Committee Summary for Senate Energy and Natural Resources (04/07/2026)

Member	Member	Member
Avard, Kevin(Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Pearl, Howard (V Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025	McConkey, Mark(R)[B]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB1766	Executive Session	relative to priority for animal cruelty cases	Likely Text to Speech Error on Bill #
HB1086	Public Hearing	(New Title) creating a committee to study neonicotinoid seed treatments.	MacDonald, John(R)[B+]2025
HB1431	Public Hearing	restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.	MacDonald, John(R)[B+]2025
HB1013	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to games wherein the object is to capture a pig.	Harvey, Cathryn(D)[F]2025
HB1425	Public Hearing	relative to the development of an online wetlands permit processing system.	Donnelly, Tanya(R)[B+]2025

SB1766: Information Only 00:03:19.047 - 9:02:55 AM; Senator Rosenwald questions whether prioritizing animal cases within 14 days would delay constitutional rights to speedy and public trials, especially given the current suspension of jury trials.
SB1766: Information Only 00:04:06.727 - 9:03:42 AM; Lauren Warner explains that the amendment strikes the 14-day requirement but maintains priority for animal cruelty cases as per current statute RSA 644:8, IV(a)(3). She notes there were only 79 cases in 2024, a small percentage of the docket, unlikely to affect other cases. Animal cases are heard in Circuit or Superior Court depending on misdemeanor or felony status, and the bill does not change existing law or impact speedy trial rights.
HB1086: Support 00:08:39.638 - 9:08:15 AM; Representative McDonald introduces HB1086, which establishes a committee to study neonicotinoid seed treatments. The bill aligns New Hampshire with timelines in states like New York and Vermont for action by 2029. It reviews existing research from Quebec, Cornell, and Penn State showing neonicotinoids often provide no yield benefit for corn and soy. The study consolidates science, documents New Hampshire practices, and uses existing data without multi-year tests. It aims for efficient, one-year completion to inform balanced legislation next year. He requests support for Ought to Pass.
HB1086: Support 00:13:23.235 - 9:12:59 AM; Representative Bixby, ranking member of House A&E, explains the importance of soil and aquatic ecosystem health for agriculture and water quality. Neonicotinoids, as broad-spectrum pesticides, kill arthropods indiscriminately, disrupting ecosystems by eliminating predator insects and zooplankton, leading to pest increases and cyanobacteria blooms. The committee chose a study over an immediate ban due to concerns about impacts on farmers and the agricultural economy, based on prior testimony.
HB1086: Support 00:17:23.349 - 9:16:59 AM; Mary Rose Goza-Fava introduced herself as a senior fellow and attorney with the Conservation Law Foundation, which oversees the Legal Food Hub connecting New Hampshire farmers to free legal assistance. She has experience as president of an organic farm growing crops without neonicotinoids. She testified in support of HB1086, highlighting the widespread use of neonicotinoid-coated seeds in agriculture and their environmental impact, noting that up to 90% of the pesticide leaches into soil, water, and air. She cited studies from Cornell University, Quebec, and Ontario showing no economic benefit to neonicotinoid seed treatments for corn or soybean production. She mentioned regulations in Quebec, New York, and Vermont prohibiting such seeds, with Quebec farmers adapting successfully since 2019 without yield drops and with lower seed prices. She emphasized the evidence of environmental harm and supported HB1086 as a first step to form a committee to study and develop appropriate policy for New Hampshire, potentially including a waiver process like New York's.
HB1086: Support 00:20:38.069 - 9:20:14 AM; Rosemary Maltby, policy director and ecologist at the Xerces Society, strongly supported HB1086 in both its original and study bill forms. She noted the substantial evidence of major harms from neonicotinoids, including seed treatments, with little economic benefit. She discussed impacts on pollinators like bees and butterflies at low doses, accumulation in soil over years, and contamination of waterways affecting aquatic insects such as caddisflies, stoneflies, and mayflies, which are food for fish and birds. She referenced a Connecticut report showing increasing neonic detections above EPA benchmarks, correlating with declines in mayfly abundance and species richness in rivers like the Norwalk River. She highlighted economic importance, with handouts on wildlife watching, bird watching, and recreational fishing generating hundreds of millions in New Hampshire. She appreciated Representative Bixby's points on fish and birds and offered to answer questions.
HB1086: Support 00:25:16.425 - 9:24:52 AM; Carol Foss, senior advisor for science and policy at New Hampshire Audubon, supported the bill and aimed to be brief without repeating others. She noted experiences from nearby jurisdictions like Quebec, New York, and Vermont provide learning opportunities before enacting a ban. She expressed concerns that the agricultural community pays for a product on seeds that does not improve productivity but harms soil and water ecology. She also mentioned neonicotinoids entering the human food chain with potential health risks not well-studied in North America. She provided written testimony.
HB1086: Oppose 00:27:36.216 - 9:27:12 AM; Chuck Souther, owner of Apple Hill Farm in Concord with his wife Diane, testified in opposition to HB1086. He acknowledged the need for study but criticized the bill's approach as inefficient, suggesting a small committee reviewing existing research elsewhere. He advocated for a study under New Hampshire conditions, given the importance of corn and increasing small grains for dairy farmers. He recommended including UNH agronomists, soil scientists, entomologists, the Pesticide Control Board, and Division of Regulatory Services to examine local crops, economics, soil effects, and seed regulations. He believed the current bill forms the study committee incorrectly.
HB1086: Oppose 00:29:32.956 - 9:29:08 AM; Rob Johnson, policy director for the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation, opposed HB1086, arguing it predetermines a ban by focusing only on states like Vermont, New York, and Quebec with bans, ignoring rejections in Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. He criticized the lack of New Hampshire farmers and crop experts, and failure to consider local conditions. He noted neonicotinoids' availability aids integrated pest management (IPM) as a last resort, with low mammalian toxicity, preventive benefits in New Hampshire's short growing season, and support for soil health via cover crops and no-till. He recommended handling such issues through the Pesticide Control Board for a comprehensive view, similar to his position on other bills.
HB1086: Support 00:34:41.146 - 9:34:17 AM; Andrea Lamoureux, President and Policy Advocate of New Hampshire Lakes, supported HB1086 and the next bill due to concerns about neonicotinoids contributing to cyanobacteria blooms in lakes, as explained by Representative Bixby. She had sent prior testimony and an explanation on this connection and was available for questions. When asked about the study's narrow structure raised by Farm Bureau, she noted support for additional study amid growing concerns but deferred to others on study design and conduct, not claiming expertise.
HB1086: Support 00:35:49.789 - 9:35:25 AM; Melody Lynn, a resident of Arlington Pond in Salem, New Hampshire, testified about experiencing a huge spike in cyanobacteria outbreaks in their lake, which has opened eyes to the problem of contaminants, implying connection to neonicotinoids.
HB1086: Support 00:36:54.159 - 9:36:30 AM; The speaker expresses concerns about neonicotinoids contaminating waterways due to their water-solubility and presence in wells nationwide. They highlight that only 5% of the active ingredient is absorbed by plants, with 95% entering soil and water. As lake residents, they note contamination from upstream sources beyond their control, emphasizing the need for regulatory limits on persistent chemicals. They discuss how neonicotinoids contribute to cyanobacteria outbreaks by harming invertebrates that control them, and stress that even small amounts in parts per billion can have significant ecosystem impacts, especially on children swimming in affected lakes. They support the bill and another related bill for permits to limit use, urging protection of waterways.
HB1086: Support 00:38:55.359 - 9:38:31 AM; Nisa Marks, owner of Sweetview Farm and former wildlife biologist, supports the study committee as a compromise given clear science on neonicotinoids' ecological harms and limited agricultural benefits. She notes market changes from bans in neighboring states like Quebec, Maine, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey, affecting seed availability. USDA science shows no or inconsistent yield impacts from neonics, while they harm pollinators essential for crops like zucchini, pumpkins, and blueberries. Without pollinators, hand pollination becomes necessary and costly, already occurring in some US farms. Neonics also kill beneficial insects controlling pests like aphids, and resistance is developing, reducing pesticide efficacy. A single treated corn seed can kill 80,000 bees or impair songbird reproduction. Less than 0.5% reaches crops, with most polluting the environment, leading to net negatives without yield increases. During questioning, she affirms not using neonics, favoring organic methods like hand control and observation, and notes alternatives as effective. She agrees neonics are among the most ecologically toxic pesticides, devastating wildlife dependent on insects.
HB1086: Support 00:47:27.052 - 9:47:03 AM; Sarah Rockledge, fourth-generation farmer with a microbiology master's from UNH, agrees on needing a committee to consult experts like UNH and the Pesticide Control Board. Her 50-acre sweet corn farm faces seed corn maggot issues, causing crop loss in affected fields due to New Hampshire's short season; pre-treated seeds are often unavoidable for certain varieties. Variability in pest pressures across fields and influenced by weather like jet stream necessitates tailored approaches. They use neonics as one tool among varied methods, including sprays when needed, and observe strong bird and monarch butterfly presence, attributing it to integrated practices. Removing neonics might force reliance on other methods, disrupting balance. During questioning, she notes not testing specifically for neonics but basic water analysis, sources water from river rights, and uses drip lines and hoses for conservation. She emphasizes New Hampshire's unique conditions differ from other states, affecting insect pressures.
HB1086: Support 00:54:17.756 - 9:53:53 AM; Cynthia Walter, retired biologist and former co-founder of Citizens for Responsible Pest Management, appreciates farmers' input and taught in rural areas. She supports the study committee for engaging farmers in understanding seed coatings and potential regulations, suggesting amendments to specify farmer involvement. The committee can address seed availability without neonics by involving manufacturers preparing for markets like New York's, allowing varieties compliant with reduced neonic use in New Hampshire. It enables Integrated Pest Management (IPM) advancements, recalling pre-IPM chaos. UNH can monitor farms with and without neonics for quick comparisons, involving the Pesticide Control Board; existing farms provide natural controls.
HB1086: Support 00:57:54.756 - 9:57:30 AM; Fawn Godet highlights the broken sacred circle of life due to the sixth mass extinction and insect apocalypse, citing human-caused extinction of one million species. In New Hampshire, the rusty patched bumblebee is locally extinct; pollinators support one-third of food bites daily. US developments in drone pollination and Chinese hand pollination signal crises. EPA approvals harm bees, while Europe bans neonics and some US states act. As the 'live free or die' state, New Hampshire should protect pollinators via the study committee, working with farmers, UNH, and Dartmouth. One neonic seed kills 80,000 bees and one songbird; up to 3 billion birds lost. She urges strengthening the committee to support HB1086FN.
HB1086: Support 01:02:06.659 - 10:01:42 AM; David Trumbull, in his 40th year as a certified organic farmer, compares neonics to other pesticides: since introduction, US agriculture is 48 times more harmful to bees and insects, 92% from neonics, 1,000 times more toxic than DDT. Insects comprise 80% of land species; 90% of birds rely on them for protein. Neonics impact water, reducing zooplankton by 83% and fish harvests by 90% per Japanese studies. One kernel kills 80,000 bees, threatening hives. Seed treatment applies toxin first, not as IPM last resort. Quebec studies show no yield drop after neonic ban, unlike fears; neonics harm beneficial bugs, sometimes decreasing yields as in Purdue melon study. Supports involving UNH and studying other states; Quebec's success suggests benefits for New Hampshire farmers.
HB1086: Support 01:05:45.950 - 10:05:21 AM; Representative Wheeler testified in support of the original version of HB1086, emphasizing the extreme toxicity of neonicotinoids to bees, comparing them to DDT which prompted immediate action when recognized as harmful. He voted against the final House version because it did not go far enough but supports a legislative study committee as the next best step. He opposed expanding it to a commission involving non-legislators due to difficulties in filling seats and limited capacity of experts like UNH to participate extensively. He stressed the urgency of addressing this issue for environmental symbiosis and future sustainability.
HB1431: Support 01:08:54.290 - 10:08:30 AM; Representative McDonald introduced HB1431, highlighting its bipartisan origins and focus on the impacts of neonicotinoids on pollinators, birds, and water bodies. He detailed a decade of efforts, including a subcommittee with state agencies and experts that developed the bill's provisions. The bill restricts use on turf and limits application to trained professionals, changing 'may' to 'shall' for mandatory action by the Pesticide Control Board. He noted precedents like restrictions by NH Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, emphasizing no fiscal impact and the need for progress on this non-political environmental issue.
HB1431: Support 01:16:35.213 - 10:16:11 AM; Representative Bixby explained that systemic and sprayed neonicotinoids are currently general use, allowing unrestricted purchase and application, despite environmental harms. HB1431 designates them as restricted use, requiring licensed applicators, while giving the Pesticide Control Board latitude in rulemaking except for deadlines and apiary notifications. She acknowledged neonicotinoids' role in agriculture, like in apple orchards replacing more toxic organophosphates, and how restrictions enable better management practices, such as trunk application instead of roots to minimize spread.
HB1431: Support 01:20:09.268 - 10:19:45 AM; Representative Wheeler expressed full support for HB1431, praising Representative McDonald's stakeholder engagement. He advocated for restricted use of neonicotinoids to protect pollinators and beneficial insects crucial to ecosystems, emphasizing symbiosis with the environment. While preferring a full ban, he views the bipartisan bill as a positive step addressing urgent constituent concerns about pest infestations and environmental degradation without rejecting modern advancements.
HB1431: Support 01:23:19.108 - 10:22:55 AM; Rosemary Melfi-Versace supported HB1431, citing alarming declines in New Hampshire's pollinators and butterflies, with over 40% of bumblebee species in severe decline or extinct locally. Neonicotinoids are highly toxic, lethal in tiny doses and disruptive otherwise, contributing to these losses. She stressed restricting use to trained applicators due to label complexity and risks of misuse, and endorsed the turf ban, noting precedents in other states like Connecticut and the EPA's inaction, urging New Hampshire to act.
HB1431: Support 01:27:19.049 - 10:26:55 AM; Tanya Albee provided a chronology of neonicotinoid concerns in New Hampshire, starting with 2015 Fish and Game restrictions leading to a 2017 ban, a 2019 study, and the 2021 Dartmouth report recommending action. Neighboring states advanced restrictions while NH lagged despite evidence. She attended Pesticide Control Board subcommittee meetings where rules in HB1431 were developed, but no rulemaking followed. The bill works within existing authority, requesting amendment from 'may' to 'shall' for follow-through, with no fiscal impact, urging support to implement after years of study.
HB1431: Support 01:30:47.049 - 10:30:23 AM; Carol Foss stated New Hampshire Audubon's support for HB1431 and urged an ought to pass recommendation, submitting written testimony for the committee's consideration due to time constraints.
HB1431: Support 01:31:38.364 - 10:31:14 AM; Denise Stallacher supported HB1431, providing background that native plants have co-evolved with pollinators and wildlife over thousands of years, implying the bill's importance for their protection.
HB1431: Support 01:32:15.100 - 10:31:51 AM; The speaker discusses the symbiotic relationships between plants, pollinators, and birds, noting how landscapes managed without systemic pesticides see life return, while those with them experience decline. Neonicotinoids are highlighted as widely used, potent systemic insecticides that affect the central nervous system of insects, leading to paralysis and death, with pollinators being particularly vulnerable. These chemicals move through plants into pollen and nectar, impacting bees through accumulated exposure, sublethal effects like reduced foraging and reproduction, and contributing to ecosystem collapse. In New Hampshire, pollinators support farms, lakes, rivers, and the economy, and communities are investing in native plants, but systemic pesticides undermine these efforts. The speaker criticizes the pesticide control board's lack of action and praises HB 1431 for providing a timeline and accountability to address this gap. Native plants grown without pesticides offer a solution by supporting pollinators, improving soil and water quality, and meeting rising demand, aligning policy with on-the-ground practices to move from discussion to action.
HB1431: Oppose 01:35:36.840 - 10:35:12 AM; The speaker opposes HB 1431, arguing that the pesticide control board already voted on March 20, 2023, to make neonicotinoids restricted use, removing them from shelves for non-licensed users, which he supports. He believes the board can handle this without legislative intervention. Going off-script, he shares a positive experience from a grad student's project, 'Live Free and Pollinate,' which found over 100 species of wild pollinators on his farm during apple bloom, reducing the need for honeybees. He describes abundant wildlife on the farm, including birds and hawks, indicating healthy ecosystems. He notes neonicotinoids' safety for mammals and their role in integrated pest management (IPM), providing options with low mammalian toxicity for applicators, employees, and neighbors. As dedicated IPM growers, they prioritize beneficial insects and have over four acres of pollinator plots with Xerces and UNH support, buzzing with activity. He concludes that the issue is being addressed by the board, making the bill unnecessary.
HB1431: Support 01:39:40.000 - 10:39:16 AM; The speaker supports HB 1431 for its potential to benefit pollinators but suggests improvements for human health and non-pollinator species. She acknowledges the bill's focus on non-agricultural uses and appropriate delegation to the pesticide control board. However, she highlights concerns with two agricultural exemptions: greenhouse uses, where neonics are absorbed into edible crops and cannot be washed off, leading to ingestion. Biomonitoring shows over 95% of pregnant women have measurable neonic levels, linked to birth defects, reproductive issues, insulin dysregulation, and fat metabolism changes in adults. The second exemption is spraying on fruit orchards outside bloom, which reduces pollinator impact but still harms non-target species due to water solubility and landscape mobility. She views the bill as a compromise directing the board to act on diverse concerns and supports it for reducing impacts to pollinators and beneficial insects.
HB1431: Oppose 01:43:41.069 - 10:43:17 AM; The speaker opposes HB 1431, believing the pesticide control board should oversee pesticide regulation due to its expertise in science, technical knowledge, and practical experience, rather than the legislature overriding it. She supports restricting neonicotinoids to licensed users, noting the horror of easy access at stores like Home Depot without required training. She describes a 60-page label for neonics that licensed users must know, including warnings against spraying during bloom and toxicity details. On her farm, they maintain 15-25 hives, and their beekeeper reports no poisoning, with 100% overwintering success. She emphasizes the importance of wild bees as superior pollinators compared to 'lazy' honeybees, advocating to protect them while deferring authority to the board.
HB1431: Support 01:45:59.589 - 10:45:35 AM; The speaker supports HB 1431, urging a long-term view amid increasing pesticide bills like those on neonicotinoids and ESCARs. Referencing Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring, which warned against DDT and pesticides, she notes pesticide use has risen since, peaking in the 1980s and remaining high, correlating with increased pests like mosquitoes, ticks, rats, mice, and agricultural pests, indicating pesticides are not a sustainable solution. She argues for prioritizing the biodiversity crisis through integrated pest management, though she believes it's often not fully implemented. The 'Silent Spring' is now, gradually unfolding, and with her background in entomology (biology degree and master's), she recommends reading or re-reading Silent Spring to educate on the urgency. She provides copies to the committee for informed decision-making on pesticide issues.
HB1431: Support 01:50:35.220 - 10:50:11 AM; The speaker supports HB 1431, drawing from 35 years teaching students about farming practices. She highlights economic benefits: a statewide ban on neonics for non-agricultural plants gives New Hampshire growers a competitive edge over neighboring states with mixed rules, allowing advertising of pesticide-free plants. On public lands, it enhances tourism by making forests and lakes safe. For crop and livestock farmers favoring restriction, it addresses well contamination, forcing farmers to buy bottled water due to neonic use by themselves or neighbors, which her students documented. Cyanobacteria in irrigation lakes, linked to neonics, burdens farmers with aerator costs. She praises the board's move to require licensed applicators but urges legislation to regulate timing and neighbor impacts, as the board needs momentum for details like differing bloom times. Finally, she stresses education on alternatives to prevent overuse and human poisonings, challenging claims of low mammalian toxicity.
HB1431: Support 01:54:39.855 - 10:54:15 AM; Juan Gaudet supports HB1431 as a first step to protect biodiversity from neonicotinoids. He advocates for transitioning to chemical-free organic practices and highlights the success of organic seeds. He discusses the decline in pollinators, the unsafe effects of neonics on humans, mammals, and children, including behavioral harm and sublethal effects. He references testimony from Beyond Pesticides on impacts to birds, mammals like deer, human health including endocrine disruption, breast cancer risks, birth defects, and neurological issues. He urges adoption of chemical-free alternatives and provides the Beyond Pesticides document.
HB1431: Support 01:56:56.857 - 10:56:32 AM; David Trumbull supports HB1431 for classifying neonics as restricted use pesticides but urges strengthening the bill's mandates. He explains constitutional authority allowing the legislature to direct the Pesticide Control Board more forcefully. He suggests specific regulations: restrict non-agricultural uses like on turf and state lands, and for agriculture, reduce use through policies on timing and proximity to schools or homes. He emphasizes evidence of neonics' dangers to human health, ecosystems, insects, and aquatic life, known for over a decade, and calls for a clear mandate to ensure action beyond mere discussion.
HB1431: Oppose 02:01:11.964 - 11:00:47 AM; The speaker, representing a 100-acre family farm in the Connecticut River Valley in Cornish with fields in Windsor, Vermont, opposes aspects of HB1431. They use neonics minimally on potatoes to replace 4-7 sprays for Colorado potato beetle, believing the half-life keeps it away from pollinators during bloom. They dismiss exaggerated comparisons to DDT, noting neonics' lower persistence and human safety. Their main concern is the process: involving the legislature would politicize pesticide regulation, bypassing the Department of Agriculture's expertise, setting a poor precedent.
HB1431: Oppose 02:03:23.404 - 11:02:59 AM; Angela Brennan opposes HB1431, arguing it departs from other states' policies and limits access to safe, affordable pest control for households, disproportionately affecting low-income residents. Neonicotinoids vary in concentration; consumer products have lower levels than professional ones, yet the bill treats them uniformly. She recommends exemptions, educational documents on proper use, and notes HCPA's submitted testimony. In response to a question, she states policies should be science-based and opposes implied consumer bans.
HB1431: Oppose 02:08:06.958 - 11:07:42 AM; Rob Johnson opposes HB1431, viewing it as the legislature bypassing the Pesticide Control Board's expertise by dictating regulations. He questions specific sections: restricted use (lines 19-21) should be board-decided; existing authority covers lines 22-page 2; notification on page 3 conflicts with integrated pest management. Farm Bureau requested the board classify neonics as restricted for foliar and seed treatments, handled by licensed applicators. He analogizes to wildlife management, where legislative overreach harmed populations until experts took over.
HB1013: Information Only 02:12:27.616 - 11:12:03 AM; Representative Judy Aaron introduces HB1013, an amendment to the original bill banning pig scrambles at fairs due to animal welfare concerns like improper handling in heat without water or food. The amendment instead requires the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to publish best handling practices for humane, safe events, covering pig release/capture, supervision, training, and enforcement rules including penalties for non-compliance. This provides guidance to fair organizers while addressing issues without an outright ban.
HB1013: Support 02:16:21.607 - 11:15:57 AM; Kurt Ehrenberg supports the amended HB1013, though preferring the original ban on pig scrambles as cruel. He views the best practices standards as an improvement over nothing and is willing to work with them.
HB1013: Support 02:17:57.604 - 11:17:33 AM; Rob Johnson supports HB1013, stating pig scrambles are not inhumane when properly overseen. He praises the committee's development of best handling practices, which will educate the public on animal handling and promote agriculture positively.
HB1013: Information Only 02:19:11.780 - 11:18:47 AM; Joan O'Brien begins testimony, mentioning she has photos, but the transcript cuts off without further details.
HB1013: Support 02:19:58.139 - 11:19:34 AM; Jono Brian supports HB 1013 as amended to establish best practices and enforcement for pig scrambles. He commends the committee's work and shares experiences from attending events in Deerfield (2023) and Cheshire (2024). Deerfield was well-managed with parental supervision ensuring humane treatment, while Cheshire was disappointing, with pigs placed in seed bags on a hot day and left without water post-event. He raises two caveats: the potential confusion for children learning compassion for pigs raised for food, and the bill addressing only a minor aspect of broader animal welfare issues in factory farming, urging consideration of pork production conditions.
HB1013: Oppose 02:23:26.539 - 11:23:02 AM; Sean Jasper opposes HB 1013 in part, particularly Section 2, as the department was not consulted during amendments. He notes lack of knowledge on event locations and numbers statewide. The department is not equipped for investigations, which should be a police matter, and lacks resources for on-site oversight outside business hours, prioritizing it over core duties like animal cruelty cases. He supports Section 1 for best practices but opposes mandatory rules and penalties, citing challenges in rulemaking due to backlog and cumbersome processes. Current oversight relies on humane treatment expectations under existing animal cruelty laws, prosecutable by police if violated. Best practices could be developed before 2027 season.
HB1425: Support 02:30:06.396 - 11:29:42 AM; Darlene Force supports HB 1425, which consolidates redundant minimum impact project processes into the single, shortest permit-by-notification (PBN) process (25 days vs. 30 days), simplifying database design for cost-effectiveness and reliability. It also grants rulemaking authority for adaptive permitting in emergencies or natural disasters, allowing triage, stabilization, and long-term repairs in phases, developed with other state agencies. This streamlines without reducing oversight.