993 on geothermal exploration drew support from the State Energy Office and others, who described geothermal as a key low-cost, firm renewable resource and said the state should fund community outreach and resource research. However, the chairs deferred further action on SB 993 because a similar bill, SB 1068, had already passed the prior week. SB 202 on renewable energy also received broad support, including testimony that net energy metering benefits households and helps clean energy adoption, while Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s changes to the NEM forfeit feature as unfair to non-solar customers. SB 1588 on nuclear energy drew sharply divided testimony: supporters argued the bill would only study nuclear options and that the state should consider all tools, while opponents from 350 Hawaii and Greenpeace said nuclear is unsafe, costly, and inconsistent with Hawaii’s clean energy goals and constitution. The committee also heard SB 73 on county permits, SB 100 on intoxicating liquor, SB 1234 on government efficiency, and SB 1336 on a greenhouse gas sequestration task force. SB 100 was described as helping a Maui nonprofit recruit board members by addressing liquor commission-related fingerprinting or background-check issues, and the Attorney General’s technical amendments were accepted. SB 1234 was framed as improving coordination among state, federal, and local agencies, though HGEA opposed it as an opening to privatize government services. SB 1336, which would establish a task force to study greenhouse gas sequestration and related mitigation topics, drew some questions about its scope but was supported as a way to study climate mitigation and green infrastructure. In the later portion of the meeting, the committee took votes and adopted recommendations on several bills. SB 73 was passed with an amendment setting a defective date of May 13, 2040. SB 100 was passed with amendments, SB 202 was passed with amendments including technical changes and allowing the PUC to set the customer credit rate, SB 1234 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040, SB 1336 was passed as is, and SB 1588 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040. The committee also took up SB 161 on county permitting and inspection, agreeing to a package of amendments that would soften exemption language, remove some inspection and certificate-of-occupancy provisions, add flood-hazard language, require reporting and a working group, and set a defective date of May 13, 2040; the bill was then passed with those amendments. SB 635 on energy efficiency was passed with amendments assigning the State Energy Office to lead a survey and prioritizing first responder facilities, and SB 700 on renewable energy was introduced with proposed amendments, though the transcript cuts off before its final disposition.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/23/2026 - House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think this is unnecessary and a waste of our time, a waste of taxpayer time, and I vote no.
  • And I think this is unnecessary in a waste of our times, a waste of taxpayer time, and I vote no.
  • Thank you. times, a waste of taxpayer time, and I vote no. Okay, thank you.
  • And making sure that we don't waste our Auditor General's time coming back too soon. Right.
  • This is a waste of time, and with proper planning I think the majority could have swapped these bills
Bills: SB1198 , SB1199 , SB1286 , SB1683 , SB1761
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The United Nations' 2024 Global E-Waste Monitor reports that e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream
  • 168,000 pounds of e-waste per hour.
  • E-waste contains toxic materials.
  • Unfortunately, e-waste is very difficult to recycle. Only around 20% of e-waste is recycled.
  • The most effective way to reduce waste is to limit needless waste and reduce the amounts we create, and
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 15th, 2025 at 10:04 am

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill will increase competition, reduce waste, and deliver efficiency across the board.
  • Electronic waste is a particularly rising problem, where Americans throw out 47 pounds of e-waste per
  • person per year, and a lot of that e-waste contains toxic materials.
  • Only about 20% of e-waste is recycled.
  • The best way to responsibly process waste is to limit Thank you so much for joining us today.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 3862, which would restrict social media app use for minors and limit smartphone/social media access in classrooms. Supporters, including representatives from Champions for Childhood, argued that smartphones and social media are linked to addiction, distraction, cyberbullying, and worsening youth mental health, and said the bill would help parents and schools protect children. After testimony, the committee left HB 3862 pending. Members then heard HB 3712, a construction retainage bill that would stop owners from withholding reserved funds on specially fabricated materials once they are delivered, approved, and warranted, while still allowing retainage for labor and installation. Witnesses from the precast concrete industry said current retainage practices delay payment for years and create financial risk for subcontractors and suppliers. The bill was left pending after closing. The committee also heard HB 2963, a right-to-repair bill requiring manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information for owners and independent repair providers, with carve-outs for medical devices, vehicles covered by existing repair agreements, trade secrets, and security protections. Support came from consumer, environmental, repair, and policy groups, while one witness from Safelite was neutral and urged removal of the MOU reference for auto manufacturers. HB 2963 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4308, which would create county industrial development districts to attract industrial employers and finance infrastructure through local elections and a board structure. Supporters, including the Fort Bend County commissioner, said the bill would help counties diversify tax bases and create jobs; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee took up several pending bills and voted to report HB 74, HB 112, HB 2214, HB 3016, HB 3133, HB 3173, HB 3807, HB 4063, HB 4115, HB 5008, and HB 2652 favorably to the full House, with some sent to the Local and Consent Calendars. The committee also heard HB 3874 on construction contract transparency and HB 4196 on creating a task force to modernize manufacturing, both of which were left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 3344, which would create a licensing and regulatory framework for re-roofing contractors; supporters said it would curb storm-chasing and protect homeowners, while one roofing contractor opposed it as too restrictive and argued existing fraud laws are sufficient. HB 3344 was also left pending.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 03/27/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • time</c> waste of our time waste of our time today.<00:37:02.640><c> Minnesota</c><00:37:03.200><c> Democrats
  • This is a waste of time. And not only is it a waste of time, it's a waste of goodwill.
  • This is a waste of time. And not only is it a waste of time, it's a waste of goodwill.
  • You're seeing it, Senate Democrats uh endeavor to uh waste Senate Democrats uh endeavor to uh waste time
  • Again, I see it as a waste of time.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
OK
Summary: The committee opened with prayer and then took up a series of health and human services bills, most of them moving forward on do-pass motions. Senate Bill 1645 would set audit procedures for Medicaid providers, with discussion focused on protecting providers from penalties for scrivener’s or typographical errors while still holding them accountable for fraud or failure to provide services. Senate Bills 1796 and 1806 addressed foster care, including a 72-hour cap on informal care and extending foster care to age 21 for youth continuing their education. Senate Bills 1423, 1425, and 1502 all repealed outdated advisory councils or programs that were no longer active or needed. SB 206, as amended, expanded licensed ambulance services as essential services to help them access more federal funding, and SB 500 sought to prevent pharmacy benefit managers from delaying payments to pharmacists. These measures were reported out with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1503, which would allow certain nonprofit pregnancy-support organizations without an Oklahoma physical address to apply for Choosing Childbirth grants. Members questioned whether state dollars could go to out-of-state personnel and how telehealth and reporting requirements would work. The bill was laid over for further amendment work. Senate Bill 1557 would place certified behavioral analysts under the State Board of Examiners of Psychology, and members raised questions about how it might interact with a separate bill affecting board authority; it passed after discussion. Senate Bill 1894 gave the podiatry board authority over continuing education, and SB 1984 was a cleanup bill for the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, including authority over certain licensure and telemedicine-related review issues; both passed after questions about scope and reciprocity. Later, the committee considered several pharmacy and insurance-related bills. SB 1344 created an insulin access and affordability program to partner with manufacturers of low-cost biosimilar insulin, and SB 1380 required Medicaid eligibility checks against death records, with an amendment discussed to protect long-term care facilities from retroactive nonpayment when eligibility is delayed. SB 1572 would commission a feasibility study on dissolving the Department of Mental Health and temporarily allow the Health Care Authority commissioner to oversee both agencies. SB 2007 required PBMs to reimburse pharmacists at actual acquisition cost when reimbursement falls below cost, with escalating fines for noncompliance. SB 2074 would impose a mandatory dispensing fee tied to the Medicaid rate; it drew extensive debate over whether costs would be shifted to employers, employees, or the state, and over the impact on pharmacy closures and rural access. The committee ultimately reported the bills out, with SB 2074 passing after lengthy discussion and a final vote.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 29

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The problem isn't revenue; the problem is wasteful spending.
  • 57:50.359><c> is</c> problem isn't revenue, the problem is problem isn't revenue, the problem is wasteful
  • </c> wasteful spending. wasteful spending.