Transcript Highlights:

• The North Bosque River has been listed as impaired since 1998, primarily due to agricultural runoff,
• The bill establishes enforceable standards for agricultural waste management near impaired waterways
• The bill provides technical support through local soil and water conservation districts and improves
• We have a rural area. where many of our landowners are engaged in agricultural production.
• Both agricultural and timber uses are decreasing.

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• by the conservation project.
• by the conservation project.
• I grew up in agriculture, and here we are, Senate Agriculture Committee.
• >> Well, I think it—the conservation word is, I don't see any conservation to it.
• </c> contemplated to store conserve water. contemplated to store conserve water.

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Transcript Highlights:

• Is anybody here from the Department of Agriculture? Okay.
• Down our area, the Dexter-Hagerman soil conservation is very active.
• The Department of Agriculture partners with us to do this.
• Thank you, members of the Senate Conservation Committee. Thank you.
• Thank you, members of the Senate Conservation Committee. Thank you.

Bills: SB47, SB195, SB196, SB197, SB198, SB78

Keywords: food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, soil conservation, water resources, training services, outreach programs, environmental protection, animal care, veterinary services, spay and neuter, Las Vegas, community funding, animal welfare, animal shelter

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's the thing: The 2015 law I was only able to get data from conservation from 2015 to the present
• Since then, a lot of them have been afraid of conservation, being concerned about their animals being
• Education and conservation go hand in hand.
• There is no input into the department of conservation, and I would say otherwise.
• and tried to modify... to conservation and tried to modify things.

Bills: HB448, HB448

Keywords: wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, good samaritan, injured animals, orphaned animals, debilitated wildlife, wild birds, wild animals, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, permit exemption, animal rescue, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, veterinary licensing, animal cruelty, wildlife care, rehabilitation act, non-federally protected species, endangered species

Bills: HB 16, HB 1618, HB 2692, HB 2712, HB 2970, HB 3609, HB 3628

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Bills: HB 16, HB 1618, HB 2692, HB 2712, HB 2970, HB 3609, HB 3628

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Transcript Highlights:

• 50% of all of Pinal County farming is now fallowed because we lost our entire CAP allocation for agriculture
• Basically, the reason for the infrastructure fund in the first place was to be a proxy for the agriculture
• Chair, Senator Sundaresan, so this was a part of the DCP mitigation program for the CAP agriculture users
• There's part of it that goes to administration and enforcement and part that goes to conservation and
• Chair, Senator Gabaldón, the priority for the agriculture users is the second-lowest priority in the

Bills: SB1041, SB1363, SB1418, SB1419, SB1445, SB1447, SB1488, SB1519, SB1523, SB1560, SB1580

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, marijuana, rural opportunity, dispensary, economic development, licensing, social equity, unserved communities, Arizona, small modular reactors, energy regulation, environmental compatibility, utility construction, agricultural use

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The hour of 1:00 having arrived, I’ll call this meeting of the House Agriculture Finance and
• production and agricultural pursuit.
• First, why agriculture?
• The horse industry's impact on agriculture and the products and services consumed is substantial.
• The horse industry's impact on agriculture and the products and services consumed is substantial.

Bills: HF1621, HF1701, HF1796, HF1676, HF40, HF1428, HF1540

Keywords: HF1621, CelluComp, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, appropriation, grant, commercialization, fiber-based barrier packaging, packaging materials, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, plastic reduction, sustainable packaging, environmental health, materials innovation, bio-based packaging, food packaging, agriculture finance, one-time grant, state subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• HJR1090 is the Resolution approving all energy and agriculture-related agency rules.

Bills: HJR1090, HJR1091, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1094, HJR1095, SJR49

Keywords: administrative rules, rule approval, joint resolution, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Liquified Petroleum Gas Board, water resources, wildlife conservation, tourism, zoning commission, energy regulation, agricultural regulation, agency rules, permanent rules, state agencies, Oklahoma Legislature, business and commerce, professional licensing

Bills: SB1928, SB259

Keywords: groundwater, water rights, waste prevention, conservation, permitting, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, water permits, water use reporting, metering, permit enforcement, groundwater waste, well permitting, cease and desist, fines and penalties, permit suspension, data centers, data processing facilities, cooling systems, evaporative cooling

Summary: The committee took up two water-related bills, both on committee substitutes with titles stricken. Senate Bill 259, carried over from the prior year, was described as a shortened version of earlier language that removed some provisions seen as burdensome and eliminated funding for the Water Resources Board. The author said the bill aims to recognize that water extends beyond property lines, add measuring requirements for permitted users, and preserve water for future generations while exempting domestic uses and pasture/livestock taps. After no questions or debate, the committee passed SB 259 by a vote of 7-1. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1928, which creates a voluntary five-year flex allocation program beginning January 1, 2027. The author said the program is intended to help existing permit holders measure and use water more efficiently without requiring new permitting or mandatory metering, and noted the proposal mirrors House language. He also explained that the original 200% annual cap had been reduced to 150% in the committee substitute. The bill passed 10-0. At the close, the chair noted both bills were heard to help develop broader water policy for Oklahoma and encouraged continued cooperation among interested parties. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• being done in our crawfish industry and allow these jobs and duties to qualify under the H-2A agricultural
• This is about protecting Louisiana's agriculture, protecting our jobs, and protecting our industry that
• The Department of Agriculture and Forestry at one time was the Department of Agriculture and Immigration
• This is extremely important to our agricultural industry.
• Thank you guys for what you all do for agriculture across the state. All right.

Bills: HCR77, HB81, HB512, HB663, HB717, HB1194

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, arborist, property disputes, tree trimming, neighborhood, landowner rights, Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District, board of commissioners

Bills: SF0027, SF0124

Keywords: game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, tourism, economic development, rodeo, cowboy heritage, Wyoming, funding, cultural preservation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Agriculture would be required to post the inventories from all conservation districts
• The Department of Agriculture would be required to post the inventories from all conservation districts
• business and improve farmland affordability through agricultural or conservation easements or outright
• When conservation districts do purchase agricultural land outright, it's always voluntary and always
• The Ferry Conservation District has owned 82 acres of agricultural land that was donated in 1992 and

Bills: HB2201, HB2154

Keywords: urban growth, city planning, county regulations, development standards, land use, land ownership, conservation districts, property rights, regulatory authority, environmental policy, 904, all

Summary: The Local Government Committee first held a work session on the Washington Zoning Atlas. Commerce staff explained that the atlas is a statewide, web-based zoning map built from local zoning codes with help from university planning students. It lets users compare zoning across jurisdictions, query where uses like residential, industrial, commercial, multifamily, or agriculture are allowed, and link back to local development codes. Members asked about using the atlas as a “single source of truth,” layering it with other state data such as transportation or public works projects, update frequency, and whether environmental sensitivity data could be added in the future. Commerce said the atlas is not a parcel-specific buildability tool, is being updated on an ongoing basis, and needs additional funding because the planned update source is not in the governor’s budget. The committee then heard House Bill 2201, which would require counties to align planning and development regulations within urban growth areas with the city’s regulations unless the city agrees otherwise or another law requires a different standard. The sponsor and several city representatives said mismatched county and city rules can undermine annexation planning, infrastructure investment, and long-term development coordination. Cities from Vancouver, Pasco, Ferndale, and Lynnwood described “donut holes,” infrastructure misalignment, and the need for better annexation pathways. The Association of Washington Cities and planning groups said the issue is real and merits more policy work, but the bill needs refinement. Counties, the Washington State Association of Counties, and other opponents said the bill is too broad, does not account for existing interlocal agreements, would add workload without funding, and fails to require timely annexation by cities. The sponsor said the bill needs more work and invited continued discussion. No vote was taken. The committee also heard House Bill 2154, which would prohibit conservation districts from buying or acquiring interests in agricultural land 20 acres or larger that is actively used for farming and would require districts to inventory certain land holdings. The sponsor argued that taxpayer-funded district purchases can drive up farmland prices and reduce opportunities for private farmers to expand. Conservation district representatives, the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, the Puget Sound Partnership, and several local districts opposed the bill, saying conservation districts use voluntary tools such as purchases, easements, leases, and donations to keep land in agricultural production, support beginning farmers, and preserve farmland from development. They said many district-owned parcels are donated rather than purchased, often leased back to farmers, and used for education, demonstration, and conservation. Testifiers emphasized that farmland conversion to development is the larger threat and that the bill would remove an important preservation tool. The hearing closed without action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please take your seats, and welcome to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2B-certified seasonal employer designation and reclassify all job duties of the crawfish industry as agricultural
• labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. ...the United States
• 2B-certified seasonal employer designation and reclassify all job duties of the crawfish industry as agricultural
• labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program.

Bills: HCR77

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill establishes a landowner energy negotiation, agro agriculture preservation, and orphaned whale
• corporate board for any kind of energy project that is concerned about remediation of soil and the conservation
• That's just it's going to be composed of five members appointed by the State Board of Agriculture, and

Bills: SB2173, SB2028, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134

Keywords: landowner, energy negotiation, agricultural preservation, orphaned wells, renewable energy, raw milk, unpasteurized milk, milk products, dairy, pasteurization, food safety, consumer warning label, health warning, farm sales, direct-to-consumer sales, ungraded milk, goat milk, raw milk cheese, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, agricultural regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill establishes a landowner, energy negotiation, agriculture, culture preservation, and orphaned
• Agriculture preservation and orphaned well mitigation education program to work through the OSU and the
• So as this industry, ...and the conservation of water.
• moment to really understand how innovative and everything that's happening, that they are and the conservation
• And that's just going to be composed of five members appointed by the State Board of Agriculture, and

Bills: SB2173, SB2028, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134

Keywords: landowner, energy negotiation, agricultural preservation, orphaned wells, renewable energy, raw milk, unpasteurized milk, milk products, dairy, pasteurization, food safety, consumer warning label, health warning, farm sales, direct-to-consumer sales, ungraded milk, goat milk, raw milk cheese, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, agricultural regulation

Summary: The committee first laid over Senate Bill 1573, then took up Senate Bill 2173, which would create a landowner/energy negotiation and agriculture preservation education program through OSU and Langston Extension, and authorize but not require the Corporation Commission to establish an energy land-remediation fee of up to $25 per acre on disturbed land, with a 50% credit for dual-use projects. Members discussed whether the fee would fall on landowners or projects, the role of county extension offices, and the bill’s lack of a fiscal impact after revisions. The bill was amended, title struck, and passed 12-0. Senate Bill 2028, as amended and worked from committee substitute, would allow advertising of raw milk and raw milk products, require labeling, and raise the incidental sales limit to 1,500 gallons per month while still barring commercial store sales. Senators debated whether warning labels should include health risks, especially for pregnant women, and whether the gallon limit was arbitrary. Supporters argued for consumer choice and parity with other risky foods, while opponents raised public health concerns. The bill passed 11-2. The committee then passed Senate Bill 2127, which creates an Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry advisory council on product classification, by a 11-2 vote. Senate Bill 2117, dealing with contamination of grain and assigning responsibility to the Department of Agriculture after a sewage-related wheat contamination incident, passed 13-0 after members noted the need for clearer definitions of contamination. Finally, Senate Bill 2134, addressing livestock safety and humane treatment after truck wrecks by directing ODAF to develop rules and training for emergency responders, also passed 13-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the January 21st House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
• You know, our agriculture community is in a tight spot right now.
• And it's probably, in my 76 years, this is the worst I've seen agriculture in.
• And I think that we have to look at this overall agriculture program.
• Because agriculture is a challenge right now.

Bills: HB2275, HB2238

Keywords: wildfire prevention, Washington wildfire council, fire safety, environmental protection, state regulations, HB 2238, HB2238, statewide food security, food security strategy, hunger, food insecurity, food access, food assistance, anti-hunger, nutrition education, food system literacy, agricultural viability, supply chain resilience, Washington Department of Agriculture, food policy forum

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2275, which would create a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund and a 15-member council to administer it. Committee staff explained that investor-owned utilities would be required to participate, consumer-owned utilities could opt in, and utilities would pay annual contributions and potentially a one-time startup payment; the fund would compensate certain wildfire damage claims tied to utility negligence and support wildfire mitigation planning and related work. Representative Reeves, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to address wildfire liability, improve transparency for ratepayers, and create a more comprehensive statewide approach to wildfire prevention and response. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Department of Natural Resources, wildfire survivors, and several advocates who said the bill could help victims recover, stabilize wildfire response funding, and support mitigation. Several witnesses described personal losses from the Gray Fire and said a dedicated fund could have helped with recovery. Opponents and those testifying “other” or “con” included utilities, utility associations, business groups, and ratepayer advocates, who raised concerns about retroactive liability dating back to July 1, 2021, unclear fund solvency, potential rate increases, equity among customer classes, and the risk that the fund could be swept for other state purposes. Some witnesses argued the bill should be paired with broader liability reform and stronger mitigation requirements, while others pointed to California’s wildfire fund as a model or cautionary example. After public testimony, the committee read the record of sign-ins as 30 pro, 774 con, and 2 other, and then concluded the hearing on HB 2275. The committee then moved to executive session on House Bill 2238, which directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy and adds food security coordination and food system performance monitoring duties. Staff briefed five amendments, four of which were adopted: one requiring consideration of regulatory cost metrics and periodic competitiveness reporting, one directing the department to recommend legislative actions to improve food affordability, one adding people with lived experience of food insecurity and BIPOC small farmers to consultation requirements and emphasizing root causes of hunger, and one adding fuel and labor cost metrics. A fifth amendment, which would have required a consultant study of agricultural labor collective bargaining legislation, failed on a 5-6 roll call vote. The committee then moved the substitute bill forward with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these bills honor conservation achievements that recognize...
• These bills honor conservation achievements.
• The forest is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
• The forest is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
• Land held by the Dighton Conservation... ...of Dighton's Pleasant Street Bridge.

Bills: H5113, H5076, H4972, H4917, H4700, S2896, S2961, S2933, H5141, H5140, H5139, S2877, H3920

Keywords: Marion Stoddart, riverwalk, J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Nashua River, Nashua River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, Department of Conservation and Recreation, DCR, trail designation, state forest, conservation, environmental recognition, commemorative naming, signage, public lands, toxic pesticides, Eastham, environmental regulation, local control

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the general manager of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.
• Uh, Plum Creek Conservation District manages 28 flood control structures built on the tributaries of
• I show you registered as Ed McCarthy on behalf of the Plum Creek Conservation District testifying for
• This bill was filed to enhance the post-Oak Savannah's groundwater Conservation District's ability to
• support essential infrastructure tied to groundwater conservation and district operations.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections