Video & Transcript : 'federally declared natural disaster' :
Page 96 of 500
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources & Energy.(7-2-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> disaster strikes. disaster strikes.
- </c> the next disaster. the next disaster.
- </c> treatment and disaster response. treatment and disaster response.
- </c> federal government? federal government?
- We know that disasters are disasters.
Bills:
SB8
Committee:
Joint Natural Resources & Energy
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Local Government.(6-23-26)
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The federal government, the larger agencies that can pay more.
- thing we see that helps recruit are explorer programs, citizens police academies, and things of those natures
- It provides immediate documentation to support a presidential declaration in disaster relief.
- can provide that aerial product, but we do respond all over as needed. >> Lastly, it sounds like natural
- disasters are a common response mission for you all.
Bills:
HB339
Committee:
Joint Local Government
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- In January 2025, the federal government followed California's lead, defining family resource centers
- HR 976 opened the door to future federal partnerships and funding.
- Again, on updating the definition here in California statute, as she said, to align with the federal
- Older adults and people with disabilities to fend for themselves during disasters.
- As California continues to experience increasingly devastating natural disasters and an aging population
Committee:
Senate Human Services
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 013 Jan 27th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> the General Assembly hereby declares the General Assembly hereby declares Monday,<00:22:46.400><
- Declaration of Independence, second paragraph.
- Declaration<00:43:14.960><c> of</c><00:43:15.119><c> Independence,</c><00:43:16.160><c> second</c> Declaration
- matter, and the federal investigation immediately focused on denigrating the deceased civilian.
- It was a de facto declaration that the Fourth Amendment doesn't apply to them.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- disasters.
- Uh, the federal share on when it's, when it's a federally funded project, the federal government pays
- program, enhancing disaster readiness statewide.
- We're here, such as inconsistent federal and state regulations, the discrepancy between federal regulations
- Um, naturally derived THC delta 9 is the way to go.
Committee:
House Agriculture & Livestock
Keywords:
food production, property owners' association, home gardening, cottage food, urban agriculture, livestock, community standards, renewable energy, ethanol, biodiesel, incentives, agriculture, grants, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, December 4, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Federal gives schools a clear choice.
- </c> Our Kids Act would prohibit federal Our Kids Act would prohibit federal funding<00:47:31.359><c>
- </c> was snatched off the street by federal was snatched off the street by federal immigration<01:51:
- </c> communities in the face of disaster. communities in the face of disaster.
- Second, a risk during a disaster.
Keywords:
Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl, MVP, football, victory, sports, community, Olympics, Paralympics, Team USA, 2026 Games, Athletics, International competition, Sportsmanship, Unity
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Within, um, HAMA with a funds disasters, we look at the long-term disasters, we look at the long-term
- </c><00:22:56.880><c> emergency</c> missions on the federal emergency missions on the federal emergency
- </c><00:24:00.799><c> So</c> projects for each open disaster. So projects for each open disaster.
- So, um, federal and state dollars.
- </c> relying on federal dollars. relying on federal dollars.
Committee:
House Water & Land
Summary:
The House Committee on Water and Land met on March 25, 2025, and first announced it had deleted HCR 3 and HCR 4567 from the agenda pending similar Senate measures. It then heard HR 35/HCR 40, which urges DLNR and other state agencies to work with community groups to co-steward community forests on public lands. DLNR’s urban and community forester testified in strong support, and several organizations and individuals submitted support; there were no questions or opposition noted.
The committee next heard HCR 64, asking OPSD to convene a working group on establishing and placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. OPSD and the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resilience supported the resolution and suggested friendly amendments, including replacing county civil defense representatives with mayors or their designees and allowing subject-matter experts to serve. Members questioned the office’s role, funding, and relationship to other resilience and emergency management offices, and the witness explained it was created after the Maui wildfires to coordinate long-term recovery, with special-project funding and a focus distinct from response and mental health functions.
The committee also heard HR 59/HCR 65 on coordinating concurrent reviews of general plan, district boundary, and zoning amendments during land reclassification. OPSD testified with comments and warned that the proposal could facilitate spot zoning if individual landowners could use the concurrent process, recommending it be limited to county-initiated actions. A related discussion followed on HR 118/HCR 122, which would create a collaborative working group on surveying and protecting iwi kūpuna and related coastal erosion issues; DNR, OHA, and others supported it with suggested additions, and testimony emphasized cultural sensitivity and community-specific decision-making. Members asked about burial practices and a recent court ruling, and witnesses said the working group could help guide broader policy and communication.
Finally, the committee heard HR 145/HCR 151, requesting DLNR to report on its lease enforcement process and procedures. DLNR said it was recruiting staff to conduct lease inspections but had difficulty filling positions due to compensation, and explained that new or extended leases can include inspection requirements, while retroactive cost-shifting would raise contractual issues. Members asked for information on lease renewal timelines and whether inspection provisions were being added to renewals; DLNR said those decisions are made in public sunshine meetings and agreed to provide additional information. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Federal court and shouldn't have to go to the office of civil rights. All right.
- HB4 also takes our testing standards down to the federally required minimums.
- You could make that same argument against putting the Declaration of Independence on the wall.
- The Declaration of Independence, our nation's birthright... certificate acknowledges this.
- And we're already protected there because we're in the federal. circuit.
Bills:
HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369
Committee:
House Public Education
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PBS Info Briefing - Mon Aug 18, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- state</c><00:13:56.160><c> of</c> worst natural disaster in the state of worst natural disaster in the
- of disasters, launched a blueprint for women and disasters.
- </c> unpredictable at the federal level. unpredictable at the federal level.
- </c> of the the disaster. of the the disaster.
- </c> against future disasters. against future disasters.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires, with Chair Dela Alani framing the discussion around emergency preparedness, recovery, and lessons for future disasters. The main presentation came from researchers involved in the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, who described the project as a grassroots academic-community partnership that has enrolled more than 2,000 adults and children for health screenings, social assessments, and biomonitoring. They said the study has documented elevated mental and physical health conditions, housing instability, unemployment, barriers to care, and exposure to heavy metals and other toxicants, while also noting some modest improvement in adult mental health and self-rated health compared with the prior year.
The presenters emphasized that wildfire impacts remain severe two years later. They reported that about half of adult participants had worsening health since the fires, roughly 40% had direct or frequent fire exposure, and many adults showed chronic disease burdens such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory impairment. They also said about half of adult survivors reported depressive symptoms, about a quarter had moderate to severe anxiety, more than 4% had considered suicide in the prior month, and nearly one in four had PTSD. A clinician from the Lahaina Certified Community Behavioral Health Center described the clinic’s no-turn-away model, with case management, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for anyone who needs it, and urged lawmakers to fund and expand that approach.
The researchers also highlighted environmental findings, saying urine testing of more than 1,200 adults found heavy metal signatures that differed between burn-zone residents and those on the perimeter, with higher levels associated with displacement and ash re-exposure. They said about 20% of participants had higher-than-expected heavy metal levels 6 to 12 months after the fires, and cited a negative association between nickel levels and lung function. They argued for long-term monitoring, better cleanup methods, and a centralized health surveillance system tied to community outreach. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the briefing; the chair said the presentation materials and related reports would be posted for public access, and members were invited to ask questions after the presentation.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- federal level.
- agriculture, natural resources, and food industries, including Agriculture by Dr.
- agriculture, natural resources, and food industries, including agriculture by Dr.
- Typically growers have to report through the FSA to be eligible for a lot of the different federal disaster
- disaster... ...relief for agriculture.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture
Summary:
The Florida Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum present and heard two presentations. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, outlined department accomplishments and funding needs, including IT modernization, expansion of the Rural and Family Lands program, updated best management practice manuals, growth of the Fresh From Florida marketing campaign, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, clearing concealed-weapons permit backlogs, construction of the Conner Complex headquarters, forestry equipment upgrades, and youth agriculture programs such as FFA and 4-H. Senators asked about water policy, citrus greening, FAMU partnerships, staffing efficiencies, and interdiction stations used to stop invasive species, stolen goods, and diseased or banned agricultural products from entering the state.
Dr. Krista Court of the University of Florida/IFAS presented a preliminary economic assessment of the 2024 hurricane season’s agricultural impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. She explained that the estimates are based on wind, rainfall, flooding, crop location, and survey data from extension agents, industry groups, FDACS, and producers, and that the figures do not include many asset losses, supply-chain effects, forestry losses, or some insurance-covered damages. Her preliminary estimates placed total 2024 agricultural production losses between about $402.3 million and $975.8 million, with the hardest-hit commodity groups including field and row crops, vegetables, melons, potatoes, greenhouse/nursery products, and animals and animal products.
Members discussed the importance of accurate survey participation and baseline data, including use of USDA Farm Service Agency information, to improve future disaster estimates and federal relief decisions. Several senators emphasized agriculture’s importance in their districts and statewide. No bills were considered and no formal votes were taken; the only action was adjournment by motion of Senator Burton.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- disaster.
- disaster.
- <00:05:26.880><c> disaster.
- disaster.
- So having a statewide natural disaster.
Committee:
Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs
Summary:
The joint meeting of the Senate committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs heard testimony on several resolutions focused on community safety, emergency preparedness, and commemorative actions. STR 16 and SR 30 sought permission for the City and County of Honolulu to use restricted vacant land on the Pearl City Peninsula for youth ball programs; Pearl City Neighborhood Board chair Larry Vere testified in support, describing a shortage of youth sports space and the availability of the former Navy fuel farm area. STR 22 asked Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to work with other agencies on outreach to help kūpuna prepare for emergencies; testimony from AARP Hawaii, neighborhood boards, and others emphasized lessons from the Lahaina wildfires and the need for statewide, community-based preparedness efforts. Testifiers also urged that disabled seniors be included, and committee members discussed coordination with neighborhood boards, area agencies on aging, and nonprofits. STR 112 and SR 93 proposed lighting City Hall purple on August 7 for National Purple Heart Day, and STR 84 and SR 67 addressed disaster preparedness and drills in Maui after the wildfires. STR 184 and SR 146 would direct county police to enforce registration rules for out-of-state vehicles, and STR 229 and SR 205 would call for explosion-detection technology to respond to illegal fireworks and gunfire; Larry Vere supported the latter as a way to speed law enforcement response, while one senator said she would vote no on the vehicle-registration measure pending more information about possible effects on the Nation/Kingdom of Hawaii community.
In decision-making, both committees adopted recommendations to pass STR 16, STR 22, STR 84/SR 67, and STR 184/SR 146, with STR 112/SR 93 and STR 229/SR 205 passed with technical, nonsubstantive amendments. The committee report for STR 22 was also noted to include disabled seniors and to engage neighborhood boards and community groups already working on preparedness. For STR 184/SR 146, one senator recorded a no vote because of concerns about impacts on Native Hawaiian sovereignty-related communities. The meeting concluded after all listed measures were acted on and the joint committee hearings were adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider S.93, to amend the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, S.98, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective a Feb 5th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Marked by the deadliest disaster in U.S. airspace in two decades.
- But as my staff and I continue to investigate the cause of last Wednesday's disaster, we remain focused
- I represent a state prone to natural disasters. I don't know what to say. It's Mount St.
- Naturally, President Trump is implementing the agenda that the American people voted for.
- I think there is no branch of the federal government called Elon Musk.
Bills:
SB161 , SB195 , SB216 , SB245 , SB246 , SB257 , SB258 , SB260 , SB278 , SB281 , SB283 , SB93 , SB98 , SB99 , SB306 , SB314 , SB315
Keywords:
vehicle safety, crash test, crashworthiness, NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New Car Assessment Program, NCAP, motor vehicle safety standards, 49 CFR parts 571 and 572, THOR dummy, THOR-50M, THOR-05F, WorldSID, female crash test dummy, male crash test dummy, occupant protection, frontal impact, side impact, vehicle ratings, automotive safety
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- , things like that. ...are infrastructure, burning, disasters, things like that.
- That is being done at the federal level because they are the ones that are the owners of IPAWS.
- I used to work in the federal government.
- , human-caused, and technological disasters, and what actions they need to take.
- Informed about natural, human-caused, and technological disasters and what actions they need to take
Summary:
The joint informational hearing focused on California’s emergency alert and warning systems, especially in light of recent Southern California wildfires and the January 9 evacuation alert that was mistakenly sent to millions of residents. Opening remarks emphasized the loss of life, the strain on first responders, the importance of timely warnings, and concerns that public trust in alerts has been undermined by delays, confusion, and over-alerting. Members repeatedly raised questions about how to improve speed, accuracy, coordination across jurisdictions, and public understanding of the difference between evacuation warnings and orders.
Cal OES staff described the state’s alert and warning framework, including SEMS, the State Warning Center, IPAWS, WEA, and EAS, and said local governments retain primary responsibility for issuing alerts because they know local roads, shelters, and hazards best. They said Cal OES supports local agencies with training, technical assistance, testing, and backup alerting help when requested, and that local alerting authorities must test their systems every 30 days and complete FEMA-required training. Members pressed Cal OES on gaps in smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions, the lack of a statewide unified system, compliance monitoring, redundancy for people without reliable technology, and whether the state should take a more active role. Cal OES said it could assist smaller jurisdictions and step in during emergencies, but that a statewide system would require further analysis and funding.
Sheriff Eric Taylor of San Benito County emphasized that local control is essential because counties differ widely in structure, geography, and alerting responsibilities, and he described the challenges of rural areas, limited cell coverage, and multiple platforms such as Nixle, Reverse 911, and social media. Nick Russell of Watch Duty said the nonprofit fills gaps by providing fast, geospatially detailed wildfire information from volunteers and public data, and argued that context and redundancy are critical because official alerts often arrive too late or lack enough detail. Members praised Watch Duty’s usefulness and asked about incorporating similar capabilities into state systems. Public commenters also raised the need for broader redundancy, including earthquake-warning partnerships, and wildfire survivors urged the committee to address the confusing patchwork of alerts and to honor prior compensation commitments to PG&E fire survivors. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only and adjourned after member questions and public comment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Aug 27th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- California has provided this exclusion for declared emergencies in the past.
- California has recognized this principle following other declared disasters by excluding qualifying settlement
Committee:
House Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met to consider three Senate-amended bills. AB 672 would extend an existing property tax exemption for community land trust projects that develop or rehabilitate low-income housing. The author and sponsor said the measure helps preserve and create permanently affordable housing, noted the exemption has supported 101 units at a relatively low state cost, and argued it is essential for project feasibility. No opposition was presented, and the committee recommended concurrence in the Senate amendments on a 5-0 vote, later completed as 6-0 with an absent member’s vote.
AB 760 would exclude certain settlement payments from California taxable income for residents and businesses affected by the Garden Grove chemical incident that displaced more than 50,000 people. Supporters, including the Orange County Board of Supervisors, said the bill would preserve compensation intended to help with housing, lost wages, business interruption, and other recovery costs, and that taxing the payments would undermine relief. The measure had no opposition in the hearing and passed the committee 6-0, with a later vote from an absent member recorded in support.
AB 1519 would clarify the state’s 20-year statute of limitations for Franchise Tax Board collection actions by preventing fees, penalties, or interest from restarting the clock. The author said the bill would create a true limitations period and not materially affect revenue, while supporters from the California Society of Enrolled Agents and the California Society of CPAs said it would provide certainty and resolve ambiguity for taxpayers and practitioners. There was no opposition, and the committee recommended concurrence in the Senate amendments on a 6-0 vote, later finalized with the absent member’s aye vote.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Feb 18th, 2026
Budget and Fiscal Review
Transcript Highlights:
- During the pandemic, the federal government spent a lot of money to supplement unemployment insurance
- It is very unlikely that in the next recession, the federal government is going to do a similar thing
- The fact The federal government paid for that entirely.
- The other thing the federal government has done has been to completely change how the Affordable Care
- By emergency, do you mean for, like, natural disasters?
Committee:
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Nov 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to talk obviously about the role federal funding had and now the impact that loss of federal funding
- This becomes critical in the natural disasters that we all are having to live through.
- disasters.
- disasters.
- They exist in every and vital information during natural disasters.
Summary:
The hearing focused on the impact of the federal rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding on California public media, with Assemblymember Chris Ward and Senator Akilah Weber Pierson framing public media as essential civic infrastructure for education, local news, arts, emergency alerts, and underserved communities. Local officials from San Diego and La Mesa voiced support, emphasizing public media’s role in trusted information, children’s programming, and community arts access.
Panelists from PBS SoCal, KCRW, Rebuild Local News, NPR, KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR described significant budget losses, layoffs, reduced programming, and threats to rural and specialized services. They highlighted impacts on children’s educational content, local journalism, arts coverage, science and documentary production, and emergency alert systems. Several speakers noted that smaller stations in rural or low-broadband areas are especially vulnerable, while larger stations are also cutting staff and delaying projects. They also discussed possible responses such as shared services, cost reductions, philanthropy, and state support, while warning that one-time bridge funding is not a long-term fix.
Committee members asked about operational changes, alternative revenue sources, the role of state programs, and whether public pressure could restore federal funding. Witnesses said the loss is already being felt, that restoration appears unlikely in the near term, and that any state support should be structured to protect editorial independence and provide stable, timely funding. The hearing concluded with a shift to labor and production testimony and then to station-specific testimony from KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR, followed by public comment.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/11/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- and natural food availability.
- by, you know, natural factors, weather and<01:28:34.000><c> natural</c><01:28:34.239><c> food</c><01
- </c> natural rodent control. natural rodent control.
- </c> total inspections in 20 the f federal total inspections in 20 the f federal fiscal<04:04:47.439>
- Um it's just the nature of investments. Um it's just the nature of the<04:26:49.600><c> beast.
Committee:
House Environment and Agriculture
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Feb 12th, 2026
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- disaster.
- Natural disasters fueled by a changing climate.
- It sets the tone for how the General Court plans to respond to other major natural disasters in our Commonwealth
- If we did have a natural or another disaster, we would be in big trouble.
- or another disaster, we're going to be. activities up the street, if we did have a natural or another
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Human Services Committee Jan 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- resource centers, building on SB 436, which I authored back in 2019, to align state law with recent federal
- In January 2025, the federal government followed California's lead, defining family resource centers
- HR 976 opened the door to future federal partnerships and funding.
- Again, on updating the definition here in California statute, as she said, to align with the federal
- As California continues to experience increasingly devastating natural disasters and an aging population
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Human Services met on January 12, 2026, beginning without a quorum but hearing four bills. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with the federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, multi-generational role. Supporters from the Child Abuse Prevention Center and California Family Resource Association said the change would clarify state law and help position California for future federal partnerships; no opposition was heard.
SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would correct a prior CEQA exemption for child care facilities so it applies in residential as well as nonresidential areas. Supporters, including Napa County Supervisor Liz Alessio and the Rural County Representatives of California, said the current language unintentionally blocks child care projects in places families need them most and has been used to delay or stop projects; several local government and early care organizations also supported the bill, and there was no opposition. SB 837 by Senator Gomez-Reyes would require aging and disability resource connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Testimony from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers emphasized recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation and preparedness support; no opposition was presented.
SB 479 by Senator Arreguín would allow the cities of Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across teams and departments, similar to counties under existing law. Supporters said the bill would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while noting confidentiality safeguards already exist; a privacy letter from Oakland Privacy was mentioned, but no formal opposition testified. After quorum was established, the committee voted 5-0 to pass each bill: SB 299 to Senate Environmental Quality, SB 557 and SB 837 to Senate Appropriations, and SB 479 to Senate Judiciary. All four measures were placed on call briefly and then cleared with unanimous votes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs Mar 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Recent wildfires and other natural disasters have driven costs higher, higher than the statewide average
- disasters also are benefiting the surrounding community.
- And we do a lot of retrofitting and things of that nature.
- The federal government has a big responsibility... ...area, right?
- They're not just responding to disasters or fires on Indian lands.