Video & Transcript : 'outreach' :

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NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Water and Natural Resources Jul 1st, 2025

Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • We do the outreach. Inform us about the disaster process and help with applications.
  • NMAA, we've developed a certain level of expertise that's really helpful, particularly with the outreach
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Jun 25th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • When I, when I look at these, how do you do the outreach to the, to our tribal partners real briefly?
  • Partner with other state agencies who have their tribal liaisons and try to do outreach there's communication
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Hied Committee Meeting - 2025-04-01

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Other statewide promise programs invest in outreach, guidance, and support to help students not only
  • Minnesota should follow suit by increasing those outreach programs through direct mail, text messaging
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • What we're doing to get those alert, the community and the community outreach, What we're doing to get
  • those at the community and the community outreach, we are working with our partners with all of the
Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s emergency alert and warning systems, especially in light of recent Southern California wildfires and the January 9 evacuation alert that was mistakenly sent to millions of residents. Opening remarks emphasized the loss of life, the strain on first responders, the importance of timely warnings, and concerns that public trust in alerts has been undermined by delays, confusion, and over-alerting. Members repeatedly raised questions about how to improve speed, accuracy, coordination across jurisdictions, and public understanding of the difference between evacuation warnings and orders. Cal OES staff described the state’s alert and warning framework, including SEMS, the State Warning Center, IPAWS, WEA, and EAS, and said local governments retain primary responsibility for issuing alerts because they know local roads, shelters, and hazards best. They said Cal OES supports local agencies with training, technical assistance, testing, and backup alerting help when requested, and that local alerting authorities must test their systems every 30 days and complete FEMA-required training. Members pressed Cal OES on gaps in smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions, the lack of a statewide unified system, compliance monitoring, redundancy for people without reliable technology, and whether the state should take a more active role. Cal OES said it could assist smaller jurisdictions and step in during emergencies, but that a statewide system would require further analysis and funding. Sheriff Eric Taylor of San Benito County emphasized that local control is essential because counties differ widely in structure, geography, and alerting responsibilities, and he described the challenges of rural areas, limited cell coverage, and multiple platforms such as Nixle, Reverse 911, and social media. Nick Russell of Watch Duty said the nonprofit fills gaps by providing fast, geospatially detailed wildfire information from volunteers and public data, and argued that context and redundancy are critical because official alerts often arrive too late or lack enough detail. Members praised Watch Duty’s usefulness and asked about incorporating similar capabilities into state systems. Public commenters also raised the need for broader redundancy, including earthquake-warning partnerships, and wildfire survivors urged the committee to address the confusing patchwork of alerts and to honor prior compensation commitments to PG&E fire survivors. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only and adjourned after member questions and public comment.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the community outreach coordinator.
  • I'm the community outreach coordinator.
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

February 5, 2025 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • My question, as a mom of two teenage boys—again, what kind of outreach?
  • We do our best to do direct outreach as much as possible.
Summary: The subcommittee first heard presentations on protecting minors from age-restricted products from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Attorney General’s office. DBPR described its Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco division’s licensing and enforcement work on alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, and hemp sales, including inspections, undercover underage-purchase operations, arrests, and coordination with the Attorney General on hemp and nicotine enforcement. Members asked about trends in youth use, retailer training, use of underage decoys in investigations, and whether additional education or penalties could help reduce sales to minors. The Attorney General’s office then outlined the new nicotine dispensing device directory created under last year’s law, explaining the criteria for listing devices attractive to minors, the notice process for manufacturers and retailers, and enforcement consequences once listed devices become contraband. Members discussed online sales, product descriptions, notice to industry, and whether more outreach to parents, schools, and local partners could help. The committee then took up House Bill 105, which would decouple thoroughbred pari-mutuel permit holders from the requirement to conduct live racing in order to operate card rooms/slot gaming. The bill sponsor said the measure would align thoroughbred permits with other live-event permits and argued the industry is already declining and heavily subsidized, so the Legislature should not force a private business to keep an unprofitable line of business. An amendment by Rep. Yeager was adopted to remove live-racing requirements for thoroughbred permit holders who are card room licensees, broadening the bill’s effect to include Tampa Bay Downs as well as Gulfstream Park. Public testimony was sharply divided: supporters said decoupling would give tracks flexibility and not end racing, while opponents from the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry warned it would undermine live racing, breeding, jobs, farmland, and the broader equine economy. After debate, several members spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing business flexibility, declining foal counts, and the view that the state should not require a private industry to maintain racing to keep gaming rights. Opponents argued the bill could damage a signature Florida industry and its economic impact. The committee then voted 10-6 to report HB 105 favorably, with several members voting no and some excused. The meeting then adjourned.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 4th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • expenditure of public funds while preserving local government's ability to engage in no-cost speech, outreach
  • If a municipality conducts outreach to ensure women- or minority-owned businesses are aware of procurement
  • And I'm guessing in the outreach and the push to have involvement for members of the community, it's
  • It risks turning inclusion into misconduct, service into liability, and outreach into litigation.
  • And when we ...to liability and outreach into litigation.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (04/29/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we also engage in a tremendous amount of community activity to outreach to patients.
  • We try to do outreach to those patients.
  • </c><02:21:02.160><c> We</c> uh to outreach to patients. Right? We uh to outreach to patients.
  • We try to do outreach part of the state.
  • We try to do outreach to<02:21:08.319><c> those</c><02:21:08.479><c> patients.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 291, which would update religious land-use and property tax exemption rules for church-owned parsonages, parish houses, and similar properties. Senator Tim Lang, speaking for the sponsor, said the bill was intended to address situations where former parsonages are no longer occupied by clergy and are instead used for church-related purposes such as housing staff, religious education, or congregate living tied to ministry, including addiction recovery. He emphasized that the bill was not meant to create commercial rental housing and that it also preserves reasonable zoning and environmental regulations. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would be applied, especially the meaning of “religious purposes,” the six-unit limit, the “same lot” language, and whether churches could use the exemption to rent units for revenue. The sponsor said the six-unit cap was added to prevent large-scale commercial rental use, that congregate housing would be limited and defined, and that the bill was meant to cover uses like substance abuse recovery, homes for unwed mothers, and religious education, but not apartments converted for ordinary rental. He also said churches would still file annual exemption paperwork and towns could challenge claims they believed were commercial. Questions also raised concerns about whether the bill treated religious and nonreligious housing trusts differently; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at church-owned property used in pursuit of a religious mission. Several witnesses testified in support. Representative Mark Pearson, an active clergyman, said the bill would not remove additional property from the tax rolls because clergy housing allowances typically lead clergy to buy taxable homes elsewhere, while the church-owned parsonage remains exempt. Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire supported the bill as a modest expansion that could help create more attainable housing by allowing better use of existing religious land and structures, though he noted his organization would support even broader use. The hearing ended without a vote or final action, and the chair closed questions after the testimony.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • 52:58.560><c> aggressive</c> COVID don't have as an aggressive COVID don't have as an aggressive outreach
  • </c> outreach status strategy as we used to. outreach status strategy as we used to.
  • There are outreach events that nanners.
  • There are outreach events that various<01:53:07.360><c> towns</c><01:53:07.760><c> have</c><01:53:07.920
  • </c><01:54:07.440><c> events</c> groups outreach events groups outreach events more<01:54:10.560><c>
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 27FN, which would change how improvements to dwellings over water are handled and align those projects more closely with the state building code. The bill was presented by Trisha Milo on behalf of Senator Lang, and attorney John Cronin explained that it arose from a specific New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving the Newcombs’ lakeside property, but that it could affect a small number of older waterfront homes statewide. He said the intent was to give the Department of Environmental Services (DES) limited waiver authority for improvements that do not harm water quality, plant life, or fish, while still requiring DES review and local permits. Committee members asked several questions about the scope of the bill, including whether it was tied to one case, how many properties might be affected, what counts as “living space,” and whether the language could allow larger decks or other expansions. Cronin said the bill was meant to be narrow, focused on access and egress and not on creating new living space, and that DES would still be able to deny unreasonable requests. He also described the Newcombs’ project as a rehabilitation of an older structure that had been approved locally and later challenged by DES, leading to the current dispute. Darlene Forst, the Wetlands Bureau administrator at DES, testified in opposition. She said the department was surprised the bill was being heard because it believed the Senate had sent it to interim study, and she argued the language was unclear and could have broader statewide effects than intended. Forst also said the underlying case was still active and should not be effectively re-litigated through this bill. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • MODIFIES THE AGE REQUIREMENT AND INITIAL ENROLLMENT AND EXPANDS FUNDING INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT OUTREACH
Keywords: 999, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • the California Health and Human Services Agency to train and support first responders, homeless outreach
  • for those in the ports who are losing their jobs because of automation, jails to jobs, and also outreach
  • covered and where the resources are, and the promotoras have been an invaluable part of providing the outreach
  • And we are also grateful for the funding for the CalFresh Outreach Program and for the county workforce
Summary: The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review heard the 2026-27 budget package, including AB 111 and AB 112 plus 16 trailer bills and two policy bills. Chair Laird described the budget as balanced over two fiscal years, with about $351.7 billion in total spending, $251.5 billion General Fund, and record reserves, while emphasizing investments in child care, homelessness, housing, Medi-Cal, education, courts, and other core programs. The Department of Finance presented each bill, outlining major items such as Medi-Cal adjustments tied to federal H.R. 1, child care and early learning funding, education and higher education investments, human services, developmental services, health, skilled nursing, resources, energy, transportation, housing, labor, state government, courts, taxation, and two policy bills on education governance and ballot measure placement. The LAO said it had no additional comments but was available for questions. The committee later achieved quorum and moved to member questions and comments, with no votes taken in the portion provided. Members largely focused on the budget’s fiscal structure and policy implications. Several senators praised staff and noted the compressed timeline, while Vice Chair Niello criticized the process as overly complex and burdensome. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas supported the budget but raised concerns about Medi-Cal changes for people with unsatisfactory immigration status, asking about access to care, the number affected, and county eligibility support; Finance said about two million people would transition to fee-for-service and that $39 million was included for care coordination, along with additional county eligibility funding. Senator Durazo said the agreement delayed, but did not resolve, cuts to immigrant health coverage, dental, and clinic payments, and argued that the budget did not create a true restoration mechanism. Senator Richardson highlighted hospital funding, public hospital definitions, DMV data protections, and court construction and maintenance needs, while Senator Grove questioned the sustainability of spending, the Medi-Cal savings assumptions, distressed hospital funding, Planned Parenthood transparency, developmental services changes, high-speed rail costs, and the property tax postponement program. Other members emphasized different priorities. Senator Blake Spear praised climate and parks investments, support for HAP homelessness funding with accountability, transit stabilization, and Care Court referral funding, while expressing concern about the lack of wildlife coexistence funding and long-term transit operating support. Senator Weber Pearson raised a technical concern in the health trailer bill regarding menopause language, arguing that the bill should refer to perimenopausal symptoms and should not narrow provider participation through contracting language. Throughout the hearing, Finance repeatedly explained that many of the budget’s savings came from reduced caseloads or delayed implementation of prior proposals, while some new spending was added to mitigate impacts and support administration of the changes. No final committee action or vote was shown in the excerpt.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Jun 29th, 2026

Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:
  • the California Health and Human Services Agency to train and support first responders, homeless outreach
  • for those in the ports who are losing their jobs because of automation, Jails to Jobs, and also outreach
  • covered and where the resources are, and the promotoras have been an invaluable part of providing the outreach
  • And we are also grateful for the funding for the CalFresh Outreach Program and for the county workforce
Keywords: 987, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 19th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 1202 strengthens state and county outreach requirements, including mandatory...
  • SB 1202 strengthens state and county outreach requirements, including mandatory collaboration with community-based
  • SB 1202 also requires Medi-Cal managed care plans to conduct outreach and education on work requirements
  • will also show us who's falling through the cracks and when and where we need to focus additional outreach
Keywords: 987, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Apr 20th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we have fundamental concerns with the limitations on public outreach, as well as local budgetary
  • Taking the public outreach portions first, we really think that there are ...the restriction on community
  • inconsistent with funding requirements that we often have from the state and federal government for public outreach
  • Emergency access, ADA, egress, curb management, space removal, traffic diversion, and we want outreach
Summary: The committee heard several transportation and public safety bills, largely focused on traffic violence, e-bike regulation, and DUI enforcement. AB 1588 on sideshows and street takeovers drew support from the author, San Francisco officials, law enforcement, and the League of California Cities, who said the bill would close loopholes, add motorcycles and dirt bikes to the sideshow framework, and align penalties with speed contests. ACLU California Action opposed it, but members generally supported the bill, noting the need for stronger tools against dangerous takeovers. The committee also heard AB 1654 on commercial driver’s licenses and federal verification rules, with the author arguing California must comply with federal law to avoid losing CDL authority; the chair and others objected that the bill could wrongly affect U.S. citizens and codify changing federal rules. The bill was discussed but not advanced in the portion provided. AB 1976 sought to speed delivery of bicycle and pedestrian safety projects by limiting some public meetings, restricting cancellation of contracts without findings, lowering petition thresholds for traffic calming, and updating the Pedestrian Mall Act. Supporters said current procedures delay life-saving projects and give too much power to opponents, while counties and cities opposed the limits on local public input and budget authority. After discussion, the committee voted to send AB 1976 to Local Government, with several members expressing support but also concerns about preserving community participation. The committee also heard AB 2015, which would direct Caltrans to study the effects of navigation apps on local roads and safety. Supporters said apps can divert traffic onto residential streets and undermine local traffic calming, while members suggested the bill should also consider built-in vehicle navigation systems. AB 2168, on the Active Transportation Program, would update the definition of safe routes to transit, prioritize transit-rich and underserved areas, and add stronger spending accountability; it drew support from bicycle and transit advocates and some local agencies, with a few technical concerns left to resolve. Finally, AB 1942 on e-bike registration and license plates for Class 2 and 3 e-bikes drew strong support from law enforcement and medical witnesses citing rising injuries, but broad opposition from bicycle groups, micromobility advocates, and some local governments who said it would burden lawful riders, create DMV problems, and not address illegal e-motos. The committee also heard AB 1685 and AB 1687, both DUI-related bills from the same author: AB 1685 would increase DMV points for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and AB 1687 would extend license revocation for a third DUI conviction to eight years with an interlock option after four years. Both bills received strong support from law enforcement and victims’ advocates, with ACLU California Action opposing them as duplicative or overly punitive; both bills were advanced by committee vote.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Apr 20th, 2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we have fundamental concerns with the limitations on public outreach, as well as local budgetary
  • Taking the public outreach portions first, we really think that there are There are plenty of opportunities
  • inconsistent with funding requirements that we often have from the state and federal government for public outreach
  • Emergency access, ADA, egress, curb management, space removal, traffic diversion, and we want outreach
Keywords: 988, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Fri Mar 20, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • find a way that we can reach a lot of people, and we'd be more than happy to support, provide the outreach
  • programs. than happy to support, provide the than happy to support, provide the the<00:48:45.440><c> outreach
  • ,</c> the outreach, the outreach, uh<00:48:47.080><c> let</c><00:48:47.320><c> them</c><00:48:47.480>
Summary: The committee opened by reviewing hearing procedures and then took up SB 2580, which concerns Hawaii’s film production tax credit and related incentives. Testimony was strongly supportive overall, with witnesses saying the measure would help attract productions, extend the sunset date, include streaming platforms, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. Several supporters asked for cleanup language on grant administration, tax credit management, local-hire uplifts, and limits on third-party audit requirements for smaller productions. The state film office said the bill was generally strong but suggested clarifying language and noted that DBEDT and DOTAX already provide oversight of the current credit. No vote was taken in the transcript, but the bill drew broad support with a few comments and one opposition noted later in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2578 SD1, a measure to create a film commission and related grant structure. Testifiers said the proposal would formalize industry input, improve accountability, and help the state compete globally, but they also raised concerns about how a new grant program would interact with the existing tax credit system. The film office said the grant program and tax credit should be separated operationally, that the advisory structure should include industry voices and possibly union representation, and that county film commissioner language may need technical adjustment. A testifier also suggested a Hawaii film museum and related tourism opportunities. The measure was described as having 42 supporters, one opposition, and five comments, with no final action shown. The committee next considered SB 2259, a dementia training measure. Supporters, including the bill’s drafter and the Alzheimer’s Association, described personal caregiving experiences and said free dementia training could help workers and families. Suggested amendments focused on clarifying the relationship between EOA and DBED and allowing retraining every two years because of workforce turnover. DBED said the bill is worthwhile but is not really an economic development initiative, and it should align with existing dementia programs and be easy for businesses to use, preferably online. The committee then moved to SB 3084 SD1, which HTDC said would expand its R&D matching program beyond SBIR to other federal research grants because of uncertainty at the federal level; the transcript ends as testimony begins, with no vote or final action recorded.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Health and Welfare Mar 18th, 2026

Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:
  • you brought this up because this gives me a very clear opportunity to express how the coordinated outreach
  • ... ...up because this gives me a very clear opportunity to express how the coordinated outreach by Blue
  • you brought this up because this gives me a very clear opportunity to express how the coordinated outreach
  • , up because this gives me a very clear opportunity to express how the coordinated outreach by Blue and
Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from several prior 2025 meetings, then took up HB 574 by Rep. Spell, which updates the names of two organizations on the Mental Health Advocacy Service Board of Trustees. Rep. Spell explained it as a technical cleanup bill to correct the names of the Louisiana Mental Health Association and the Louisiana State Medical Society so the board’s membership records match current organization names. With no objections, HB 574 was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 486, also by Rep. Spell, to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PsyPact) and allow Louisiana psychologists to provide telepsychology and temporary in-person services across state lines. Rep. Spell and PsyPact representatives said the compact would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural areas, while maintaining standards and disciplinary oversight. The committee adopted amendments on fees and the effective date, and HB 486 was reported favorably with amendments. HB 198 by Rep. Eccles proposed a Medicaid reimbursement methodology for ambulatory surgical centers, using a Medicare-based rate to improve access for Medicaid patients needing specialty procedures. Amendments were adopted to add ophthalmology-related services and to cap reimbursement at the lesser of the outpatient hospital rate or 100% of the Medicaid rate, along with a technical amendment to address the fiscal note. Supporters from GI and ASC groups said the bill would improve access and lower long-term costs, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. The committee spent the most time on HB 182 by Rep. Travis Johnson, which would require hospitals to ensure access to sexual assault forensic exams and related training. Johnson, law enforcement witnesses, and the Attorney General’s office emphasized the need for timely evidence collection, especially in rural areas, and said the current system leaves victims traveling long distances or losing evidence. Hospital and coroner witnesses supported the goal but opposed the bill as written, arguing it could impose duties on hospitals without enough trained personnel, funding, or a workable statewide training and coordination system; they urged a statewide coordinator, mobile SANE units, and clearer implementation. The bill was not finally disposed of in the portion of the meeting provided, and members discussed continuing to work on amendments and timing before floor consideration.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (02/17/2026)

Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the Secretary of State, through outreach at the high schools and other places, has tried to educate
  • 01:20:15.040><c> of</c><01:20:15.120><c> state</c><01:20:15.520><c> through</c><01:20:15.840><c> outreach
  • </c><01:20:16.320><c> at</c> secretary of state through outreach at secretary of state through outreach
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AGR-EEP Joint Public Hearing - Fri Feb 6, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, we need more funding in order to continue the work, doing outreach and also scaling up this
  • ><00:53:05.440><c> the</c><00:53:05.760><c> work</c><00:53:06.319><c> doing</c><00:53:06.640><c> outreach
  • </c><00:53:07.359><c> and</c> to continue the work doing outreach and to continue the work doing outreach
Bills: HB1621, HB1880, HB1831
Summary: The joint committees on Agriculture and Food Systems and Energy and Environmental Protection heard three bills. HB 1621 would create a conservation, agriculture, and soil health incentive program under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, with annual reporting and funding. Testimony was broadly supportive from the Climate Commission, University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Farmers Union, White Alliance for Progressive Action, and the Farm Bureau, and the bill was described as a way to advance soil health and support producers. HB 1880 would prohibit, beginning in 2027, the use of pesticides containing 1,3-dichloropropene (such as Telone). The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity offered written comments, Hawaii Farmers Union supported the ban citing drift and health concerns, and the Farm Bureau opposed it, arguing growers need such tools; the bill also drew discussion about crop rotation and other pest-management practices. HB 1831 would authorize funding to address survey deficiencies and wastewater compliance issues on certain non-agricultural parklands; the Attorney General’s Office warned the bill as written may violate the U.S. Constitution’s contract clause and suggested revisions, while the department and Farm Bureau supported the measure’s intent. The committees later took up decision-making and voted to pass all three measures with amendments, with the effective dates changed to July 1, 3000 and HB 1831 amended to reflect the Attorney General’s suggested changes. The Agriculture and Food Systems committee then heard HB 1572, which would establish a four-year restorative aquaculture development program to streamline permitting, expand infrastructure and workforce capacity, create pilot sites, and convene an advisory council. The Attorney General noted a technical issue about whether council members would be compensated, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Farmers Union all expressed support for streamlining aquaculture and promoting restorative aquaculture. Members asked about the bill’s focus on restorative aquaculture, and the department said the program would give the area dedicated resources and a framework. The committee also heard HB 219, which would temporarily reestablish the coffee berry borer pesticide subsidy program and manager position; the department, Waimea Coffee Association, Farm Bureau, and Farmers Union supported it. HB 2139 would fund University of Hawaiʻi research on treatment methods for the Queensland longhorn beetle. Testimony from DLNR, the invasive species council, university researchers, farmers, and the Farm Bureau emphasized the beetle’s spread and damage to trees and crops, and described nematode biocontrol as promising but labor-intensive and in need of more research and scaling. Members asked whether the funding was for research rather than a position, whether the current nematode approach is sufficient for large orchards, and whether other controls are being explored; the response was that the bill funds testing and that more work is needed, including local production of nematodes if the method proves effective.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so I think there definitely needs to be more outreach done around both this flushing and then future
  • needs<01:12:21.120><c> to</c><01:12:21.199><c> be</c><01:12:21.360><c> more</c><01:12:21.520><c> outreach
  • ><01:12:22.960><c> um</c><01:12:23.199><c> done</c><01:12:24.400><c> around</c> needs to be more outreach
  • um done around needs to be more outreach um done around both<01:12:25.520><c> this</c><01:12:26.000>
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Special Committee on Red Hill received an update from the Hawaii Department of Health and EPA Region 9 on regulatory oversight of the Red Hill facility, the Navy drinking water system, and ongoing environmental investigation and cleanup. The agencies reviewed the authorities governing the work, including DOH’s emergency orders, EPA’s 2023 administrative consent order, and the older 2015 agreement, and explained that the newer framework is being used for most current oversight because it includes closure, remediation, drinking water protections, and stronger community engagement requirements, even though some requirements overlap. EPA and DOH reported major milestones and current work. Defueling was completed in March 2024, with about 104 million gallons removed, and the agencies said this eliminated the risk of another catastrophic release. They described the current tank-closure phase, expected to finish in July 2029, along with site assessment, site investigation, remediation, and long-term monitoring that may continue through at least 2040. They also summarized drinking water actions: emergency response flushing and sampling after the 2021 spill, lifting of the public health advisory in 2022, completion of extended drinking water monitoring in 2025, and ongoing system improvements such as repairs, flushing plans, valve work, complaint-response protocols, and upgrades to storage tanks and pumps. Members asked several questions about monitoring results, the meaning of TPH, the status of the 2015 agreement, and the Navy’s groundwater model. EPA said its sampling and the Navy’s results were in alignment during extended monitoring, and that it plans to issue a summary report covering the full response period. On the groundwater model, EPA and DOH said they have not yet approved it for decision-making, are reviewing it iteratively with outside experts and University of Hawaii data, and may approve it for specific uses in the future. DOH said its latest comment letter states the model cannot yet be used for decision-making purposes, and noted that UH’s separate modeling work is contingent on funding and may not be completed until next spring. The agencies also said they continue community outreach through open houses, webinars, neighborhood boards, legislative hearings, and fuel tank advisory committee meetings.