Video & Transcript Research : 'Mantokuji Bay'

Page 1 of 143
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bay works as one system: waves, sand movement, and sea level rise.
  • </c><00:56:34.480><c> The</c><00:56:34.600><c> bay</c> and it's going to keep changing.
  • The bay and it's going to keep changing.
  • The bay works<00:56:35.200><c> as</c><00:56:35.560><c> one</c><00:56:35.880><c> system,</c><00:56:36.560
  • argue that nature-based is nature-inspired, so building an artificial rocky headland that imitates the bay
Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard testimony on SB 5253 SD2 relating to conservation and SB 2401 relating to regional shoreline mitigation district, with the chair emphasizing short testimony limits and the need to finish before session. On SB 5253, DLNR said it stood on its written testimony and answered questions about the bill’s proposed nonprofit endangered species sanctuary. Members asked whether existing entities or agreements, such as land trusts, private landowners, and DLNR safe harbor agreements, could accomplish similar conservation goals without creating a new entity. DLNR said similar work already exists, but it was not aware of a comparable sanctuary model in the state. A member also questioned language suggesting for-profit businesses in the sanctuary, and DLNR said the intent appeared to be sales of outreach or similar materials, though it agreed that such activities could be handled by a nonprofit. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2401, which would create a regional shoreline adaptation/mitigation framework. The Department of the Attorney General said it had concerns about inconsistent use of the terms “mitigation” and “adaptation,” warning of possible title-subject issues. DLNR said it was neutral on the terminology and more concerned with the substance, and noted that the bill would not waive permits; any plan would still require environmental review and applicable state and county permits. DLNR also supported OHA’s recommendation to consider impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices during regional planning, and said the bill’s language on temporary shoreline protection measures could help address the gap between emergency permits and longer-term planning while avoiding a hardening-only approach. The Office of Planning supported the regional planning concept but noted it is not a regulatory agency and would need to work with DLNR and the Land Board. OHA supported the bill’s planning-based approach but recommended amendments to require assessment of impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices during plan development and to clarify that environmental review would still apply at the project level. Testifiers from the Ka‘anapali Steering Committee strongly supported the bill, saying it would provide a regional framework for ongoing erosion problems while preserving full regulatory authority and normal permitting, and they proposed amendments to standardize terminology, create a limited pathway for temporary shoreline protection, and address ownership and maintenance responsibilities. Members discussed the meaning of “mitigation” versus “adaptation,” the scope of shoreline hardening, and whether the bill would help the legislature take a broader, more holistic view of shoreline decisions. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Feb 5, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • I wanted to point out that we do recognize the emergency at Montuji Bay and do work regularly with the
  • </c><00:32:33.760><c> My</c> restore and protect our Mukuchi Bay.
  • My restore and protect our Mukuchi Bay.
  • The ocean does not care about property lines, and the bay is a single natural ecosystem.
  • The bay is a single natural ecosystem connecting all of them, and it must be protected as a whole.
Summary: The committee first heard HB 1527 relating to gambling. The chair outlined hearing rules, including a two-minute limit and a warning that bills not heard would die. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from a prosecutor, Honolulu Police Department, and Stop Predatory Gambling, all arguing that casinos and sports betting increase crime, sex trafficking, harassment of athletes, and broader social harm. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee moved on without questions or action taken on the bill. The committee then heard HB 1823 relating to coastal zone management and HB 2490 relating to coastal resilience. For HB 1823, DLNR, the Office of Planning, and Maui County testified, with Maui County supporting the measure and its proposed amendments. For HB 2490, DLNR expressed concern about exempting a proposed Mokuji Bay pilot project from permits and regulation before a long-term plan is finalized, while the County of Maui, the Mokuji Soto Zen Mission, and the Office of Planning supported the bill as a coastal resilience pilot. The mission described severe erosion, sea-level rise impacts, and years of unsuccessful efforts to stabilize the shoreline; its consultant said the study is leaning toward nature-based and hybrid solutions. In questioning, members and DLNR discussed whether the bill should say the project “shall” or “may” be exempt, and the chair indicated the language would be adjusted to preserve DLNR discretion and to change the lead agency reference to OPSD. No vote was taken in the transcript. Finally, the committee took up HB 2223 relating to historic preservation reviews. SHPD said it stood on its written comments, while OPSD and DHHL supported the bill. DHHL argued the measure would streamline reviews, improve transparency, and help address long wait times for its projects, saying it could alleviate burden on SHPD and better serve beneficiaries. Representative Shimizu questioned whether the bill would create redundancy and expand government rather than strengthen SHPD, noting a separate staffing bill already exists. SHPD responded that DHHL is uniquely subject to 6E review and that the bill would not waive federal or state historic review requirements; the discussion also touched on possible federal-style grant support and the existing memorandum of agreement between SHPD and DHHL. The transcript ends during questioning, with no final committee action shown.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session 02-25-2026 11:30am

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Charlene Abu Yo, Sunshine Garampill, Angel Novo, and Alec Bay Oiro.
  • Angel<00:03:09.599><c> Novo</c><00:03:10.400><c> and</c><00:03:10.720><c> Alec</c><00:03:11.200><c> Bay
  • </c><00:03:12.480><c> These</c> Angel Novo and Alec Bay Oiro. These Angel Novo and Alec Bay Oiro.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Administration Apr 22nd, 2025

Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Inshore and bay areas like Redfish Bay and Corpus Christi Bay are rich with redfish, speckled trout,
Bills: SCR4, SCR18, SCR31, SCR43, SCR46
Summary: The Senate Committee on Administration met with a quorum and heard several Senate Concurrent Resolutions recognizing Texas places and traditions. SCR 46, by Senator Sparks, proposed renaming the New York strip steak as the Texas strip steak to honor Texas cattle production and the state’s beef industry. No public testimony was offered, and the committee voted 4 ayes and 1 present not voting to report it favorably to the full Senate. The committee also heard SCR 18, by Senator Parker, designating Trophy Club as a symbol of Texas patriotism, SCR 4, by Senator Eckhardt, naming Pflugerville the Trail Capital of Texas, and SCR 43, by Senator Hinojosa, designating Port Aransas as the official fishing capital of Texas for 10 years. Each resolution received no public testimony, was reported favorably by unanimous or near-unanimous committee vote, and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar for April 24, 2025. Afterward, the committee reviewed the April 24 local and uncontested calendar, noting several bills removed because of penalties, fiscal notes, or significant opposition, with SB 1727 specifically raised by a member. The committee then certified the April 24, 2025 list by a 6-0 vote and recessed. SCR 31 was left pending.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Fri Feb 13, 2026 @ 8:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • erosion collected data on the shoreline erosion at<00:32:51.360><c> Montukuchi</c><00:32:52.080><c> Bay
  • They have completed at Montukuchi Bay.
  • , but also to and protect our Mokuchi Bay, but also to serve<00:34:03.200><c> as</c><00:34:03.440><c>
  • This bill protects the Montto Cooji Bay by creating a 5-year coastal resilience pilot.
  • Bay by creating a 5-year coastal resilience<01:33:22.639><c> pilot.
Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • and Lavaca Bay, ensuring full jurisdictional clarity.
  • I'm the officer of the Matagorda Bay Pilots Association.
  • It's a 23-mile-long ship channel that spans through Matagorda and Lavaca Bays.
  • This legislation proposes essential updates to the Matagorda Bay Pilot Association.
  • I've got Stargate registered as Brenton Allison, here testifying on behalf of Matagorda Bay Pilots in
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Apr 7th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Water simply flowed through the drainage system into the bays and estuaries of the Gulf moving forward
  • One other aspect that's important is that we do want inflows into the bays and estuaries, but having
  • so being able to control those flows and potentially also release water could be beneficial to the bays
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Apr 7th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Historically, these waters simply flowed through the drainage system into the bays and estuaries of the
  • Historically, these waters simply flowed through the drainage system into the bays and estuaries of the
  • One other aspect that's important is we do want inflows into the bays and estuaries, but having flows
  • So being able to control those flows and potentially also release water could be beneficial to the bays
  • We do want inflows into the bays and estuaries, but having flows in a floodwater situation that could
Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs heard several water-related bills, with testimony focused on drinking water quality, groundwater contamination notice, flood infrastructure funding, water rights conservation, and utility service areas. SB 1662 would limit TCEQ’s advance notice to public water systems to no more than 24 hours before testing after a consumer complaint, to reduce the chance of temporary treatment affecting results. SB 1663 would allow TCEQ to notify private well owners, groundwater conservation districts, and nearby residents by direct means about known groundwater contamination, rather than relying mainly on first-class mail and annual reporting. SB 2124 would move the deadline for publishing the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee’s annual report from April 1 to June 1. Witnesses on the first two bills described long-running water quality problems and delayed notice in their communities and supported the measures. No opposition was recorded, and each bill was left pending for a later vote. The committee also heard SB 1967, which would expand eligibility for Flood Infrastructure Fund financing to multipurpose projects that both reduce flooding and create water supply. Senator Hinojosa and Hidalgo County representatives described the Delta Reclamation Project as a shovel-ready example that would capture flood and drainage water, treat it, and produce new potable supply while also providing detention and flood mitigation. A Sierra Club witness also supported the bill, saying such projects could help manage floodwaters and reduce polluted discharges to bays and estuaries. The bill was left pending. A lengthy and divided discussion followed on SB 1413, which would expand the streamlined expedited release process for landowners seeking removal from a water or sewer CCN in additional counties. Senator Nichols said the bill was a property-rights measure aimed at legacy monopolies and bad actors who use CCNs to hold landowners hostage, while supporters described cases where developers could not get timely service, including fire flow, or were asked to fund infrastructure without reasonable recoupment. Opponents from rural water corporations and utility associations argued the bill would undermine investment in water infrastructure, strand debt, and weaken the return on planned expansion. PUC and TCEQ resource witnesses explained that compensation is handled case by case through appraisal and can include stranded costs, planning, design, construction, and some legal fees, but members noted the statute is unclear and discussed possible committee substitute language. Public testimony was closed with the bill left pending. Later, SB 1624 would allow the Texas Water Trust within the Texas Water Bank to hold donated water rights for conservation purposes and protect them from use-it-or-lose-it cancellation, and SB 863 would address Edwards Aquifer utilities that straddle the aquifer boundary by allowing them to continue using Edwards water within their certificated areas under specified conditions. Both bills were laid out, received no public opposition in the hearing, and were left pending.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

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

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • Who was... >> Bernie Bay.
  • Um, in terms of Kahana Bay process.
  • No. 2361 relating to Kaneohe Bay.
  • No. 2361 relating to Kaneohe Bay.
  • No. 2361 relating to Kaneohe Bay.
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

Cap Committee Meeting - 2025-04-24

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • House File 2802 for Tonka Bay. Thank you, Madam Chair, and Chair Lee for hearing House File 2802.
  • This is actually for my community, Tonka Bay.
  • I am the Mayor of Tonka Bay.
  • Madam Chair and members, thank you for taking the time today to listen to the needs of Tonka Bay.