Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, just last weekend, there were probably over 100 million in damages and obviously loss of property
• One of the main services that they cannot provide is fire flow for the fire hydrants for a subdivision
• the water lines to provide domestic water if the city builds water lines on top of theirs to provide fire
• flow, because they cannot provide fire flow. they're going to double pipe that area to accommodate the
• department' to include not just volunteer fire departments, but also municipal, county, and state fire

Bills: SB863, SB1190, SB1261, SB1413, SB1624, SB1662, SB1663, SB1855, SB1967, SB2124, SB2204, SB1623

Keywords: Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, water loss, municipally owned utilities, Texas Water Development Board, administrative penalties, water audit, water infrastructure, water supply, state water plan, water management strategies, water financing, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, public debt, obligations, TWDB

Transcript Highlights:

• um there's no they have no damaged um there's no they have no recourse<00:47:26.160> I<00:47:
• identified as having high value, whether that be watershed protection, native forest restoration, fire
• Next up, we have Department of Agriculture with comments. native Forest restoration fire fuel native
• Bren, who runs Diamond B Ranch, has shared he is a decades-long veteran of the fire department.
• um decades long veteran of the fire um decades long veteran of the fire department<01:28:01.639>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 13, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of housing, land, and resource bills. Early bills included HB 743 on fiscal sustainability, HB 1318 on affordable housing, and HB 1409 on the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Improvement District Board. Testimony on the housing measures was largely supportive from agencies and advocacy groups such as the Office of Planning, Hawaii Housing Future, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities, and the County of Kauai, while the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) raised concerns on HB 1318 about public trust duties for ceded lands. On HB 1409, members questioned whether the bill needed updating in light of a separate bill changing the board structure, and witnesses said the measure did not change funding but only the board’s mission and scope. The committee also heard HB 1410, which would create a supportive housing special fund. Supporters, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Hawaii Appleseed, argued that predictable dedicated funding is needed for supportive housing, social services, and long-term homelessness solutions. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed tax earmarks in general, saying they subvert the constitutional budgeting process. Members asked how the fund would be administered and who could access it; witnesses said HHFDC and the counties would coordinate the process, but DLNR noted the bill did not provide additional administrative capacity and suggested language to address that. Later bills included HB 528 on residential leaseholds, HB 1359 on flood mitigation, HB 1087 on historic preservation reviews, HB 868 on disabilities, and HB 1323 on transfer of non-agricultural park lands. HB 528 drew limited testimony, with a Catholic Charities/Hawaii Public Housing Authority representative offering a general example of leasehold development but saying the bill’s exemptions had not been discussed in detail. HB 1359 prompted discussion of homeowner and county responsibilities for drainage and flood damage, with DLNR saying private owners are responsible for drainage on private property and counties for county roads. HB 1087 was supported by DHHL, which said historic preservation reviews currently take about 165 days and the bill could improve timeliness, while Hawaii Historic Hawaii Foundation opposed it. HB 868 drew support from the Disability Rights Center and DCAB, with testimony focusing on beach access and the need for clearer legal authority. On HB 1323, DLNR opposed the bill, saying it did not reflect Act 90 and that some agricultural parcels should remain under DLNR for conservation, watershed, recreation, or fire protection reasons; DOA, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the measure, arguing that productive agricultural lands should be transferred to agriculture to protect local food production and family ranches.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a fire alarm operator with the Yarmouth Fire Department on Cape Cod, and I ask for your support on
• We respond to nearly all fatal fires throughout the Commonwealth, arson fires, hazardous material incidents
• In my time at the State Fire Marshal's Office, I have responded to countless fire scenes that have resulted
• In my current role, I investigate fatal fires.
• Like my fellow compliance officers, I regularly enter unsafe buildings, hazardous material sites, and fire-damaged

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 15th hearing of the 194th General Court, focused on retirement group classifications for a range of public safety and related employees. Much of the testimony centered on bills affecting Barnstable County dispatchers and 911 telecommunicators, who argued they should remain in or be moved to Group 2 because their work is highly stressful, life-or-death in nature, and historically had been treated that way. Speakers said the proposed changes would largely grandfather in current employees, would not add costs in some cases, and were needed to correct outdated statutory language and PERAC rulings that had created uncertainty for workers nearing retirement or already retired. Similar support was offered for bills to reclassify 911 dispatchers statewide from Group 1 to Group 2, with testimony from dispatch supervisors, sheriffs, and police associations describing chronic stress, PTSD, staffing shortages, and retention problems. The committee also heard testimony on several other retirement-related bills. Representatives of Massport and campus police supported measures to align retirement benefits for Massport police and public higher education police with other law enforcement groups, arguing they perform comparable duties and face similar risks. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also backed a bill to ease post-retirement earning restrictions for retired police and firefighters so they can continue consulting, training, or advising without penalty. MOSES testified in favor of bills moving certain state employees into Group 2, including forensic scientists at the State Police Crime Lab, DCR aerial foresters, and Department of Correction construction coordinators, citing hazardous work environments and physical danger. Department of Fire Services compliance officers likewise sought Group 4 classification, describing exposure to toxins, fatal fire scenes, and cancer risks. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee heard extensive testimony from affected employees, union and association representatives, and public safety officials, all urging favorable reports on the bills. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked witnesses and staff, and the committee adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will also say Donald Trump has fired nearly 20 federal inspectors general and allowed unfettered
• And I will also say Donald Trump has fired nearly 20 federal inspectors general and allowed unfettered
• nearly 20 federal inspectors fired nearly 20 federal inspectors general<00:08:28.960> and<00:
• They finally came down to 30%, which was survivable, but the damage was already done.
• in the state been particularly damaging in the state of<01:49:03.600> Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You could have certainly fire ignition risk to consider.
• Lastly, they must be in the County of Sutter and have been damaged by a natural disaster.
• Lastly, they must be in the county of Sutter and have been damaged by a natural disaster.
• Some projects can be delayed by up to a year and can face liquidated damages of $100,000 per day.
• Greg Herner, on behalf of the 10 chapters of the Fire Club International, in support of the bill.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of water, parks, transportation, species protection, and fisheries bills. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to publish an economic and environmental impact study when emergency water regulations are extended over multiple years; the author and supporters from agricultural and water groups said it would add transparency without limiting emergency authority. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption to let county park agencies open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters emphasizing access to nature and opponents warning about impacts to sensitive habitat, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fines; supporters said it would protect vulnerable communities and wetlands, while farm and water coalition opponents argued it would undermine basin-wide groundwater management and shift burdens to other users. AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, drew broad support and passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 514, which would encourage local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought and service interruptions; it passed with broad support, though one member cautioned against using scientific research as a loophole. AB 550 would let developers seek incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; environmental groups supported the goal but asked for clearer standards, limits on using research as mitigation, and a fee provision, and the bill passed as amended. AB 697 would authorize an incidental take permit for the State Route 37 interim project in Solano and Marin counties, balancing congestion relief and habitat restoration; supporters stressed long commutes and urgent restoration deadlines, while opponents raised climate, sea-level-rise, and tribal concerns. The bill passed, with some members noting they would continue to work on the measure. Other measures discussed included AB 975, which would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts; county officials described repeated flood damage and long permitting delays, and the bill passed as amended. AB 1056 would phase out transferability of set gillnet permits after 2027, allowing only a final family transfer; supporters framed it as a gradual response to bycatch concerns, while fishing industry opponents said it would unfairly target an existing fishery and set a bad precedent. The committee also took up AB 1146, described by the author as a response to politically motivated water releases; supporters from conservation and water organizations backed the bill. Several bills were voted out to Appropriations, some were left open for later action or add-ons, and the committee repeatedly noted it was working through the agenda without a quorum early in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for folks who are familiar with Jewish tradition, typically when we have a damaged Torah, they are
• Number one, contact, contact, shot fire, shot fire. The shooter was hiding.
• One of his colleagues still in front of him when he saw that fire, that he was taking fire.
• he was able to come fire.
• As recently as last year, a fence at one of JCAM's cemeteries was set on fire, damaging a significant

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the commission’s work addressing antisemitism in Massachusetts, including security, education, victim services, and legal responses. A major presentation came from former federal prosecutor Eric O’Sham, who described the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the attack’s planning and execution, the 11 victims killed, the defendant’s white supremacist and antisemitic online activity, the federal prosecution, and the long aftermath for the victim community. Commissioners asked about prevention, radicalization online, security for houses of worship, and how to support victims; O’Sham emphasized the limits of law enforcement when speech is protected, the importance of public education, security grants, and victim-witness support. The commission also heard from Ariel Holman of Agudath Israel, who described a wide range of antisemitic incidents affecting Orthodox Jews, including assaults, threats, vandalism, school harassment, and zoning barriers, and urged expanded security personnel grants, mental health resources, kosher food access, and support for synagogue development. Other speakers included advocates and local officials who supported Holocaust education, the planned Boston Holocaust Museum, cemetery protection, and broader public education efforts, while some public commenters criticized the commission’s focus or raised concerns about definitions of antisemitism and free speech. The meeting concluded with approval of prior meeting minutes and the start of public comment, which was limited to three minutes per speaker due to time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• the whole accident—for bodily injury, and $20,000 property damage.
• The state and U.S. lawmakers are just setting the floor for commercial liability and property damage
• So when you say, excuse me, when you say, you know, police and fire, right, well, if the fire station
• So it would only be if the fire department, if the fire station was planned by the town or the city to
• So... ...example of fire station. Okay. And again, just to dig down into that, so Mr.

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, what we're talking about is you have the right—you know, you can't say fire in a crowded theater
• defamation, those types of lawsuits, where if you slandered somebody and they lost their job or suffered damages
• Or, as an example, I can't say fire in a crowded theater.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1067, a Uniform Public Expression Protection Act intended to deter meritless lawsuits that chill free speech, often referred to as SLAPP suits. Senator Mike Henderson explained that the bill is based on a model from the Uniform Law Commission and would apply broadly to speech on matters of public concern, including political speech and social media, while preserving defamation and other legitimate claims. He said the bill gives defendants an immediate right to appeal anti-SLAPP rulings and requires plaintiffs to show early that their case has merit. Committee members asked about when the bill would apply, whether it would affect government-related speech, and whether expedited procedures would burden the courts; Henderson responded that it should reduce strain by allowing quicker dismissal of weak cases. Witnesses testified in support of the bill. Doug Cruz of the Missouri Press Association said journalists and the public are frequent targets of expensive, meritless lawsuits meant to suppress reporting and speech. James Harris of the Institute for Free Speech said the bill is the companion to House Bill 2666 and noted similar versions have passed committee and the House in prior sessions with strong bipartisan support; he described the bill as allowing an earlier petition to the judge rather than waiting until the end of discovery. Michael Henderson, for the Missouri Broadcasters Association, and Susan Klein, for Missouri Right to Life, also spoke in favor. No one testified in opposition, and the chair closed the hearing and adjourned the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ninety percent of them experienced zero to minor cosmetic damage, and the performance... ...highlight
• the benefits of the resilient construction, which provided a clear contrast to the widespread damage
• And if we know homes are vulnerable to severe wind, hail, or fire, we should build to those standards
• The number of people like me who have realized the damage done to them grows every single day.
• Once they've damaged your body, the medical community will ignore you.

Bills: HB778, HB 1266, HB1576, HB2213, HB2517, HB2518, HB2841, HB3306, HB3320, HB3388, HB3508, HB3520, HB3689

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• That agent said, bragging, "I fired five rounds and she has seven holes."
• That agent said, bragging, "I fired five rounds and she has seven holes."
• That agent said, bragging, "I fired five rounds and she has seven holes."
• That agent said, bragging, "I fired five rounds and she has seven holes."
• Before that, an Iran-backed militia fired a rocket at coalition forces in Erbil, Iraq, wounding a U.S

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, lithium batteries are not being covered, and the fire damage related to that will be talked
• <01:03:53.880> that<01:03:53.960> will<01:03:54.079> be fire damage um related
• to that will be fire damage um related to that will be talked<01:03:54.440> about<01:03:54.640
• Over the years, we've experienced as many as 20 fires annually, and at times one to two fires per week
• Fires in a truck, which we experienced last spring in St.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• probably going to be more citations for life jackets than there are for warnings, for whistles and fire
• And it also, the damage to the bridge caused the sewer line damage, which they had, you know, or power
• line damage.
• They had no power in one section of the area because it was... ...had, you know, power line damage.
• It is unfortunate because it does cause damage to critical marine infrastructure like bridges.

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview from FWC Deputy Director in Law Enforcement Lt. Col. Rob Rowe on boating safety, derelict vessels, and marine debris. On boating safety, he said FWC uses inspections, BUI enforcement, public education campaigns, boater education courses, warnings, and citations to reduce accidents and fatalities. Members asked about probable cause for stops, geofenced safety messages, boating education age requirements, and common violations such as life jacket issues. Rowe said most stops are based on probable cause, the education requirement currently applies to those born after Jan. 1, 1988, and FWC is considering whether broader education requirements would improve safety. The committee then focused heavily on derelict vessels. Rowe explained the legal definition of a derelict vessel, the at-risk and nuisance vessel tools used to intervene earlier, and the V-TIP voluntary turn-in program. He described the removal process, including owner notification, a 21-day administrative hearing period, contractor selection, and disposal/recycling, and said FWC works with local governments, emergency management, and sometimes the Coast Guard on larger pollution-related cases. Members asked about timelines, costs, salvage rules, title issues, and jurisdictional differences between state, county, city, and federal authorities. Rowe said the agency has added staff and grant tools, but continued funding remains important, and he noted that local governments can also use ordinances to address floating structures, liveaboards, anchoring, and storm-related risks. On marine debris, Rowe said FWC works with DEP, FDACS, NOAA, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, local governments, and volunteers to remove debris ranging from plastics to storm-damaged fishing gear and derelict vessels. He said hurricane events greatly increase debris and derelict vessel removals, and the agency is updating the Florida Marine Debris Reduction Plan with partners. The meeting ended after members and the vice chair emphasized local tools such as mooring fields and pumpout enforcement, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any formal vote or action beyond rising without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• language in the committee substitute better reflects the legislative intent concerning exceptions for fire
• The only reason you are exempting fire and police is because of collective bargaining?
• because they have meet and confer agreements, are folks dealing with first responders—so it's police, fire
• Senate Bill 2221 strengthens civil recourse by raising the minimum statutory damages from $5,000 to $10,000
• So, it'd be a lot of surveying for that kind of damage. Yep, thank you.

Bills: SB383, SB1012, SB1181, SB1705, SB2075, SB2221, SB2586, SB2864, SB2994

Keywords: SB 383, ERCOT, Texas Utilities Code, interconnection, wind power facility, offshore wind, coastal wind, nearshore wind, Gulf of America, Texas coast, three marine leagues, electric grid, transmission line, distribution facility, renewable energy, battery storage, energy storage, grid access, power grid, electric service

Transcript Highlights:

• updates the licensing requirements for small residential group homes by not requiring them to have fire
• This change codifies current state fire marshal rules.
• Do Pasco firing of firearms outside of his home?
• Only those places that upon failure result in property damage, land, floods, land floods.
• We're talking about property damage.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ASKED FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF BILL PRESTON, WHO DEDICATED FIVE DECADES TO THE FIRE
• SERVICE, INCLUDING 30 YEARS WITH THE MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE.
• HE SERVED AS LEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE'S OFFICER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND MENTOR TO THOUSANDS
• and Representative... ...Lopez and others, House Bill 6017, entitled An Act Relating to Recovery of Damages
• When I was going to public schools years ago, I remember us having to do fire drills...

Keywords: sales tax reduction, budget cuts, boating safety, water treatment, municipal utilities, school safety, medical malpractice, firearm purchase age, cursive writing instruction, first responder support, veto overrides, veterans funding, infrastructure projects

Summary: The Florida House convened for regular business, with Speaker Perez announcing historic budget plans including the largest state tax cut in Florida history - a permanent 0.75% sales tax reduction from 6% to 5.25%, saving Floridians nearly $5 billion annually. The House will propose a budget lower than both the Governor's proposal and last year's budget. Several bills passed including Lucy's Law (boating safety), water access facilities funding, municipal utility rate corrections, hazardous walking conditions for schools, and medical malpractice 'Free Kill Law' repeal. The controversial firearm purchase age bill (HB 759) passed 78-34, lowering the minimum age from 21 to 18, despite emotional opposition citing the Parkland shooting. Other bills addressed cursive writing instruction, peer support for first responders, and government sunset reviews. Multiple veto override motions were approved unanimously, reinstating funding for veterans programs and infrastructure projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fire suppression desperately needs updating.
• This building has no sprinkler system, no fire, no, you know, unified fire suppression.
• This building has no sprinkler system, no fire, no, you know, unified fire suppression.
• This building has no sprinkler system, no fire, no, you know, unified fire suppression.
• Physically contacting or causing damage physically contacting or causing damage to to to, and then we

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because some of the buildings that belong to the universities were damaged by the May 16 tornado that
• The department gets new radios, the next thing we're at a fire. You don't have to turn them on.
• It is a whole-of-government plan in the Kansas City area that has involved law enforcement, fire, and
• Kansas City area that has involved law enforcement, fire, emergency management, and public health.
• They don't feel like tornadoes do that type of damage. So that is not included in the estimate.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide grants to homeowners who saw their homes destroyed or damaged in recent disasters.
• I know you called it the L.A. fires, but just... district to deal with the Eaton and Palisades fires.
• There are people who are in house because of the fires that happen that we heard about.
• There are people who are chronically homeless. ...of the fires that happened that we heard about.
• I really appreciate your words and your fire. It motivated me.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The damage... It is obvious that this sense of mistrust is even greater.
• The damage is already done, and I can't emphasize that enough.
• Gladys Vega said that, given the damage the federal government has made in this era of division, hate
• I mean, we had a fire the other day, a trip in the summer, three apartments, 38 people were displaced
• Why, I had a fire, 30 people displaced in a triple-decker, so that’s it. Okay, okay.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held an early planning hearing on how Massachusetts can maximize participation in the 2030 census, with Chair Will Brownsberger and Vice Chair Rebecca Rausch emphasizing the need to start well in advance. The first panel, made up of leaders from the Massachusetts Voter Table, MassVOTE, MIRA, and MESA, stressed that grassroots community organizations are trusted messengers and should be funded early to do multilingual outreach, training, and direct assistance in hard-to-count communities. They described lessons from 2020, including the shift to internet response, reduced federal census infrastructure, the importance of coordinated statewide networks, and the need to begin messaging several years before Census Day because building trust and staffing outreach takes time. Panelists repeatedly warned that immigrant communities are facing heightened fear because of federal immigration enforcement and the possibility of a citizenship question or other federal changes, making census participation more difficult. They said 2020 funding arrived too late to fully staff and train outreach teams before the pandemic, and argued that future resources should be deployed earlier and more flexibly. In response to committee questions, they estimated Massachusetts should invest roughly $8 million to $10 million or more in state census outreach, with one proposed model of about $3 million to $5 million at the start, additional funding in the middle years, and a larger final push closer to 2030. They also suggested that funding should support communications infrastructure, translation, social media and ethnic media outreach, and possibly a permanent complete count structure or trust fund to preserve institutional knowledge. A second panel from Common Cause Massachusetts and the ACLU of Massachusetts echoed the call for stronger, earlier investment and stronger privacy protections. They urged the legislature to expand existing census line items, consider a trust fund or other dedicated funding stream, and coordinate census outreach with other state programs that already work through trusted community messengers. The ACLU testimony focused on racial inequities in census counts and warned that federal efforts to exclude non-citizens or add a citizenship question would deepen distrust and undercount immigrant communities. Committee members asked about the 2020 overcount/undercount results, funding levels, timing of grant distribution, and whether census outreach should be routed through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or other state mechanisms; no votes were taken, and the hearing moved on to a later panel on immigrant-community outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• At Hawaii's HIRE facility, battery-related fires and explosions have slowed operations, damaged equipment
• HIRE shared with us that 158 fires total, with 44 being lithium battery related.
• > and<00:09:45.680> explosions battery related fires and explosions battery related fires
• have slowed operations, damaged have slowed operations, damaged equipment,<00:09:48.560> and<
• When these um devices are fire hazards.

Bills: HB1924, HB2121, HB1928, HB1979, HB1650, HB1543, HB1981, HB1982

Keywords: mattress recycling, waste management, producer responsibility, environmental health, steafardship program, electronic cigarettes, disposable devices, environmental protection, plastic pollution, lithium batteries, pollution control, public health, deposit beverage container, bottle bill, container deposit law, container redemption, recycling refund, extended producer responsibility, EPR, deposit return system

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to waste, recycling, and environmental review. On HB 1924, which would establish a mattress stewardship program, the Department of Health said it stood on written testimony and offered comments, while Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and one individual supported the bill and the International Sleep Products Association opposed it. No questions were raised and the committee moved on. A large portion of the hearing focused on HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale of disposable vapes in Hawaii. The Department of Health supported the measure but suggested the bill may be better placed in a different part of state law because the cited waste-management section regulates products after consumption, while still praising the effort to remove disposable vapes from the market and environment. Testimony in strong support came from the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii Youth Council, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii COPD Coalition, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, the City and County of Honolulu, and many individuals; supporters emphasized youth vaping, toxic waste, lithium battery fire risks, and environmental harm. There was at least one opposing individual and the International Sleep Products Association was listed in opposition. The committee noted there were many written testimonies and no immediate vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 1928 on the deposit beverage container recycling program. The Department of Health stood on written testimony. The Solid Waste Task Force of Hawaii Environmental Change Agents and Upstream supported the bill but urged amendments to better integrate reuse and reusables, strengthen enforcement, clarify definitions, and protect existing redemption centers. The Hawaii Food Industry Association supported the concept of a backdrop program but preferred strengthening the existing program and raised concerns about undefined fees, existing infrastructure, and future audit costs. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported the bill, and the chair said the measure needs work and that decision-making would occur in a few days. Finally, the committee took up HB 979 on environmental review and HB 1650 on environmental assessments. For HB 979, OPSD offered amendments, HCDA supported the bill but suggested clarifying the affordable-housing definition, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative supported it, and Earthjustice was asked about the court process for environmental challenges; the chair asked about shortening the challenge period and the relationship between environmental court, the intermediate court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. For HB 1650, OPSD and the State Historic Preservation Division stood on written testimony, OHA asked to retain historic sites, and several groups and individuals testified in support or opposition. Opponents argued that removing Wiki special district and historic sites from Chapter 343 trigger language would weaken environmental review and risk impacts to iwi kūpuna and historic resources.