Transcript Highlights:

• We expect to plant approximately 15,000 to 20,000 trees with these funds.
• And the real difference is the focus of urban forestry is on the trees and everything.
• I think tree planting is probably our most funded activity.
• So do you have statistics on how many new trees have been planted? Yes. Great.
• One thing, and one of the other things we have to do with are hazard trees.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, trees in the outside the right away that fall and bring down lines and poles.
• Underground facilities are risks to in-store events, uprooted uprooted, tree roots and erosion and also
• the on one side is the is the underground facilities that have been disrupted through an overturned tree
• the storm protection plan processes, vegetation management, which includes routine trimming azure, tree
• Trees, about 200 miles of lateral overhead had been converted to underground 3,900 feet up.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had put in these trees when we moved in 35 years ago to shade the parking lot, and the tree has subsequently
• uh to shade the parking lot and the tree uh to shade the parking lot and the tree has<00:45:04.960
• And I said, "Then what are our tree And I said, "Then what are our tree options?"
• I have seen bunch of the tree options.
• So I offer up a tree as a York State.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:00:59.440> at appropriation of $5,000 for trees at appropriation of $5,000 for trees at
• We don't have a money tree.
• We don't have a<01:19:49.160> money<01:19:49.440> tree. a money tree. a money tree.
• <01:33:07.880> for going to in this bill provide trees for going to in this bill provide trees
• for 250 trees. for 250 trees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4252, the higher education finance and policy bill, which the author described as a bipartisan agreement. Representative Wolgamott highlighted a $1.5 million appropriation to Minnesota State to create an identification verification system to combat “ghost students,” a one-time $5,000 appropriation for trees at Bemidji State University, and other noncontroversial recommendations from the Office of Higher Education. He urged support for the bill and noted that amendments would be considered. The main debate centered on an amendment by Representative Rarick to change how University of Minnesota regents are selected if the legislature fails to elect them. Rarick argued the amendment would keep the governor from appointing regents outside the legislative vetting process and prevent “pay-to-play” or donor influence, citing recent gubernatorial appointments and campaign contributions. Representative Kotter offered a secondary amendment to require that any fallback appointees meet RCAC eligibility criteria and to bar candidates who had recently contributed to legislative caucuses or leadership; supporters said it would reduce the appearance of pay-to-play while preserving the RCAC process. Opponents of the secondary amendment, including Representatives Robbins and others, argued it did not address the real concern because it did not restrict contributions to the governor and would weaken the legislature’s role in regent selection. Supporters of the secondary amendment said it was a more objective, statute-based approach and raised separation-of-powers concerns with the underlying amendment. After debate, the secondary amendment failed on a 67-67 tie and was not adopted. The House then continued discussion on the underlying Rarick amendment, with members divided over legislative authority, gubernatorial appointment power, and the influence of campaign donations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've kind of worked on for a couple years, and I think it's important and timely to designate the Treeing
• The Treeing Walker Hound is a genuine American favorite, and it's a people's choice wherever we are in
• <00:02:08.720> The<00:02:08.800> tree<00:02:09.119> walker sensible hunter.
• The tree walker sensible hunter.
• actually the tree and walker coonhound. actually the tree and walker coonhound.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:20 SB 37 Discussion: 01:37 SB 37 Roll Call Vote: 06:21 SB 214 Discussion: 07:48 SB 214 Roll Call Vote: 09:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Robin Webb, which would designate the Treeing Walker Hound as Kentucky’s state dog. Webb described the breed as Kentucky-originated, a working and hunting dog, and a fitting symbol of the commonwealth. Several members voiced support, including comments about preserving full-bred dogs and recognizing the breed’s working-dog status, and the committee voted unanimously to pass the bill. The next item was Senate Bill 214, presented by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Dana Feldman and Mark Manley explained that the bill would allow the department to accept and distribute non-federal grant funding directly, without going through the usual loan procedure with finance. They said the measure was needed in part because an emergency clause would let Kentucky pursue time-sensitive grant funding tied to a food-is-medicine initiative before July 1. Members expressed support for the funding opportunity and the bill passed unanimously. The meeting ended after both bills were approved without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• These wildfires don't just burn trees.
• You see, historic conditions which were guided by tribal management and supported 35 to 50 trees per
• Today, many areas have over 1,500 trees per acre. This is exceptional.
• Bim, can you describe the increased fire risk of fallen trees from stronger storms created?
• We just need to get more trees in the ground.

Bills: HB471

Keywords: forest management, wildfire prevention, public lands, Tribal jurisdiction, Fix Our Forests Act, wildfire, forest health, hazardous fuels reduction, fuels treatment, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, mastication, fuel breaks, fire breaks, wildland-urban interface, WUI, fireshed, fireshed management area, fireshed registry, Fireshed Center

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so I'm aware that there are neonicotinoids being used for coconut trees.
• It has wide use, including being listed on the label as tree nuts and specifically named coconut trees
• so we don't make notice that this tree has been treated, and before they treat the tree we take off
• > treated notice that this tree has been treated notice that this tree has been treated and<01
• the trees? the trees?

Bills: SB2350, SB2349, SB2407, SB3320

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not all of them spend their time up in the trees where she does keep most of her time up in the trees
• <00:02:51.960> where spend their time up in the trees where spend their time up in the trees
• It's a great way to the trees.
• because it spends its time in the tree because it spends its time in the tree has<00:03:48.360><
• great for us to have her on the tree. great for us to have her on the tree.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect to plant approximately 15,000 to 20,000 trees with these funds.
• And the real difference is the focus of Urban Forestry is on the trees and everything.
• I think tree planting is probably our most funded activity.
• Do you have statistics on how many new trees have been planted? Yes. Great.
• One of the other things we have to do is assess our hazard trees.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, I'm sure many of you know the American Tree Farm sign there.
• Society, of course, the American Tree Society, of course, the American Tree Farm Farm Farm system
• It's actually just to the left of where she's standing; you would see marked trees.
• would see marked trees. would see marked trees.
• ,<00:41:57.840> um identify five or six types of trees, um identify five or six types of trees

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting. Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses. Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next we're going to have the DNR presentation on community tree planting grants.
• > planting<01:23:00.400> grants So, the community tree planting grants So, the community tree
• planting million for community tree planting grants. grants. grants.
• uh how the high mortality rate for trees uh how the high mortality rate for trees in<01:30:32.560
• It's great to see the trees informative.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There's plaques that identify trees that aren't there.
• Some of the trees are full of, and I learned this as I go here, but the tree rows are full of common
• We have elm trees, old American elm trees, that are dying off and reaching end of life.
• They're not disease-resistant elm trees.
• So there's just a lot of work in trees.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trees along the edge of the roadway. You know myself, we have a case.
• limb would not hit them, or a truck would not. not hit the tree limb if they were to drive along the
• That's actually the tree line the city wants lifted up 13 feet in the air. Well, thank you.
• The other one was we had a lot of homeless people living in some trees that, you know, again it's an
• Our trees instead of the city stepping in and asking, you know, to help. Clean this mess up.

Bills: HB2013, HB4163, HB4810

Keywords: property owners associations, chickens, urban farming, land use, homeowner rights, agriculture, municipal regulation, governmental requirements, farm management, inspections, border control, trade, state funding, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want any leaves on the trees. It obscures things on the ground.
• We can only leaves are off the trees.
• <00:15:39.360> And until the leaves come on the trees.
• And until the leaves come on the trees.
• We don't want any leaves on the trees. We don't want any leaves on the trees.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings after a motion and second, then heard a presentation from Kent Annis and Boyd Sheerer of the Kentucky Division of Geographic Information on the state’s “KY from Above” aerial imagery and elevation program. The presenters described the program’s goals of creating openly accessible statewide imagery and elevation basemaps, reducing duplicative local and state spending, and supporting uses such as transportation, emergency response, utilities, broadband planning, property taxation, economic development, and education. They said the data is owned by the Commonwealth, distributed in the public domain, and has strong return on investment, with statewide ortho imagery coverage completed in 2022 and elevation phases completed or underway in multiple stages. The witnesses emphasized that the program relies on cost-sharing among state, local, and federal partners and that a small state “seed” appropriation is needed to leverage larger federal contributions. They said about $300,000 a year in seed money could help secure additional federal funds, while a three-year imagery refresh cycle would cost about $5.7 million annually and storage/processing about $150,000 a year. They also noted that no subscription fee is charged for access, opposed charging for use of the data even by for-profit users, and said the program is intended as an economic development tool that avoids multiple entities paying for the same geography. Members asked about the funding request, the potential federal match, and whether the state should charge private companies for access. The witnesses explained that the requested amount was for aerial photography and LAR seed money, that federal funds would not cover aerial photography directly, and that the program already uses a cost-share model with 28 partners rather than subscriptions. They also clarified that imagery is refreshed every three years and elevation data on a longer cycle, with elevation prioritized because it supports accuracy for roads, water lines, and broadband planning. The presentation concluded with no formal vote on the program itself; after questions ended, the chair thanked the witnesses and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got folks in there cutting trees on my property because I'm wanting to manage for grass and I'm
• I've got folks in there cutting trees on my property because I'm wanting to manage for grass and I'm
• I've got folks in there cutting trees on my property because I'm wanting to manage for grass and I'm
• I've got folks in there cutting trees on my property because I'm wanting to manage for grass and I'm
• but through the underforage, underbrush, under the trees.

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• Guerin; the Sierra Club kills a lot of trees.
• Vegetation management and the trimming of trees.
• to not place fast and tall-growing trees under our power lines.
• Residential costs for the tree trimming that needs to be done.
• For us to go in and trim those trees versus planting a low-profile tree under the power lines to start

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• Charged almost $2500 to mow easements rightaways, clear trees, um, along the edge of the roadway.
• So if somebody was to walk along our fence line, uh, a tree limb would not hit them or a truck would
• not hit the tree limb if they were to drive along the edge of that fence line.
• That's actually the tree line the city wants lifted up 13 ft in the air. Well, thank you.
• They ventured out into the field, our trees, um, instead of the city stepping in and asking, you know

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's ludicrous to think that a tree growing in Pittsburgh and a tree growing 100 feet away across
• So it's ludicrous to think that a tree growing in Pittsburgh and a tree growing 100 feet away across
• A tree growing in Pittsburgh and a tree growing 100 feet away across the Canadian border have different
• , then that, in the state building code, that tree can be considered SPF, no S.
• No, it has to be a New Hampshire tree.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The dead ash trees dying in the 7th County Metro increased 50% in just one year, and that wasn't the
• The spruce budworm is knocking down balsam trees and spruce trees.
• Elm tree or ash tree that showed symptoms, and there are hundreds of them in that one small city.
• With cleaning up the mess made by the trees that are dying and diseased.
• I think that having facilities to burn these waste trees...

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the trees are full of, and I learned this as I go here, but the tree rows are full of common
• There's a lot of sensitivity to the trees.
• We have elm trees, old American elm trees, that are dying off and reaching end of life.
• They're not disease-resistant elm trees.
• So there's just a lot of work in trees.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.