Transcript Highlights:

• BUSINESSES RATHER THAN EFFORTS PREVIOUSLY AND I WON'T SPEAK FOR PRIOR LEGISLATORS BUT ATTRACTING THE BIG FISH
• I AM SO HAPPY TODAY TO VOTE YES ON YOUR BILL BECAUSE YESTERDAY WAS ROUGH AND I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK YOU

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fish is sometimes state.
• I don't think it's rough. You double. It's healthy. It's it's right. It's good.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It can't unduly impact fish and wildlife, various criteria such as that.
• It can't unduly impact fish and wildlife, various criteria such as that.
• We have a rough sense of the capital expense that runs...
• We have a rough sense of the capital expense: that range of $150 million to $250 million that's shown

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It can't unduly impact fish and wildlife... Unduly affect anyone who already has a water right.
• It can't unduly impact fish and wildlife, various criteria such as that.
• We have a rough sense of the capital expense that runs...
• We have a rough sense of the capital expense.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see over time we expect, and this is a rough estimate, but over $100,000 saves that's mostly
• just went through on some of those different things you can see over time we expect and this is a rough
• we have staff and the ability, we'll go out and get outside federal... ...grant funding, National Fish
• We're developing lakes, but we're also using this National Fish and Wildlife money to remove cedars and

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also sponsored two youth fly-fishing camps that targeted Indigenous youth from some of our land-grant
• It was because the Department of Game and Fish identified the dam for that lake as not being sufficient
• estimate when we first started having this conversation in 2017 was that the options that Game and Fish
• I did an inquiry to NRCS, and NRCS said, well, no, it's a Fish and Wildlife Service issue.
• I inquired with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have any rough ideas in mind in terms of this technology?
• In other words, the largest cut is Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Is Department of Fish and Wildlife also the biggest? They are one of the bigger ones, yes.
• So we're taking disproportionate cuts in Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• that doesn't necessarily mean wrong, but we're taking larger cuts, percentage-wise, in Department of Fish

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have an extraordinary strong partnership with the Department of Safety, with agriculture, with Fish
• 13:51.040> with<00:13:51.440> agriculture,<00:13:52.480> with<00:13:52.639> fish
• of safety, with agriculture, with fish of safety, with agriculture, with fish and<00:13:53.120><
• So that's a rough and side effects.
• So that's a rough thing.<01:18:36.159> I<01:18:36.480> I<01:18:36.719> guess<01:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on April 17 and approved the prior meeting minutes, then set its next meeting for May 29 at 9:30 a.m. Members also discussed a New Futures effort to collect questions about Medicaid changes and post answers as an FAQ, with a preference that the FAQ live on New Futures’ website rather than the state website. The commissioner’s office said it would coordinate responses and that the issue is still evolving. The main presentation was an HHS update focused on the state public health laboratory and its work during Public Health Lab Week. Officials reviewed the lab’s history, its biosafety functions, and its role in disease prevention, food safety, preparedness, and response. They highlighted mosquito surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus, noting that the lab tested more than a quarter million mosquitoes last year and that mosquito testing helps provide early warning for local public health decisions. They also discussed rabies testing, saying New Hampshire’s lab is the only one in the state that performs it, that rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, and that the work is preventable through early prophylaxis. Members asked about federal funding cuts, water testing, and whether CDC changes to rabies testing would affect New Hampshire. The department said it had been affected by an $80 million federal clawback but was managing through other funds and staff reassignments; for the water lab, temporary staff had been hired to continue swimming-area testing. Officials said the state remains able to handle rabies testing and that federal changes would mainly affect areas without similar services. They also answered questions on Jamestown Canyon virus, saying New Hampshire had one human case in 2025 and three in 2024, compared with zero West Nile cases in 2025 and one in 2024, and that weather and protective measures influence mosquito-borne disease levels. Additional questions covered biosafety levels, cyanobacteria coordination with the Department of Environmental Services, and the Brown Building flood mitigation, which was described as about halfway complete with a hoped-for reopening of the west side by June.

Transcript Highlights:

• particular the pest risk assessment part of this bill and and uh just the number of FTEs, maybe a rough
• But it's time to take action so we don't have any more mysterious fish kills, mass pollinator extinction
• 00:42:16.640> any<00:42:16.800> more<00:42:17.040> mysterious<00:42:17.520> fish
• <00:42:17.760> kills, have any more mysterious fish kills, have any more mysterious fish kills

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• From 2003 to 2014, the fish and wildlife From 2003 to 2014, the fish and wildlife service<03:27:38.720
• of fish every day.
• Even the Fish and of fish every day.
• <03:38:38.479> and to bureaucratic delays at the Fish and to bureaucratic delays at the Fish
• <03:38:43.200> Wildlife Association of Fish and Wildlife Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I fish. I get that. But that's not everybody. Everybody's a hiker. I love to hike.
• I fish. I get that. But that's not everybody.
• Can you give us just a rough idea there on what budget dollars will be used to wrap our arms around that

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Similar to Senator Stefanics, the chapters from my district, the weather is still a little bit rough
• aerospace research, and that the spaceport becomes a new mission because we've hung on to that little fish
• as long as we can, and that little fish hasn't delivered from what they said they were going to deliver

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Digital and dynamic billboards are especially rough on the eyes, as recent studies suggest that such
• Fish and Wildlife notes that about 234,000 birds are killed every year in wind turbines.
• Fish and Wildlife has published a study that says 234,000 birds. Well, 234,000 is too many.
• Fish and Wildlife notes that about 234,000 birds are killed every year in wind turbines.
• Fish and Wildlife has published a study that says 234,000 birds. Well, 234,000 is too many.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill standardized digitizes and maps fishing restrictions in federal waters.
• the successful map land act which required the federal government to digitize maps for hunting and fishing
• modernization access to our public oceans, led by Senator Cruz, which requires NOAA to create a website where fishing
• ... is to show where fishing is permitted in federal waters.

Bills: SB244, SB28, SB289, SB323, SB389, SB414, SB428, SB433, SB582, SB613, SB759, SB792, SB841, SB843, SB97

Keywords: national security, cybersecurity, consumer technology, routers, modems, study, communication, consumer protection, smart devices, transparency, internet-connected devices, FTC enforcement, broadband, infrastructure, federal programs, internet access, accessibility, affordability, deployment, government coordination

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an important meeting where they discussed various bills aimed at addressing pressing issues like consumer protection, technology, and environmental management. Chairman Cruz opened the meeting by emphasizing the role of subpoenas in ensuring accountability and oversight, highlighting a recent compliance from several parties following such threats. The meeting progressed to consider several bills, including the Romance Scam Prevention Act championed by Senator Blackburn, which seeks to protect vulnerable populations from online dating scams that have resulted in enormous financial losses, particularly among seniors. The committee also nominated Michael Kratios for the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Mark Medder for the Federal Trade Commission, underscoring the significance of leadership in fostering innovation and consumer protection in technology sectors.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, yes, we've seen this kind of packet of a rough idea of what's out there just to kind of say,
• So, uh, yes, we've seen this kind of packet of a rough idea of what's out there just to kind of say,
• <00:22:02.400> idea<00:22:02.640> of this kind of packet of a rough idea of this kind
• of packet of a rough idea of what's<00:22:03.120> out<00:22:03.360> there<00:22:04.080
• For the record, Melissa Nemoth, legal and legislative liaison for the Fish and Game Department.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forever chemicals are a poison that has seeped its way into our lakes, our streams, our fish, our soil
• Forever chemicals are a poison that has seeped its way into our lakes, our streams, our fish, our soil
• paired with a defective federal regulatory system and funding structure, health care was already in rough
• paired with a defective federal regulatory system and funding structure, health care was already in rough
• paired with a defective federal regulatory system and funding structure, health care was already in rough

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for that, General. talked about uh the fishing licenses for talked about uh the fishing licenses
• It is a rough climb, but it's listed as one of the 10 best hiking trails in America.
• It's a rough climb, but it's listed as one of the 10 best hiking trails in America.
• It split the fishing lanes and split the territory. It did not establish what's up the river.
• <04:44:17.360> lanes of the shos it split the fishing lanes of the shos it split the fishing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• projects are in dire need of construction of a dam that we just knew we acquired from the Game and Fish
• I mean, the FRI this year shows 40,000; last year's 20, rough figure.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Arnold, I'm here for fishing governments.
• And to the point of the discussion that we have here... ...to reach shingle or two really rough, a home
• Garrett should be prepared, complete with and the reply stop the home 4 years ago and the home had a rough

Bills: HF4881, HF4867, HF4422, HF4223

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, regulation, financial institutions, prescription drug affordability, consumer protection, restitution account, financial compensation, attorney general, distributions, property insurance, homeowners insurance, fire and allied lines, hail insurance, appraisal clause, loss adjustment, alternative dispute resolution, insurance claims, claim valuation, actual cash value

Transcript Highlights:

• her hearing aid hidden under the the her hearing aid hidden under the the fish<00:07:27.720> aquarium
• <00:07:28.199> in<00:07:28.319> her<00:07:28.520> room fish aquarium in her
• room fish aquarium in her room um<00:07:31.120> Falls<00:07:31.759> from<00:07:32.199><
• Quorum is really rough, and so reducing the number, we believe, will allow this meeting to occur more
• Quorum is really rough, and so reducing the number, we believe, will allow this meeting to occur more

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 1419, SB 1494, and SB 1495, which were taken out of order to accommodate ASL/Death Blind Task Force testimony. SB 1419, relating to Act 253 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2023), drew support from the Department of Human Services and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, with testimony emphasizing use of the term “low vision” and support for the program timeline. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and updated appropriation fiscal years, and the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present. SB 1494, concerning hearing aids, drew broad support from disability advocates and others who argued that hearing aids improve health, reduce accidents, and may help reduce dementia risk. Testifiers also urged that the bill define hearing aids as prescription hearing aids rather than including over-the-counter devices, and the Department of the Auditor and Insurance Division raised cost and coverage questions. The committee recommended passage with amendments, changing the coverage approach to optional coverage similar to vision and dental and requesting a sunrise analysis for prescription hearing aids; that recommendation was adopted. SB 1495, which exempts hearing aids from the general excise tax, also received support, while the Attorney General flagged a possible single-subject issue and the Tax Department estimated a potential $1.1 million revenue impact. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including deletion of the challenged language, technical fixes, and noting the revenue estimate; that recommendation was adopted. The committee then moved through additional measures with mostly supportive testimony. SB 1421 on medical records prompted questions about what happens when a solo practitioner dies or closes practice, and the discussion centered on ensuring patients can obtain records, including a proposed amendment requiring a successor provider to send records to the patient’s last known address. SB 1422, dealing with a special fund and vital statistics funding, was supported by the Department of Health, which said the special fund did not meet criteria and that deposits should instead go to the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. SB 1423 on certificate of need exemptions for Department of Health facilities drew support, with discussion of possibly extending exemptions to dialysis and behavioral health/psychiatric services; the Department indicated it would not oppose that change. SB 1424 on credentialing of health care providers also received support, and SB 1425 on the State Emergency Medical Services Committee focused on reducing quorum requirements because many members are active first responders and cannot always attend meetings. The committee also heard support for SB 1426 on emergency medical services, SB 1431 on viral hepatitis, and SB 1433 on harm reduction, with testimony on hepatitis outreach funding and syringe access best practices; for SB 1433, the Department of Health identified a blank in the bill and recommended a six-month period for the syringe-possession exception.