Transcript Highlights:

• help us target interventions to reduce hunger in Texas, thereby reducing utilization of our social safety

Bills: HB231

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• By allowing a permit exemption, the dam and surrounding natural infrastructure could be maintained more
• reservoir as needed for the limited purpose of using it to repair and maintain. or rehabilitate the dam
• We manage 23 dams, and right in the middle of our district is a small construction. project called the
• Samsung chip plant, and that's having a lot of impact on our dams.
• These are the sponsors of those NRCS-built dams.

Bills: SB243, SB1586, SB1891, SB1959, SB2159, SB2568

Keywords: migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing

Transcript Highlights:

• This means fixing broken seawalls, removing or upgrading outdated dams, and replacing culverts so they
• includes $764 million for DCR improvements to support core infrastructure like roads, bridges, and dams

Bills: S2542

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a hearing on S. 2542, the Mass Ready Act, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s environmental bond bill. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and other administration officials described the bill as a $3 billion package focused on climate resilience, including flood and coastal protection, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, open space and land conservation, park and parkway infrastructure, food security infrastructure, and a new resilience revolving fund for municipalities, water districts, tribes, and wastewater districts. Committee members asked about project useful life, permitting streamlining, combined sewer overflows, parkway funding, land acquisition, and how the revolving fund would be capitalized and administered. Officials said the fund would be run through the Clean Water Trust, use existing trust resources rather than new fees, and eventually support special obligation bonds once it has a track record; they also said the bill aims to speed approvals for salt marsh restoration and other nature-based projects. A number of witnesses urged the committee to strengthen the bill. Environmental and climate groups called for larger authorizations for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, the resilient coast plan, air quality monitoring, flood buyouts, and tree planting and urban forestry. Green Roots and Conservation Law Foundation emphasized outdoor and indoor air pollution in environmental justice communities and requested dedicated funding for monitoring and indoor air quality improvements. Boston Harbor Now and other coastal advocates supported permitting reforms and asked for more funding for coastal resilience and DCR maintenance. Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought management provisions and a statewide flood buyout program. Several witnesses also supported a water conservation and reuse commission to study gray water and rainwater reuse. Agricultural and food system witnesses backed the bill’s food security and farmland protection provisions, especially the food security infrastructure grant program, which they said is critical to farms, processors, and food access projects and should not lapse in fiscal 2027. Water utility advocates said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs, citing major long-term capital needs and PFAS compliance costs. They asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for utility upgrades and redundancy projects. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• The dam was not designed for flood control or built to modern standards, so breaching the dam creates
• The dam has a 50-year life. It's 58 years old.
• The dam is 58 years old and designated a high-hazard dam by DEP due to the threat its failure would pose
• They are sincerely concerned for their safety. ...a possible unexpected breach of the dam.
• As to the safety of the dam, it is well maintained by the state.

Bills: S0698, S0958, S1066, S1230, S1288

Keywords: onsite sewage treatment, disposal systems, building permits, environmental regulation, local government authority, drinking straws, stirrers, local regulation, compostable, environmental impact, Ocklawaha River, St. Johns River, Silver Springs, river restoration, dam removal, Kirkpatrick Dam, Buckman Lock, Cross Florida Barge Canal, environmental restoration, springs protection

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard and advanced several bills. SB 958, by Senator Bradley, would require local straw and stirrer ordinances to allow renewable, certified compostable, marine-biodegradable products; supporters said it would reduce reliance on paper straws that may contain PFAS and create more uniform standards. The bill was reported favorably after brief supportive testimony and no opposition. The committee also approved SB 1066, by Senator Broder, a major Ocklawaha/Rodman Dam restoration proposal. The bill would direct DEP to implement a phased restoration plan, create an advisory council with local and military representation, fund recreation and economic development projects, and address safety concerns tied to the dam’s age and high-hazard status. Supporters from conservation groups, river advocates, and some local residents praised the restoration and planning framework, while several Putnam County officials opposed the bill, arguing the reservoir supports recreation, water supply, and local interests. The committee adopted a late-filed amendment adding a Naval Air Station Jacksonville representative to the advisory council, then reported the committee substitute favorably. SB 698, by Senator Martin, was also reported favorably. It would let builders proceed with local building permits while septic permits are pending, rather than waiting for sequential approval, and includes a 120-day glide path related to new DEP rules; builders supported the bill as a way to reduce delays, while some senators questioned whether the transition period was too long. The committee then approved CS/SB 1230, by Senator Harrell, which phases out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, restricts non-emergency training use, requires inventory and disposal reporting, creates DEP rulemaking and a grant program, and exempts certain federal, military, and emergency uses. Finally, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1288, also by Senator Harrell, to designate a water body in the Jupiter Narrows area in honor of Andrew Red Harris, with a technical amendment clarifying the shoal designation. Several members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the system improving their fire safety the system improving their fire safety rating<00:59:04.920
• This was completed in 2016. dam was reconstructed in 2012 with $16 dam was reconstructed in 2012 with
• When you look at dam infrastructure throughout the state of Minnesota, dams both owned by the DNR as
• Within the dam safety fund that we might rise from the number where we're currently at and maybe get
• the dam?

Bills: HF343, HF446, HF448, HF674, HF811, HF832, HF1661, HF1528, HF1536, HF1541, HF1670, HF1438, HF1714, HF1748, HF1835, HF1904, HF1929, HF1942

Keywords: HF343, Chisago County, Shorewood Park Sanitary Sewer District, Rush Lake, sewer extension, wastewater infrastructure, sanitary sewer, treatment pond, sewage treatment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, local infrastructure, municipal utilities, water quality, sanitation, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, HF446

Transcript Highlights:

• Diverting water from a reservoir is needed for the purposes of repairing, maintaining, or rehabilitating dams
• on Environmental Quality has been very cooperative working with these districts to, one, enforce the Dam
• Safety Act to protect downstream landowners, their cattle, their property, uh, but also to assist us
• In this instance, it's dam and it's public health and safety flood control.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• After the dam, the economic boom changed.
• After the dam, the economic boom changed.
• You block it with a dam, it changes everything.
• dams across the state of Florida.
• One of them is the Burrell locking dam.

Bills: S0302, S0394, S0480, S0546, S0636, S0774, S0796, S1028, S1050, S1066, S1120, S1230, S1288, S1682

Keywords: cybersecurity, information technology, data management, local government compliance, cloud services, state agency oversight, integrated governance, conservation lands, land exchange, state-owned land, Acquisition and Restoration Council, Florida water management, environmental protection, beach management, beach erosion, beach nourishment, coastal resilience, shoreline protection, critical erosion, critically eroded beach

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS/SB 796, which would create Veterinary Professional Associates as a new supervised veterinary role, expand telehealth prescription timeframes, and set training and scope limits. Supporters said it would improve access to care, lower costs, and create a career path, while opponents argued the proposal lacked a clear regulatory framework, could create liability and federal-law conflicts, and would not address the real shortage in rural large-animal practice. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Members also heard and favorably reported SB 1682 on local authority over derelict and abandoned vessels, CS/SB 1028 on a commercial Citizens clearinghouse for property insurance, SB 394 on exempting certain reinsurance underwriting managers from licensing, SB 636 on beach management and erosion designations, CS/SB 546 on public notice for conservation land sales or exchanges, CS/SB 302 on Biscayne Bay nature-based solutions and related coastal resiliency provisions, SB 1050 on pharmacy choice for pet medications, and SB 774 extending workers’ compensation benefits to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental and nervous injuries. Testimony on these bills generally focused on access, regulatory clarity, environmental protection, or workforce support, with some concerns raised on insurance consumer protections and beach-management language. Senator Harrell’s bills were also taken up and reported favorably: CS/SB 480, a major overhaul of state IT governance creating DIGIT and new procurement, reporting, and workforce structures; CS/SB 1230, restricting PFAS-containing firefighting foam and adding testing, inventory, and disposal requirements; and CS/SB 1288, a naming bill designating the Andrew Red Harris Shoal and requiring markers. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on SB 1066 regarding restoration of the Oklawaha/Rodman system, with supporters emphasizing ecological restoration, flood-risk reduction, and economic benefits, and opponents warning about local impacts, water quality, and the loss of a world-class fishery. The transcript ends during testimony on that bill, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You block it with a dam, it changes everything.
• You block it with a dam, it changes everything.
• dams across the state of Florida.
• One of them is the Burrell locking dam.
• Do we have anybody advocating removing that dam?

Bills: S0302, S0394, S0480, S0546, S0636, S0774, S0796, S1028, S1050, S1066, S1120, S1230, S1288, S1682

Keywords: cybersecurity, information technology, data management, local government compliance, cloud services, state agency oversight, integrated governance, conservation lands, land exchange, state-owned land, Acquisition and Restoration Council, Florida water management, environmental protection, beach management, beach erosion, beach nourishment, coastal resilience, shoreline protection, critical erosion, critically eroded beach

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 796, which would create Veterinary Professional Associates to work under licensed veterinarians after completing a master’s program and national exam, with limits on prescribing and surgery and expanded telehealth prescription timeframes. Supporters said it would improve access to care, lower costs, and help veterinary practices, while opponents argued the training is too limited, the Board lacks a licensing framework, federal prescribing issues remain, and the bill would not address the real shortage in rural and large-animal care. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then approved several other measures, including SB 1682 on local authority over derelict and problem vessels, CS/SB 1028 to create a commercial Citizens clearinghouse for insurance takeouts, SB 394 on reinsurance underwriting manager licensing, SB 636 to expand pathways for beach erosion designations, CS/SB 546 to require 30-day public notice for conservation land sale or exchange meetings, CS/SB 302 on Biscayne Bay nature-based restoration and related permitting criteria, SB 1050 on pharmacy choice for veterinary prescriptions, and SB 774 extending workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony, though the insurance bill prompted concerns from the insurance commissioner about consumer protections, fees, and oversight, and the telecommunicator bill drew emotional testimony about job-related trauma and staffing. Senator Harrell’s CS/SB 480 on state IT governance was also reported favorably after a lengthy explanation of creating DIGIT, centralizing IT oversight, standardizing procurement, and addressing technical debt; members asked about cost, staffing, and agency compliance. The committee also approved CS/SB 1230 to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, require biosolid testing, and create transition grants, and CS/SB 1288 naming the Andrew Red Harris Shoal. Finally, the committee took up CS/SB 1066 on restoring natural flow to the Ocklawaha River and related tributaries, adopting an amendment to allow updated data in the restoration plan; the bill then received extensive testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing restoration, recreation, and economic benefits and opponents warning about dam safety, water quality, and costs. The transcript ends while public testimony on that bill is still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so you can see, first of all, that we have some safety improvements to the dam, but also the opportunity
• Rapids Dam and then the Lock and Dams in Minneapolis that are closed that are good Asian carp barriers
• </c><00:23:57.520><c> on</c><00:23:57.679><c> the</c> there are two uh dams on the there are two uh dams
• ><c> Minneapolis</c> then the Lockxton Dams in Minneapolis then the Lockxton Dams in Minneapolis that
• It's half of our safety, and we do.

Bills: HF333, HF2712, HF1064, HF1069, HF1113, HF2207, HF204, HF2867, HF2924, HF746, HF1530, HF2587, HF1078

Keywords: HF333, Duluth, Lot D, redevelopment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds, public infrastructure, seawall repair, utility connections, demolition, debris removal, transportation improvements, site preparation, soil correction, economic development, DEED, capital appropriation, general obligation bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• , Ramosdad dams, any other plans.
• This legislation protects families who entrust their children's safety to us.
• HB 71 established a statutory framework for youth camping and activity safety.
• We have to think about the safety of our kids when they’re in these camps.
• Safety radio communication systems for interoperability.

Bills: HB48, HB66, HB68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB3, SB18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Summary: The committee met in special session to hear a series of flood, preparedness, and youth-camp safety bills, with members repeatedly noting that many of the measures were intended as planning, warning, or authority-clarifying bills rather than direct spending bills. House Bill 254 would expand eligibility for the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program to include Kerr County and 18 other flood-affected counties by raising the GDP cap and lowering the poverty threshold; it drew no opposition and was left pending. House Bill 68 would direct a study of flood mitigation in flatland areas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, to develop cost-effective drainage and infrastructure recommendations; local officials and advocates supported it, and it was also left pending. The committee then heard several youth camp bills tied to the recent Hill Country flooding. House Bill 75 would impose flood-aware building and site standards for youth camps near floodplains, and House Bill 71 would require camps and youth activity entities to submit emergency preparedness plans to TDEM, coordinate with local responders, and maintain readiness protocols; both bills were supported by safety advocates and camp representatives, and both were left pending. House Bill 171 would require campgrounds near flood-prone waters to give written flood-risk notice to campers and obtain signed acknowledgment; it was presented as informed consent and left pending. Testimony on these bills emphasized Camp Mystic and other recent flood tragedies, with some witnesses urging broader building-code and floodplain reforms. The committee also heard House Bill 117, which would let counties regulate impervious cover for flood mitigation in unincorporated areas. Supporters, including county officials, environmental groups, and residents, argued that rapid development in the Hill Country and other growing areas is worsening runoff and downstream flooding; opponents from the builders’ association said counties already have substantial authority and warned about overreach into rural property use. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 18 would streamline permitting for certain flood control districts to repair dams and reservoirs and build small holding areas, and it was left pending after supportive testimony from Plum Creek Conservation District. Senate Bill 3 would create a state-backed outdoor flood warning siren program for identified flood-prone areas, funded through a grant program; witnesses generally supported it, though some cautioned that sirens are not sufficient by themselves and may not be heard indoors or in overnight storms. It too was left pending. The committee also began hearing House Bill 149 on public-safety radio interoperability, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s full testimony or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• diverting water from a reservoir when needed for the purposes of repairing, maintaining, or rehabilitating dams
• Are there any dam names on here? Yes, there are. I will reserve your right to close.
• on Environmental Quality has been very cooperative working with these districts to, one, enforce the Dam
• Safety Act to protect downstream landowners, their cattle, and their property, but also to assist. .
• In this instance, it's dam and public health and safety flood control.

Bills: SB612, SB1855, SB2568, SB3058, HB49

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• And they're not planning to expand below those Falcon Dams or Amistad Dams, any other plans.
• This bill sets clear safety standards for youth camps located within or near.
• We have to think about the safety of our kids when they're in these camps.
• We need certain notifications in order to get safety alerts.
• And pushing that water down, the more it's going to improve safety.

Bills: HB48, HB 66, HB 68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB 3, SB 18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Bills: SB 18, SB 34, SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988

Keywords: Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water permit, water appropriation, dam permit exemption, reservoir, flood control, floodwater control, erosion control, sediment control, watershed protection, flood prevention, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, USDA, local sponsor, district, authority, water infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• ...put my safety first?
• Safety and security related to that, but I'm just trying to make sure that have we explored all aspects
• What supersedes property rights is our right for safety, our right to self-protection, our right to defend
• This gives us the option and puts them on notice that, hey, we have a right to public safety, a right
• very red counties, all I needed to be was an NRA certified instructor as well as being a Chief Range Safety

Bills: SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: business liability, concealed carry, handgun policy, premises liability, criminal acts, civil liability, business premises, concealed handgun, property liability, property rights, gun regulations, criminal liability, protective order, confidentiality, personal information, court records, victim protection, charitable raffle, nonprofit, wildlife conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Overall, the safety, support, and comfort of PHP and IOP were a really non-traumatizing way for me to
• advocates; it's coming from the Governor's Office, the House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety
• My bill, HB 2659, would amend the Texas Health and Safety Code to confirm the state and federal requirements

Bills: HB231, HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• help us target interventions to reduce hunger in Texas, thereby reducing utilization of our social safety

Bills: HB231, HB475, HB488, HB632, HB821, HB1786, HB1955, HB2036, HB2060, HB2659, HB2677, HB231

Keywords: food access, food deserts, communities of color, health disparities, socioeconomic impact, nutritious food, health effects, socioeconomic disparities, legislative recommendations, nutrition, access to food, Medicaid, multisystemic therapy, healthcare, reimbursement, mental health services, education, funding, local control, school system

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1 by Senator Perry, relating to campground and youth camp safety, referred to the Committee on Disaster

Bills: HB17, HB16, SB10, HB27, HB23, SB15, SB18

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support

Summary: The House convened, received a message from the Senate, and the chair announced the signing of HB 4 in the presence of the House. The clerk then read a large number of first-reading measures and referred them to committees. Among the notable bills, SB 1 by Senator Perry on campground and youth camp safety was referred to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding. Several House resolutions dealing with House rules, quorum, attendance, and penalties for members who missed sessions or broke quorum were referred to the Committee on House Administration, including HR 5, HR 17, HR 18, HR 34, HR 41, and HR 58. The House also referred a broad slate of resolutions to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, including measures by Riddell, Craddick, Toth, Leo Wilson, Schofield, Gehan, Bella Montgomery, Hinojosa, Schoolcraft, Little, Meyer, Luhan, Orr, Johnson, Harris Davila, Lopez, Cameron, Gonzalez of El Paso, Wharton, Flores, Dyson, and Harless. These referrals covered many individual House resolutions and concurrent resolutions, but no debate or votes were recorded in the transcript. At the end of the proceedings, the House recessed until noon pursuant to a previously adopted motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is from TCEQ for certain dams or reservoirs operated and maintained for the purposes of erosion

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• Coalition's Hawaii Water Safety Act.
• Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and I was the lead writer of the Hawaii Water Safety Plan.
• Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and I was the lead writer of the Hawaii Water Safety Plan.
• I'm the co-founder of the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition, the executive editor of the Hawaii Water Safety
• Thank you for still working with water safety on Kauai. How is that going?

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• zone to conduct an engineering and traffic investigation of the public roads in the zone to identify safety
• It authorizes local jurisdictions that create a zone to use traffic safety cameras for speed infractions
• Seeing none, we'll move to Senate Bill 6131, updating the role of the Washington State Traffic Safety
• Safety Commission, Brandon Popovac.
• He would remove the Public Health Authority designation for the Traffic Safety Commission, as well as

Bills: SB6131, SB6311, SJM8016, SB6230, SB6032, SB6335

Keywords: traffic safety, roadway fatalities, Washington traffic safety commission, policy update, road safety, accident prevention, pedestrian safety, construction, accessibility, public safety, urban planning, bridge repair, infrastructure, emergency funding, transportation, cash transactions, pennies, currency, economic efficiency, financial regulation