Video & Transcript Research : 'Department of Natural Resources'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • That money is appropriated from the legislature directly to the Department of Natural Resources to operate
  • That money is appropriated from the legislature directly to the Department of Natural Resources to operate
  • We do this work with help from the Department of Natural Resources grant unit.
  • ><c> Natural</c><00:13:22.720><c> Resources</c> the Department of Natural Resources the Department of
  • We are not going of natural resources.
Bills: HF3426, HF3428
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Fri Jan 30, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next we have Patrick Chi, Department of Land and Natural Resources in support. Yes.
  • of Land and Natural Resources until 2030.
  • /c><00:05:50.160><c> Resources</c> Department of Land and Natural Resources Department of Land and Natural
  • of department of under the management of department of agriculture<00:46:00.319><c> you</c><00:46:00.480
  • Our concern is that as more and more resources move from the Department of Agriculture into the orbit
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EDU-WLA, EDU Public Hearings 02-13-2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> of um, entry and MOA with the Department of um, entry and MOA with the Department of<00:04:57.120
  • >> Department of Education.
  • , testify on behalf of the Department of Education.
  • The department Department of Education.
  • The department Department of Education.
Bills: SB2613, SB2147
Summary: The committee heard SB 2613, a cleanup bill relating to public school land transfers under Act 307 (2022), which revises tax map key references and the conveyance process for properties transferred to the Department of Education. The Hawaii State Public Library System supported the measure, saying it would complete the long-unfinished separation of the library system from DOE property control and make future building projects more efficient and cost-effective. DOE also supported the bill and requested an amendment to remove TMK 43-62 parcel 10, the Wilcox Elementary School parcel, so that it could instead be transferred to the county for use with the adjacent park and tennis courts. Members focused heavily on why land transfers and construction approvals have been slow, especially the need for right-of-entry documents and an MOA for a library construction project. Library and DOE witnesses said the delays stemmed from site-control issues and confusion over property status, and that the bill would clarify which parcels are transferred by operation of law and remove the need for additional transactional documents in many cases. Several members questioned whether the bill actually changes authority or simply clarifies existing practice, and DOE said it wanted legislative clarity so the transfers are unmistakably effective on a date certain. The committee also discussed a separate section of the bill dealing with public use of school facilities after hours, including parking fees on property under DOE jurisdiction. DOE explained that any parking charges would apply only to property it controls, not county roads, and that fees are set through existing facility-use procedures. Members raised concerns about the pace of land transfers generally and urged DOE to move more expeditiously on pending parcels. The hearing then moved on to SB 2147, which would designate the first Friday in February as Love My Library Day; the library system testified in support as the committee began that measure.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources May 27th, 2026

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
  • It adds that we're urging and requesting the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Federal
  • I think the department is doing a great job with the resources they've got with herbicide application
  • So I'm just looking for ways to provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to...
  • Provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to address this problem with invasive
Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on March 27 with a quorum present, approved prior minutes, and then took up several resolutions and one bill related to wildlife, water resources, and conservation. H.C.R. 79, as amended, urged the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work together to allow the use of dogs for hunting in Kisatchie National Forest; supporters described it as a traditional hunting practice that has been restricted for years and could benefit local hunters and businesses. H.C.R. 104, as amended, asked the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study and modernize the collection, retention, and access to subsurface data, with members emphasizing the need to avoid sharing company-specific information. H.C.R. 87 was reported favorably to support correspondence from U.S. Sen. Kennedy regarding duck flyway management, H.C.R. 54 was reported favorably to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl and restore an enforcement mechanism related to hunting over intentionally flooded crops, and H.C.R. 94 was reported favorably to require annual boating safety reports to legislative committees. The committee then heard HB 1209, which would have paused new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals while allowing existing agreements to continue and be renewed through December 31, 2036. The author said the bill was intended to give the state time to develop a more comprehensive, data-driven surface water strategy and to address invasive species such as giant salvinia, which he said has severely affected waterways in his district. Members and witnesses acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, but there was concern that the bill was too complex to move quickly in the session. The committee discussed converting it into a study resolution instead, and the bill was deferred without objection. The meeting then adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • This authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate airport special districts within airports
  • This<00:02:06.360><c> authorizes</c><00:02:06.920><c> Department</c><00:02:07.240><c> of</c> This authorizes
  • Department of This authorizes Department of Transportation<00:02:07.880><c> to</c><00:02:07.960><c>
  • </c> control of the state or the county of control of the state or the county of Maui
  • </c> control of the state or the county of control of the state or the county of Maui.
Bills: HB2592
Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on several decision-making agendas and first considered HB 1696, which would lower the minimum age for commercial driving in-state from 19 to 18 and adjust qualifying criteria. The committee agreed to accept amendments, including changes suggested by the Operating Engineers Union, and voted unanimously to pass the bill with amendments. HB 2333, which would authorize airport special districts and increase penalties for certain aeronautics violations, was deferred after concerns were raised about treatment of people outside airport security perimeters. On the next agenda, the committee passed HB 1710 with technical amendments only. That bill would allow the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct phase reviews of certain private-property projects and revise concurrence deadlines. HB 1737, clarifying allowable agricultural district uses related to farm dwellings and farm employee housing, also passed with technical amendments only. HB 1823, dealing with coastal zone management and excluding certain state- or county-funded infrastructure projects in Lahaina from the definition of development, passed with amendments from the Attorney General’s office. The committee then took up HB 1897, an alternative dispute resolution measure for condominium-related disputes, including facilitated mediation, evaluative mediation, and binding arbitration. Despite noting broad opposition and a reservation from Senator Buenaventura, the committee adopted the measure and moved it forward as is. Finally, HB 2576, which streamlines background check requirements for health care facilities and workers, passed with amendments reflecting input from OHA, HAH, and DOH. The meeting concluded with notice of a later joint agenda and adjournment.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources May 27th, 2026

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
  • It adds that we're urging and requesting the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the Federal
  • Members, House Concurrent Resolution 94 by Representative Fontno urges and requests the Department of
  • I think the department is doing a great job with the resources they've got with herbicide application
  • So I'm just looking for ways to provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to address
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • [Music] I call the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee to order.
  • the</c><00:26:56.679><c> npca</c> the Department of Commerce and the npca the Department of Commerce
  • So the Department of Ag, for example, is getting $26 million for the upgrading of equipment for farmers
  • rid</c><00:59:01.680><c> of</c> Department of Education getting rid of Department of Education getting
  • </c> Department of Agriculture to start Department of Agriculture to start sending<01:18:40.239><c> out
Bills: HF276, HF413, HF411
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PBS Public Hearing - Wed Apr 15, 2026 @ 10:30 AM HST

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> list of resource resources. list of resource resources.
  • </c><00:17:46.520><c> of</c> and valuable to have the Department of and valuable to have the Department
  • </c><00:51:20.680><c> of</c> Director again, Department of Director again, Department of Corrections<
  • </c><00:51:27.280><c> of</c> Director of the Department of Director of the Department of Corrections<
  • </c> testimony already Department of Health. testimony already Department of Health.
Bills: SCR180
Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I call the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee together March 17th,
  • Additionally, some of them may be sold for less than market value or because of a combination of these
  • of approximately 6.2 acres of surplus of approximately 6.2 acres of surplus state<00:07:02.080><c> land
  • </c> out of committee. out of committee.
  • For the record, Bob Myers, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have the honor of serving as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
  • I have the honor of serving as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
  • While these administrative designations are important inside the Department of Natural Resources, in
  • ><c> natural</c> Setting the department of natural Setting the department of natural resources<00:36:
  • of Natural Resources.
Bills: HF624
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Under Minnesota law, companies are required to offer the Department of Natural Resources a portion of
  • </c><00:42:35.040><c> of</c> been the MPCA, Minnesota Department of been the MPCA, Minnesota Department
  • Uh, I'm not one of the hydrogeologists of the department.
  • Uh, I'm not one of the hydrogeologists of the department.
  • our natural resources that we have.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • trade secret nature of that particular chemical.
  • </c> specific trade secret nature of that specific trade secret nature of that particular<00:52:10.480
  • Minnesota Board of Water and Soil<01:13:00.560><c> Resources.
  • Irrigation also our natural resources.
  • of Natural Resources water permits will transfer when the land use remains the same.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/26

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I call this meeting of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee to order.
  • use the precious resource of fresh water.
  • use the precious resource of fresh water.
  • Natural Resources, Amazon's proposed facility in Becker could use as much as 1.8 billion gallons of
  • </c> of Natural Resources, Amazon's proposed of Natural Resources, Amazon's proposed facility<00:35:49.599
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2026-04-08

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> of</c> Management at the Department of Management at the Department of Administration.<00:26:54.880
  • Department of Agriculture.
  • </c><01:08:50.400><c> of</c> presentation from the Department of presentation from the Department of
  • </c> the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
  • </c><01:14:38.480><c> of</c> experts at places like Department of experts at places like Department of
Bills: HF2103, HF4508
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Tue Feb 3, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 8

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <c> House</c><00:17:17.600><c> of</c> to your House of House of to your House of House of Representatives
  • Merchants of Hawaii.
  • Of course.
  • All of them.
  • They also act as the liaison with the Department of Education.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> Department of Education in support. Department of Education in support.
  • The department department of education.
  • ><c> of</c><00:38:29.920><c> now</c> department of education as of now department of education as of
  • Um, maybe for Department of...
  • > Law</c> employee, uh, of the Department of Law employee, uh, of the Department of Law Enforcement<01
Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I steward um all of our resources.
  • department of egg in &gt;&gt; Okay next we have department of egg in person<01:01:55.359><c> comments
  • Um the department of the committee.
  • </c> this department of health here. this department of health here.
  • </c><01:46:07.199><c> of</c><01:46:07.440><c> health</c> the department of health the department of health
Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Feb 12, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will present it to our Board of Land and Natural Resources.
  • So board of land and natural resources.
  • ><c> and</c> knowledge of their natural resources and knowledge of their natural resources and cultural
  • </c> >> Aloha, Cara Kahane, Department of Land and Natural Resources.
  • He says it should go back that way, but commends the Department of Land and Natural Resources, especially
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1846, relating to shoreline mitigation districts. DLNR and the Office of Planning opposed the bill, arguing it would improperly shift regulatory roles between the agencies and prioritize private land interests over public trust and natural and historic resources. Supporters, including the Shoreline Preservation Coalition, Kahana Bay residents, and Hawaii Realtors, said regional planning is needed to address severe erosion, especially in Kahana, and that better coordination between state and county agencies could help move stalled projects forward. Testifiers emphasized that shoreline conditions vary by area and that science-based, region-specific solutions are needed. Members asked questions about whether existing law already allows regional planning and emergency shoreline responses. DLNR said it already has authority to process regional projects and cited an existing draft EIS for Kahana Bay that would proceed through normal permitting and public hearing channels. Supporters responded that the bill would provide a clearer regional planning framework and help communities facing urgent erosion impacts. No vote was taken on HB 1846 in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 2205, relating to emergency erosion mitigation. DLNR opposed the bill, saying it already has authority to issue emergency permits and had recently done so quickly for a collapsed sidewalk at Queen Surf Beach, and warning that the bill’s language could weaken Act 16 by changing a prohibition on shoreline hardening to a requirement to merely minimize it. Kahana Bay representatives and other supporters argued the bill would create a limited, regulated short-term pathway for emergency shoreline solutions while long-term plans are developed, and said current permits have expired or stalled, leaving dangerous sandbags and no practical relief. Additional testimony from a private homeowner stressed that erosion is threatening homes and that private owners are often bearing the cost of protecting public shoreline access. The discussion remained focused on balancing emergency protection, public access, and long-term shoreline management, and no final action was taken in the excerpt provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/26

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • of Natural Resources and the Capital Area Architecture and Planning Board and the Historical Society
  • </c><00:05:08.240><c> of</c><00:05:08.320><c> Natural</c> us as well as the Department of Natural us
  • as well as the Department of Natural Resources<00:05:09.960><c> and</c><00:05:10.120><c> the</c><00:05
  • </c><00:28:21.640><c> of</c> Commissioner with the Department of Commissioner with the Department of
  • c> of</c><01:05:02.600><c> Labor</c> MMB, uh of it with Department of Labor MMB, uh of it with Department