Video & Transcript Research : 'marine resources'
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MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 3:30 PM
Ports and Marine Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- The next bill is 735, Department of Marine Resources.
- This is special need Marine Patrol reserve officers.
Summary:
The committee took up several bills related to marine and airport matters. One measure would amend an existing prohibition on using a “pane” in parts of the Mississippi Sound to add Jackson County back into the restricted area. Another, House Bill 735, would authorize the Department of Marine Resources to pay reserve marine patrol officers for special events using existing federal or local funds rather than new state money. Both were presented as straightforward updates, and HB 735 received a title sufficient do pass motion and was reported out.
House Bill 1441 on airport authorities drew more discussion. The bill would give airports authority similar to other property owners to deal with abandoned vehicles on airport property, including notice and abandonment procedures. Members asked about notification requirements, the abandonment timeline, and whether the authority could retain vehicles for official airport use; the sponsor said the existing process and state law notice requirements still apply. An amendment was offered to clarify the 90-day notice language, and the bill was advanced after that amendment.
The committee also considered House Bill 1466, a seafood labeling strike-all bill. The sponsor said the Department of Marine Resources and stakeholders were still working on the language, including where labels may be affixed on menus and how grocery store labeling should work. Members discussed the use of “imported” versus country-of-origin labeling, and a representative explained that the language was intended to let restaurants identify specific foreign products by country rather than simply marking them imported. The committee also adopted a grammar correction in the short title and restored a reverse repealer before reporting the bill out. At the end of the meeting, the committee said it was pressed for time and recessed before taking up one remaining bill related to reef issues.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 11:00 AM
Ports and Marine Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, Mississippi State has a campus on the coast that focuses on marine biology.
- Um and then a on marine biology.
- resources.
- <00:21:18.720>
resources. - protection of the marine resources. protection of the marine resources.
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 2263, which would require Department of Marine Resources law enforcement officers to have probable cause before boarding or stopping a vessel or conducting a search at a marina. The bill sponsor said current law does not require probable cause for DMR stops, and members discussed complaints from constituents about boats being stopped and searched without cause, including checks for life jackets, fish measurements, whistles, and flares. Questions also raised whether the bill should be consistent with wildlife officers and other law enforcement standards; the sponsor noted a separate bill addressing freshwater officers was in another committee. The committee ultimately moved the bill forward with a do pass recommendation.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 2264, a coastal restoration and conservation planning bill. The sponsor explained that Mississippi receives multiple streams of restoration-related funding, including RESTORE Act, GOMESA, tidelands, and other federal funds, but lacks a coordinated science-based plan for how those dollars should be deployed. The bill would create a technical advisory board with representatives from state agencies, universities, and an NGO to develop a strategic plan and annual report on priorities such as water quality, habitat loss, and Mississippi Sound restoration. Members confirmed the bill would not change executive branch control over the funds and that GCRF economic damage funds were not included. The committee adopted the bill and reported it out.
Next, Senate Bill 2370 was taken up to allow airport authorities to remove abandoned vehicles using the same procedures available to municipalities and private landowners. The sponsor said airports were dealing with vehicles left in parking areas for long periods and needed authority to begin the abandonment process. The bill was reported out. Senate Bill 2618, which would authorize airport authorities to enter public-private partnerships for property on airport-controlled land, was amended with a reverse repealer so it could be studied further; the committee then adopted the amendment, passed the bill as a committee substitute, and reported it out. Finally, Senate Bill 2634, which would let DMR create and pay reserve officers for special events and other staffing needs, was also approved and reported out.
MS
Mississippi 2025 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources - Room 210; 20 March, 2025: 10:30 AM
MS
Mississippi 2025 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources - Room 210; 13 March, 2025: 1:00 PM
MS
Mississippi 2025 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources - Room 409, 4 February, 2025; 1:00 P.M.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP-WAL Joint Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 8:45 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- The prudent course trust resource.
- the division of aquatic resources the division of aquatic resources proposing<00:23:49.280>
to - Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology. Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology.
- <01:05:29.359>
It's Resources. I'd say that's correct. It's Resources. - to to do um especially with the marine to to do um especially with the marine enforcement<01:16:
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.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Ports and Marine Resources (Part 2)- Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 3:30 PM
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- mismanaged and a wasted resource?
- . resources. resources.
- Next up, SB 3053 relating to natural resources. Relating to natural resources.
- but the Mariners stadium. but the Mariners stadium.
- The Mariners.
Bills:
SB2613, SB2543, SB2398, SB2046, SB2800, SB2818, SB2973, SB2367, SB2907, SB3067, SB3053, SB2944, SB2074, SB2596
Keywords:
public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, Kauai, Maui, Honolulu, Kaimuki Middle School, Wilcox Elementary School, school property
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on SB 2613, SD1, HD1, relating to public school land transfer. The Attorney General’s office and the Department of Education supported the bill’s technical cleanup of Act 307, but strongly opposed a new provision that would convey school parcels containing public and school library facilities to the Hawaii State Public Library System. They argued the added transfer language conflicted with Act 307’s purpose of consolidating school land for more efficient school operations, and said existing law already allows co-located library use through rights of entry, licenses, or other agreements. The library system supported the bill and said it was trying to resolve longstanding operational conflicts on shared school-campus libraries, especially where public access, construction, and campus safety issues arise.
Members questioned whether the Board of Education should simply mediate the dispute, whether the bill was the right solution, and whether a formal memorandum of agreement might be a better approach than a land transfer. The library system described years of difficulty coordinating with DOE on projects and said it needed a clearer process to complete work and spend CIP funds. Discussion also touched on a Kauai parcel in the bill, identified as a tennis court, and whether resurfacing could be completed before any transfer. The Attorney General indicated that if the goal is to preserve library uses while keeping title with the state, DLNR or another documented arrangement may be more appropriate than transferring fee title to the library system.
The committee then heard SB 2543 SD2 HD1, relating to state construction projects. DAGS supported the measure, and the Hawaii Ironworkers Stabilization Fund and Hawaii Building Construction Trade Council strongly supported it, saying the bill would help spot-check high-cost projects and reduce waste from overruns and delays. One testifier opposed the bill, arguing the proposed construction manager role was too limited and that DAGS needed more training, decentralized authority, and better internal decision-making rather than a new layer of oversight. Supporters said the bill was intended as a pilot program to address repeated cost overruns and improve accountability on state construction projects.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Feb 12th, 2025
Agriculture and Forestry
Transcript Highlights:
- out trying to... from our officers that are out trying to do the enforcement work and protect our resources
- I was the director of our Marine Resources Division before I became the commissioner, and I grew up on
Keywords:
fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama, regulations, HB212, aquatic plants, public waters, state waters, waterways, water management, aquatic vegetation, weed removal, vegetation control, lake management, river management, environmental regulation, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit
Keywords:
district attorneys, prosecutorial function, law enforcement, criminal procedure, legal advice, paternity, putative father registry, adoption, legal rights, parental rights, HB181, Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority, bond authorization, state bonds, capital improvements, public buildings, State Capitol, renovation finance, public office facilities, infrastructure financing
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 17th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Keywords:
water management, bond issuance, eminent domain, regional authority, fee structures, local governance, environmental quality, oyster cultivation, coastal management, natural resources, marine ecosystems, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Water Development Board, guidance principles, flood plan, state water plan, rule review, infrastructure, water discharge, general permit
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
- I want to make it clear that the primary reason I filed this bill is to make sure we have the resources
- I think the department is doing a great job with the resources they've got with herbicide application
- So I'm just looking for ways to provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to...
- Provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to address this problem with invasive
Keywords:
migratory waterfowl, hunting regulations, flooded crops, wildlife management, environmental impact, hunting, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, deer hunting, dogs, conservation, hunting heritage, federal regulations, Senator Kennedy, wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, legislative support, environment, protective measures, boating safety
Summary:
The Senate Natural Resources Committee met on March 27 with a quorum present, approved prior minutes, and then took up several resolutions and one bill related to wildlife, water resources, and conservation. H.C.R. 79, as amended, urged the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work together to allow the use of dogs for hunting in Kisatchie National Forest; supporters described it as a traditional hunting practice that has been restricted for years and could benefit local hunters and businesses. H.C.R. 104, as amended, asked the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study and modernize the collection, retention, and access to subsurface data, with members emphasizing the need to avoid sharing company-specific information. H.C.R. 87 was reported favorably to support correspondence from U.S. Sen. Kennedy regarding duck flyway management, H.C.R. 54 was reported favorably to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl and restore an enforcement mechanism related to hunting over intentionally flooded crops, and H.C.R. 94 was reported favorably to require annual boating safety reports to legislative committees.
The committee then heard HB 1209, which would have paused new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals while allowing existing agreements to continue and be renewed through December 31, 2036. The author said the bill was intended to give the state time to develop a more comprehensive, data-driven surface water strategy and to address invasive species such as giant salvinia, which he said has severely affected waterways in his district. Members and witnesses acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, but there was concern that the bill was too complex to move quickly in the session. The committee discussed converting it into a study resolution instead, and the bill was deferred without objection. The meeting then adjourned.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the Natural Resources Committee of the Senate. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
- I want to make it clear that the primary reason I filed this bill is to make sure we have the resources
- The resources and strategy in place to address invasive species like giant salvinia, which has had a
- I think the department is doing a great job with the resources they've got with herbicide application
- So I'm just looking for ways to provide the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries more resources to address
Keywords:
migratory waterfowl, hunting regulations, flooded crops, wildlife management, environmental impact, hunting, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, deer hunting, dogs, conservation, hunting heritage, federal regulations, Senator Kennedy, wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, legislative support, environment, protective measures, boating safety
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- are, where the iwi kūpuna are at, so as the project develops we can keep those resources in mind and
- are, where the iwi kūpuna are at, so as the project develops we can keep those resources in mind and
- understand where the historic resources understand where the historic resources are<00:21:57.520
- Conservation and Resources Enforcement at DNR.
- >
patrol Expanding vehicles and marine patrol Expanding vehicles and marine patrol assets<00:54
Keywords:
Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, state funding, public performances, educational programs, cultural arts funding, historic properties, preservation, inheritance, working group, public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, historic preservation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, construction, state review, burial sites, cultural artifacts, development review, phased review, administrative fees
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt.
Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt.
Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Ways and Means Education
Keywords:
HB87, Marengo County, coroner, deputy coroner, county commission, expense allowance, mileage allowance, travel reimbursement, local act, local legislation, county general fund, public official compensation, county office, Section 45-46-60, Alabama Code, salary increase, allowance increase, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- There's no more renewable reproductive resource in Hawaii than marine fish.
- Please do not pass Senate Bill 2996. resources where they're needed most resources where they're needed
- um the board of land natural resources um the board of land natural resources itself<00:58:17.599
- board of land and natural resources board of land and natural resources taking<01:30:52.960>
- So we have a marine licenses a year.
Keywords:
historic preservation, burial sites, DHHL, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, section 6E-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Hawaii Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places, cultural resources, archaeology, land use review, environmental review, state historic preservation officer, Hawaiian home lands, project permits, consultation, concurrence, nonconcurrence
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures affecting Hawaiian affairs, historic preservation, water access, and land governance. SB 1406 would let the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands assume historic preservation review for projects on lands under its jurisdiction, except for properties listed or nominated for the state or national historic registers. DHHL supported the bill, while a descendant testifier strongly opposed it, arguing that burial and preservation review protects ancestors and should not be streamlined or reduced. No questions were raised and the bill was moved on after testimony.
SB 521 would require DHHL to work with county water boards or water departments to provide potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian homelands, with agreements made public. DHHL said it already works with counties but objected to the bill’s mandatory language, saying it could undermine the department’s discretion and independence. A public testifier supported the measure, and committee discussion focused on how water requirements could affect subsistence lots and infrastructure decisions.
The committee then took up SB 3247, which would create a Royal Mausoleum Commission within DLNR to oversee preservation, operations, and outreach at Mauna Ala. State Parks said it valued existing collaboration with the aliʻi trusts but wanted clarity on roles, coordination, and funding if a new commission is created. The Royal Order of Kamehameha strongly supported the bill as a culturally grounded way to protect the site, while several other testifiers opposed it, saying the real issue is the curator selection process and warning that a commission could add bureaucracy and delay. The committee also heard SB 1654, authorizing transfer of certain state lands to DHHL, and SB 112, which would add the DHHL chair or designee to the Hawaii Community Development Authority; the Attorney General and HCDA offered technical and policy comments, with HCDA opposing the board change and DHHL supporting participation to protect beneficiary interests. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Wed Mar 18, 2026 @ 8:30 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Andrew Pereira, Pacific Resource Partnership. Mr. Chair, we stand on... Okay.
- Andrew Pereira, Stadium Authority, also Pacific Resource...
- Andrew Pereira, Stadium Authority, also Pacific Resource Partnership, Director of Public Affairs.
- <01:23:10.520>
in these big tech have all the resources in these big tech have all the resources - This bill declares Hawaii as an ocean cluster and establishes the Office of Marine Affairs.
Keywords:
permit processing, permitting reform, county permits, development permits, building permits, land use, construction delays, housing development, infrastructure development, county workforce, differential pay, salary incentive, performance bonus, recruitment and retention, expedited hiring, vacancy rates, permit backlog, government modernization, county mayor, county council
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills, with most measures drawing broad support and a few generating significant opposition or policy questions. SB 2908 SD1 and SB 2671 SD1 were taken up first; both appeared to have majority support, with SB 2908 receiving seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, and SB 2671 receiving five in support and two comments. SB 3085 SD2, related to film industry operations, drew 11 supporters and no opposition. Georgia Skinner explained that the bill would streamline the approval timeline for productions by reducing delays tied to Land Board review, and she said DLNR supported the effort. Committee members asked about the need for the change and the relationship between the film studio, DLNR, and the approval process.
The committee then discussed SB 2907 SD1, which would create an Office of Marine Affairs. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, HTDC, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, ocean industry representatives, and others. The governor’s office supported the bill’s intent but objected to placing the office within the Office of the Governor, urging instead that it be housed at HTDC. HTDC said it was willing and excited to take on the work and described ongoing stakeholder engagement. Members asked about the rationale for the placement and the long-term structure of the office.
SB 2353 SD2, concerning the Aloha Stadium district and billboard/naming-rights issues, drew strong opposition overall, with four in support, 23 in opposition, and one comment. Andrew Pereira of the Stadium Authority argued the measure could generate revenue to help maintain and operate the stadium and said the district would remain self-contained; he also emphasized that the development would respect the character of the area. The committee then heard SB 2074 SD1, which had five in support and 26 in opposition; only one support testimony from the Carpenters was heard before the discussion moved on. Finally, SB 2360 SD1, an enterprise zones measure, received 14 supportive testimonies and two comments. Testimony focused on updating the program for modern business models, especially e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales, while committee members questioned whether the program overlaps with higher tax burdens and whether businesses receiving subsidies should be monitored for job retention after graduation from the program.
TX
Keywords:
SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission
Summary:
The Senate Committee on State Affairs met with a quorum present and considered several pending measures. On Senate Bill 1868, Senator Perry explained a committee substitute that would keep kratom in its natural state legal while continuing to ban 7-OH and other synthetic derivatives, and would also add three synthetic opioids from another bill. The substitute was adopted, and SB 1868 was reported favorably to the full Senate and certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 39, Senator Birdwell’s proposed constitutional amendment related to veto overrides after a regular session, and reported it favorably to the full Senate; members noted a floor amendment would also be offered later.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 1184, relating to the age of wine authorized to be sold by a wine collection seller, and reported it favorably to the full Senate. After some procedural discussion and a revote to clarify members’ positions, SB 1184 was also certified for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 1194 was likewise certified for the local and uncontested calendar without objection, though the transcript does not include its substantive discussion.
Senate Bill 1577, relating to the temporary sale of alcoholic beverages at certain racing facilities, was reported favorably to the full Senate and then certified for the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, Senate Concurrent Resolution 42, by Chairman Hughes, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-1 vote. The committee then recessed until called back by the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And so I know that there's a witness here as a resource to answer any questions. At this time, Mr.
- as wraparound services to include college and career readiness and connection to vital community resources
- We got a resource with the Secretary of State's office.
- Christina Atkins with the Secretary of State is here as a resource witness. Thanks for being here.
- and their staffs, our excellent committee staff, all the witnesses for and against the bills, our resource
Keywords:
SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission
Summary:
The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on several bills, with most measures left pending after public testimony closed. SB 801, by Sen. Menéndez, would require DSHS and local clerks to issue birth certificates at no cost to people experiencing homelessness. The author and Maria Benavides of SA Youth said the fee and mailing requirements are major barriers to obtaining ID, housing, and work, and Benavides described clients who were able to secure housing and employment after getting birth records and IDs through her program. The bill was left pending.
The committee also heard a set of bills related to the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America naming issue: SB 1410 would require state agencies to use “Gulf of Mexico” in official documents, SB 1717 would conform state law to the federal renaming to “Gulf of America,” and SJR 63 would amend the Texas Constitution to match that change. Support testimony for the latter two emphasized alignment with federal action and the use of different geographic names by different countries. All three measures were left pending.
Members then heard SB 1200, which would require plaintiffs suing defense contractors to disclose in discovery whether they are receiving litigation funding from adversarial nations such as China, Russia, or Cuba. The author and Texans for Lawsuit Reform said the bill targets third-party litigation funding and foreign influence on lawsuits, especially those affecting defense contractors; the committee substitute narrowed the definition of defense contractor and expanded applicability to actions involving defense contractors’ activities. SB 2626, which requires continuing medical education on pregnancy-related emergencies for OB-GYN physicians and nurses, drew support from witnesses who said it would reduce confusion about Texas abortion law and improve care in emergencies. SB 506, SB 2681, SB 1862, SB 1863, and SB 2216 all focused on elections, including ballot language standards, voter registration challenges, interstate voter-roll cleanup, procedural audits, and election equipment security; testimony split between supporters who said the bills improve transparency and integrity and opponents who warned of vague standards, added costs, and possible voter disenfranchisement. Each of those bills was left pending after testimony.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the meeting of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
Keywords:
fishing gear, Oyster Bayou, shrimping, regulation, marine resources, HB621, Act 658, renewable energy, recycling, decommissioning, wind energy, solar power, solar facilities, wind turbines, energy infrastructure, end-of-life disposal, universal waste, recyclable materials, waste reduction, Department of Environmental Quality