Transcript Highlights:

• County AIS prevention fund is critical to preserving our lakes and rivers for future generations while
• for future Generations while rivers for future Generations while supporting<00:52:14.799><c> the</c>
• I am the executive director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers.
• lake and river Heritage in 2014<00:54:03.920><c> the</c><00:54:04.040><c> legislature</c><00:54:04.760
• </c><00:55:05.599><c> management</c> million to lake and river management million to lake and river management

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• projects and also from projects as rivers run north in Canada.
• projects and also from projects as rivers run north in Canada.
• projects, and also as the rivers run north in Canada.
• projects, and also as the rivers run north in Canada.
• </c><00:45:40.640><c> capacity</c><00:45:41.640><c> uh</c> lot of uh renewable River capacity uh lot

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the last one we may have had involvement with was Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area out on
• the Ohio River.
• :52:41.280><c> Ohio</c><00:52:41.680><c> River.
• Uh I think that's on the Ohio River.
• Green River National was going to ask.

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met for its first meeting of the year, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior year’s minutes, and welcomed new co-chairs and members. The board reviewed the capital planning timeline and a list of agencies that submitted plans but would not testify. Members were reminded to keep presentations brief because of a packed agenda. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented first, outlining priorities centered on public safety, infrastructure preservation, and preventive maintenance. Its requests included a $21 million maintenance pool, phase two funding for a new state public health laboratory, construction of an 18-bed children’s psychiatric hospital, and several projects at Western State Hospital and Western State Nursing Facility, including HVAC work, cooling tower repair or replacement, and chiller plant repiping. Additional projects covered elevator upgrades at Hazlewood and phased cottage renovations at Oakwood. Board members asked about vacant buildings, the cost per bed for the youth psychiatric facility, and the relationship between the CHFS youth facility and a separate DJJ facility; CHFS said the youth facility would serve DCBS-involved youth and be separate from the DJJ project. The Kentucky Department of Education then described its state-operated facilities, including the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the FFA leadership training center. Its priorities included additional funding for the FFA classroom and activity building, a rewrite of the SEEK education finance application system, renovation and repair of the FFA swimming pool, electrical upgrades, campus education enhancements, safety and security work, door and window replacements, and HVAC maintenance. Members asked about student outcomes, the size and cost of the swimming pool project, and construction cost assumptions; KDE said it tracks student outcomes through special education staff and that current estimates reflect higher post-COVID construction costs. The Education and Labor Cabinet began its presentation with 12 priority projects, including a state labor exchange system, renovation of the McDow Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and a new adult education and family literacy management information system. The cabinet said the labor exchange would connect job seekers and employers at no cost, while the McDow renovation was needed because the 30-year-old facility faces safety and code concerns. The cabinet planned to continue through the remaining priorities and answer questions at the end of its presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that when people, pardon me, care about clean water in rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands,
• Thank you. quality of motans's lakes, rivers, quality of motans's lakes, rivers, Minnesota's<00:30:48.080
• ><c> lakes,</c><00:30:48.399><c> rivers,</c><00:30:48.720><c> and</c> Minnesota's lakes, rivers, and
• </c><00:32:15.559><c> Um,</c> Mississippi River. Um, Mississippi River.
• Our members also work in river dredging, sand and gravel pits, building waste and storm water systems

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And you can hear from the state engineer about water compacts and updates on the Colorado River and the
• water compacts and updates on the about water compacts and updates on the Colorado<00:27:12.640><c> River
• the</c><00:27:13.760><c> Perkins</c><00:27:14.320><c> Canal</c><00:27:15.520><c> and</c> Colorado River
• and the Perkins Canal and Colorado River and the Perkins Canal and what<00:27:16.240><c> Water</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• JOHN'S RIVER ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN ON THE EASTSIDE. WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT AREA.
• JOHN'S RIVER.
• WE WORK WITH UTILITIES IN THE SUWANNEE RIVER AND ST.
• JOHN'S WATER RIVER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO MAINTAINING MINIMUM FLOWS AND THE

Transcript Highlights:

• We cut timber at Barber and Russell and across the river into Georgia as well.
• Chairman, the Tennessee River Valley...
• Chair: The Tennessee River Valley or Conille Lake Valley, we have an aquatic weed issue and have had
• found that this would create acres of weed banks in the area. ...create acres of weed banks in the river

Bills: SB110 , SB64 , SB42

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: weight limits, trucking regulations, transportation, enforcement authority, portable scales, SB64, Alabama, state waters, public waters, aquatic plants, aquatic vegetation, lake management, waterway maintenance, environmental regulation, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, commercial contractors, vegetation removal, mowing aquatic plants, uprooting plants

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held an introductory orientation for members, many of whom were new or newly assigned to the committee. Leadership emphasized that the committee is intended to operate in a nonpartisan, collaborative way, and members introduced themselves and described their backgrounds in farming, gardening, food service, environmental work, water and waste issues, veterinary work, and related fields. Several members noted personal ties to homesteading, livestock, orcharding, food security, landfill concerns, and animal welfare, while others said they were eager to learn the committee’s work. The chair then reviewed committee procedures and expectations. Members were told the committee would generally meet on Tuesdays, with hearings starting around 10 a.m. and often running until about 4:30 p.m., and that absences, substitutes for executive sessions, and email communications would be handled through House rules and the committee’s email system. The chair also covered decorum rules for live-streamed meetings, including professional dress, limiting food and drink at the table, and giving full attention to witnesses. Members were reminded that legislative emails are subject to public records laws and that the committee may soon transition to a new email domain. The chair also explained logistics such as bill folders, committee room storage, and emergency procedures for evacuation or shelter-in-place. No bills were debated or voted on in this meeting, but the chair noted that the committee already had roughly two dozen bills pending, including animal welfare, landfill, policy, and cat-and-dog related measures. Members were told to expect a broad mix of topics beyond agriculture, including solid waste and animal-related legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> also into that goes into the Crow River also into that goes into the Crow River and<00:51:39.359
• The MPCA has set strict limits for chlorides to protect the Minnesota River and its watershed.
• So, we're partnered with Three Rivers on this part of the project.
• So, we're partnered with Three Rivers on this part of the project.
• :31:26.880><c> and</c><01:31:27.199><c> actually</c> river crossing bridge and actually river crossing

Bills: HF2178 , HF942 , HF2470 , HF1043 , HF1287 , HF1229 , HF1230 , HF424 , HF571 , HF404 , HF910 , HF1055 , HF318 , HF319 , HF401 , HF609 , HF306 , HF1599 , HF1881

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• They're flooding the river on weekends when people want to enjoy it.
• They're flooding the river on weekends when people want to enjoy it.
• </c><01:31:46.119><c> particularly</c> bring them to the river particularly bring them to the river particularly
• </c> the other two are Inland Waters Rivers the other two are Inland Waters Rivers freshw<01:33:14.119
• Um, kayak either guided or self-guided companies on W River.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• like the Norwalk River and the Connecticut River.
• like the Norwalk River and the Connecticut River.
• like the Norwalk River and the Connecticut River.
• like the Norwalk River and the Connecticut River.
• like the Norwalk River and the Connecticut River.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in communities such as Riverton or, you know, somewhere like Basin, you have very limited resources
• However, in communities such as Riverton or, you know, somewhere like Basin, you have very limited resources

Summary: The committee opened by explaining it would work through a long list of interim topics one at a time and asked members to complete a selection form at the end. The first topic, long-term care, drew testimony from AARP Wyoming and the Wyoming Long-Term Care Association. AARP emphasized Wyoming’s aging population, the state’s roughly $200 million annual Medicaid spending on long-term care, and the need to examine whether more support for home-based care could reduce nursing home use and costs. The association agreed with supporting people at home as long as possible, but asked that any study also consider increased support for nursing homes and assisted living when home care is no longer feasible. Committee discussion also touched on adult day care and PACE-like services, with Mr. Laycock noting prior Department of Health discussion and limited adult day availability due to reimbursement concerns. The committee then heard proposals for neonatal intensive care unit family leave, expanded midwifery scope, and a modification to workers’ compensation law. The NICU leave idea, presented by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, would explore leave options for families with premature infants in intensive care, potentially paid or unpaid, while considering business size and the burden on families who may need out-of-state care. The midwifery topic was framed as a way to address rural maternity and women’s health gaps by allowing midwives to practice to the full extent of their training. On workers’ compensation, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities sought to classify dispatch personnel as first responders so they could receive mental health coverage under workers’ compensation; the Department of Workforce Services explained that current law covers dispatchers under workers’ compensation generally, but the first responder mental health provision added in 2018 applies to law enforcement and firefighters and does not currently include dispatchers. Other topics included problematic gaming and program funding, breast cancer diagnostic and supplemental exams, prescription drug coverage for advanced metastatic cancer, SNAP education, behavioral health workforce clinical training site shortages, CPR in schools, and broader midwifery oversight. The behavioral health workforce proposal, brought by a WICHE commissioner, focused on increasing psychology internship slots in Wyoming, noting that the state currently has only three and that expanding placements could improve recruitment and retention. The CPR in schools topic drew strong support from the American Heart Association, which argued that CPR training in high school could improve bystander response in a rural state with long EMS response times; committee members asked about cost and curriculum fit, and the witnesses said hands-only CPR could be taught by school staff rather than requiring expensive certification. The midwifery discussion later broadened into concerns about oversight and standards after a representative described a constituent’s pregnancy loss and said complaints involving midwifery practice and staffing delays in investigations warranted a deeper review. No votes were taken during the portion provided, and most topics were simply introduced, discussed, and left open for further testimony or later committee selection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're located in Humboldt and Del Norte County, located on the Lower Klamath River.
• We're located in Humboldt and Del Norte County, located on the Lower Klamath River.
• And when Emily went missing, we had our tribal police searching the rivers and boats.
• I'm Deborah Ramirez, and I'm from the Little River Band of Pomo Indians.
• Little River Band of Pomo Indians.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two of the most contaminated streams are the Root and Whitewater Rivers.
• Rise forms covered the river, and rafts of caddis flies accumulated in the eddies.
• </c><00:25:09.919><c> These</c> the root and whitewater rivers.
• These the root and whitewater rivers.
• Rise forms covered the river and rafts Rise forms covered the river and rafts of<00:25:31.919><c> catis

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair is delighted to welcome guests of Representative Carol Fiola of Fall River, Representative
• Steve Ouellette, and Representative Alan Silvia, seniors from the Fall River Councils on Aging.
• Silvia of Fall River asked unanimous consent to be recorded on the previous roll call.
• Sylvia of Fall River votes yes on roll call number 192. Thank you.
• Fall River on roll call number 192 votes yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• corridor connects Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, including port facilities on the Columbia and Snake River
• Including port facilities on the Columbia and Snake River, as well as U.S. 395 and I-82, so a big connection
• The ultimate goal for U.S. 12 is to four-lane it from Walla Walla all the way to the Snake River.
• You know, as it goes along the Columbia River and then as it turns towards Walla Walla, will those remain
• The project that is currently underway and wrapping up is the Spokane River Crossing project, which is

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for work sessions, public hearings, and executive action. In the work session, WSDOT briefed the committee on the U.S. 12 corridor near Walla Walla and the North Spokane Corridor. Brian White said U.S. 12 is an eight-phase project with seven phases complete, and phase eight would finish the corridor, improve freight mobility and safety, and include a jurisdictional transfer of the old highway back to Walla Walla County. He said the project remains short of full funding, including a gap between the $350 million corridor cost and the $110 million federal Rural Surface Transportation grant, but WSDOT hopes to build smaller independent-utility pieces and begin construction in summer 2027. Charlene K. then reported that the North Spokane Corridor is seven of eight highway miles open, with major remaining work on the I-90 connection and related interchanges, bridges, and trail segments. She described the project as on track for design completion in 2027 and construction completion around 2030, while noting risks tied to federal approval, tight construction space, labor and contractor availability, utilities, and community impacts. The committee also heard from Karen Messmer of the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council, who summarized the council’s 2025 report and 2026 priorities. She emphasized that pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities remain unacceptably high and urged a safe-system approach focused on safer speeds, roads, road users, vehicles, land use, and post-crash care. She highlighted recommendations including safety-based performance measures, better speed management, more local safety planning support, improved driver education, attention to micromobility and large vehicles, and faster toxicology and crash-data processing. In public hearings, the committee heard Senate Bill 6131, which would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority, designate it as a public health authority for limited access to health information, and create a confidential fatality review committee. The sponsor and Traffic Safety Commission said the bill would help identify common contributing factors in all fatal crashes while protecting confidential information; a media representative testified that the bill preserves public access to records already open and supports the goal of improving safety. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6155, which would extend disability parking placard renewal from every five years to every 20 years and remove the need for a health care practitioner’s signature at renewal; supporters said this would reduce burdens on permanently disabled people, while opponents warned it could increase fraud and misuse of placards. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6238, which would raise the minimum tug escort horsepower for oil tankers in restricted waters to 3,000 horsepower or 5% of tanker deadweight, whichever is greater; the sponsor and Board of Pilotage said the change would align statute with current practice and newly adopted rules. Testimony was mixed, and the hearing closed with two people signed in pro and two con. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed Senate Bill 5746 on EV charging infrastructure property crime, Senate Bill 5824 on fifth wheel travel trailer length, Senate Bill 6110 on e-bikes and e-motos, Senate Bill 5839 on county ferry district passenger-only service, and Senate Bill 6148 on regional transit authority bond terms, all with due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee. An amendment to SB 6110 adding several state agency leaders to the e-moto work group was rejected. The committee adjourned after signing committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• opposed to twice a year as currently required to evaluate and report on progress implementing the river
• River in their actual district.
• River miles in order to improve representation of the appropriate council districts.
• In my district, two hot spots of hydrogen sulfide have been identified in the Tijuana River Valley and
• In my district, two hot spots of hydrogen sulfide have been identified in the Tijuana River Valley and

Transcript Highlights:

• Our original foundation was Hospice in the Red River Valley.
• We built the first hospice of the Red River Valley. We built the first hospice...
• Hospice of the Red River Valley, 44 years, 44 years ago, started by people in this room, no funding,
• So every time Hospice of the Red River Valley moved, We've got to pay our bills.
• So Hospice of the Red River Valley, now HIA Health, here is something that's very critical.

Bills: HB1623

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1623, the appropriations bill tied to North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded through a new federal rural health care grant. Senator Bekkedahl explained the bill’s background, the interim committee process that developed it, and the federal conditions attached to the award, including spending deadlines, administrative cost limits, and restrictions on uses such as new construction, supplanting existing funding, and certain other costs. Legislative staff then walked through the seven sections of the bill, including appropriation authority, transfer authority, contingent appropriations for pass-through grants, procurement and public improvement exemptions, recipient reporting, legislative reporting, and immediate effective date. Commissioner Traynor and HHS staff described how the department plans to implement the program, emphasizing that the funding is intended to improve rural access, workforce recruitment and retention, technology and data connectivity, and community health initiatives. They said the department will rely on local applications, technical assistance, templates, listening sessions, and partnerships with providers, schools, public health units, tribal entities, and other community groups. Members asked about reimbursement timing, upfront costs, administrative expenses, sustainability after the five-year grant period, and whether CTE centers, public health units, gyms, grocery stores, and other community partners could participate; the department said yes, within program rules and with a focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability. Several supporters testified in favor. Mental Health America of North Dakota and the Mental Health Advocacy Network supported the bill and urged investment in community-based mental health, crisis response, children’s services, peer support, and mobile crisis teams. HIA Health described the grant as a chance to expand home-based and hospice care, noting that rural providers already have workable models but need funding to scale them. A cybersecurity representative also supported the bill, warning that the large amount of health data and AI-related tools will require strong data protection and professional support. The hearing was closed with no opposition testimony, and the committee announced it would return later in the day for further work on the bill and other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lucie, and New River. We have obligated $125 million with $23 million in development.
• The Ocoee River, you know, think about some of the fast-moving water that they have up in the Appalachian
• They were building them in the middle of rivers.
• 24-inch box drainage underneath that so that that water would continue to flow to the Hillsborough River
• , the New River, the Hillsborough River, specifically in your area served, that that water has got to

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a student in the ProStart program at Oak River High School.
• I'm a student in the ProStart program at Oak River High School.
• /c><00:10:56.360><c> program</c><00:10:56.680><c> at</c><00:10:56.800><c> Oak</c><00:10:57.040><c> River
• </c><00:10:57.360><c> High</c> the proart program at Oak River High the proart program at Oak River High
• I began my ProStart journey my junior year after moving to Elk River, initially uncertain and apprehensive