Committee defers bill to shorten oyster lease renewals after hour‑long debate over restoration needs and industry investment Representative Ozeron’s proposal to reduce state oyster lease renewal terms from 15 to 6 years drew contrasting testimony: coastal restoration advocates argued shorter terms speed projects and extinguish nonproductive leases, while leaseholders warned shorter terms would undermine multi‑year investments in cultch and reef building; committee voluntarily deferred the bill for more modeling and stakeholder work.

A heated debate in Louisiana over shortening oyster lease renewals from 15 to 6 years could redefine investment and coastal restoration efforts.

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#LA #CoastalRestoration #LouisianaOysters #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #SustainableFishing

Committee advances bill expanding 'harmful woody species' list and watershed program statewide The committee passed HB 29‑88 to add red‑berry juniper, ash juniper and honey mesquite to the definition of harmful woody species and to expand a watershed‑restoration pilot into a statewide program; members debated pilot outcomes and water‑use claims.

A new bill poised to combat wildfire risks and conserve water in Oklahoma is redefining harmful woody species—could this be the game-changer we've been waiting for?

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#OK #WaterConservation #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #WildfireRisk

Gaylord Nelson pictured at Apostle Island lakeshore, Earth Day founder and honorary chair of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin’s connection to Gaylord Nelson runs deep. 🌎

A founder & Honorary Chair of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, he helped launch our work in the 90s.

30 years later, those values still guide us. 💚
1kfriends.org/earth-day-re...

#EarthDay #Sustainability #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalPolicy

SRC nominating committee proposes membership and quorum clarifications; seeks tribal consultation A nominating committee proposed updates to the Salmon Recovery Council’s operating procedures to clarify caucus membership, voting seats, vacancy and new‑seat rules, and quorum for tallied votes; staff will seek tribal consultation before returning a revised draft in late spring.

The Salmon Recovery Council is shaking things up with a new proposal to clarify membership and voting rules, ensuring every voice is heard in the fight for salmon recovery.

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#WA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #TribalConsultation

House committee hears bill to bar private carbon‑capture companies from using eminent domain; bill involuntarily deferred The House Natural Resources Committee debated House Bill 7, the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, which would prohibit private carbon‑capture companies from exercising eminent domain for CO2 pipelines and storage. After hours of testimony from the bill sponsor, constitutional experts, industry, and dozens of citizens, the committee failed to move the bill forward and involuntarily deferred it.

A controversial bill aimed at protecting landowners from private carbon-capture companies fell short as the Louisiana House committee voted to defer it after heated debates.

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#LA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PropertyRights #CommunityInput

Rob McConnell Interviews - ROSALIND PETERSEN - Agriculture Defense Coalition What is really happening in our skies—and how could it be affecting our environment, agriculture, and health? In this eye-opening episode, Rosalind Peterson of the Agriculture Defense Coalition raises critical questions about atmospheric activity, environmental policy, and the potential impact of large-scale programs on ecosystems and food production. Drawing from her background in agriculture and environmental research, Rosalind discusses concerns related to air quality, weather modification, and the long-term effects these factors may have on crops, soil, and water systems. She examines reports and data that suggest changes in environmental patterns—and asks whether enough transparency exists around activities that could influence the natural balance of our planet. This episode goes beyond speculation, encouraging listeners to think critically about the intersection of science, policy, and public awareness. How do environmental changes affect the food we grow and the air we breathe? What responsibility do governments and institutions have to inform the public? And how can individuals stay informed and engaged on issues that impact everyone? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that explores environmental stewardship, accountability, and the importance of asking questions about the world around us—because what happens in our skies may have far-reaching consequences here on the ground.

📣 New Podcast! "Rob McConnell Interviews - ROSALIND PETERSEN - Agriculture Defense Coalition" on @Spreaker #agriculture #agriculturedefensecoalition #airquality #climate #crophealth #ecology #environment #environmentalhealth #environmentalimpact #environmentalpolicy #foodsafety #globalissues

Chair proposes splitting bill 03/28; committee seeks definition of 'permitted' and retains farmworker report During an informal April 3 session, the House General & Housing chair outlined a likely split of bill 03/28 so planning/zoning sections (including a change in 7(d)) move to the environment committee, while manufactured housing nondiscrimination and a farmworker-housing report (9a) remain here; counsel was asked to draft a definition of 'permitted' and committee requested an Agriculture flyby on 9a.

The House General & Housing committee is taking a major step by considering a split of bill 03/28, but will key definitions like "permitted" be preserved?

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#VT #ZoningReform #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #FarmworkerSupport #VermontHousing

Van Drew tells Appropriations subcommittee COVID-era fisheries clawbacks threaten New Jersey fisheries, urges funding to stop collections Mister Van Drew told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that COVID-era NOAA relief was later subject to recalculation by New Jersey DEP, producing clawbacks that he says threaten dozens of fisheries; he asked the committee to consider an appropriation to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to repay NOAA and halt collections.

New Jersey fisheries are facing a financial crisis as COVID relief payments are clawed back due to sudden rule changes, threatening their very survival.

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#US #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #EconomicRelief #NewJerseyFisheries #FisheriesManagement

Subcommittee forwards bill letting TDEC make private agreements for projects at Cumberland Mountain State Park On an 8-0 vote the Department and Agency Subcommittee advanced House Bill 0338, sponsored by Chairman Crawford, which authorizes the TDEC commissioner to enter agreements with private entities for development, construction and operation of facilities and to oversee construction projects at Cumberland Mountain State Park; an amendment (016756) was added.

A key vote has propelled House Bill 0338 forward, granting TDEC the power to partner with private entities for exciting new developments at Cumberland Mountain State Park!

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#TN #CitizenPortal #TennesseeParks #EnvironmentalPolicy #InfrastructureDevelopment

Panelists say SB 250 would have redirected $200 million to Great Salt Lake efforts; bill stalled amid influence from large water users Panelists at a Hinckley forum described Senate Bill 250 as a proposal to deauthorize Bear River development and move roughly $200 million into a Great Salt Lake account for leases, purchases and monitoring; they said the legislature allocated only ~70,000 acre‑feet and committee processes favored large water users over impacted communities.

Panelists at the University of Utah forum revealed that a critical proposal to save the Great Salt Lake was stalled due to legislative priorities favoring large water users over community needs.

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#UT #WaterConservation #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy

Grand Island conservation board presses town over stalled tree law and lawyer edits The board said it completed a proposed tree-protection law but has seen months of delay after sending edits to the town lawyer; members worry developer-oriented changes and slow follow-up will weaken protections for public trees and hold up Tree City USA application.

Grand Island's conservation board fears that delays in finalizing a critical tree-protection law may lead to developer-friendly changes that could jeopardize vital environmental protections.

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#GrandIslandErieCounty #NY #GrandIslandTreeProtection #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy

Sen. Kavanaugh defends mattress recycling EPR bill as colleagues press concerns about hidden costs and auditing Lawmakers pressed the sponsor of S.1463 on whether a mattress extended producer responsibility (EPR) program would shift hidden costs to consumers and create new auditing burdens. The sponsor defended New York's EPR model and the committee advanced the bill to the calendar.

Sen. Kavanaugh is championing a controversial mattress recycling bill, but concerns about hidden costs and industry opposition are heating up the debate in New York!

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#NY #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #EnvironmentalPolicy #NewYorkMattressRecycling #SustainableDisposal

Judiciary committee moves drought-management plan to final reading The committee voted unanimously to move Resolution 2026-16 — adopting a drought management plan prepared by Water and Environmental Technologies — to final reading; the plan will be implemented by a committee appointed by the chief executive.

Butte-Silver Bow is one step closer to safeguarding its water supply with a new drought-management plan poised for final approval!

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#ButteCitySilverBowCounty #MT #CitizenPortal #DroughtResilience #EnvironmentalPolicy #WaterManagement #ButteSilverBow

Trump convenes "God Squad" to override Endangered Species Act, up oil production Administration wants to exempt all federally regulated offshore oil from protections.

Trump convenes "God Squad" to override Endangered Species Act, up oil production #Technology #Other #EndangeredSpeciesAct #OilProduction #EnvironmentalPolicy

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/trum...

CRITICAL REVIEW OF 2025 CLIMATE ACTION PROGRESS Explore insights and discussions on the progress and challenges faced in achieving 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets. #ClimateAction #Sustainability... CRITICAL REVIEW OF 2025 CLIMATE ACTION PROGRESS Explore insights and discussions on the progress and challenges faced in achieving 2030 greenhouse gas

unitedforclimate.blogspot.com/2025/05/crit... #ClimateAction #Sustainability #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalPolicy #GreenhouseGas #AIEvidentialMaterial #Perplexity Llewelyn Pritchard 28 May 2025

#99SecondsWith @akhornidge.bsky.social: @wbgu.bsky.social has submitted a situation report on #climate and #EnvironmentalPolicy as #SecurityPolicy to the Environmental Ministry and the German government. The report focuses on the multiple risks societies face.

Learn more ⤵️

Committee advances bill to limit local bans on private wells, sets half‑acre compromise The Environmental Affairs Committee voted to advance an amendment to House Bill 5,111 that would bar local ordinances from prohibiting private wells on residential or agricultural parcels of at least one‑half acre, require backflow prevention when wells tie into municipal systems, and leave questions about lot‑size and registry to full committee review.

A crucial amendment is on the table that could empower homeowners to drill private wells without local government interference—are you ready for a potential shift in water rights?

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#SC #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PropertyRights #WaterRight #SouthCarolinaAgriculture

Committee hears request to extend Fond du Lac elk restoration appropriation to 2029 Rep. Kozlowski and a Fond du Lac representative asked the House committee to extend the allowable use period for a 2025 appropriation to 2029 so habitat work and an acclimation pen can be completed; DNR warned about disease‑risk and the committee laid the bill over as amended.

Rep. Kozlowski is pushing to extend a crucial funding period to 2029, aiming to restore elk to the Fond du Lac reservation while navigating disease concerns and tribal sovereignty.

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#MN #MinnesotaNativeAmerican #TribalSovereignty #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy

Proposed TSCA Amendments: A Comparison of House and Senate Discussion Drafts Alert March 24, 2026 Proposed TSCA Amendments: A Comparison of House and Senate Discussion Drafts March 24, 2026 As Congress considers the reauthorization of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees, which expire September 30, 2026, and the 2016 Lautenb...

As Congress considers reauthorizing TSCA fees and potential updates to the statute, House and Senate discussion drafts outline markedly different approaches to reform.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3Pqz8f9

#TSCA #EnvironmentalPolicy

Votes at a glance: multiple bills passed on Oklahoma House floor (incl. Service Oklahoma, eminent domain updates, AI companion restrictions) The Oklahoma House advanced and passed a slate of bills during the floor session, including House Bill 30-15 (Service Oklahoma electronic credentials), House Bill 34-53 (eminent domain burden-of-proof change), and technology/AI-related measures; vote tallies ranged from unanimous to wide majorities.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives made waves by passing a series of impactful bills, including groundbreaking updates on electronic credentials and eminent domain regulations.

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#OK #CitizenPortal #TechnologyInnovation #EnvironmentalPolicy #CivicEngagement

Arizona Senate proclaims April 26–May 2, 2026, as Arizona Water Professionals Week The Arizona Senate read a legislative proclamation designating April 26–May 2, 2026, as Arizona Water Professionals Week, highlighting the state's diverse water resources and urging engagement at an upcoming industry conference. Sponsors named in the proclamation included Sen. Rosanna Gabaldon and Sen. Tim Dunn.

Arizona is celebrating its vital water professionals with a dedicated week, highlighting the state's innovative water management practices and upcoming industry conference!

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#AZ #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #ArizonaWaterProfessionals #WaterResourceManagement

Bild mit Text "Und was hat das UBA mit dem Weltklimarat zu tun? Unsere Expert*innen sind Teil der deutschen Regierungsdelegation und tragen intensiv zur deutschen Regierungsbegutachtung der Berichte bei."

Weitere Informationen zum Weltklimarat (IPCC) und zum aktuellen 7. Berichtszyklus gibt es auf der UBA-Website:
www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/klima...

#weltklimarat #ipcc #climatechange #klimawandel #internationaleklimapolitik #environmentalpolicy #climatescience

DNR outlines 2026 lands bill as committee adopts amendment and sends measure to Ways and Means The committee adopted an author amendment to House File 4222, which updates how the DNR handles land transfers, adds and deletes small parcels from state parks, and authorizes several land sales; the bill was re‑referred to Ways and Means for further review, including late MN Historical Society parcel requests.

Minnesota's DNR is shaking up land management with new transfers and park expansions—find out how these changes will impact your community!

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#MN #MinnesotaLands #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #RecreationAccess #PublicLands

House approves Tennessee Energy Freedom Act amid debate over emissions baselines and extraterritoriality House passage of HB 20‑70, the Tennessee Energy Freedom Act, set a state policy protecting certain fossil‑fuel activities from some suits related to carbon emissions; environmental concerns were raised about baseline definitions, retroactivity and reliance on company‑submitted data, but proponents argued permits and penalties remain in force.

The Tennessee House has passed the controversial Energy Freedom Act, igniting fierce debate over carbon emissions and the rights of fossil fuel companies.

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#TN #FossilFuelRegulation #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #TennesseeEnergy #CarbonEmissions

Long before Trump: How US policy has harmed the environment for decades via Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera — Environment advocacy groups are suing the US government over climate change policy rollback.

US environmental policy rollbacks, dating back decades, face legal challenges from advocacy groups. These changes have significantly impa...

Brought to you by resist47.news — tracking threats to democracy.

#resist47 #EnvironmentalPolicy
#ClimateActionNow
#USGovernmentLawsuit
#EnvironmentalAdvocacy

Votes at a glance: Iowa Senate advances a package of bills on parks, jails, foam and other measures The Senate passed several bills by roll call or unanimous consent: HF22‑15 (DNR changes, park fees, hunting age), SF23‑75 (soy‑based firefighting foam, local opt‑in by 2027), SF23‑68 (county jail cost‑analysis), SF24‑44 (cigar‑bar alcohol exemption), SF20‑70 (appointments to uniform law commission), SF5‑48 (PFD exemption) and SJR20‑10 (state draft horse designation). Details and vote tallies below.

The Iowa Senate has just passed a series of impactful bills, from prioritizing soy-based firefighting foam to changing the hunting age—big changes are on the horizon!

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#IA #IowaGovernment #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PublicSafety #CriminalJustice

Bill to renew PUC authority to close at‑grade crossings advances with rail industry backing SB 1008 would renew a CEQA exemption (expired Jan. 1, 2025) allowing the California Public Utilities Commission to order closure or alteration of at‑grade rail crossings to protect public safety; Union Pacific and other rail groups supported the renewal, and the committee approved the bill 4‑0.

Senator Ochoa Bogue's SB 1008, backed by major rail companies, aims to renew critical safety measures for California's at-grade rail crossings—could this be the key to safer travel?

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#CA #TransportationReform #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PublicSafety

The UK’s latest biodiversity report is out — and only 3 of 23 targets are on track 🤯

We can’t afford to fall behind on nature recovery. Biodiversity underpins our wellbeing, economy, and future.

📄 ow.ly/8AkN50YwbWH

#NatureRecovery #Rewilding #EnvironmentalPolicy #ProtectNature #Wildlife

S.C. transportation secretary urges new legal tools, choice lanes and NEPA authority to speed projects SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell told the Senate Transportation Committee the agency needs new authorities — including assuming NEPA review and using tolled "choice lanes" — to accelerate projects, manage rising construction costs and reduce the burden on general taxpayers.

South Carolina's transportation chief is calling for new powers to fast-track crucial projects and tackle rising costs, including a revolutionary plan for "choice lanes" that could cut commute times dramatically!

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#SC #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PublicSafety

DNR bill proposing longer land contracts and removal of duplicate state refuge designations set aside for Fish & Game input At a March 16 Senate Resources hearing, the Department of Natural Resources outlined SB224 — proposing 30-year land-sale contracts, survey and leasing changes, repeal of obsolete state refuge overlays and repeal of a 3-acre Business Park Wetlands encumbrance in Midtown Anchorage. The committee set the bill aside pending input from Fish & Game; no vote was taken.

Alaska's Senate Resources Committee is considering a bold new bill that could transform land sales, cut costs for buyers, and tackle pesky nuisance properties—are you ready for the changes?

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#AK #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #AlaskaLandUse #EnvironmentalPolicy