Video & Transcript : 'coast guard authorization' :
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LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They become litter, and I know many of you have co-authored this bill and are in support of it.
- I was a co-author, and I hope to be a co-author again this year on this bill.
- And if you’d like to co-author now, I’m sure we can get a co-author sheet.
- So I do have vested interests along the coast with my oyster leases being spread out.
- So I do have vested interests along the coast with my oyster leases being spread out.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and took up a series of coastal, seafood, wildlife, and environmental measures. House Bill 851 by Rep. Ilg, which adds intentional mass balloon releases to the gross intentional littering statute, drew support from agriculture, wildlife, and environmental groups because of impacts on livestock, wildlife, power lines, and waterways; members clarified it targets organized intentional releases, not accidental releases by children, and it was reported favorably. House Bill 652 by Rep. Broe adding a non-voting Department of Agriculture appointee to the Oyster Task Force was also reported favorably, as were House Bills 349 and 588 by Rep. Domain to expand the imported seafood safety fund’s uses and add oyster, crab, and finfish representation to the Seafood Safety Task Force. House Bill 721 by Rep. Kerner setting a 5:30 a.m. shrimp trawling start time in certain bays, House Bill 857 clarifying labeling rules for commingled imported and domestic seafood, House Bill 669 expanding state property use for Grand Isle oyster research, and House Bill 889 creating bulk tagging for oysters were each supported by industry and agency witnesses and reported favorably. House Bill 688 by Rep. Ogeron adding Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish was backed by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and fishing guides and was also reported favorably.
The committee spent significant time on House Bill 653 by Rep. Beham, which would require one of two United Commercial Fishermen appointees to the Oyster Task Force to be a St. Bernard Parish resident. Rep. Beham argued the parish deserves a guaranteed voice because of oyster industry impacts from freshwater intrusion and the BP spill, while opponents including the Oyster Task Force chairman said the parish-specific requirement would make vacancies harder to fill and should be worked out through the task force or by amending another bill. After debate, an amendment was adopted, but the bill itself ultimately received a favorable report. Testimony throughout the meeting emphasized the economic and cultural importance of Louisiana seafood, the need to combat imported seafood fraud, and the role of oyster cultivation and shrimping in coastal communities.
House Resolution 20 by Rep. McCormick, urging the Department of Conservation and Energy to study industrial water use from Caddo Lake, prompted a broader discussion about data centers and water withdrawals. Department witness Monique Edwards explained current state limits on regulating surface water withdrawals and said more authority may be needed for comprehensive water management; committee members asked for a future departmental presentation on data center water use. The resolution was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Rep. Sawyer moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 21st, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The increases that you see are primarily regarding additional grant authority, and that's for springs
- We are a taxing authority, like all the water management districts.
- We have the cattle industry, we have farmers south of Lake Okeechobee, and take the whole east coast
- All this water here recharges the aquifers for all these communities right here on the East Coast, who
- So that was authorized in 2000, 25 years ago. So that was authorized in 2000, 25 years ago.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from all five water management districts for FY 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year largely because major projects were completed or because grant/appropriation funding is not yet fully reflected in preliminary budgets. Committee members repeatedly asked how districts project operations and maintenance costs, how projects are selected, and what share of staff and spending is devoted to core missions versus administration or regulatory work.
Northwest Florida Water Management District said its preliminary budget is $93.4 million, down about 15%, with 97% of spending tied to core responsibilities and a request for additional regulatory services funding. Suwannee River Water Management District presented a $70.4 million budget, emphasized its rural/agricultural character and spring protection work, and highlighted the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water recharge project; members also discussed its need for an additional FTE to handle consumptive use permit reviews tied to a new lower Santa Fe rule. St. Johns River Water Management District presented a $181 million budget, highlighted major water supply, water quality, flood protection, and land management projects such as Taylor Creek Reservoir, Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Lake Jessup restoration, and said about 93% of its budget supports core missions.
Southwest Florida Water Management District presented a $227.6 million budget, with major spending on alternative water supply, water control structure repairs, watershed projects, and land management; officials said 93.4% of the budget supports core missions and discussed rising construction costs for aging infrastructure. South Florida Water Management District presented the largest budget at $1.05 billion, focused on Everglades restoration, flood control, water supply, and ecosystem recovery; the director described major reservoirs and treatment projects, the EAA Reservoir, and ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The committee took no formal votes on the district budgets and adjourned after the presentations and questions.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Apr 8th, 2025
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- For us, it's a huge tourism industry up on the North Coast.
- Thank you, and I know that the author also wants to do that.
- We're happy to work with the author, but this bill goes far beyond what the author and sponsors said
- I want to thank the author for bringing the bill as well.
- We'd be happy to have you as co-authors.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 8, February 18, 2026-AM 2
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill that authorized the construction of the dorms included language, and I'll read the language
- We want to authorize a study.
- We want to authorize a study.
- Much like a previous speaker said from the east coast of Wyoming that bleeds brown and gold.
- Wait until you see what they learn when they go to the West Coast and come back with those ideas.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Governmental Organization Committee Apr 22nd, 2026
Governmental Organization
Transcript Highlights:
- And if it's okay with the author, I'd like to be added as a co-author. Thank you.
- And if it's okay with the author, I'd like to be at it as a co-author. Thank you.
- I appreciate the authors.
- Thank you so much to the authors. I'm honored to be a co-author on this bill.
- I think the author and Mr.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 23 March, 2026; 4:00 PM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- c><00:10:57.800><c> toward</c><00:10:58.160><c> the</c><00:10:58.320><c> Gulf</c><00:10:58.600><c> Coast
- </c> those funds toward the Gulf Coast those funds toward the Gulf Coast Tourism Tourism Tourism um um
- >> This bill just uh creates the Yazoo County economic and industrial development authority.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Government Structure - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 4:30 PM
Government Structure
Transcript Highlights:
- And we understand this is a work in progress, but we would rather than give them that authority, we're
- , we're going to create a new authority, we're going to create a new agency<00:10:11.200><c> to</c><00
- You go down to the coast down there, Senator Delano can take you into some facilities down there where
- You go down to the coast down there, Senator Delano can take you into some facilities down there where
- You go down to the coast down there, Senator Delano can take you into some facilities down there where
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- We had specific legislative authority for a prevention campaign, and the opioid settlement itself, which
- For all of the federal authorities that we have asked for.
- only question I really have is, you know, we've seen in numerous states, particularly along the East Coast
- What have you seen in terms of those states, particularly, and I'm referencing the ones on the East Coast
- What have you seen in terms of those states, particularly, and I'm referencing the ones on the East Coast
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine stemming the tide of antisemitism in America. Mar 5th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- From coast to coast, campus to campus.
- Then we'll hear from Uzra Nohami, an American journalist, author, activist who has worked on issues related
- Second, instead of hearings and finger-pointing, use your power to authorize concrete action, like the
- , but on the West Coast and the South and up North.
- I think he's got the authority to do it. My position is it would send an incredibly clear message.
Keywords:
anti-Semitism, hate crimes, college campuses, civil rights, public safety, protests, intimidation
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on addressing the rising tide of anti-Semitism across the nation. Among the discussions, members expressed concerns about the disturbing acts of hate witnessed on college campuses, with instances of harassment and intimidation targeting Jewish students being highlighted. High-profile incidents, including vandalism and the display of extremist symbols, prompted urgent calls for investigations and measures to protect civil rights. The importance of moral clarity in confronting such hate crimes was emphasized as well, outlining the responsibilities of leaders to ensure safety and uphold justice.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 21st, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The increases that you see are primarily regarding additional grant authority, and that's for springs
- have bills in front of this committee very frequently regarding who has control of what kind of authority
- We are a taxing authority, like all the water management districts.
- All this water here recharges the aquifers for all these communities right here on the East Coast, who
- So that was authorized in 2000, 25 years ago. So that was authorized in 2000, 25 years ago.
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations from five water management districts for fiscal year 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the core statutory missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year, largely because large projects were completed or because grant and appropriation funding is not yet fully included until awarded.
Testimony focused on major district priorities such as springs protection, alternative water supply, flood control infrastructure, land management, agricultural cost-share programs, and water quality restoration. Examples highlighted included Northwest Florida’s springs and watershed work, Suwannee River’s agricultural and springs-related projects and the Water First North Florida recharge effort, St. Johns River’s Taylor Creek Reservoir, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Indian River Lagoon restoration projects, Southwest Florida’s large alternative water supply program and aging water control structures, and South Florida’s Everglades restoration, reservoirs, and flood control system. Members repeatedly asked how districts choose projects, how they forecast maintenance costs, and what share of staff and budgets are devoted to core missions.
Several districts said project selection is a mix of staff analysis, governing board direction, stakeholder input, and state or federal priorities. They also explained that they use cost estimation tools, market monitoring, strategic or basin planning, and periodic reevaluation of capital plans to keep projections current. A few districts requested additional funding or positions, including Northwest Florida’s request for more regulatory services funding and Suwannee River’s request for one additional FTE tied to permit review under a new rule. No votes on the district budgets were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-04 (8:30AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Johns County has maintained its position as the jewel of the First Coast with 43 miles of pristine coastline
- Florida recorded a record-breaking 109 orbital rocket launches from the Space Coast in 2025 transporting
- residence; local governments may not impose a new parking restriction, but the bill does continue the authority
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:29:29.360><c> to</c> excuse me, 12 schools authorized to excuse me, 12 schools authorized to
- Law enforcement already has the authority to address unlawful conduct within places of worship using
- </c> know does HB8 offer any sort of guard know does HB8 offer any sort of guard rails<03:34:58.720><
- Guard, all the federal agencies have changed to the Gulf of America.
- The large businesses, a lot of the ones that are located on the coast are now using that.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/16/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:11:02.400><c> region,</c> the Carolinas, the Gulf Coast region, the Carolinas, the Gulf Coast
- </c><00:58:00.560><c> and</c> lot of facilities on the coast and lot of facilities on the coast and elsewhere
- I love the coast. I think people, of course, are going to live on our coast.
- I love the coast. and I love I love it. I love the coast.
- </c> And so these are clinically authorized And so these are clinically authorized and<04:11:10.000><
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Transportation Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Authorizes FDOT if </font> <font color="aaaaaa">to utility work in the right </font> <font color="aaaaaa
- Authorizes FDOT if </font> <font color="aaaaaa">certain conditions are met to </font> <font color="aaaaaa
- Authorizes FDOT if </font> <font color="aaaaaa">certain conditions are met to </font> <font color="aaaaaa
- Chairman </font> <font color="aaaaaa">authorizes public use airports </font> <font color="aaaaaa">to
- participate in Phase </font> <font color="aaaaaa">authorizes public use airports </font> <font color=
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I then also joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, rising to the rank of commander, and remain there today
Summary:
The committee on Higher Education Appropriations heard and favorably reported two bills: SB 1570, which revives the former Project Leo program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices, and CS/SB 1376, which creates a grant program to support genetic counseling education in response to a statewide shortage of genetic counselors. Both bills drew supportive comments, with the genetic counseling bill also receiving public support from a university representative.
The committee then took up a large slate of confirmations. It first approved a block of reappointments to various university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and Broward College. It then heard from numerous new appointees and some requested reappointments, many of whom emphasized workforce training, nursing, military and veteran support, dual enrollment, and local economic development as priorities for their institutions.
Several nominees highlighted their personal ties to the schools and communities they would serve, including appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, UWF, FIU, the College of the Florida Keys, Valencia College, and Chipola College. Committee members repeatedly asked about nursing NCLEX pass rates, workforce alignment, and institutional growth. One reappointment, Thomas Zachary Smith to the UWF board, was pulled from the block for separate questioning about his past public comments and his role in Project 2025; he said he would serve in his personal capacity and treat all students equally. The committee also separately heard from a Florida Poly reappointment, I. Shapiro, who was questioned about prior remarks regarding race and Supreme Court nominations, and from a New College reappointment, Mark Bowerlaine, who described campus improvements and enrollment growth. The meeting ended amid ongoing confirmation processing and separate votes on the remaining nominees.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 25th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee and Assembly Agriculture Committee Oct 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- have seen, California is preparing to address potential food insecurity by deploying the National Guard
- I sat on a QMD in South Coast in L.A., and that gave me about two years of experience with that.
Summary:
The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks.
The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs.
The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There is no regulatory authority able to stop out-of-state direct-to-consumer mailed sales, and there
- He walked himself to the hospital, and he was trained by five security guards.
- I am a former counter-narcotics Coast Guard.
- Coast Guard. It's been a lot of my youth there.
- The sole authority in regulating them, not gas station, vape shops, or unregulated markets.
Keywords:
flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- So, with that, we're awaiting authors. What? I'm sorry?
- It starts as a subcommittee once you have an author.
- Yes, we will start as a subcommittee once we have an author.
- and our environmental justice partners spent years advocating for clean air standards at the South Coast
- We've already seen this with the South Coast and Bay Area districts.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee met to hear several bills, with the main discussion focused on SB 1159 by Senator Cabaldon and SB 932 by Senator Dato. SB 1159 would allow public agencies to treat AI-generated or bot-generated participation differently from human public comment and public records activity, in response to concerns that automated systems can flood local governments with fake comments and requests. Supporters, including Sierra Club California, the League of California Cities, county and city associations, and local officials, said the bill would protect genuine public participation and reduce burdens on clerks and agencies. Committee members raised questions about how agencies would detect AI-generated submissions, what enforcement would look like, and whether the bill could create First Amendment or liability issues if real human comments were mistakenly excluded. The author said the bill was intended to clarify that agencies are not required to treat bots as people and that detection standards and safeguards would need further work.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this referred Senate bill relates to establishing the historic Friedman Cemetery program, authorizing
- They represent breeders from the East Coast to the West Coast. So, my wife and I...
Keywords:
SB 2801, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Parks and Wildlife Code, field trial permit, hunting dog field trial, coonhound trial, dog trial, squirrel hunting, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals, hunting license exemption, wildlife management, public land permit, private land hunting, game fish and water safety account, permit fee, commission rules, Parks and Wildlife Department, Unplug Texas Day, digital detox