Video & Transcript Research : 'revocable trust'
Page 81 of 459
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/05/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- and natural resources trust fund. and natural resources trust fund.
- trust fund by project managers. trust fund by project managers. conditions<00:25:04.000>
related - environmental natural resource trust environmental natural resource trust fund<00:27:05.760>
- <01:10:24.719>
fund How much money is in the trust fund How much money is in the trust fund - Uh how much much is in the trust fund?
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources, February 12, 2026
Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- I've been moonlighting as the chairman of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund board
- So, as I mentioned, we're the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust, and of course, as you all
- To my left in my day job is one of my bosses, but one of my colleagues as we sit on the trust, and that
- So, as I mentioned, we're the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust, and of course, as you all
- There is approximately $13 million that sits in the trust right now.
Keywords:
right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Ethics and Elections Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So we trust that Mr.
- So we trust that Mr.
- In short, remember that the people of Florida trust Governor DeSantis.
- I want to pick up on the word trust.
- All of us have trouble trusting Mr. Kissel.
Summary:
The committee first took up 127 gubernatorial appointees grouped in blocks and, after brief testimony in favor of several nominees, voted to recommend confirmation of the block nominees to the full Senate. The committee then moved through a series of University of West Florida and other board nominations, hearing from each nominee about their background and priorities, with most emphasizing service, local ties, student success, military partnerships, and university growth. Several nominees also answered questions about governance, faculty hiring, diversity, and the university’s strategic direction.
For the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, the committee heard from Paul Bailey, Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, Christopher Young, and Adam Kissel. Bailey stressed his local roots, legal background, and support for UWF’s pre-law program and military connections; Matthews highlighted her education and state-government experience, current role as board chair, enrollment growth, fundraising, and alignment with state directives; Moyah cited her education and school board experience, fiscal discipline, and recent positive financial and enrollment figures; Ross emphasized fundraising, workforce needs, cyber opportunities, and support for the governor’s higher education agenda; and Young focused on business accountability, audit oversight, rural access to education, and expanding military-related opportunities. Each of these nominees was questioned about issues such as diversity, “woke” culture, faculty ideology, and the role of the board, and each was ultimately recommended for confirmation by roll-call vote.
Adam Kissel’s nomination drew the most extensive debate and public testimony. Kissel described his background in free speech advocacy, federal education policy, philanthropy, and higher education reform, and said he would support UWF’s growth, free-speech protections, military and veteran engagement, and stronger graduation rates. Senators pressed him on prior writings favoring privatization of public higher education, comments about replacing administrators with AI, his work with the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025, and how his views fit with serving on a public university board; he said his long-term libertarian views did not conflict with his short-term support for UWF receiving more resources. Public testimony was split, with supporters praising his free-speech credentials, military focus, and alignment with the governor’s reforms, while opponents questioned his commitment to public higher education and whether he could be trusted to learn the university from the ground up. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kissel’s confirmation to the full Senate.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- He’s like, trust me, you’ll be fine, chef, go.
- You have to trust them based on their actions and what they do.
- We've broken that trust.
- to try and rebuild that trust.
- Why is there a conscience of not trusting? I don't know.
Summary:
The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognitions, including the doctor of the day and a lighthearted “Cannoli Day” introduction. The chamber then held an extended farewell celebration for Senator Joe Gruters, with numerous senators, colleagues, and family members praising his loyalty, political skill, family focus, and service in the Legislature and Republican Party. Gruters was presented with a commemorative gift recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety and immigration bill that prohibited sanctuary cities and required local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Senate adopted a motion to spread Gruters’s remarks upon the journal and then recessed briefly.
After recess, the Senate returned to regular business and took up third-reading bills. Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 354, relating to blue ribbon projects, was temporarily postponed. The chamber then considered Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1758, relating to public assistance, with Senator Gates explaining that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system discussed earlier in session.
During debate on SB 1758, Senator Berman opposed the bill, saying he could not support it in its current form because he believed the Medicaid-related provisions would create a coverage cliff after the one-year transition period and could leave people without care while increasing costs to hospitals and taxpayers. He also said SNAP error reduction should be a priority, but argued the state should focus on fixing administrative errors and fraud rather than imposing a work requirement whose costs and effects were uncertain.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- CS for SB 262 on trust by Senator Berman. Senator Berman, you're recognized to explain your bill.
- So glad everyone's here to talk about the technical trust changes.
- The first is to clarify provisions regarding trust decanting, which is pouring trust assets into a new
- trust.
- A trustee can modify the terms of the first trust to create or fund a second trust to make distributions
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met and considered a series of bills on trust law, homestead property assessments, emergency preparedness, utility service restrictions, Black history museum planning, historic preservation, firefighter benefits, and community redevelopment agencies. Several measures were presented as technical or policy updates, including CS/SB 262 on trust code clarifications, SJR 174 and SB 176 on limiting homestead assessment increases for flood-mitigation elevations, SB 608 renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 582 increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, SB 1202 extending health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training, and SB 1242 phasing out CRAs and restricting new projects. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response also advanced after a strike-all amendment that added FEMA reimbursement streamlining, mutual aid coordination, and other disaster-response provisions. SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings was amended to clarify local review authority and professional liability protections before passage.
The committee heard substantial testimony on SB 466, which implements the Black History Task Force’s recommendation to locate the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County/St. Augustine. Supporters emphasized the area’s civil rights and Black history significance, the task force process, and the backing of Florida Memorial University and local leaders; one witness opposed the bill and urged a feasibility study and consideration of other sites. SB 1242 drew the most sustained debate, with supporters arguing many CRAs have outlived their purpose and opponents warning the bill would eliminate a valuable local economic development tool, harm affordable housing projects, and create uncertainty for phased developments and existing projects. SB 1002 also drew opposition testimony from advocates who warned of broad unintended consequences for municipal utilities and local energy choices, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve a specific legal misunderstanding.
Votes were taken on each measure, and all of the bills considered were reported favorably by the committee. The committee adopted the amendment to CS/SB 262, the strike-all amendment to SB 180, and the amendment to SB 1128 before final passage. Several senators requested to be recorded on specific tabs after the meeting, and the committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-09 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Fund and $67.5 million to the State Housing Trust Fund in... ...the State Housing Trust Fund in fiscal
- The base floor of our trust fund? Representative Schofe: Can you clarify which specific trust fund?
- Can you clarify which specific trust fund and amounts you're talking about?
- So then it does not touch the Sadowski housing trust fund floor at all.
- So I see this as an issue to be taking any money from our housing trust funds.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the pledge, quorum call, and several recognitions, including guests for Education and Sharing Day, law enforcement officer of the day Detective Miata Anderson, and later FAMU Day at the Capitol and other visiting groups. The chamber adopted the special order report and then moved through a series of budget-related bills and conforming measures, with debate focused largely on recurring funding, environmental programs, housing, insurance reserves, and tax policy.
Members approved HB 5011/SB 2506, which conform environmental resource funding to the proposed budget by shifting Seminole Gaming Compact-related dollars from recurring to nonrecurring funding; supporters said this preserves annual legislative review, while opponents warned it would reduce funding for the Resilient Florida program, wildlife corridor protection, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. The House then passed HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves by lowering the RAP program and repealing FORA funding, and HB 5501, which redirects documentary stamp tax revenues from housing and transportation trust funds to general revenue; Democrats argued the housing changes would reduce affordable housing support, while Republicans said the move was needed to control recurring spending. The chamber also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, HB 5201 on Florida PALM accounting conforming changes, HB 5203 on Capitol Center tenancy and utilities control, and HB 5009 creating a Florida Accountability Office and revising audit and budgeting functions.
The most extended debate came on HB 7031, which permanently reduces the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lowers several related tax rates. Supporters described it as broad-based, immediate tax relief for Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more targeted and that sales tax cuts also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. The bill passed 112-0. The House then took up the main budget bill, HB 501, and subcommittee chairs outlined the proposed $112.9 billion budget, including education, health care, transportation, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and IT spending. Members began questioning the pre-K-12 budget on school funding, vouchers, proration, mental health and safety allocations, and inflation, with the discussion continuing beyond the excerpt provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- our public coffers by raising the stakes for any employer or any entity that tries to defraud our UI trust
- :56.640>
UI any entity that tries to defraud our UI any entity that tries to defraud our UI trust - 58.080>
tries <00:09:58.320>to <00:09:58.480>defraud <00:09:58.959>our trust - fund that tries to defraud our trust fund that tries to defraud our other<00:09:59.519>
programs< - I believe that the UI trust fund was in the 2 to 30...
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (2-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Vice Chairman, and congratulations on the well-deserved trust that's been placed in both of you.
- Vice Chairman, and congratulations on the well-deserved trust that's been placed in both of you.
- the elections because the other trust the elections because the other side<00:31:27.000>
wrote - In that ballot box are provisional votes cast, which are basically sort of trust me votes.
- So there's a program called Americans for the Public Trust. They've documented this activity.
Keywords:
Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20
Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44
Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56
Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression.
The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup.
Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (04/15/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- money all goes to the education trust money all goes to the education trust fund<01:28:39.360>
- trust fund in the budget.
- education trust fund. education trust fund.
- 5.281% education trust 5.281% education trust fund,<01:57:36.520>
10.563 <01:57:37.520>- 15.75 uh then um the education trust 15.75 uh then um the education trust fund<01:58:20.360>
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on SB 60, which would expressly authorize advanced deposit wagering for horse racing in New Hampshire and set the online tax rate at 1.25%, matching the existing rate for in-person horse betting at Seabrook and Belmont. Senator Tim Lang said the bill is intended to clarify that online horse betting is permitted, regulate the activity, and create a revenue stream while keeping the tax rate consistent with brick-and-mortar wagering. Members asked about the rate compared with other states, whether the bill was really about casino front money, and whether geofencing would apply; Lang and later witnesses said the bill is narrowly limited to parimutuel horse racing and would use geofencing to keep wagering within New Hampshire.
Peter Bragdon, speaking for Churchill Downs, supported the bill and described advanced deposit wagering as remote betting on horse races under the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978. He said Churchill Downs and other operators have long been active in New Hampshire, but the state’s lack of a specific statute has created a gray area. Bragdon said Churchill Downs stopped its own New Hampshire online operations in 2022 after discussions with the Lottery Commission and attorney general, while competitors continued operating, and he framed the bill as a fairness and consumer-protection measure that would clarify the law going forward. He also said the bill would not affect historic horse racing machines and would not create cannibalization of charitable gaming.
Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre said the Lottery Commission and attorney general had identified the issue as similar to the earlier fantasy sports situation, where legislation was used to regulate an activity rather than pursue enforcement. He said the commission requested the bill, would serve as the regulator, and would address violations through rulemaking and penalties. McIntyre said operators would maintain customer and transaction records, with the commission reviewing them as needed, and he noted that three operators are currently active in the state and not paying the proposed 1.25% rate. No vote was taken during the hearing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Peggy Bennett departing member remarks 5/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's from the 37th Psalm, starting with verse three: "Trust in the Lord and do good.
- Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
- Trust<00:08:40.200>
in <00:08:40.320>the <00:08:40.400>Lord <00:08:40.760>and - Trust in the Lord and do good. Trust in the Lord and do good.
- <00:08:53.760>
in Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Commit your way to the Lord, trust
Summary:
Representative Bennett of Freeborn delivered a farewell floor speech reflecting on her 12 years in the Minnesota House. She described how a neighbor first encouraged her to run for office after she had been teaching first grade, and said she was motivated by her former students and a desire to preserve opportunities and freedoms for them. She characterized her service as a privilege and honor, while also noting the frustrations of legislative work, especially long floor speeches.
She shared several personal memories, including a humorous prank involving former Representative Dennis Smith’s candy jar and a memorable bonding committee visit to the Hennepin County Coroner’s building. She also cited a recent high point as the passage of the anti-grooming bill. Bennett said she wanted to be remembered as someone who truly cared and as a “bridger of gaps” between political and geographic divides, emphasizing that differences can be addressed without compromising principles.
Bennett explained that she was choosing to term-limit herself after 12 years, saying she had long supported term limits and did not view legislative service as a career. She thanked House staff, committee administrators, nonpartisan research staff, the chief clerk, sergeant-at-arms staff, troopers, and her colleagues, whom she said had become like family. She closed by reading Psalm 37 and thanking everyone in and outside the chamber, saying her departure was “see you later,” not goodbye.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Health Services (2-19-26) - reupload
Health Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Their choice of a gift shall be honored with integrity and trust.
- <00:04:29.199>
Where <00:04:29.440>there <00:04:29.600>is integrity and trust - Where there is integrity and trust.
- want to support this bill because we want to rebuild<00:05:03.040>
public <00:05:03.360>trust - in the organ tissue rebuild public trust in the organ tissue and<00:05:05.199>
eye <00:05:05.440
Keywords:
This meeting failed to start and as part of it was not live streamed. This is the complete meeting pulled from backups.
00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call
01:03 - Discussion of 26RS HB 510
05:32 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 510
06:32 - Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up one item: House Bill 510. The bill, presented by Representative Neas with testimony from Network for Hope CEO Barry Massa and Kentucky Right to Life executive director Adia Wishner, would create new statutory protocols for organ donation. Supporters said it clarifies medical and legal definitions, requires an immediate pause in organ recovery if anyone observes a concerning neurological change or indication of life, and mandates reassessment before proceeding, with the goal of protecting patients and rebuilding public trust in organ, tissue, and eye donation.
Testimony emphasized that the bill is intended to ensure organ recovery only proceeds when death has been confirmed with certainty and that the safeguards largely reflect practices already used by Network for Hope. Supporters framed the measure as both protecting donor dignity and preserving confidence in the donation system. The committee chair said he supported the clarification and noted the importance of the issue.
A motion and second were made, and the committee voted by roll call to advance HB 510. The bill received favorable expression and was reported as likely to pass on the House floor. The committee then announced its next meeting date and adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- , the American Legion, and the VFW Trust, the American Legion, and the VFW to<00:20:12.640>
help >> The Veterans Trust Fund.- I don't think anybody here is taking it away from the veteran disabled veterans trust fund.
- And so there they have a K, it's not disabled trust fund, it's a veterans trust fund. taking the the
- Um, I don't think veterans trust fund.
Keywords:
00:20 Roll Call
01:56 HB 7
13:46 HB 7 Vote
17:54 HB 226
24:05 HB 226 Vote
25:13 HB 258
27:13 HB 258 Vote, 958, all
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met for its second meeting of the 2026 session and first took up House Bill 7, sponsored by Representative Hale, which would allow school districts to install stop-arm camera systems on school buses to enforce civil penalties against drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. Hale said the bill had passed the House before, described widespread violations and the danger to children, and outlined the bill’s provisions, including public warning signs, privacy protections, and fines of $300 for a first offense and $500 thereafter. Supporters cited child safety and personal experiences with school-bus-related incidents, while one member opposed the bill on the grounds that it relied too heavily on technology instead of a human officer. The committee then voted and reported HB 7 favorably.
The committee next considered House Bill 226, sponsored by Representative Bratcher, which would redirect the $5 fee from Kentucky National Guard specialty license plates from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to the Kentucky National Guard Association. Bratcher and National Guard representatives said the change would send roughly under $15,000 a year to support readiness, mobilization, and professional development for serving Guard members, and argued that specialty plate revenue should go to the organization tied to the plate. Representative Donworth raised concerns about taking money from the veterans trust fund and suggested a direct budget allocation instead, but the sponsor said the amount was small and that the current arrangement did not return the funds to the Guard. The committee voted to report HB 226 favorably.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 258, sponsored by Representative Payne, as amended by a committee substitute. The bill raises the weight limit for hauling milk from 80,000 to 90,000 pounds and clarifies that the rule applies to both state and federal highways, based on federal treatment of milk as a non-divisible product. After the substitute was adopted, the committee approved the bill, and HB 258 was reported favorably with the committee substitute attached.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State and Local Government Apr 3rd, 2025 at 09:00 am
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Lee, I'm certainly trust and have served on legislative management, but I think that we've...
- And I trust what Ms. Hicks and others are telling us about what a problem this is.
- So the impact, I'm not exactly sure; it would affect kind of that trust corpus.
- It is regulated by the district courts, and so that's the thing about a trust.
- There is certain reporting that's required under the trust codes and kind of the uniform trust code,
Bills:
HB1162
Keywords:
Lake Agassiz, water authority, board of directors, state highways, water management, 908, all
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1162, which would add the West Fargo mayor as a voting member of the Lake Agassiz Water Authority board. The sponsor and Fargo’s mayor argued West Fargo has grown into a major regional water stakeholder and should have a formal vote, while members questioned the board structure and why the change was not framed more specifically. The bill was supported in testimony, closed without opposition, and received a 6-0 do pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 1259 on annual legislative sessions and session structure. Members adopted an amendment that left the structure and logistics of sessions to legislative management rather than prescribing details in statute, after discussion about flexibility, committee workload, annual versus biennial sessions, and concerns about preserving debate and committee process. The amended bill received a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with some members voting no because they preferred a different committee recommendation or had concerns about the broader change.
House Bill 1254, which would allow any North Dakota resident to obtain a State Library card, drew supportive testimony from the bill sponsor and State Library staff. They said the change would align law with current practice and expand access to books, e-materials, and other resources statewide, including for military families and out-of-state state employees. The committee closed the hearing and approved the bill 6-0.
The committee also considered House Bill 1469, which narrows financial disclosure requirements so only business or trust interests directly related to the office sought or held must be disclosed. After brief discussion that the change would reduce unnecessary disclosure burdens, the committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a 6-0 do pass recommendation. House Bill 1368, dealing with administrative rules and the standard for challenging them, was opposed by committee counsel as too broad and legally problematic; the committee rejected it on a 4-2 do not pass vote. Finally, House Bill 1219, which would reduce the required perpetual care fund set-aside for certain cemeteries from 20% to 10%, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, cemetery representatives, and local users, but also concern about long-term fund health. The committee ultimately recommended do pass on a 5-1 vote.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We also made an initial $100 million down payment to the Behavioral Health Trust Fund and appropriated
- that bill after this, and this budget is designed based on a distribution from the Early Childhood Trust
- You're referring to the Early Childhood Trust Fund, not that one, Mr. Chairman.
- That's like the trust fund forever.
- The other revenue stream is split 50/50 between early childhood and the Behavioral Health Trust Fund.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- student trust. student trust.
- And I trust the school librarians. I trust the school boards.
- I trust the the school librarians. I trust the school<01:41:45.040>
boards. - But I trust democracy. I trust majorities to make good decisions.
- I trust majorities to make democracy. I trust majorities to make good<04:50:27.920>
decisions.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It did that by allowing an extra 1.5% of the value of the trust to be made available for an appropriation
- :58.120>
resource the environment and natural resource the environment and natural resource trust - fund I'll be saying en RTF from trust fund I'll be saying en RTF from time<00:03:01.400>
to <00 - <00:03:26.319>
to <00:03:26.480>be 1.5% of the value of the trust to be 1.5% of the - value of the trust to be made made made available<00:03:28.480>
uh <00:03:28.560>for <00
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- uh both the financial health of the unemployment<00:09:11.240>
compensation <00:09:11.839>trust - compensation trust fund and the<00:09:13.680>
balance <00:09:14.120>between <00:09:14.839 - <00:13:11.120>
fund estimate the impact to the trust fund estimate the impact to the trust - <00:13:43.600>
fund <00:13:43.839>would trust fund chair um the trust fund would trust - We did see during the pandemic that the trust fund was greatly impacted.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/18/2026)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, trust. >> Yeah. Give me an example of how trust is being broken. >> People died.
- <02:20:37.200>
Um <02:20:38.160>trust. >> one question. Um trust. - Um trust.
- the staff, they trusted the service providers, and they trusted everybody.
- providers, and they trusted everybody. providers, and they trusted everybody.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Jul 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Space Trust in support.
- Good morning, Kim Delphino on behalf of Sonoma Land Trust in Support. Thank you.
- Rachel Dan from the separate. land trust in support. Thank you.
- Tasha Newman on behalf of the California Council of Land Trust and the Peninsula Open Space Trust in
- Kim Delphino on behalf of CalTrout, Defenders of Wildlife, Mojave Desert Land Trust, Sonoma Land Trust
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended.
The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended.
Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, isn't everything subject to public trust if it's for all seated land?
- I mean, isn't everything subject to public trust if it's for all seated land?
- Public trust, again, not being something that can be monetarily compensated.
- Would you see that as fulfilling the public trust?
- Lānaʻi Community Land Trust and Northwest Community Land Trust Coalition in support.
Summary:
The Committee on Housing held a public hearing on January 31 and heard testimony on a series of housing and building-code bills. The first major item, HB 1 relating to building codes, drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters, including BIA Hawaii, Grassroot Institute, Dr. Horton, and several builders and trade groups, argued the current code-adoption process is slow, fragmented, and costly, and that reform would help housing production. Opponents, including Sierra Club Hawaii, AIA Hawaii, ICC, and labor representative Kiko Bosi, said the bill would weaken public safety, reduce statewide consistency, and could leave tenants and first responders at greater risk. No vote was taken during the hearing, and members asked questions about the effect of a governor’s emergency proclamation suspending the Building Code Council and about county authority over code amendments.
The committee then heard HB 745 and HB 1321, both also relating to building codes. Grassroot Institute supported both measures, saying the system is broken and needs streamlining, while BIA Hawaii and others emphasized the cost burden of repeated code updates. Opponents, especially Bosi and ICC, argued that the bills would undermine the State Building Code Council’s role, create confusion, and prioritize cost over safety; Bosi also said labor should be included in any code discussions. Members questioned whether counties can remove state code provisions and whether the state code already supersedes county codes, and one member noted the need for clarity and consistent enforcement rather than a wholesale overhaul.
Later, the committee heard HB 284 on housing, HB 761 on county permitting and inspection, and HB 738 on historic preservation. HB 284 drew support from several housing and real estate groups, while DLNR opposed it. On HB 761, HHFDC supported the bill, DLNR warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize Hawaii’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, DAGS said it would likely need to duplicate county permitting staff, and the Department of Planning and Permitting opposed it; Grassroot Institute and NAIOP supported it. For HB 738, HHFDC, DLNR, Grassroot Institute, Hawaii YIMBY, NAIOP, and others supported the measure, with Grassroot and NAIOP suggesting clarifications so expedited review would also cover mixed-use projects and better define the scope of work. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on these bills during the hearing.