Transcript Highlights:

• And right now, the industrial market is quite difficult as well.
• And the city took on stormwater controls, including green infrastructure, to help address that upland
• Our neighborhood, because I live here as well, has been a part industrial, part residential.
• And because, you know, we are in the middle of two Superfund sites, industry, freeways, train tracks,
• Green is already done.

Summary: The committee first heard updates on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and related funding. Department of Ecology staff explained how MTCA and the hazardous substance tax support cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and local assistance programs, but said forecasted revenues have declined while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require underspending to stay balanced this biennium and that the problem is ongoing, with further reductions possible if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup program, noting there are more than 14,500 cleanup sites in Washington and that new sites continue to be discovered faster than they are cleaned up. A question from Representative Lee raised the long-term issue of declining fossil-fuel-based revenue, and Ecology agreed that this is a future structural concern even though the current shortfall is driven more by forecasts and transfers than by fuel-use decline. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency described its underground storage tank and heating oil programs, saying it has modernized from a reinsurance model to a financial assurance model with stronger state oversight and cleanup milestones. Russ Olson said the agency’s dedicated petroleum tax account is in strong financial condition, but emphasized the importance of preserving that funding source. He also discussed the loan and grant program for historic commercial releases and a new heating oil loan/grant program, while noting the agency is working on equity concerns where liens can be disproportionate to property values in smaller communities. Practitioners and advocates then offered differing views on MTCA’s performance: one attorney urged a collaborative review process to make cleanups faster, less expensive, and more certain, while another consultant argued the program is too conservative and process-heavy and should focus more narrowly on actual exposure and realistic cleanup standards. Environmental and community groups countered that MTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, and that it is especially important for environmental justice communities such as the Duwamish Valley. Port and city representatives stressed that MTCA grants and cleanup funding are critical for large redevelopment projects, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can slow projects and jeopardize commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation, including requirements for utility wildfire mitigation plans, creation of a wildfire mitigation standards work group, authorization for captive insurance by local governments and PUDs, securitization authority for disaster costs, and the existing wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy described extensive mitigation efforts such as vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced operating settings, public safety power shutoffs, and community outreach. Both said wildfire risk is rising and insurance costs are increasing, and Chelan PUD asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner said a 2022 utility liability market study found insurance availability is tightening as perceived risk rises, and reported that a 2025 work group recommended restoring community resilience funding, requiring insurers to share wildfire risk scores and mitigation steps with property owners, and creating a grant program based on insurance industry wildfire standards. A PNNL scientist added that wildfire probability is increasing in parts of Washington and that mitigation requires long-term, landscape-scale coordination. The final speaker began describing California’s approach to wildfire risk, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Green, Mr.
• Senator Green, Mr.
• Chair, and Senator Green, correct.
• Senator Green, and Mr.
• Chair, Senator Green? Senator Green, I can take a try at it.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• are too… These charts are too complicated really for y'all to understand, but keep your eye on the green
• The green represents higher test scores, and they are also the students who attended intersession more
• attended intersession… So the students who attended intersession three times during the year are in green
• The green bar represents those who attended three intersessions. The three exposures.
• In most every case, you can see the green again represents the score gains for the three exposures.

Bills: HB447 , HB447

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: HB447, school buses, student transportation, public schools, local boards of education, dual enrollment, career technical education, CTE, community college, trade school, technical college, offsite educational venues, student access, transportation policy, school bus law, Alabama education law, Montgomery County, probate court, judge of probate, will registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Green, no. Mchuan, yes. Senator Green, no.
• Senator Green.
• Senator Green. bordering public water. Senator Green.
• Senator Green. bill moves to the floor. Senator Green.
• Senator Green, you are not Green.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• And I didn't want to hurt the industry.
• And I didn't want to hurt the industry.
• I've dealt with smaller billboard industries too on this.
• And you said you worked with some smaller billboard owners in industry.
• And you said you worked with some smaller billboard owners in industry.

Summary: The committee met on March 30 and first took up House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA leaders described the plan as a roughly $1.54 billion coastal investment, with most funds directed to construction and project implementation. They outlined funding sources including GOMESA, BP settlement dollars, state surplus, and new coastal sediment revenues, and reviewed major work across the coast such as marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, shoreline protection, and nonstructural flood mitigation. Members asked about specific regional concerns, including the Sabine River area, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in inland parishes. The committee heard public support cards and then reported H.R. 1 favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related inspection requirements. The bill would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, adjust inspection rules for commercial and student transportation vehicles, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and move toward a QR-code-based system tied to the vehicle identification number. OMV officials said the QR code would contain only the VIN and would be used by law enforcement through existing or upgraded ticketing systems, with the change taking effect January 1, 2027. Members asked about privacy, local law enforcement compatibility, unsafe vehicles, and the annual fee structure. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably via substitute. Next, the committee heard House Bill 888, also with amendments, on temporary dealer plates and temporary registration plates. Supporters said the bill cleans up last session’s temporary tag law, increases security features for print-on-demand plates, clarifies placement rules for dealer tags, extends certain temporary tag periods from five to ten days, and delays fee changes until the electronic issuance system is implemented. A question was raised about whether the new plates would be readable by license plate recognition cameras, and the sponsor said that would be checked with State Police. The committee adopted the amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 885, which authorizes electronic titles, electronic lien recordation, and electronic signatures for motor vehicle transactions. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill is intended to modernize vehicle sales, reduce duplicate paper signatures, and make the process more secure and efficient, while preserving anti-fraud protections and allowing the OMV to set rules. Members asked whether the process would be mandatory, how fraud would be handled, and how identity would be verified; the sponsor said the system would become mandatory for participating commercial entities once implemented, with security standards and good-faith protections. The committee reported the bill favorably via substitute. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 723, as amended, allowing certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor framed it as a safety measure to avoid riders being stranded at malfunctioning signals and to reduce rear-end collision risk. The committee also took up House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase spacing between billboards on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet, with an amendment preserving certain nonconforming signs rebuilt after acts of God. Supporters said the change would reduce billboard clutter and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would hurt smaller billboard owners, shift power to larger companies, and override local control. The committee adopted the amendments and continued debate on the bill, with testimony focused on its economic and local-government impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, gentleman from Green. Thank you. Special guests. Seeing none, gentlemen from Green.
• Gentleman from Greene. House Bill 2003 is third read and passed. Gentleman from Greene.
• Gentleman from Greene. Gentleman from Greene. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Gentlemen from Green. Gentleman from Green. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Gentleman from Green. Committee Substitute for House Bill 2019. Gentleman from Green.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's a world-class industrial...
• The green one turns into the orange. Yes, no, Galante.
• We launched a creative industries ambassador program.
• Again, there is a lot of overlap with creative industries.
• In that, that is true creative economy work, because we're taking traditional industry and creative industries

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And I respect your opinion, but I've been in the industry for 40 years, I know.
• and really driving this new industry in the state.
• and really driving this new industry in the state.
• Put simply, the offshore wind industry is under assault from the Trump administration.
• and no other industry.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on large polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would shift costs from taxpayers to the companies most responsible for climate harm, while dedicating funding to disadvantaged communities, home hardening, school resilience, clean energy, and jobs. Supporters included environmental justice groups, health advocates, youth activists, labor-aligned climate groups, and many individual witnesses who described climate impacts in their communities and urged polluters to pay. Opposition came primarily from the building trades, business groups, and petroleum-related organizations, who argued the bill would raise fuel and consumer costs, create uncertainty for business, and accelerate refinery closures and job losses. They said California already has cap-and-trade, which they described as a better tool for funding climate action and reducing emissions, and warned that retroactive liability for past emissions was legally and economically problematic. Committee members questioned both sides on consumer impacts, job effects, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses the problem. After discussion, the committee voted 6-1 to pass AB 1243 to the Judiciary Committee, with Assembly Member Ellis voting no and Assembly Member Muratsuchi not voting. The chair and members noted the bill would continue to be discussed, and the author closed by emphasizing the need to fund climate resilience while holding polluters accountable. The transcript then began a separate presentation on a wildfire mitigation bill, with the author introducing committee amendments and describing wildfire prevention and recovery needs, but that item was not completed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentleman from Green. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Seeing none, gentleman from Green. Special guests. Seeing none, gentlemen from Green.
• The lady from Greene County.
• And I just want to thank the gentle lady from Green 135 and the gentleman from Green 137, as well as
• Lady from Green. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further discussion. Lady from Green, to speak on the bill?

Summary: The House convened with prayer, approved the House Journal by a 107-1 vote, and then spent much of the day on introductions of guests, family members, interns, and public servants. Members recognized visitors including family of legislators, a park ranger honored for life-saving work, substance-use treatment advocates, nonprofit and apprenticeship program representatives, students, and staff. The chamber also received committee reports and Senate messages, including a conference committee appointment on House Bill 2818 and fiscal review reports recommending passage of Senate Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 1062. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 on public education. The budget chair explained the conference report as providing $8.4 billion for K-12 and the Office of Childhood, with disputes over funding sources and the foundation formula. Several members argued the bill underfunded schools by about $190 million and objected to using blind pension and projected ARPA/lottery-related funds; others defended the budget as record-level funding and emphasized that the total education dollars were unchanged, only the funding mix differed. A substitute motion to reject the conference report and send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report on House Bill 2 was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then adopted and passed House Bill 3 on higher education, after debate over a proposed performance-based funding model and language directing the department to develop a new formula by the end of the year. Members generally supported keeping funding flat this year while studying a longer-term model. House Bill 4, covering Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27, with discussion of rural roads funding and transportation investments. The House also took up House Bill 5 on the Office of Administration and IT consolidation/accountability, with the sponsor describing it as the central state-government operations bill; debate on that measure began before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there are $8 million for citrus greening research, including support for the Kraft program, $14.3
• related to the federal grant awards and divisions, including aquaculture, FNW, energy, and plant industry
• We also have a request in for expedited propagation of greening-resistant plant material at $200 million
• As the Florida citrus industry changed, the department changed along with it.
• There is an obvious passion to Florida to serve the citrus industry in the state, and these are reasonable

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met to hear member-led presentations on agency budget requests after prior meetings with the agencies. Representative Barnaby summarized the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ fiscal year 2025-26 request, highlighting major funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, Florida Forest Service wildfire and land management needs, citrus disease and research efforts, a new Conner Complex facility and lab, agricultural water and BMP projects, agricultural law enforcement staffing and equipment, maintenance and vehicle needs, and federal grant-related spending. No vote was taken on the department’s request during the meeting. Representative Bartleman presented the Department of Environmental Protection request and said the subcommittee supported it fully. The request emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality grants, springs, harmful algal bloom and red tide response, alternate water supplies, resilience and flood prevention, beach and coral reef restoration, land acquisition and state parks, and cleanup of petroleum, dry cleaning, and hazardous waste sites. Representative Alvarez asked DEP to provide a list of the most contaminated lakes, along with estimated costs, so the committee could prioritize cleanup efforts. Representative Black summarized the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission request, which included additional law enforcement funding in high-demand areas, oyster and reef restoration, habitat restoration, heavy equipment for land management and prescribed burning, a water survival training center, and red snapper data research. Representative Salzman then presented the Department of Citrus request, describing a lean agency budget focused on operations, PALM readiness, marketing and consumer awareness, greening-resistant plant material, and building repairs; the workgroup recommended fully funding the request. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff for the more member-driven budget process, and the subcommittee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Artesia has a significant role in the oil and gas industry with the H.F.
• Industries are very giving and greatly support the community.
• Larger industries mentioned above struggle to find workers.
• We can explore how our shared industries trade...
• Just one question: If we do this, do we have to wear green every day?

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• You also have a green card present.
• I have about 30 green cards to read in.
• All right, members, so we have no red cards, just green cards.
• I know you truly care about this industry.
• We have a very good, or we still have a dairy industry.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee met on April 1 and considered several health-related bills and one resolution. HB 933, by Rep. Charles Owen, would create commemorative birth certificates and adjust vital records fees; after adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 288, by Rep. Boyer, would require the term “miscarriage” to appear alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation and billing; after an amendment changed the bill from mandatory “shall” language to permissive “may,” the committee heard emotional testimony both in support and opposition and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 420, by Rep. Berault, would require criminal background checks and registry review for all DCFS employees, not just those with direct contact with children; it was reported favorably. The committee also voluntarily deferred HB 927 and HB 962. The committee then heard HB 971, by Rep. Stagney, which seeks to equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates for independent rural health clinics and hospital-owned provider-based clinics. Supporters, including clinic owners and practitioners, testified that independent clinics provide the same services under the same rules but receive far lower reimbursement, making it difficult to retain staff and avoid sale to hospital systems. The author said the bill is intended to prompt discussion and eventual parity without harming hospitals, and the committee reported the bill favorably. HB 815, by Rep. Carver, would allow federally insured financial institutions to receive death certificate information from vital records to reduce losses and help reconcile account issues after a death; credit union representatives supported the measure, and it was reported favorably. The committee also adopted HR 74, by Rep. Sterling, which urges the Department of Education and local school authorities to report on how schools accommodate students with seizure disorders. Sterling described personal experience with epilepsy and said the resolution is meant to gather data on implementation of existing seizure action plan law and identify gaps in access to rescue medication and training. Finally, the committee took up HB 915, by Rep. Dickerson, which would place Medicaid prior authorization and utilization management timelines into statute. After technical and substantive amendments, including changing some deadlines from five business days to seven calendar days, the bill drew support from providers and health groups concerned about delays in care, and the committee reported it favorably as amended. The committee also began consideration of HB 944, by Rep. Hilferty, creating a women’s consortium within LDH focused on menopause and related women’s health issues; technical amendments were adopted and testimony emphasized coordination of existing research and resources, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This process was put together through industry experts at the International Standards Organization.
• experts uh at the through industry experts uh at the international<00:07:27.199><c> standards</c><00
• Representative Green raised a concern that the earlier fiscal note seemed off because it appeared to
• Representative Green continued, saying that in order to drive, you have to have your physical license
• </c> Madam chair and uh representative green Madam chair and uh representative green uh<00:21:07.120>

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:39:08.160><c> with</c> overcomplicating this industry with overcomplicating this industry with
• So I encourage a green vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Uh so I encourage a green good stuff.
• Members, please vote green.
• I encourage a green vote. The drive on. I encourage a green vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Green. &gt;&gt; Okay. Senator Green.
• Those are the big industries.
• Um and as Senator Green owners.
• </c> are the big industries. are the big industries.
• . >> Senator Green.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Please vote green.
• Please vote<00:09:10.000><c> green.
• Please vote green.
• Please vote green. I recognize Speaker. Please vote green.
• Please vote green. for all workers. Please vote green.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is important to both protect migratory birds and our ecotourism industry in Texas.
• The bill singles out wind energy for scrutiny that no other industry faces, even other energy and industrial
• We enforce those laws against the oil and gas industry, as well as... other industries, to ensure that
• This started under the Obama administration under the pretext that wind energy was green energy.
• These industries generate substantial revenue. Revenue to Texas rural economies.

Bills: HB3129 , HB3251 , HB3556 , HB3724 , HB3887

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, HB 3887, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Code, performance bond, payment bond, contractor bonding, public works, construction contracts, public building, procurement, bid security, subcontractors, suppliers, contractor payment protection, project completion

Transcript Highlights:

• >> COMMITTEE ON REGULATED INDUSTRIES WELCOME TO ORDER.
• I HOPE I CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED OUR INDUSTRY.
• AND RONALD PRICE WITH NATIONAL ELEVATOR INDUSTRY, WHO IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT. VERY GOOD.
• THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR PLAN THAT SAYS INDUSTRIAL USE OR COMMERCIAL USE ON IT.
• JARED GREENE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do have one green card in support, not wishing to speak: Mr. Ty Buffering of Lamoga.
• Katie Belonger has submitted a green card member.
• I'm going to read the green cards into the record. First, we do have a white card. Mr.
• In addition, we do have a green card by Lenny Kaspowski with the Magnolia Strategy.
• He has submitted a green card in favor. Senator, you may proceed with your closing.

Bills: HR118 , HB1120 , SCR11 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB180 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, tobacco tax, excise tax, smokeless tobacco, vapor products, public health, FDA, risk-proportionate, tax credits, higher education, workforce development, brain drain, economic incentives, SB 73, Act 10, Act No. 774 of 2024

Transcript Highlights:

• So AB 2322 creates a new definition for commercial, industrial...
• It’s actually sponsored by the industry itself.
• So commercial, home use, industrial, they would be banned by 2028.
• And I did a lot of TSCA work as well, which is industrial chemicals.
• We take no donations from government or industry.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials