Transcript Highlights:

• requires that one appointed supervisor and two elected supervisors be landowners or operators of a farm
• It removes all land ownership and farm operator requirements for conservation districts that have 1 million
• impacts on their farm, and it's creeped into other things, which is great.
• It was big farm owners, it was big landowners that were trying to figure out how to mitigate environmental
• impacts on their farm, and it's creeped into other things, which is great.

Bills: HB2514 , HB2661 , HB2637 , HB2632 , HB2499 , HB2198 , HB2520

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: HB 2514, global war on terror, GWOT, war on terror memorial, Capitol campus memorial, Washington veterans, fallen service members, military memorial, post-9/11 veterans, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, veterans memorial, capitol grounds, state memorial, Secretary of State, Capitol Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't mandate that a farm reforms because that's a hard thing to enforce.
• I saw them at a farm fence off all the waterways and it was just kind of it threw me off.
• When you talk about ag, you're talking about both farming and ranching, correct?
• Statuses and we can't find the workers to work on the farms anymore.
• I farm. I know. I understand that connection with...

Committee: Joint Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And if that happens, what will become of the Joe Serna Farm Worker Housing Grant Program as an example
• And so when we refer to the multi-family supernova, the Joe Cerna Farm Worker Housing Grant Program is
• worker program projects that way because we're able to make better farm worker program projects that
• We serve over 5,000 residents, low-income families, and farm workers.
• We serve over 5,000 residents, low-income families, and farm workers in Monterey County, King City.

Transcript Highlights:

• in rural Florida; focus on infrastructure improvements that support homegrown businesses and legacy farms
• in rural Florida; focus on infrastructure improvements that support homegrown businesses and legacy farms
• both providing new funding for SCRAP and an updated arterial roads program, appropriately named the FARM
• options for Florida families to the Wildlife Corridor, connecting legacy trail towns and historic farms
• We have Tripp Hunter, representing the Farm Bureau, waving in support.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if I have a heart attack or a stroke out on my cattle farm, which I really wish I was there today
• We can't tell our constituents you can't build a solar farm, but it doesn't go over very well when they
• But then a big wind farm came. It's 175 turbines.
• So I was on the fence about removing energy, such as solar farms and wind farms, from that, but we did
• So I was on the fence about removing energy like such as solar farm and wind farm from that, but we did

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2243, sponsored by Rep. Bryant-Wolfen, which would repeal a 2021 provision that exempted certain manufacturing and mining-related industries from local sales tax. The sponsor argued the change unintentionally stripped counties of revenue they had already approved through local votes, shifting the burden onto ordinary Missourians and leaving local governments without a replacement source of funding. Committee members questioned whether the bill would amount to a tax increase, whether a referendum or local voter approval should be required, and whether the measure could discourage investment or job growth. The sponsor said the bill simply restores local taxing authority and noted the fiscal note showed roughly $35 million in local revenue at stake statewide. Testimony in support came from local officials from Iron County, Adair County, and St. Genevieve County, including commissioners, a sheriff, and a 911 board official. They said the exemption reduced revenue for roads, ambulance service, law enforcement, and 911 operations, forcing service cuts and higher local levies. Iron County witnesses said the loss hit a county dependent on mining and reduced ambulance coverage and sheriff funding; Adair County officials said the exemption affected expected revenue from a large solar project and other energy infrastructure; St. Genevieve County officials cited sharp monthly declines in sales tax receipts and said inflation made the loss even more severe. Supporters emphasized that these were locally approved taxes and that the affected companies still benefit from county services. Opposition came from Associated Industries of Missouri, which argued the original exemption was part of Missouri’s effort to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision and keep tax rules uniform for out-of-state sellers. The group warned that removing the exemption could make Missouri’s tax system less simple and potentially jeopardize local use-tax collections statewide, with a much larger possible revenue loss if the law were challenged. The committee chair said the hearing would continue with a hard stop for floor business, and at the end of testimony he indicated he planned to take executive action on the bill later in the week. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the guys who actually do all the work around Pfeiffer Angus farms.
• And in typical Piper Farms fashion, I'm getting yelled at because my calves aren't tagged right.
• Colton does a great job helping Andy with the pigs, doing all of our farm work.
• He came back to the farm and worked with us.
• He came back to the farm and worked with us.

Bills: SB1287 , SB1983 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1558 , SB2135 , SB483 , SB1198 , SB1265 , SB2154 , SB2139 , SB1552 , SB2118 , SB1775 , SB259 , SB1344 , SB1380 , SB2007 , SB1572 , SB2074 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1502 , SB1503 , SB1833 , SB1561 , SB1555 , SB2044 , SB1749 , SB904 , SB1565 , SB1500 , SB667 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1644 , HR1045 , SB227 , SB1627 , SB1475 , SB1966 , SB2049 , SB1531 , SB80 , SB1734 , SB1630 , SB1894 , SB1975 , SB1432 , SB1437 , SB1812 , SB346 , SB710 , SB1489 , SB1614 , SB2045 , SB1250 , SB1304 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB592 , SB65 , SB1257 , SB444 , SB640 , SB2178 , SB1242 , SB1642

Summary: The House convened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then heard several introductions and special recognitions, including students and civic groups in the galleries, the Morris Eagles High School Academic Team, Calumet state champion teams, and Cherokee Nation Day at the Capitol. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. delivered extended remarks focused on tribal investments in public education, health care, housing, child care, rural infrastructure, and workforce development, and he urged lawmakers to preserve Medicaid expansion, saying it has brought major health-system revenue, jobs, and broader economic benefits to Oklahoma. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Abby Woods, and Nurse of the Day, Kara Delapena. Members made personal remarks about the Pauls Valley High School incident and a trooper accident, with prayers offered for those affected. Representative Rowe highlighted the courage of school officials and first responders in Pauls Valley and tied the event to the Legislature’s recurring school safety funding. On legislation, the House adopted House Resolution 1045 designating the second week of April as Lung Cancer Action Week. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation of oil and gas production equipment and flow lines, drew extensive debate over alleged double taxation and fiscal impacts; it passed 76-14. Senate Bill 1627, a criminal statutes cleanup measure addressing duplicate sections from modernization, passed 89-0 and its emergency clause also passed 89-0. The House also approved motions to request further conference on House Bills 2155 and 2157, and then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• That Heart Initiative has a farm initiative, which is looking at how we can help Arkansas.
• I've just been proud to support our farm-to-school program.
• So do the farm-to-school folks need to coordinate with the regional people to get funds for that?
• I've just been proud to support our farm to school program.
• And so I have a lot of farms, small farms in Pulaski County, southeast area.

Summary: The committee heard extensive public testimony from youth advocates and public health speakers urging action on vaping. Witnesses said flavored products and social media are driving youth use in Arkansas, described nicotine addiction and health harms, and asked lawmakers to prohibit vaping in public indoor spaces, align vape rules with smoke-free laws, and expand prevention efforts. Committee members thanked the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was an overview of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded through CMS. State officials said Arkansas received about $209 million for the first year and may receive roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is intended for targeted, locally driven transformation rather than general operating support, debt relief, or new construction, and outlined four initiatives: Heart, PACT, Rise, and Thrive, focused on prevention, access and coordination, workforce development, and technology. Officials said applications would open in the spring, with a reimbursement-based process and a goal of launching all four initiatives by June. Members asked detailed questions about eligibility, rural definitions, school gardens, faith-based and nonprofit partnerships, mobile clinics, EMS, behavioral health, residency slots, and whether urban providers serving rural patients could apply. Officials said the program would favor regional collaboration, could support targeted renovations and expansion of existing programs, and would allow residency growth and some equipment or infrastructure purchases, but not food purchases or permanent new construction. They also said a committee of state health and finance officials would review applications, with heavy technical assistance and an expectation of quick turnaround. The committee also reviewed two DHS/Health Department rules. One implemented Medicaid and CHIP coverage and care coordination for eligible incarcerated youth before and after release, including targeted case management and screening services, with no public comments received. The other updated audiology licensing rules to reflect recent acts expanding scope of practice and changing the renewal deadline. Both rules were reviewed without objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a small farm in Missouri, and so we like the rural part of the state.
• They're currently working in the San Zia wind farm.
• It's one of the largest wind farms in Mexico, the second largest in the nation.
• One of our alumni is currently the site lead at Cap Rock wind farm for Leeward.
• Well, breaking news, the judge rules Revolution Wind can restart their wind farm.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Total units sold at retail, so that's you know production at the farm.
• talking about production most of what is in this report is in a dry flower equivalent weight at the farm
• , dry flower weight equivalent at the farm in California.
• So that's the production side, what's coming off the farm, and ultimately making its way through.
• So first thing is we look at the wholesale price, so start at the farm.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Winona County and now live in the city of Minneapolis.
• Broadband allowed my parents to integrate technology into their farming operations, improving ... digital
• </c><00:04:25.280><c> in</c> born and raised on a dairy farm in born and raised on a dairy farm in Winona
• </c><00:05:23.600><c> improving</c> Broadband internet was as vital for my parents to manage their farm
• operations more effectively, keeping their small family farm competitive and viable.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> yields, threats from corporate farms, yields, threats from corporate farms, and<00:57:49.599><c
• Nbridge wind farm project in northern<01:05:16.839><c> Minnesota.
• And in that brochure was a little infographic kind of explaining the benefits of wind farms and, you
• </c> towers around around a farm. And Mr. towers around around a farm. And Mr.
• They're very efficient, but it does make farming around them a real challenge. So, thank you, Mr.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Non-farm payroll jobs have been, you know, let's call that more or less steady from 2024 on.
• Non-farm payroll jobs are one of the indicators that in the past has been one of the most reliable and
• This graph shows growth in non-farm payroll jobs.
• The growth rates that you see for 2023 and 2024, Arizona's non-farm payroll job growth, this key measure
• We did see an improvement in the losses that were coming out of non-farm.

Summary: At the April meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee, staff presented an updated state revenue forecast that was more cautious than January’s because of heightened economic uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and broader national risks. The general fund’s available resources were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in the April forecast, with the lower estimate driven by reduced revenue projections while spending assumptions were unchanged. Staff said the outlook depends heavily on how long the Middle East conflict lasts and noted that a prolonged disruption could weaken the forecast further, while a quick resolution could improve conditions. George Hammond of the University of Arizona gave a broad economic overview, highlighting geopolitical risk, elevated oil and gasoline prices, sticky inflation, weak Arizona job growth, and uncertainty around federal policy, tariffs, immigration, and AI-related investment. He said Arizona’s recent job growth has been very weak and concentrated mainly in health services, while most other sectors lost jobs, and he attributed much of the slowdown to low hiring rather than layoffs. He also discussed population growth, noting that Arizona remains above the national average but is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows, and he warned that housing affordability remains strained even as Phoenix inflation has moderated. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook but pointed to some offsets. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenues could benefit from tourism tied to spring training and the Final Four, though higher fuel costs could dampen discretionary spending. Other panelists noted that the federal policy environment, tariffs, and immigration changes are likely to restrain growth, while productivity gains, especially from technology and AI, may help businesses maintain output. Several members also discussed housing, saying single-family permits have fallen while rental supply has improved affordability, and they raised concerns about labor-force growth, wage disparities, and the reliability of recent employment data revisions. No formal votes or actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This next slide shows the projections specifically for U.S. non-farm payroll employment.
• So the U.S. is projected to continue seeing non-farm payroll increases, but they are forecast to slow
• Total non-farm... ...comparable 12-month period back in 2019 and then the difference between those.
• Total non-farm payroll is up 600 jobs.
• Total non-farm is up by 100 jobs.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the January 15 morning meeting. The main agenda item was the Department of Revenue’s budget and revenue presentation from Secretary Eric Nelson, Deputy Secretary Peter Shirley, and Deputy Secretary Mark Mucco. Nelson said the state remains double-A rated with a positive outlook, the budget includes a 5% personal income tax reduction, and the 2027 general revenue estimate is $5.493 billion, up $170 million from the prior year. Shirley gave an economic overview, saying West Virginia is forecast to see continued but slowing employment growth, continued wage growth, gains in private education/health services and business services, declines in some sectors, improving labor force participation relative to the nation, and strong recent net in-migration. He also noted continued growth in natural gas production and a modest rebound in coal production, though coal faces longer-term demand pressure. Mucco reviewed revenue trends and said 2025 collections were about $5.5 billion, below the prior year but above estimate, with personal income tax and sales tax driving the surplus. He explained that the forecast incorporates the 5% PIT cut and annual conformity to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including changes such as Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, R&D expensing, business interest deductions, and a new manufacturing facility expensing provision. He also discussed the effects of tax credits, severance tax volatility, declining tobacco revenues, and health care provider tax changes tied to federal Medicaid rules. He said road fund revenues are largely flat absent policy changes, and county commission revenues are growing faster than state revenues. Members asked about when new economic development projects like NewCore would appear in the projections, how much 20,000 new jobs would matter, whether the department had a calculator for job-growth impacts, the status of recent tax cuts, road fund growth, tobacco/vape taxation, and whether migration data could be broken down by county. The witnesses said major projects are not yet in the S&P-based forecast but would likely add jobs, wages, and tax revenue over time; they estimated 20,000 jobs would be a significant increase. They also said the state is unlikely to hit the current personal income tax trigger in the near term. No substantive votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee adjourned after a motion carried by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes the Filipino farm workers who helped lead the movement, including Larry Itliong and others
• whose courage in organizing were instrumental in advancing the cause of farm workers in California.
• As a son and grandson of farmworkers, I learned at a young age of the legacy of the United Farm Workers
• And he says, he gets so enraged, he says, I'm going to go down to the farm right after this.
• He gets so enraged, he says, I'm going to go down to the farm right after this.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several routine announcements. Senator Weber Pierson removed SB 977 from the consent calendar. The chamber then took up a series of gubernatorial appointments, including Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission; all were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls after brief presentations by Senator Grove. The Senate also considered several commemorative resolutions. SCR 152, by Senator Reyes, designated April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day. Senators from both parties spoke in support, praising Huerta’s lifelong labor, civil rights, and nonviolent organizing work, and noting her role in the farmworker movement and the contributions of Filipino farmworkers. The resolution passed unanimously. SR 91, by Senator González, recognized Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week; SCR 149, by Senator Valadares, marked World Autism Awareness Day and emphasized early intervention and adult services; and SCR 150, by Senator Choi, recognized National Librarian Day and the public value of librarians. Each of these resolutions was adopted with broad support. The Senate also passed SB 1078 by Senator Laird, an urgency measure giving Santa Cruz County voters the opportunity to consider a local tax increase above the combined local tax rate cap to help fund services, including medical services; the bill passed 29-9 on both urgency and final passage. SR 98 by Senator Wiener, designating Heat Pump Week in California, also passed with strong support, highlighting energy savings, emissions reductions, and the state’s electrification goals. After lifting the call, the chamber confirmed the earlier appointments and adopted the remaining consent calendar items without objection. The session ended with committee announcements and an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a nurse and community leader, with the Senate scheduled to reconvene on April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• John told me he had no interest in the farming business.
• He became the leader of Zoria Farms, following in his father's footsteps and, in fact, his grandfather's
• , you would see something for decades right as you got off of the exit: a big sign that said Zoria Farms
• School, one of the oldest high schools in the area, not far, maybe a block or two from his family farm
• School, one of the oldest high schools in the area, not far, maybe a block or two from his family farm

Transcript Highlights:

• We are home to the largest petrochemical complex in North America, a growing port, and a vibrant farming
• resolution HR number 278 by Darby congratulating Cade and Morgan Hodges on receiving the 2025 American Farm
• Bureau Federation Young Farm Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award.
• On January the 27th, 2025, the American Farm Bureau Federation's 106th Convention in San Antonio, the
• The Mexican imperial colonization law of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:50.240><c> and</c> amendment, which is that farming and amendment, which is that farming and
• </c> working in conjunction to keep farms working in conjunction to keep farms going<00:32:07.880><c>
• </c> impact to the future of Vermont farming impact to the future of Vermont farming communities<00:48
• </c> to assess the impact of future farming to assess the impact of future farming in<00:51:04.400><c
• </c> regulatory barrier reductions to on-farm regulatory barrier reductions to on-farm housing.<02:06

Transcript Highlights:

• selfish in what we’re doing because we want to increase rural prosperity and profitability on the farm
• selfish in what we’re doing because we want to increase rural prosperity and profitability on the farm
• </c> that rural prosperity and that farming that rural prosperity and that farming profitability,<00:
• </c><00:31:28.159><c> and</c> able to work on some of these farms and able to work on some of these farms
• We are seeing extreme buy-in in the community around this for on-farm processing.

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Immigrants disproportionately work not just on farms, but also in food processing, meat packing, and
• is availability of help on the farm.
• </c><00:20:47.559><c> is</c><00:20:48.039><c> is</c><00:20:48.480><c> um</c> lot of midsize Farms is
• </c> availability of of of help on the farm availability of of of help on the farm and<00:20:51.679><
• ><c> particular</c><00:20:53.480><c> U</c> and for those farms in particular U and for those farms in

Bills: HF10 , HF27

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Isabella Kignonis with the California Farm Bureau.
• Good morning, Chair and members, Isabella Kignonis with the California Farm Bureau.
• And so in those situations, the farm has to absorb all of those costs.
• In the last, we lose four farms every day based on USDA data, and predominantly those are small farms
• I was able, a couple years ago, to go out to visit some ranches and some farms that produce different

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality