Transcript Highlights:

• This bill adds federally recognized Indian tribes to the conservation futures program.
• In brief background, the conservation futures program authorizes counties to levy a property tax up to
• They've used their conservation futures funds to preserve farmland.
• they were unable to access county conservation futures dollars from St.
• So each county is different in how they implement their conservation futures program.

Bills: SB5838, SB5960, SB6097

Keywords: tribal representation, natural resources, board of natural resources, environmental policy, community involvement, ungulate populations, wildlife management, habitat restoration, conservation, sustainability, Indian tribes, conservation futures program, federal recognition, environmental protection, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the bill, the Habitat Conservation Account must be available for grants to landowners when the cost
• Senate Bill 6097 adds tribal members to the Conservation Futures Program.
• Under the Conservation Futures Program, counties levy a property tax of up to $6.5 per $1,000 of assessed
• Federally recognized Indian tribes are added as an entity that may participate in this program.
• Account. ...use of real property come from the Habitat Conservation Account.

Bills: SB5816, SB5838, SB5930, SB5960, SB5971, SB6075, SB6097, SB6104, SB6216, SB6233, SB6318, SJM8015

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, tribal representation, natural resources, board of natural resources, environmental policy, community involvement, irrigation districts, director contracts, beneficial interests, transparency, governance, ungulate populations, wildlife management, habitat restoration, conservation, sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 78, Forest Health Grant Program.
• Is that is there I into this program."
• </c><00:21:30.799><c> and</c> fact that it's a cost share program and fact that it's a cost share program
• of Conservation Districts.
• conservation multiple entities um and conservation districts<00:49:58.160><c> are</c><00:49:58.319><

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there is I'm worried about in the future there is I'm worried about in the future how<00:35:52.560
• </c><00:43:17.839><c> are</c> people who run the SRF programs are people who run the SRF programs are
• </c> been experiencing in the rehab program been experiencing in the rehab program is<00:52:27.760><c
• </c> River benefiting uh groundbased program. River benefiting uh groundbased program.
• </c> development commission program development commission program &gt;&gt; followup &gt;&gt; followup

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• already, so it sounds like Texas is already pretty much there in being able to fully implement the program

Bills: HB3484, HCR112, HCR125

Keywords: border municipalities, agreements, funding eligibility, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, REAL ID, travel document, border crossing, Texas, U.S. citizens, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, defense innovation, national security, U.S. Army Futures Command, military technology, economic growth, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the SRF program can do 0%.
• I'm also here representing Nature Conservancy. I'm on the Wyoming Board of Nature Conservancy.
• Um we started Nature Conservancy.
• </c> program kind of started in the state. program kind of started in the state.
• </c> wildly successful program. wildly successful program. uh<00:53:35.920><c> not</c><00:53:36.240><

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I'll have the health grant program.
• Even though the title is grant program, this is a cost share program.
• The title is grant program, but this is a cost share program.
• </c><00:49:09.760><c> Districts,</c> Association of Conservation Districts, Association of Conservation
• </c> get this program up and up and running. get this program up and up and running.

Bills: HB0078, HB0087, SF0070, SF0068, SF0017, SF0043

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Ocean Conservancy, Ana Brandon Okay.
• ,</c> tax to this particular critical program, tax to this particular critical program, it<00:34:01.440
• Um, I service of the hydrogen program.
• So um that's been roughly program.
• We will blank out system rebate program.

Bills: HB644, HB1802, HB1569, HB1619, HB1620, HB1730, HB1749

Keywords: PFAS, single-use plastics, environmental health, food ware, pollution reduction, HB1802, conservation banking, conservation bank, mitigation banking, compensatory mitigation, incidental take permit, incidental take license, habitat conservation plan, HCP, DLNR, BLNR, Board of Land and Natural Resources, endangered species recovery committee, threatened species, endangered species

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and energy bills, beginning with HB 644 on single-use plastics. DLNR and DOH supported the measure, and environmental advocates said it would reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills. Testifiers urged the bill to avoid weakening existing county ordinances, and some supported delaying implementation to use up inventory, while Upstream opposed compostable-plastic exemptions and urged prompt passage. Committee members asked whether reusable and refillable foodware could be added to the PFAS prohibition, and Upstream said that would be consistent with the bill’s goals. The committee then took up HB 1802 on conservation mitigation banks, HB 1569 on microfiber filters for newly manufactured washing machines, and HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure. HB 1802 drew mostly agency testimony from DLNR, with opposition testimony noted from environmental groups, and members discussed whether suggested amendments would address concerns. HB 1569 received limited testimony, with support from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and opposition from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. HB 1619 was supported by the PUC, Hawaiian Electric, the Department of Transportation, and several advocacy groups; Earthjustice said the bill was needed to address a widening EV charging shortfall and described the funding increase as relatively small compared with the benefits. The committee also heard HB 1620, which would increase the barrel tax to fund the EV charging rebate program. The State Energy Office and PUC offered comments, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special-fund approach and said the bill should also address the non-petroleum fossil-fuel portion of the barrel tax. Earthjustice and youth transportation advocates supported the measure, and the chair asked for information on unused hydrogen fueling subaccount funds; PUC said no hydrogen program funds had been deployed and estimated the balance was likely around $2 million, with exact figures to be provided later. Finally, the committee heard HB 1730 on wastewater systems, which would create a wastewater technical advisory group and fund positions at DOH. DLNR, DOH, OPSD, UH, and several environmental groups supported the bill, emphasizing cesspool pollution, affordability, and the need for more staffing and technical assistance. Testifiers suggested amendments to create a separate cesspool conversion implementation working group and debated the size and composition of the advisory group, including whether to include outside engineers and whether SHIP should be on the panel. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• First one that we got, uh, we'll work on today is Senate File 84, Voluntary Water Conservation Program
• The third is to participate in an Upper Basin conservation program.
• And really [clears throat] for the purpose of providing notice of the program and conservation project
• than what like a lot of these conservation programs have pushed pivots and alternative irrigation and
• programs have pushed these conservation programs have pushed pivots<01:10:05.520><c> and</c><01:10:06.000

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Transcript Highlights:

• programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its legion of technical assistance
• programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its legion of technical assistance
• The conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its legion of
• . program. program.
• >> Members questions. >> So, so what are conservation agriculture and soil health incentive programs?

Bills: SB874, SB2097, SB2098, SB2126, SB2154, SB2153, SB2160, SB2123, SB2110

Keywords: veterinary medicine, prescription, consumer rights, transparency, pet medication, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, food system resilience, grant program, Hawaii agriculture, agriculture, clean plant program, disease-free plants, plant propagation, small farms, midsize farms, sustainable farming, Hawaii, data analysis, market study

Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Bills: HB1601, HB1616, HB1603, HB1604, HB1605, HB1606, HB1802, HB1569, HB1619, HB1730, HB1749, HB644, HB1620

Keywords: biosecurity, invasive species, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, appropriation, agriculture, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, land leases, Hawaii, extension, Department of Agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, expanding the Terry North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act to a statewide program.
• What Proof or what has been done with the pilot program?
• I'm gonna—I'm in a debate for The bill, this program is great.
• This is just tweaking what we did on prescribed burns after running the program for a few years.
• If we have other areas that would also or could also be considered in the future as a study zone for

Bills: HB3406, HB2975, HB3977, HB3263, HB2988, HB3404, HB1770

Keywords: agriculture, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, HB3977, State Veterinarian, Oklahoma veterinary license, food animal veterinary practice, livestock, animal health, State Board of Agriculture, veterinary qualifications, appointed office

Transcript Highlights:

• thinking... ...down the road on their behalf to ensure that they have protections in any sort of future
• additionally expanding the Terry Peach's North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act to a statewide program
• What proof or what has been done with the pilot program?
• This program is great. We have an epidemic in Oklahoma, an epidemic of red cedars.
• This is just tweaking what we did on prescribed burns after running the program for a few years.

Bills: HB3406, HB2975, HB3977, HB3263, HB2988, HB3404, HB1770

Keywords: agriculture, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, HB3977, State Veterinarian, Oklahoma veterinary license, food animal veterinary practice, livestock, animal health, State Board of Agriculture, veterinary qualifications, appointed office

Summary: The Agriculture Committee heard and advanced a series of bills focused on burn bans, poultry waste regulation, veterinary qualifications, wildlife, and land management. House Bill 3406, presented by Senator Hines, would make burn bans easier to declare when conditions warrant, require earlier review so bans do not linger unnecessarily, remove certain local fire departments from the decision process, and preserve a prescribed-burn exemption for farmers. After questions about the shortened ban period and the removal of local fire departments, the bill passed 12-0. House Bill 2975, presented by Senator Woods, was amended to restore contact information for poultry litter haulers and to streamline nutrient management plan amendments for poultry waste that is moved off-site and land-applied. Department of Agriculture testimony said the change would reduce duplication for producers who both export and land-apply litter while maintaining tracking of waste management. The bill passed 11-2. House Bill 3977, also by Senator Woods, would add food-animal and veterinary practice experience to the qualifications for the state veterinarian; members discussed whether wildlife experience should also be considered, but the bill passed unanimously 13-0. The committee also passed House Bill 3263, designating the morel mushroom as the state mushroom in honor of David Beyer, and House Bill 2988, which expands harmful woody species to include redberry juniper, ash juniper, and honey mesquite and broadens the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act statewide. Members emphasized the impact of red cedars on water use and wildfire risk. House Bill 3404, a follow-up measure on prescribed burns, passed 12-0, and House Bill 1770, directing OSU and its veterinary college to conduct elk population studies in northwest Oklahoma, passed 10-2 after questions about cost and the role of Wildlife Department studies. The chair then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, members, next we're going to move House File 1469 to be laid over for future consideration.
• </c> them coming to work for better Futures them coming to work for better Futures Minnesota<01:41:07.480
• </c><01:43:10.159><c> in</c> Jones and I came to better future in Jones and I came to better future in
• Since I've been with Better Futures, I have not been back to prison.
• This is what I love about Better Futures, and I really thank Better Futures at that time for giving me

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Bills: HB1480, HB1781, HB1905, HB2018, HB2842

Keywords: library grants, construction, public libraries, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, community resources, livestock, rodeo, grant program, agricultural education, county fairs, funding, economic development, prescribed burn, Texas A&M Forest Service, Parks and Wildlife Department, fire safety, environmental management, agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection

Bills: SF0069, SF0084, SF0050, SF0109, HB0069, HB0098

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls

Transcript Highlights:

• when we identified the property and met with the Department of Health to inquire if there were any future
• plans, they indicated that this wouldn't impose upon any future plans that they have.
• when we identified the property and met with the Department of Health to inquire if there were any future
• plans, they indicated that this wouldn't impose upon any future plans that they have.
• We'll I'll be able to plan for the<00:14:13.519><c> future</c> the future the future and<00:14:16.000

Bills: SF0069, SF0084, SF0050, SF0109, HB0069, HB0098

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls