Transcript Highlights:

• That is basically the same across the United States.
• The details for that unit are below.
• Thirteen farms.
• But, let's say there's a 75-acre farm.
• They could no longer farm those farms. They had to sell their water rights.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I carry this repealer with respect for every worker who fought for their rights during the United Farm
• Chavez has been celebrated for years for his role in the United Farm Workers Union, while the women who
• </c><00:11:43.200><c> Farm</c> of a Dolores Huerta Day or United Farm of a Dolores Huerta Day or United
• Farm Workers<00:11:43.839><c> Day,</c><00:11:44.640><c> I</c><00:11:44.760><c> know</c><00:11:45.040
• </c> role that women played in the Farm role that women played in the Farm Worker<00:14:50.680><c> Movement

Transcript Highlights:

• In the United States, we finally adopted it as the Uniform Time Act in 1966.
• In the United States, we finally adopted it as the Uniform Time Act in 1966.
• They don't like it because you don't do farming by time. You do it by the sun.
• Well, you know, I'm just an old farm boy from west central Missouri, and I kind of know how the farm
• Well, you know, I'm just an old farm boy from west central Missouri, and I kind of know how the farm

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a long series of special guest introductions. Guests included the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions, FCCLA and FBLA students from several districts, legislative interns and family members, Missouri Rural Water Association members for Water Advocacy Day, Kansas City University medical students, and legislative assistants, who were formally recognized for their work supporting the chamber. The chamber then took up committee reports and moved several measures. House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a broad public-safety vehicle containing multiple provisions, drew debate over its contents, including concerns about anti-trans language and a challenge that it was overly broad, but it passed 117-10 with 17 present. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral field soil analysis/perk testing, passed 108-34 with one present. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State business filing measure for series LLCs, passed 142-0. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 1758, a daylight-saving-time trigger bill. Supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, preserve tourism and outdoor recreation, and reduce health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents argued Missouri should instead adopt permanent standard time, citing research on circadian rhythm, health effects, school bus safety, and the state’s prior 1974 experience with permanent daylight saving time. The discussion was extensive and bipartisan in tone, but the transcript ends before any final vote on HB 1758 is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the United States is losing its moral leadership on the climate stage, just like the United States
• This is who we have running the United States of America and impacting families in California at every
• It appropriates $4 million annually through federal fiscal year 31 for a farm to.
• For farm safety net programs, it provides appropriations for many of the farm safety net programs that
• We're talking about farm workers not having loads to pick and loads to put on trucks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lots of local units of governments.
• Lots of local units of funds.
• </c><00:32:24.240><c> You</c> do that work out in farm country.
• You do that work out in farm country.
• you cattle farming and grazing right?

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They travel to do this work from the farms of the Eastern Shore and the vibrant streets of Baltimore
• And although we may not be of the same mind on every issue, we are united in our love for our country
• Let the people of God say, "Amen." farms of the Eastern Shore farms of the Eastern Shore and<00:01:02.800
• in our love for our we are united in our love for our country,<00:02:03.480><c> our</c><00:02:03.640
• The MDCSS works and the United States.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> task</c> Of this task force of 13 people, 10 of these task force members are veterans of the United
• They left their farm fields to pick up arms to defend democracy and Laos, to protect American assets
• States or have had experience the United States or have had experience in<00:01:58.799><c> the</c><00
• fields</c> They left their farm fields They left their farm fields to<00:04:02.000><c> pick</c><00:04
• You see, my dad served from '61 to '75 in this SGU guerrilla unit.

Transcript Highlights:

• From Cape Cod to the Berkshires, our open spaces drive tourism, support local economies, sustain farms
• But we're also protecting our local farms, which are also in greater and greater distress because of
• We're not putting out a jar at the local farm stand and raising $6 million.
• These include two big land back projects, farms going to our Indigenous communities.
• We have a farm project right now in Ashburnham, over 600 acres, six or seven different landowners that

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition No. 25-15, H.5505, “An Act to Protect Water and Nature.” Committee co-chairs outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the hearing was divided into expert, proponent, opponent, and public-comment sections. The first witness, Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, described current state and federal funding sources for land conservation and outdoor recreation, said existing programs are oversubscribed, and noted that the proposal aligns with the Commonwealth’s 30% land conservation goal by 2030 and 40% by 2050. She also flagged possible governance clarifications in the petition, including board structure and administrative authority, while saying the administration has the expertise to manage such a fund. Proponents from Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, Mount Grace Land Trust, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, and Bemis Associates argued that Massachusetts needs a dedicated, sustained revenue stream for conservation, clean water, climate resilience, and public access to nature. They said current funding is inconsistent and insufficient, cited estimates that the state may need roughly $300 million or more annually to meet conservation targets, and emphasized benefits to public health, mental health, biodiversity, flood protection, and the outdoor recreation economy. Several speakers said the measure would dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenue tied to sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses, and that it would support both urban and rural communities, including underserved communities. Committee members pressed witnesses on the bill’s fiscal and constitutional implications, including how much sales tax revenue would be redirected, whether the measure is constitutional, how funds would be allocated among communities, and why the proposal includes certain revenue sources but not others such as ticket sales. Proponents said the measure would likely direct up to about $100 million annually when fully phased in, that it was designed as a “subject to appropriation” mechanism, and that legal review had found it constitutional. They also acknowledged that the proposal would reduce general fund flexibility but argued it would create a long-term investment in natural resources. The hearing concluded after public testimony, and the committee announced it would accept written testimony until March 27 at 5 p.m.; no vote was taken on the petition at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I own a small farm in the Santa Cruz area, Santa Cruz Farm.
• And a bill like this does help us move forward with projects and move forward with new farms.
• There's two new farms in Poque Valley. We need support for all of that.
• Bill representing the Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, Farm to Table, and the Rocky Mountain
• You know, when I'm not here, I'm out in My field, I farm and I ranch for a living.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. Of the United States.
• And that's the canal company that provides the farm there in that area.
• And with me, we have Mark Smith, president of Smith Farms.
• He is the head of Southwest Farm Services and a member of the West Valley Mavericks.
• He is the head of Southwest Farm Services and a member of the West Valley is the head of Southwest Farm

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Sergeant Lugo enlisted in the United Sergeant Lugo enlisted in the United States<02:08:09.599><c
• </c> should all expect in the United States. should all expect in the United States.
• </c> County Sheriff's digital forensics unit. County Sheriff's digital forensics unit.
• </c> United States does not fold to bullies. United States does not fold to bullies.
• </c> of the United States of America. of the United States of America.

Bills: HB2913 , HR518 , HB8646 , HR1336 , HCR84

Keywords: Ukraine, support, foreign affairs, military aid, international relations, agriculture, funding, food safety, nutrition, pest management, House resolution, procedural resolution, Rules Committee, Rule XIII, clause 6(a), waiver, supermajority, same-day consideration, reconciliation, budget reconciliation

Transcript Highlights:

• about $150,000 in fiscal year 26 and a little over $300,000 in fiscal year 27 for the Medical Fraud Unit
• ><00:11:54.480><c> fiscal</c><00:11:54.800><c> years</c><00:11:55.040><c> for</c><00:11:55.279><c> Farm
• </c> $125,000 in both fiscal years for Farm $125,000 in both fiscal years for Farm to<00:11:55.720><c
• </c><00:30:30.679><c> section</c><00:30:31.039><c> within</c><00:30:31.279><c> the</c> enforcement unit
• section within the enforcement unit section within the criminal<00:30:31.880><c> investigation</c><00

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The committee met in decision-making only and first took up HB 300, the Senate majority budget package. The chair described the bill as a response to economic uncertainty and reduced revenue forecasts, and outlined a wide range of appropriations and staffing changes across state agencies, including agriculture, education, health, public safety, housing, labor, natural resources, and corrections. The package emphasized one-year funding for many new programs, vacancy reductions, and investments in services such as preschool, mental health, wildfire mitigation, cybersecurity, public access, and workforce development. HB 300 was recommended to pass with amendments and was adopted unanimously, with members voting yes and no reservations noted only as procedural responses. The committee then acted on HB 794 and HB 795, both recommended to pass with amendments by changing the defective date to 2050; both measures were adopted without discussion. On the 101 agenda, HB 400, the Judiciary budget bill, was recommended to pass with amendments. The bill included vacancy reductions, security funding, permanent staffing for several court and justice programs, and support for civil legal services, immigration-related services, and technology licenses. HB 400 was adopted. HB 410 was also adopted with amendments and a defective date change to 2050. On the 102 agenda, the committee passed several bills either unamended or with targeted amendments. HB 3, HB 134, HB 177, HB 237, HB 648, HB 713, HB 735, HB 1391, and HB 1462 were passed unamended. HB 214 passed with amendments expanding eligibility for retired employees to fill labor-shortage or succession-planning positions, including certain management positions excluded from collective bargaining; one member raised concerns about school resource officers and community fit, which the chair said could be addressed in the committee report. HB 441 passed with amendments to direct cigarette tax funds to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund, with a discussion about whether e-cigarettes should be included. Other measures passed with amendments included HB 448, HB 667, HB 727, HB 740, HB 806, HB 1020, HB 1345, and HB 1365, generally involving date changes, blank appropriations, or technical language. HB 1391 was adopted with a reservation from Senator Kim. The meeting concluded with HB 1462 adopted unamended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• FFA started in 1928 by 33 farm boys in Virginia.
• Growing up on a farm instilled in R.J. the values of hard work, resilience, and perseverance.
• Inside your bag, you will find Horner Farm Pinto Beans.
• Horner Farms in Artesia was the first lead of success story.

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• Undocumented immigrants and Indigenous farm workers are among the most marginalized in our society.
• Many, especially Indigenous workers, who make up over 60% of California's farm workers, do not speak
• As one farm worker put it simply, 'We all got sick.' Thank you.
• During wildfires, as one farm worker put it simply, 'We all got sick.'
• Moving on to occupational and health safety laws, these laws must ensure that farm workers and other

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach. Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters. The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I represent the border between Mexico and California, the United States.
• I'm also on the board of a local farm animal sanctuary.
• Chair, Stephen Fenneroli, with the California Farm Bureau.
• I'm also on the board of a local farm animal sanctuary.
• Chair, Stephen Fenneroli, with the California Farm Bureau.

Summary: The hearing focused on human-wildlife conflict in California, especially predator management involving bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves. The chair and Assemblymember Hadwick framed the issue as a balance between protecting people, livestock, and property while preserving wildlife and biodiversity, citing habitat loss, development, drought, wildfire, and climate change as drivers of conflict. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials described their conflict-response work, including public education, depredation permits, wildlife incident reporting, and coordination with sheriffs, counties, and other agencies. They also noted that wildlife sightings and conflicts are increasingly common in both rural and urban areas, including recent mountain lion activity in San Francisco and ongoing bear conflicts in places like Tahoe and Sierra Madre. CDFW staff outlined the department’s human-wildlife conflict program, including the WEIR reporting system, a public toolkit, limited-term staff, and regional response efforts. They said the program grew out of drought-related incidents and later state funding, but that one-time money has expired, creating service gaps. Officials also discussed specific management approaches such as Tahoe’s trap-tag-haze bear program, DNA-based incident tracking, and the use of nonlethal deterrents before lethal action. For wolves, they explained that the species is protected and managed differently from bears and lions, that there is no general depredation-kill process for wolves, and that the department is working on data-sharing agreements, county liaisons, compensation programs, and improved coordination with ranchers and local law enforcement. Members pressed the department on underreporting, trust in state agencies, the need for sheriffs to participate in investigations, and whether more authority should be given for public-safety removals or hazing. Assemblymember Gonzalez also raised wildlife trafficking and border enforcement issues in Southern California. The panel repeatedly emphasized that more resources, technology, and local partnerships are needed. Officials gave budget context, saying roughly $17 million in one-time funding over several years supported conflict response and wolf compensation efforts, but that staffing and program capacity remain limited. The chair concluded by noting interest in further work on technology, funding, and institutionalizing collaboration, and the hearing then moved to a second panel of university researchers who presented on wolf and mountain lion conflict, habitat planning, trust, and the need for flexible, science-based, locally tailored mitigation strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• I know on my small farm I raise livestock.
• </c> Living in an urban district, sure, there's no farming.
• Um, so my question is, has farm equipment gotten noisier over the past 20 years?
• unit for all<00:57:00.480><c> intents</c><00:57:00.799><c> and</c><00:57:00.960><c> purposes.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So we’ve had some farms that we’ve helped out with, given incentive that they produce energy through
• So we’ve had some farms that we’ve helped out with, given incentive that they produce energy through
• , this helps farmers out because they... ...in Plymouth County and Norfolk that have farms.
• You could end the APS tomorrow and financially not impact many of those units.
• MWIC and 27 participants also own almost 5 percent of Millstone Unit 3, Millstone Unit 3, which is licensed

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on offshore wind, battery storage, solar, nuclear study proposals, and a bill to redefine clean energy. Several Barnstable-area legislators and witnesses raised concerns about offshore wind transmission infrastructure near neighborhoods, beaches, and drinking water supplies, and supported bills to create a special commission and increase local input and oversight. In contrast, environmental, consumer, labor, and clean energy groups strongly backed offshore wind expansion bills, arguing that offshore wind lowers long-term costs, improves winter reliability, reduces fossil fuel dependence, supports jobs and local supply chains, and should include wildlife protections, labor standards, and community benefits. Some witnesses and committee members noted that parts of the offshore wind legislation overlap with the Governor’s energy affordability bill, and asked for clarification on which provisions were new versus duplicative. The committee also heard testimony on battery storage and solar legislation. Two student witnesses and several industry representatives supported a bill to study grid battery storage, saying storage can reduce outages, lower peak prices, and improve grid resilience during extreme weather. Witnesses from solar and storage companies supported a broader clean energy transition bill that would expand storage procurement, create a retail-style storage program for distributed batteries, set a 10-gigawatt solar target by 2035, and streamline siting and interconnection. Committee members pressed witnesses on whether these provisions were already included in the Governor’s affordability bill and asked for a section-by-section breakdown of what was new. One witness also urged allowing developers to bond interconnection payments to reduce financing costs. Another major topic was a bill defining clean energy, especially whether existing pumped-storage hydropower should qualify for subsidies or be excluded. Supporters of the bill argued that existing pumped storage should not receive additional ratepayer subsidies because it is already built, can have environmental impacts on rivers and ecosystems, and could cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Opponents said pumped storage is an important reliability resource and should remain eligible. The committee also heard testimony on nuclear-energy study bills: some witnesses supported creating a commission to examine nuclear power as a reliable, carbon-free option, while others opposed nuclear study bills and argued that nuclear is costly, unsafe, and inconsistent with the state’s clean energy goals. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• That is a Federal Farm Service Agency program.
• And that's how we would dairy farms. And that's how we would track<00:04:27.720><c> it.
• </c> slightly slightly go down on a per farm slightly slightly go down on a per farm basis. basis. basis

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• just making it clear that nothing in this subdivision, 116D.04, subdivision 2B, precludes a local unit
• Yet Minnesota is in the middle of a great farm recession.
• Farmers know what it takes to manage an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable farm
• Farmers know what it takes to manage an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable farm
• Farmers know what it takes to manage an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable farm

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• They're much like in your communities where we have these these farms, the fairs where you can bring
• And that was with the 2018 farm bill that essentially reclassified. And it changed the definition.
• They're being sold largely because of this farm bill. Why do we care many?
• We need to implement regulations on these the farm bill. It's cause issues problem.
• Thank you, Cate McFaul, from the Humane Society of the United States. Thank you.