Video & Transcript : 'disaster mitigation' :
Page 78 of 407
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- Wildfire mitigation is essential, but costs are not unchecked.
- I should mention that many of these types of accounts are tracking wildfire mitigation costs.
- By now, the utilities should be able to properly plan their wildfire mitigation...
- Of the $40 billion spent in the past five years, 60% of that has been on mitigation efforts.
- Wildfire mitigation is a public safety necessity, not a shareholder growth opportunity.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 17th, 2026 at 05:06 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- use one of the tax and rent extensions of a tax due date for good cause... ...such as a natural disaster
- have been and continue to be realized across the country, helping to reinforce grid reliability, mitigate
Committee:
Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 4, 2026 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair: Welcome to the Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee. Kendall, please call the roll.
- They are central systems to store, move, and protect fresh water for Everglades restoration, flood mitigation
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appr-Sub-Natural Resources REVISED Afternoon Jan 7th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- remember, in 2023, there was legislation, the Flood and Drought Plan Act, to strengthen Oklahoma's disaster
- You know, drought mitigation when you can hold water back and you can trap sediments so that the larger
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- And whether or not the range can support the size of the herds and help us mitigate when those herds
- Advertising, averting this disaster was imperative, so the media was notified as well as woe.
Committee:
Senate Senate Judiciary
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- which tackled a major recent driver of costs on electricity bills, which was the IOU's wildfire mitigation
- Wildfire mitigation is essential, but costs are not unchecked.
- I should mention that many of these types of accounts are tracking wildfire mitigation costs.
- Of the $40 billion spent in the past five years, 60% of that has been on mitigation efforts.
- Wildfire mitigation is a public safety necessity, not a shareholder growth opportunity.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets.
CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs.
Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Congressional Redistricting, Select Jul 26th, 2025
Congressional Redistricting, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- You know how many Texas cities are declared disaster areas? or counties.
- Texas counties are now nationally declared federal disaster areas?
- We also know that we have ongoing disasters here in Harris County.
- for $15 billion to address the ongoing disasters in Texas.
- She called the coalition saying she had a disaster in her home.
Committee:
House Congressional Redistricting, Select
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- – The money recovered and placed in that fund are only to be used ameliorating, addressing, and mitigating
- One is for a mitigation that you all funded last year, mitigation to a single financial audit, and also
- And we're trying to deal with it here and mitigate it because we can't compete not only with the public
- upgrades aging infrastructure to maintain reliability and security, supports cloud migration and disaster
Committees:
Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- does specifically speak to low- and moderate-income families and also, as we know, with natural disasters
- in this conversation, said last month in one of their reports, allowing this technology without mitigating
- And so it kind of mitigates some of this danger piece to make sure that they're not feeding it into—so
- And so it kind of mitigates some of this danger piece to make sure that they're not feeding it into if
- And then we don't have the certified outlet types, as you were talking about, that mitigate some of those
Summary:
The committee heard public hearings on four bills. SB 5982 would expand Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to include port districts and certain single-customer utilities, and would revise definitions for market customers and affected market customers. Supporters, including environmental groups, Commerce, Ecology, and some port and utility representatives, said it would close loopholes and ensure large loads such as data centers and port-based generation are subject to CETA. Opponents from ports, PUDs, business groups, and industrial consumers argued the bill could sweep in existing single-customer utilities and burden smaller ports or industrial projects. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing after noting substantial pro, con, and other testimony.
SB 6008 would create a statewide residential battery incentive and flexible demand program administered through Commerce, with higher incentives for low- and moderate-income customers and requirements tied to utility flexible demand programs. Supporters said it would improve grid resilience, lower bills, and help deploy virtual power plants and distributed storage. Utilities and some advocates supported the concept but asked for changes on funding, low-income verification, compensation, deadlines, and program design. No action was taken beyond the public hearing.
SB 6050 would allow portable plug-in solar devices and one meter-mounted device per premises, while restricting utilities, landlords, and HOAs from blocking them and setting safety and certification conditions. Supporters called it a low-cost way to expand distributed solar access, especially for renters and lower-income households. Opponents, including labor, utilities, and safety-focused witnesses, raised concerns about fire risk, backfeeding, lack of existing electrical code standards, utility worker safety, and the need for interconnection review. The committee then heard SB 6056, which would direct Ecology to exempt utility service vehicles from certain clean vehicle emissions standards; Ecology said it was already pursuing a similar rule and flagged the bill’s broad definition and potential policy implications, while utility associations supported the exemption for emergency response vehicles and environmental advocates opposed the statutory approach. No votes were taken on any of the bills.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Nov 12th, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- It also can dive in and kind of give us a synopsis of what the key risks and some of the mitigations
- I think that will definitely help us understand the risks, the mitigation, and the funding that you're
- groups that provide us with the AI, you know, as a kind of stopgap, or that interface to try to mitigate
- immediate stopgap answer to that is your policies and processes and the training that you put forth to mitigate
- And if you're working correctly in this Agile approach, it is not. disaster.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And if you look at the Coastal Commission, my experience is having a disaster-prone district that a sewer
- And I think they are misrepresented because they step up after disasters and approve things.
- Members, SB 1036 would provide clarity under the Mitigation Fee Act by requiring that all jurisdictions
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through privileges of the floor recognizing visitors, including Fresno State Ag Leadership students and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The body also approved the Senate journals and took up several gubernatorial appointments, confirming Heather Lynn Gonzalez to the Court Reporters Board and reappointing Anacubas to the California Law Revision Commission and David Hübner to the same commission, each by 26-10 votes.
The chamber then considered SCR 136, commemorating the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, environmental protection, habitat restoration, public trails, and climate resilience, while opponents argued the commission can override local control and hinder development and infrastructure. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 on Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day unanimously, with members discussing survivor support, consent, and the need for stronger protections and accountability.
Additional resolutions and bills were approved, including SCR 130 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement flexibility, SB 930 requiring end-to-end encryption for certain school exam proctoring services, SB 917 expanding farmers’ market sales opportunities for wineries, SB 1002 on continuity of telehealth care for eligible patients, SB 1036 clarifying mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SCR 131 calling for urgent action on unsheltered homelessness, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissal, SB 969 on remote developmental services, and SCR 157 honoring School Bus Driver’s Day. Most of these items passed unanimously, while SCR 131 passed 34-0 after debate over housing-first approaches, self-sufficiency, interim shelter, and coordination among state and local governments. The consent calendar was then approved, committee announcements were made, and the Senate adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, with the next floor session scheduled for April 30, 2026.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Feb 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Transcript Highlights:
- Like the National Guard, federal reservists are authorized to assist in state-level natural disaster
- authority provision, reserve components can deploy resources to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate
- We are always in a supporting role to local and state government when disasters overwhelm civilian authorities
Committee:
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Keywords:
nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- issues and safety issues are... ...so that we can then be able to plan out and address a potential mitigation
- The speed and efficiency in which you move, particularly when there is a natural disaster, is absolutely
- better partner in the secretary and in his department, and particularly with emphasis during national disasters
Committee:
Senate Transportation
Summary:
The committee held a panel discussion on micro-mobility device regulation and enforcement, focusing on e-bikes and e-scooters. Sheriff Robert Hardwick and Chief Jamie Cruz described serious injuries involving children, including crashes at high speeds, and argued that current law is outdated because it folds e-bikes into the bicycle statute. They urged a separate statewide framework with clearer age limits, licensing or training requirements, helmet rules, and penalties for modifying devices to go faster. Both also emphasized that parents should bear responsibility and that enforcement should include education, progressive discipline, and, if needed, civil citations.
FDOT District 6 Secretary Daniel Iglesias and DHSMV representative Lonnie Groner said their agencies are prioritizing education, outreach, and better data collection. They noted that micromobility devices are increasingly common, create safety and accessibility issues on sidewalks and shared-use paths, and are difficult to track because crash reports often do not identify them consistently. Members discussed whether motorized devices should be barred from sidewalks, whether riders should be licensed and insured, and how enforcement could be made uniform statewide. The panel also said manufacturers have not been meaningfully engaged and that local approaches vary widely.
The committee then heard 2026 legislative priorities from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and DHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. Perdue outlined FDOT’s large five-year work program, ongoing congestion-relief projects, investments in ports, airports, rail, workforce, heavy equipment, facilities, and cybersecurity, and the need to do more with flat revenues. Kerner summarized DHSMV’s agency bill priorities, including requiring a Florida address and proof of residence for vehicle registration, updating identification requirements, aligning tank vehicle and motor carrier rules with federal standards, improving IFTA administration, raising the crash-report damage threshold, and allowing electronic notices. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Jan 28th, 2025
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- There might have been a lot of mitigating factors, but would you agree that as a state, just as businesses
- For our energy transition, it does provide resiliency for natural disasters and grid outages, which we
- And I know, obviously, we've been watching California burn, and prior to that disaster in California,
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight Committee (04/17/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- in the world that still have outbreaks of cholera, and usually they follow some kind of natural disaster
- ><00:28:58.080><c> natural</c> they follow some kind of natural they follow some kind of natural disaster
- that disrupts that um health disaster that disrupts that um health and<00:29:01.679><c> sanitation</
- But um I will give you the high-level summary: we are midway through mitigation.
- So all four midway through mitigation.
Summary:
The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on April 17 and approved the prior meeting minutes, then set its next meeting for May 29 at 9:30 a.m. Members also discussed a New Futures effort to collect questions about Medicaid changes and post answers as an FAQ, with a preference that the FAQ live on New Futures’ website rather than the state website. The commissioner’s office said it would coordinate responses and that the issue is still evolving.
The main presentation was an HHS update focused on the state public health laboratory and its work during Public Health Lab Week. Officials reviewed the lab’s history, its biosafety functions, and its role in disease prevention, food safety, preparedness, and response. They highlighted mosquito surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus, noting that the lab tested more than a quarter million mosquitoes last year and that mosquito testing helps provide early warning for local public health decisions. They also discussed rabies testing, saying New Hampshire’s lab is the only one in the state that performs it, that rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, and that the work is preventable through early prophylaxis.
Members asked about federal funding cuts, water testing, and whether CDC changes to rabies testing would affect New Hampshire. The department said it had been affected by an $80 million federal clawback but was managing through other funds and staff reassignments; for the water lab, temporary staff had been hired to continue swimming-area testing. Officials said the state remains able to handle rabies testing and that federal changes would mainly affect areas without similar services. They also answered questions on Jamestown Canyon virus, saying New Hampshire had one human case in 2025 and three in 2024, compared with zero West Nile cases in 2025 and one in 2024, and that weather and protective measures influence mosquito-borne disease levels. Additional questions covered biosafety levels, cyanobacteria coordination with the Department of Environmental Services, and the Brown Building flood mitigation, which was described as about halfway complete with a hoped-for reopening of the west side by June.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance (12-17-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- think I said at one of the other committee meetings, I can't do anything about storms, but if we can mitigate
- :03:07.720><c> can</c> anything about storms, but if we can anything about storms, but if we can mitigate
- :10.280><c> we</c><00:03:10.400><c> can,</c><00:03:11.000><c> you</c><00:03:11.080><c> know,</c> mitigate
- damage and if we can, you know, mitigate damage and if we can, you know, help<00:03:11.560><c> with<
- , disasters or other unexpected<01:06:48.760><c> expenditures.
Summary:
The committee met in a special-called session of the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance and first took up three Department of Insurance regulations tied to House Bill 256, the Strengthen Kentucky Homes program: 806 KAR 22:00, 22:10, and 22:20. Commissioner Sharon Clark said the program would provide $5 million in grants to help homeowners strengthen roofs, with regulations covering eligibility and operations, contractors and evaluators, and reinspections in cases of suspected fraud. A committee substitute to 806 KAR 22:10 was explained as a technical correction to conform to the statutory preference for in-state contractors and evaluators. Representative Hampton moved and Representative Rudy seconded approval of the substitute, and it was adopted by voice vote; the amended regulations were then reviewed. Clark also said the grant money would be distributed statewide rather than targeted to storm-prone areas.
The committee then heard an update from Commissioner Clark on mental health parity in response to questions from Representative Pollock. Clark said the department reviews insurer filings and conducts market conduct examinations, but does not have authority over provider reimbursement rates or to require providers to join insurer networks. She said complaints are investigated and, when needed, teams review claims and data on site to check compliance with parity requirements. No action was taken on that discussion.
After approving the November 4 meeting minutes, the committee heard testimony on a proposed PIP reform package from Representative Josh Bray, the Kentucky Hospital Association, the Kentucky Justice Association, and State Farm. Supporters said the bill would apply the workers’ compensation fee schedule to most PIP medical claims, keep the $10,000 PIP limit in place while stretching benefits further, reduce balance billing, modernize benefit amounts, and address fraud and delayed billing. They noted hospitals would be exempt from the fee schedule, while hospital-based physical therapy would be included, and said the compromise reflected negotiations among stakeholders. Some members questioned whether exempting hospitals undercut the bill’s purpose and asked about possible rate effects; proponents said they had not done a rate analysis and that the bill could lead to more treatments within the existing PIP limit. No vote was taken on the PIP proposal during this meeting.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, July 14, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Hundreds of students would have been walking home otherwise when the disaster struck.
- It was and remains a hard time for our community, and they still need disaster assistance.
- </c><07:35:01.760><c> ravaging</c> devastating natural disasters ravaging devastating natural disasters
- It was and remains the disaster struck.
- </c> still need disaster assistance. still need disaster assistance.
Bills:
SB1596 , HB1770 , HB1709 , HR504 , HR410 , HR1044 , HB1729 , HB2316 , HR900 , HB3657 , HB1765 , HB1717 , HB2037 , HB1455 , HB1766 , HB1618
Keywords:
Jocelyn Nungaray, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, national wildlife refuge, Texas, Houston, refuge renaming, commemorative naming, federal land, US Fish and Wildlife Service, public law 119-30, immigration, illegal aliens, Tren de Aragua, memorial, wildlife refuge act, Consumer Safety Technology Act, AI for Consumer Product Safety Act, Blockchain Innovation Act, Digital Taxonomy Act, Consumer Product Safety Commission
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- facilities, the consequences of disease outbreaks,<01:03:03.720><c> natural</c><01:03:04.200><c> disasters
- ,</c><01:03:04.920><c> or</c><01:03:05.040><c> system</c> outbreaks, natural disasters, or system outbreaks
- , natural disasters, or system failures<01:03:06.280><c> can</c><01:03:06.440><c> become</c><01:03:06.840
- </c><01:19:17.280><c> There's</c><01:19:17.560><c> there's</c><01:19:17.800><c> decision</c> to mitigation
- There's there's decision to mitigation.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Transportation (9-16-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- , but general aviation and our airports support our air ambulance operations, medical transport, disaster
- ambulance operations,<00:08:34.159><c> medical</c><00:08:34.479><c> transport,</c><00:08:35.039><c> disaster
- </c> operations, medical transport, disaster operations, medical transport, disaster response,<00:08:
- of costs from responsible public entities who fail to comply with an order to remove or otherwise mitigate
- of costs from responsible public entities who fail to comply with an order to remove or otherwise mitigate
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources.
The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Those recent five disasters have caused significant damage to the granite blocks of the bridge piers
- </c> natural disaster. natural disaster.
- It's been a disaster for a while.
- It's been a disaster for a while.
- It's been a disaster for a while.
Committee:
Senate Transportation