Video & Transcript : 'Caribbean Basin' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Jun 21st, 2026 at 04:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Rodrigues has an affinity to the Caribbean community and to all things Lusophone, and so I don't
Summary:
The commission approved the minutes from its March 11 meeting after a motion by Jeannie Costa and a second by Senator Michael Brady, with members noting a few possible corrections to attendance and wording. The meeting then focused on updates about the commission’s timeline and funding. Staff reported that an amendment to extend the commission’s deadline from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 was filed in the Fair Share budget but was not accepted, and members discussed pursuing the extension through other budget vehicles, including the regular budget, a supplemental budget, or other legislation. Commissioners also discussed the need to fill a vacancy left by Julius Brito and to potentially extend the deadline for appointing new commissioners.
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to brainstorming the commission’s community engagement plan for the proposed Cape Verdean Culture Center. Members revisited a three-part approach involving site visits, traditional listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, while also emphasizing historical accuracy, youth engagement, visibility, and regional collaboration. Commissioners suggested using surveys, canvassing, social media, a website, and other digital tools to reach people across the diaspora, including those unable to attend in person. Several members recommended specific locations and institutions for engagement, including New Bedford, Brockton, Boston, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island, with references to museums, historical societies, clubs, and cultural organizations already doing related work.
Testimony and comments also addressed funding and organizational structure for the future center. Legislators described possible funding sources such as House and Senate earmarks, a bond bill, and a nonprofit structure that could later support fundraising and operations. Members discussed examples from other cultural institutions, including the Holocaust Museum, the African American History Museum, and the Haitian Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center, as models for governance and public support. The group also raised the possibility of future collaboration with the Cape Verdean government and institutions in Cabo Verde, though one member urged waiting until after upcoming elections there before making formal contacts. No additional votes were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning the meeting.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Apr 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Rodrigues has an affinity to the Caribbean community and to all things Lusophone.
Summary:
The commission met to approve prior minutes, hear updates on funding and deadline extensions, and continue planning for a Cape Verdean Culture Center/Museum in Boston. Members reviewed the commission’s charge, including developing an organizational structure, governance model, feasibility study, community engagement plan, and possible nonprofit structure. The minutes from the March 11 meeting were approved after a motion and second, with one noted correction about duplicate section numbering.
A major discussion focused on legislative and budget options to extend the commission’s deadline from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 and to preserve or secure funding for a feasibility study and related work. Legislators said an amendment to the fair share budget was not accepted, but they would continue looking for a vehicle such as the regular budget, supplemental budget, or another bill. Members also discussed the possibility of future earmarks or bond funding, and the need to fill a current vacancy on the commission.
The bulk of the meeting was a brainstorming session on community engagement. Commissioners supported a three-part approach involving site visits, listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, with added emphasis on social media, a website, surveys, canvassing, and other tools to reach people across the diaspora. Members suggested prioritizing locations such as New Bedford, Cape Cod, Boston, Brockton, and possibly Pawtucket, and discussed working with existing Cape Verdean organizations, museums, and historical groups. There was also discussion of best practices from other cultural institutions, the importance of historical accuracy and youth engagement, and whether to involve the Cape Verdean government after upcoming elections. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Transportation (03/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- If any of us went to France, or the French Caribbean islands, or anywhere else where French is the native
- If any of us went to France, or the French Caribbean islands, or anywhere else where French is the native
- If any of us went to France, or the French Caribbean islands, or anywhere else where French is the native
Summary:
The Transportation Committee met in executive session on several House bills. HB 212, allowing a 180-day operation waiver when a vehicle fails an emissions test, was retained at the sponsor’s request for possible modifications. HB 249, which would have let bicyclists treat stop signs as yields and stop lights as stop signs, was recommended inexpedient to legislate (ITL) by a 9-7 vote, with a minority report expected.
The committee then retained HB 298, creating an exception for removing VIN tags from pre-1981 vehicles when needed for repair or restoration, by a 15-1 vote. HB 411-FN, making handheld device use while driving a secondary offense, was recommended ITL by consent after members argued the current primary-offense law is more effective for enforcement and safety.
On HB 414, which would have barred DMV license suspensions based on debts owed to private towing or storage companies, the committee rejected ITL and instead retained the bill 16-0 after members split over whether the current law unfairly ties driving privileges to private debt collection. HB 441, addressing visible diesel emissions and “rolling coal,” was recommended ITL 16-0 because members said the conduct is already illegal under existing state and federal law. The committee then took up HB 461, concerning Department of Safety and DMV training and testing materials, where members debated whether driver testing should be limited to English and whether multilingual materials are a safety necessity or discriminatory; the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Grande City There's a very virulent strain of tuberculosis prevalent in Central America. and the Caribbean
- Western the Caribbean, tuberculosis is high. except for Puerto Rico, because, well, it's American territory
- So with the influx of aliens that have come from that area, from Central America, from the Caribbean,
Committee:
Senate Finance
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Nov 10th, 2025
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- Individual basins have smaller or larger deficits.
- So this is the historical hydrograph for the Yakima Basin.
- Columbia Basin.
- and in the Dungeness Basin.
- Projects have primarily been in the Yakma Basin and in the Dungeoness Basin.
Summary:
The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing.
Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs.
Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Nov 10th, 2025 at 03:30 pm
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- Individual basins have smaller or larger deficits.
- So this is the historical hydrograph for the Yakima Basin.
- Columbia Basin.
- and in the Dungeness Basin.
- Projects have primarily been in the Yakma Basin and in the Dungeoness Basin.
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought received a detailed presentation from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco on the conditions that led to Washington’s 2025 drought. She described below-normal snowpack, especially in the Cascades, a very dry January, warm and dry spring and summer conditions, and the compounding effect of three consecutive years of poor snowpack and precipitation. She also outlined the outlook for winter, noting a weak La Niña and a likely wetter-than-normal winter, while cautioning that one wet year would not erase large basin deficits such as in the Upper Yakima. Members asked about the basis for long-range climate projections, microclimates, and hydropower impacts, and Bumbacco explained the difference between weather forecasts and climate modeling and emphasized that statewide averages can mask local variation.
Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then reviewed the state’s drought declaration process and response. They explained Washington’s statutory drought threshold of less than 75% of normal water supply plus hardship, and said the state extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it in June to 19 additional watersheds. They described the role of federal data sources such as NRCS snowpack readings, USGS gauges, NOAA, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and raised concerns about staffing and funding instability affecting those systems. They also summarized drought response tools, including expedited water transfers and emergency grants, and noted that 2023 statutory changes created a $3 million drought emergency response account, though the one-transfer-per-fiscal-year rule could complicate future back-to-back droughts. Committee members asked about the amount of drought funding used, whether any balance remained, and whether drought insurance exists for municipalities; Ecology said the account still has funds available and that they were not aware of municipal drought insurance.
Ecology also described severe impacts in the Yakima Basin, where low reservoir storage, three years of drought, and the adjudicated water-right system led to unprecedented curtailment orders in October. Staff said nearly all senior surface-water rights in the basin were turned off, a first for the basin, and that the action was necessary to protect the most senior rights. They credited the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and prior planning investments with reducing impacts, but said more resilience work is needed. In committee discussion afterward, members raised broader questions about whether the drought fund should be increased, whether reservoirs or other storage projects should be expanded, and whether drought insurance or other long-term tools could help local governments and irrigators. The meeting ended with general agreement that drought is becoming a recurring condition in Washington and that more planning and water conservation will be needed going forward.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/27/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Transcript Highlights:
- The upper basin wants us in the lower basin to take the 2.1 million acre-feet of cuts before they put
- unit of upper basin cuts.
- In which there was action in the upper basin, there was action in the lower basin.
- I was looking at this lower basin consumptive use chart, and this is for all of the lower basin... ..
- .I was looking at this lower basin consumptive use chart, and this is for all of the lower basin, if
Committees:
House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference
Keywords:
solar radiation management, environment, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, public health, complaint process, Attorney General, groundwater management, water conservation, irrigation, water supply, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, brackish water, groundwater, water resources
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/27/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- More importantly, we proposed the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin share in those reductions on a one-to-one
- The Upper Basin wants us in the Lower Basin to take the 2.1 million acre-feet of cuts before they put
- unit of Upper Basin cuts.
- A couple of weeks ago, we thought we had closed the gap between the Upper Basin and Lower Basin to a
- I was looking at this lower basin consumptive use chart, and this is for all of the lower basin.
Summary:
The committee began by announcing that House Bill 2094 would be held and not heard that day, then received a lengthy update from Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzky on Colorado River negotiations and post-2026 operating rules. He described Arizona’s legal position, the basin’s water allocations, current shortages, conservation efforts, and the state’s view that the Upper Basin should share more of the reductions and move more water from reservoirs above Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Members asked about tourism, recreation, tribal water rights, public outreach, and the role of the state’s delegation and the federal government. Buschatzky said Arizona has already made major conservation cuts and that further reductions are likely, whether by agreement or federal action, and emphasized ongoing negotiations and public meetings.
The committee then heard House Bill 2758, which would expand McMullen Valley groundwater transfer rules to allow eligible entities, including private water companies, to withdraw and transport groundwater under specified conditions, with ADWR oversight and reporting requirements. Supporters argued the bill would provide a lawful, regulated way to move water for urban growth and housing needs, while opponents from La Paz County and rural advocacy groups said it would accelerate aquifer depletion, harm private wells, and benefit a New York hedge fund at the expense of local residents. After debate over guardrails, stakeholder outreach, and the impact on rural communities, the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed HB 2758 as amended on a 6-4 due-pass vote.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 2098, which revises bonding authority and public hearing notification requirements for county water augmentation authorities and allows such authorities to enter into local repayment agreements with WIFA. Pinal County officials and related stakeholders testified in support, saying the changes would help the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority finance future water and infrastructure projects, including possible augmentation efforts tied to Bartlett Dam, and would clean up statutory language to match the authority’s needs. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2098, before any committee vote on that bill is shown.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- that were inducted into 706 college and alumni chapters in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean
- that were inducted into 706 college and alumni chapters in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Apr 30th, 2026
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- The red-filled basins on this map, so the Olympic Basin, South Puget Sound, Upper Yakima, Lower Snake
- You can kind of see right on that line between those two basins.
- So that's the drainage basin.
- But the demand in the Yakima Basin for water is 2.5 million acre-feet.
- The next four slides focus on different example basins around the state.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first elected Rep. Reeves as chair and Rep. Dent as vice chair for the coming year, with the vote appearing unanimous. After a brief discussion about who would chair the rest of the meeting, the committee proceeded to its regular agenda focused on the 2026 drought situation in Washington.
The Washington state climatologist, Karen Mbacca, and Department of Ecology drought staff presented data showing a statewide drought declaration issued April 8 due to very low snowpack, warm winter temperatures, and resulting water supply concerns. They described the state’s statutory drought criteria, current reservoir and streamflow conditions, Yakima Basin water supply forecasts, likely summer temperature and precipitation outlooks, and the possibility of an El Niño developing later in the year. Ecology said the declaration makes $3 million in drought response grants available and allows expedited water transfer processing, and staff said they are already hearing concerns about impacts to agriculture, fish, and drinking water systems.
Committee members discussed the need for longer-term drought preparedness, possible legislative tools, and whether additional funding or reservoir/storage strategies should be considered. Rep. Dent and others asked about available grant money and future mitigation planning, while Ecology said it is open to working with the legislature and stakeholders on resilience measures. The committee then heard a contrasting presentation from Dr. Cliff Mass of the University of Washington, who argued there is no current drought emergency because reservoirs are full, precipitation and soil moisture are near or above normal in many areas, and agriculture is performing well; he said the state’s drought declaration is not justified by current conditions. Members questioned him about reservoir capacity, drought definitions, and forecasts, and the meeting ended with several members thanking departing legislators and noting the importance of continued water planning.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- The tan basins are basins where we already have water districts in place to administer groundwater, and
- the blue basins represent those basins where water districts to administer groundwater do not exist.
- We also were doing work in the Lemhi Basin.
- the water supply in the Payette Basin for ...seed to enhance the water supply in the Payette Basin for
- We have a pilot program in the Bear River Basin this year.
Committee:
Senate Resources and Environment
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Apr 30th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- The red-filled basins on this map—the Olympic Basin, South Puget Sound, Upper Yakima, Lower Snake, and
- The orange-colored basins had between 50 and 69% of normal.
- You can kind of see right on that line between those two basins.
- So that's the drainage basin.
- But the demand in the Yakima Basin for water is 2.5 million acre-feet.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- So we'll move on to the Columbia River Basin supply.
- Walla Walla River Basin... ...basin where I'm based in the southeast part of the state, the Walla Walla
- OGWRAP lies within the Columbia River Basin.
- It's part of the Columbia Basin, the federal Columbia Basin Project, operated by the Bureau of Reclamation
- Yeah, the primary mechanism is in the Yakima Basin for sure.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So we'll move on to the Columbia River Basin supply.
- Walla Walla River Basin... ...the Walla Walla River Basin and the Odessa Aquifer, where Senator Schessler
- OGWRAP lies within the Columbia River Basin.
- It's part of the Columbia Basin Federal Columbia Basin Project, operated by the Bureau of Reclamation
- Yeah, the primary mechanism is in the Yakima Basin for sure.
Summary:
The committee first received an update from Larry Madsen of the Office of Columbia River on eastern Washington water supply projects. He described the office’s mission to develop new water supplies for in-stream and out-of-stream uses, noting that funded projects have developed more than 800,000 acre-feet of water toward a 1 million acre-foot goal by 2030. He reviewed the four major program areas: the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, the Walla Walla Water 2050 plan, the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, and the Icicle Work Group. He highlighted major projects such as East Low Canal work, Springwood Ranch reservoir planning, Bateman Island causeway removal, and Icicle Creek improvements, and emphasized the importance of state, federal, tribal, and nonprofit partnerships and cost-sharing. Senators asked about accelerating the Springwood Ranch study, reservoir sizing and refill potential, and how conservation fits into the Yakima plan.
The committee then heard from Betsy Peabody, Dr. Micah Horwith, and Bill Dewey on the Marine Resources Advisory Council and ocean acidification. They explained that Washington was an early bellwether for ocean acidification impacts, especially on shellfish hatcheries, where low aragonite saturation and changing pH caused major oyster larval mortality. They described the state’s monitoring network, hatchery buffering systems, research partnerships, and adaptation strategies such as kelp co-culture, selective breeding, and native oyster restoration. Testimony stressed that ocean acidification is affecting shellfish, Dungeness crab, razor clams, and even salmon, and that continued state investment, emissions reductions, and nutrient pollution control are needed. Senators asked about differences between native and farmed species, real-time monitoring, and the pH/aragonite thresholds that threaten shellfish production.
Finally, Todd Myers and Pam Lewis of the Washington Policy Center presented concerns about agricultural viability, sustainability, and food security. Lewis said Washington farms are under severe financial pressure, citing negative farm take-home pay, high production and labor costs, and the need to rely more on voluntary programs, tax relief, and labor cost changes. She also argued that food insecurity is rising and that donations to food banks are harder when farms are financially strained. Myers followed with remarks on forest health and salmon recovery, arguing for more active forest management, expanded use of Good Neighbor Authority, and fewer permitting barriers. He also said salmon recovery funding should be locally prioritized and science-based, with regulatory barriers reduced so projects can move faster. The committee then voted to refer Senate Bill 6154, a culvert replacement permitting bill, to the Senate Local Government Committee without recommendation, and the motion passed.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 05/13/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They spawn in the Caribbean.
Summary:
The Senate opened with routine business, approved the prior journal, and received several motions to discharge identical Assembly bills from committee and substitute corresponding Senate bills. Members also offered brief recognitions for visitors, including Yemeni American community advocates and Cheri Davis, who was honored for her Alzheimer’s advocacy and support work. The chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Period Poverty Awareness Week, and Nurses Week, with senators speaking in support of each measure’s purpose and importance.
The body then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing a wide range of measures on education, public health, correction law, environmental conservation, municipal law, agriculture, and consumer protection. Notable floor discussion included Senator Ramos explaining her support for a bill requiring salons and similar businesses to display multilingual domestic violence resource information, and Senator Gianaris and Senator Borrello debating a bill to prohibit electronic shelf labeling in stores over concerns about surveillance, dynamic pricing, and impacts on brick-and-mortar retailers. Senator May and Senator Skoufis also spoke on an environmental conservation bill concerning American eel management, with May supporting the species protections and Skoufis objecting to the bill’s structure.
Most bills were adopted by wide margins, though several drew recorded negative votes. The Senate passed the domestic violence information bill, the electronic shelf-labeling bill, and multiple other measures, including bills on eviction notice procedures, surrogate court procedure, and environmental conservation. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until the next day at 11:00 a.m.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Apr 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Rodrigues has an affinity to the Caribbean community and to all things Lusophone.
Summary:
The commission met to approve prior minutes, note attendance, and discuss updates on its work to plan a Cape Verdean Culture Center/Museum in Massachusetts. The minutes from the March 11 meeting were reviewed and accepted by motion and vote, with one correction noted about duplicate section numbering. Members also discussed a vacancy left by Julius Brito’s inability to accept appointment, and the need to potentially extend the commission’s deadline and broaden the window for adding commissioners.
A substantial portion of the meeting focused on funding and legislative strategy. Staff reported that an amendment to extend the commission’s sunset date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027 was filed in the Senate’s fair share budget but was not accepted. Commissioners and legislators discussed other possible vehicles for the extension, including the regular budget, supplemental budgets, or other moving bills, and also reviewed past and possible future funding sources for a feasibility study, including House and Senate earmarks, a bond bill, and eventually a nonprofit structure that could fundraise. Members emphasized the need for a consultant to support a feasibility study and for public pressure or commissioner advocacy if needed.
The bulk of the meeting was a brainstorming session on community engagement and outreach. Commissioners discussed a three-part approach involving site visits, traditional listening sessions, and outreach at existing Cape Verdean events, with possible additions of social media, a website, surveys, recordings, and canvassing. Suggested locations included New Bedford, Cape Cod, Boston, Brockton, Taunton, and potentially Rhode Island sites such as Pawtucket, with several members stressing the historical importance of New Bedford and Cape Cod. Participants also raised the importance of historical accuracy, youth engagement, visibility, and involving existing Cape Verdean organizations and museums. The meeting ended with agreement to continue refining the engagement framework, compile event lists, and return with more concrete dates and plans at the next meeting.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 03/10/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Working families, communities from across the Caribbean, Asia, South America, and beyond.
Summary:
The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity.
A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections.
The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 24th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Africans brought their cultures, languages, and spirituality. with them across the Atlantic to the Caribbean
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance and Taxation Apr 15th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Finance and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- We have four assets: Williston Basin, Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, Permian Basin in Texas, and then Wyoming
- Powder River Basin.
- What is the future of Continental in this basin?
- This same activity ramp was also seen in other basins.
- in the Williston Basin.
Committee:
House Finance and Taxation
Summary:
The Finance and Tax Committee met to consider Senate Bill 2397 and a proposed amendment creating a development incentive well program for North Dakota oil and gas production. Representative Dockter explained the amendment as a way to encourage exploratory and innovative drilling in light of the state’s financial outlook and the growing share of stripper wells. Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson and DMR geologist Timothy Nashim presented background on the Bakken and Three Forks formations, with Nashim describing research showing that Middle Three Forks second-bench development can add reserves in some areas but not others, and that roughly 600 additional wells in the strongest area could yield about 250 million barrels of oil.
Continental Resources representatives William Houser and John Argo supported the amendment. They said the bill would give a temporary oil extraction tax exemption for certified development incentive wells, limited to 36 months or 300,000 barrels, and would also update tax treatment for gas used in enhanced oil recovery and on-site electric generation. They argued the measure would encourage new technology and testing in existing spacing units, complementing House Bill 1483, which they said focused on geographic expansion into non-Bakken and non-Three Forks areas. Argo said Continental still invests heavily in North Dakota but is shifting rigs elsewhere because of economics, and he urged incentives to spur exploration and preserve the basin’s long-term future.
North Dakota Petroleum Council executive director Ron Ness also supported the concept, calling it a targeted, low-risk way to encourage innovation and future barrels. Committee members asked about royalty treatment, the difference from House Bill 1483, pressure maintenance, and how the program would be administered. DMR said the amendment should clarify that the operator bears the burden of proving a well qualifies and that only one incentive well per stratigraphic interval should be certified. No vote was taken; the committee paused to work on revised language and indicated the bill would likely need further adjustment, possibly in conference committee.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- basin states combined.
- They're in the Mississippi Basin, they're in the Missouri River Basin, and the Arkansas Basin.
- Safety of the basin.
- and be in two basins.
- One farm might be right on a basin divide and be in two basins.
Summary:
The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting.
Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made.
In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.