Transcript Highlights:

• Deer farming is a lifestyle. It's made. Deer farming is a lifestyle.
• Please vote in favor of the values that my sons learn on our farm.
• We have a family farm with a family of nine, so our children enjoy everything about running the farm.
• No matter how many tests I've... ...my farm.
• ... it works now where these are game animals.

Bills: HB509

Keywords: HB509, game breeder, game breeder license, cervid, deer breeder, whitetail deer, elk, fallow deer, deer farm, captive deer, cervidae, wildlife disease, disease testing, antemortem testing, state veterinarian, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, property rights, private property, animal transfer, breeding stock

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have skin in the game.
• </c> central farm service and clean counts. central farm service and clean counts.
• </c> farm stress, and rural mental health. farm stress, and rural mental health.
• town, but you were a game in town. Uh, town, but you were a game in town.
• How do you get land if you want to start farming or keep farming?

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• farm and must continue to seek funding until the game farm has been relocated.
• There is a problem at the Bob Oak Game Farm.
• I support maintaining a game farm. I support the programs that the game farm supports.
• Relocating the game farm is not about blame.
• What we have before us is the Bob Oak Game Farm, which was a privately owned game farm that was taken

Bills: HB2668, HB1735, HB2131, HB2199, HB2463, HB2598, HB2619

Keywords: relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met on February 4, policy cutoff day, and held a public hearing on House Bill 2668, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and pursue relocation of the Bob Oak Game Farm in Lewis County and also seek funding to remediate the current site. Staff explained the proposed substitute would require alternate site identification, reporting to the Legislature, future capital budget requests for pre-design, relocation, and remediation, and continued monitoring to address nitrate leaching. Representative Orcutt said the bill is intended to protect nearby wells and Centralia’s drinking water without shutting the game farm down, and he thanked DFW for working to reduce fiscal impacts. City of Centralia officials, Lewis County public health staff, a tribal member, and the county health officer testified in support, describing nitrate contamination in a sole-source aquifer, health risks, and the need for a long-term relocation solution; the committee also noted 52 people signed in pro and one opposed. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills. House Bill 2598, creating a Salmon Advisory Commission, was debated with concerns raised about the size of the commission, cost, and overlap with existing salmon recovery efforts, but it was reported out 6-5 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2619, creating a legislative task force to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture, drew bipartisan support focused on farm mental health and suicide prevention and passed unanimously. House Bill 2199, dealing with derelict vessels, was amended with a Department of Natural Resources proposal and then passed unanimously as amended. House Bill 2463, which revises the Washington commodities donation and farm-to-food pantry programs, was also reported out unanimously as a substitute bill. The committee next took up House Bill 1735, which prohibits force-feeding birds and related sale/distribution of products made using that practice. An amendment by Representative Dent to narrow the bill to ducks and geese for commercial purposes and remove product-sale prohibitions failed, and the substitute bill then passed 6-5. Finally, the committee added House Bill 2668 to the executive agenda despite its late arrival, citing the urgency and bipartisan support, and then reported the substitute bill out unanimously. The chair emphasized that moving HB 2668 on the same day was highly unusual and not standard practice, but was done because of the public health concerns and broad support from affected local and tribal communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also did a little research talking to one of my local urban farms, and they tell.
• Specifically with our urban farms and farmers' market for a specific number that may be comparable to
• Because I have a couple of urban farms, one in particular, Restorrro KC, which I called to do some research
• Right now, if a dog repeatedly trespasses on a... ...private property and chases or harasses wildlife, game
• , this was a situation that I came across, and then talking to hunters across the state and to the game

Bills: SB1550, SB2065, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, SB2110, eggs, ungraded eggs, graded eggs, egg sales, poultry, farmers market, direct-to-consumer sales, local food

Transcript Highlights:

• I also did a little research talking to one of my local urban farms, and they tell me they sell about
• So just curious if you would be willing to work specifically with our urban farms and farmers market
• for a specific number. work specifically with our urban farms and farmers market for a specific number
• And mainly because I have a couple of urban farms, one in particular, Restore KC, which I called to do
• Right now, if a dog repeatedly trespasses on a private property and chases or harasses wildlife, game

Bills: SB1550, SB2065, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172

Keywords: burn ban, drought, emergency powers, county commissioners, fire safety, wildfire prevention, pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, SB2110, eggs, ungraded eggs, graded eggs, egg sales, poultry, farmers market, direct-to-consumer sales, local food

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture and wildlife-related bills. Senate Bill 1550, presented by Senator Axson, would give county commissioners more authority to issue burn bans during drought conditions and provide liability protection for those decisions; it passed 13-0. Senate Bill 2065, presented by Senator Bullard with help from Lucille Morehouse, would designate several native pollinators and recognize the importance of pollinators to agriculture and food production; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 2152, by Senator Kern, would allow the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to move black bear muzzleloader and archery season earlier, starting no earlier than September 1; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 2159, by Senator Peterson, would designate wheat as the state crop; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 2172, also by Senator Peterson, would prohibit future ownership, sale, trade, or breeding of primates while allowing existing lawful owners to register and comply with rules, with exceptions for sanctuaries, research, veterinary, law enforcement, and zoo settings; it passed 11-0. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2110 from Senator Murdoch, which would allow farmers to sell ungraded eggs. Members raised concerns about the low egg limit and asked about sales to restaurants and urban farms; the author said he would work on the number and other details. The bill passed 11-0. Senate Bill 2111, also by Senator Murdoch, would remove the orange-clothing requirement for hunters on private hunt reserves or private hunt facilities; it passed 12-0. Finally, Senator Guthrie presented Senate Bill 2114, as amended by committee substitute, to make it unlawful to knowingly, recklessly, or negligently allow a dog to harass wildlife on property without permission, while excluding lawful hunting, livestock protection dogs, and brief accidental crossings. Members discussed dog hunting, property rights, and possible GPS or collar language; the chairman struck the title to allow further work on the bill. The measure passed 12-1. The meeting then adjourned after the chair noted the committee would continue with more bills in future meetings.

Bills: HB2236, HB2281, HB2514, HB2551, HB2668

Keywords: housing finance, affordable housing, housing commission, state agency, financial assistance, tribal relations, government, state policy, sovereignty, federalism, HB 2514, global war on terror, GWOT, war on terror memorial, Capitol campus memorial, Washington veterans, fallen service members, military memorial, post-9/11 veterans, Iraq War

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• Black bears are classified as trophy game, not big game.
• </c> classified as trophy game, not big game. classified as trophy game, not big game.
• </c> farm and uh god they're so appreciative. farm and uh god they're so appreciative.
• </c> game tags. game tags.
• </c> uh through Wyoming Game and Fish. uh through Wyoming Game and Fish.

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• :36.800><c> Federation</c> Molain, Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Molain, Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation
• Angie Bruce, Director of Wyoming Game and Fish.
• Um 55% of big game crucial winter range.
• We've helped Game and Fish put GPS collars on them.
• We've helped Game and Fish put GPS collars on them.

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Bills: SF0025, SF0026, SF0066, SJ0009

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, property tax, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, tax exemption, employee residences, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations, public lands, local governance, land management, resource development, federal agency, agriculture

Bills: SF0025, SF0026, SF0066, SJ0009

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, property tax, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, tax exemption, employee residences, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations, public lands, local governance, land management, resource development, federal agency, agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up in Red Wing, just outside of Red Wing, and our family hunting property was one of these farm
• Right now, you could hunt with a shotgun across a farm field 400 yards away with no real concern for
• Hello, my name is Ben Wilson, and I'm here representing our family Christmas tree farm that's been in
• Because our entire farm sits above this aquifer, we can only drill for agriculture.
• After a few years of mismanagement, the farming failed, and the owner then sold the property.

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• ...up to farming and hunting zones is going to have to take a look at redrawing hunting zone maps out
• Build up a neighborhood on a farm field, of course you're not going to hunt there anymore, nor should
• field of course you're not on a farm field of course you're not going<00:31:38.639><c> on</c><00:31:
• </c> tree Association and our 70 member Farms tree Association and our 70 member Farms as<00:42:41.359
• </c> years of mismanagement the farming years of mismanagement the farming failed<01:04:36.039><c> and

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the Texas Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
• I'm only planting one-half of my farm because of very limited irrigation water. throughout the Rio Grande
• This is having a ripple effect in the Valley's farming community and local economy.
• This project is a game-changer and could be part of the long-term solution in addressing our water crisis

Bills: SCR13, SB1248

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Rio Grande Valley farmer and represent the Texas Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
• For the third year in a row, I'm only planting one-half of my farm because of very limited irrigation
• For the third year in a row, I'm only planting one-half of my farm because of very limited irrigation
• For the third year in a row, I'm only planting one-half of my farm because of very limited irrigation
• They keep their citrus and avocado farms and wheat and poppy fields irrigated and broker the supply of

Bills: SCR13, SB1248

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met without a quorum at first, then later established quorum and proceeded with testimony and votes. Senate Bill 1248, by Chair Perry, was explained as a narrow Open Records Act exception to protect harvest report location data collected through Texas Parks and Wildlife’s digital tagging system. Support testimony came from Matt Wagner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, who said the bill would protect private land and sensitive biological information while preserving useful wildlife data. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending until later in the meeting. The committee then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, which urges the State Department and the International Boundary and Water Commission to press Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty and deliver its share of Rio Grande water. Senator Hinojosa, farmers, municipal officials, and other witnesses described severe water shortages in South Texas, low reservoir levels, crop losses, the closure of the Valley sugar industry, and the need for alternative supplies such as desalination, reuse, and drainage-runoff projects. Members also discussed treaty enforcement, regional drought, and the role of cartels and Mexican water storage, while emphasizing that Texas must also invest in its own water infrastructure. The committee also considered Senate Bill 740, which the committee substitute amended to require the Public Utility Commission to adopt a standardized application form for system improvement charges and complete related rulemaking by September 1, 2026, applying only to applications filed on or after that date. Members discussed concerns about water wholesalers using the process to delay cases and drive up costs, and the need for more transparency and PUC resources. The committee voted to adopt the substitute and report SB 740 favorably. After returning to the earlier items, the committee voted SB 1248 out favorably and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar, and voted SCR 13 out favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> in</c> Farm, which is a small vegetable farm in Farm, which is a small vegetable farm in Northeast
• bigger farms.
• bigger farms.
• bigger farms.
• They may may farm things farm flowers.

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports urban farming. It supports rural farming, beginning and established farmers.
• it supports rural supports Urban farming it supports rural farming<00:02:00.200><c> beginning</c><00
• :02:00.520><c> and</c><00:02:00.759><c> established</c> farming beginning and established farming beginning
• </c><00:02:10.759><c> business</c> high schools and our farm business high schools and our farm business
• the investments in farm business management and farm safety, health, and wellness.

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Bills: SF0027, SF0124

Keywords: game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, tourism, economic development, rodeo, cowboy heritage, Wyoming, funding, cultural preservation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• biennium funding, so there is funding in this bill to feed kids in a farm-to-school program.
• </c><00:12:54.800><c> to</c> there is money in this bill for Farm to there is money in this bill for
• Farming can be a small business, so you can have big business and be a farm.
• Farms range at different sizes, and that's just the way the economy has evolved.
• </c> and be a farm Farms range at different and be a farm Farms range at different sizes<00:54:01.359

Bills: HF1704, HF2052

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1280 prohibits the Arizona Game and Fish Commission from transporting
• SB 1280 would prohibit the Arizona Game and Fish Commission from transporting Mexican gray wolf pups
• The Game and Fish, as of December 25, says there's a minimum of 319 Mexican gray wolves.
• The Game and Fish, as of December 25, says there's a minimum of 319 Mexican gray wolves.
• It is my understanding that in Game and Fish, I'm here to agree with what I'm about to say, but that

Bills: SB1075, SB1144, SB1280

Keywords: foreign ownership, land sales, review commission, national security, property rights, veterinary technicians, certification, education alternative, Arizona Revised Statutes, veterinary education, Mexican gray wolf, Mexican wolf, Mexican gray wolf puppies, Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Game and Fish Department, endangered species, wolf reintroduction, wolf translocation, cross-fostering, wildlife management