WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

House Bill 2737 concerns commercial shellfish fees under the Department of Health's Shellfish Regulatory
Shellfish are delicious, and I eat shellfish, but they are also a potentially hazardous food.
We advocate on behalf of the commercial shellfish industry and have for almost a hundred years, representing
We are the nation's leading producer of farmed shellfish.
, and recreational harvest, they've never pursued full cost because they know that the commercial shellfish

Bills: SB5919, SB5816, SJM8015, HB2737

Keywords: fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, shellfish fees, Department of Health, biotoxin testing, export certificate

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard several public hearings on bills and a joint memorial. SB 5838 would add tribal representation to the Board of Natural Resources; the staff explained the bill would add two tribal members, one from each side of the Cascades, and the sponsor said it would strengthen stewardship and partnership without changing government-to-government consultation. Tribal leaders from the Colville, Yakama, and Quinault nations and DNR supported the bill, while county representatives and a policy group raised concerns about fiduciary duties to trust beneficiaries, lack of consultation with counties, and possible changes to board decision-making. Public testimony on the bill was mixed, with the sign-in record showing more support than opposition. SB 5816 would add juice grapes to the state Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act, allowing juice grape producers to use the same negotiated marketing framework already available to pear, sweet corn, and potato growers. The sponsor said the bill would help juice grape growers get fairer prices from processors, and there was little discussion beyond that. SJM 8015 urged Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies have enough capacity to protect communities, watersheds, and firefighter safety during the federal consolidation of wildland fire programs. The sponsor and multiple testifiers from conservation, industry, labor, and fire-related groups supported the memorial, emphasizing wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the need for strong federal-state coordination. The committee also heard HB 2737, which would cap shellfish regulatory fees, exempt the program from full fee-supported status, and make the caps retroactive. The sponsor and shellfish growers said Department of Health fee increases were too steep and could force small businesses out, while DOH explained it was required to move toward full cost recovery absent legislative general-fund support and that the program’s public-health role justified the fees. The agency said it had reopened rulemaking to reconsider fee categories, and growers described large projected increases that would threaten family businesses. The chair noted HB 2737 could not advance because policy cutoff had passed, but the hearing was held for public discussion. The committee also briefly heard SB 5919, which would encourage voluntary wildfire-mitigation incentives between fire districts and insurers; the sponsor said it would help rural landowners and fire districts work together, and the bill was described as optional and additive. No votes were taken on the bills in this transcript, and the chair announced the committee would adjourn after reminding members to work on possible amendments before the executive session next week.

TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 31st, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

This is the bird flu that's been ravaging commercial poultry flocks around the country.
A special thank you to Senator Kolkhorst for shedding light on this urban commercial composting as it
It was never intended for commercial use; it never has been.
Universities need businesses and vice versa for commercialization.

Bills: SB34, SB119, SB261, SB532, SB1035, SB1245, SB1247, SB1267, SB1442, SB1930, SB1948, SB2078, SB2112, SB2143, SB2155

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/09/2026 - Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Military Affairs and Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

Then my children saw those same commercials.
commercial situation. ...but it’s just a little niche in the law that needs amended.
So in the area, it’s really only commercial and industrial.
This carries that out, where it's only going to be allowed in commercial, industrial areas.
Prior to commercial driver's licenses, it was per state that you were resident in.

Bills: SB1232, SB1421, SB1505, SB1511, SB1520, SB1803

Keywords: outdoor advertising, military compatibility, zoning, electronic signage, permitting, undocumented immigrants, financial services, identification requirements, loans, foreign remittances, transitional housing, military, veterans, grant program, supportive services, SB1511, commercial driver license, CDL, nondomiciled CDL, nondomiciled commercial driver license

WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, February 10, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

Uh Lieutenant Kyle McCay with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, commercial carrier supervisor. >> Perfect.
/c><00:02:38.959><c> Patrol</c> with the Wyoming Highway Patrol with the Wyoming Highway Patrol commercial
</c> commercial carrier supervisor. commercial carrier supervisor.
Holly, “Don’t you have to be proficient in the English language to even get a commercial driver’s license

Bills: HB0032

Keywords: English proficiency, commercial drivers, vehicle operation, traffic safety, penalties, 916, all

WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, February 10, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Bills: HB0032

Keywords: English proficiency, commercial drivers, vehicle operation, traffic safety, penalties, 916, all

AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Children and Youth Health Committee Jan 28th, 2026

Children and Youth Health

Bills: HB161

Keywords: building codes, standardization, commercial construction, architectural services, energy conservation, federal compliance, local governance, 923, senate, all

MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Financial Services Feb 24th, 2026

Joint Committee on Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

two other bills were also on the docket: H. 4914, an act relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial
Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code and Senate Bill 2921 by Senator Payano, an act relative to travel

Bills: H5112, S2921, H4914

Keywords: genetic discrimination, genetic testing, genetic information, DNA, hereditary risk, insurance underwriting, life insurance, health insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, medical privacy, consumer protection, anti-discrimination, insurer regulation, Commissioner of Insurance, chapter 176D, underwriting, hereditary disease, genomics, travel insurance

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing because the State House was closed due to a state of emergency and the prior day’s blizzard. Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Representative James Murphy explained the decision to proceed virtually so the committee could meet bill-reporting deadlines, and they thanked first responders, DPW crews, plow operators, health care workers, and legislative staff for their efforts during the storm. Most of the testimony focused on H.5112, an act prohibiting genetic discrimination. Representative Dave Rogers and his constituent Robin Biggs testified in support, describing how federal law protects against genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment but not in life, long-term care, or disability insurance. Biggs shared her personal experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier who was advised to secure life insurance before genetic testing, and she said the bill would let people seek testing and preventive care without fear of financial punishment. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association and Lisa Schlager of FORCE also supported the bill, arguing that genetic testing helps people make informed medical decisions, participate in research, and pursue early intervention, while current insurance practices can discourage testing and lead to unfair underwriting based on genetic risk rather than actual illness. Committee members asked questions about whether insurers routinely ask about genetic testing and whether such information is already used in underwriting. The witness from the ALS Association said insurers commonly request this information and that the bill would bar its use in underwriting decisions. Representative Kerans asked Biggs about the cost of her screenings, and Biggs said some expensive tests still generate significant out-of-pocket bills. No votes were taken. In addition to H.5112, the chairs noted two other bills on the docket: H.4914, an act relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, and S.2921, an act relative to travel insurance. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs thanked staff for making the hearing possible on short notice and adjourned the meeting by unanimous voice vote.

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EEP-WAL Joint Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 8:45 AM HST

Energy & Environmental Protection

Transcript Highlights:

</c> targeted practices of the commercial targeted practices of the commercial aquarium<00:19:16.240>
<00:24:04.400><c> bann</c> commercial chrome collections bann commercial chrome collections bann hopefully
</c> fishes that are taken by commercial fishes that are taken by commercial people<00:25:40.159><c>
And the subsistence and commercial.
</c> following the rules in a commercial following the rules in a commercial fishery fishery fishery

Bills: HB2101

Keywords: aquatic life, commercial aquarium purposes, Hawaii, environmental protection, sustainability, Native Hawaiian values, marine resources, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water and Land heard testimony on House Bill 21101, which would ban or otherwise end commercial aquarium collection. Chairs opened the hearing with a short time limit for testimony and noted they would move to decision-making before the next committee meeting. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it appreciated the bill’s intent and stood on written testimony, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported the measure as part of its legislative package, citing community calls to ban the practice. Many other organizations and individuals also testified in support, including environmental, Native Hawaiian, and community groups, with arguments focused on reef protection, public trust, cultural concerns, and the view that the trade is extractive and not sustainable. Supporters repeatedly cited declines in yellow tang and other reef fish, especially on West Hawaii and Oahu, and argued that reef recovery has not occurred where collection pressure existed. Several testified that legal aquarium collection has not occurred in West Hawaii since 2017 or on Oahu since 2021, and that the state should not reopen an industry that has been effectively shut down for years. Others said the program is fiscally inefficient because permits generate little revenue compared with the cost of administering and enforcing the program, and that aquaculture or other alternatives could provide jobs without removing wild fish. Native Hawaiian speakers and civic club representatives emphasized traditional and customary practices, community stewardship, and the need to protect resources for future generations. Opposition testimony came from aquarium fishers and related advocates who argued the fishery has been shown sustainable, that the EIS process was completed, and that the bill would unfairly target one user group over another. They said the trade provides livelihoods for local families, that management is solid, and that the legislature should not ban a fishery after requiring compliance with environmental review. Some opponents also argued that fish populations have increased in recent years and that the issue reflects broader user conflict rather than science. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair continued taking testimony, including on Zoom, as time allowed.

HI