Latest news with #SB326
Politico
19 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
The California climate export catching fire in Trump's D.C.
With help from Alex Nieves and Jordan Wolman CATCHING FIRE: California's wildfire tech companies are seizing their D.C. moment as Congress and President Donald Trump eye sweeping fire reforms. Representatives from Truckee-based forest mapping company Vibrant Planet and Earth Fire Alliance, a nonprofit coalition working on wildfire-tracking satellites that includes Google and MuonSpace, backed the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing in Washington D.C. on Thursday focused on wildfire policy and technology. They had a receptive audience, with both Rep. Bruce Westerman, the Republican chair of the committee, and Rep. Jared Huffman, the Democratic ranking member, enthusiastically encouraging everything from drones to artificial intelligence to mapping software. 'There is no downside to scaling new technologies across the federal government, especially innovative technologies that improve wildfire suppression and response and facilitate more proactive land management,' said Westerman. To be sure, there are still cracks. Though the bill passed the House, it's cooling its heels in the Senate, where Sen. Alex Padilla is co-sponsoring it, amid broader budget talks. And on Thursday, while Westerman praised Trump's executive order seeking to consolidate federal wildfire agencies and encourage the use of privately developed technology, Huffman lambasted the Trump administration's jobs cuts that are hampering those same wildfire agencies ('This is where I feel like sometimes we must be living on different planets,' Huffman told his Republican counterparts.) But the growing bipartisan embrace of fire technology gives California's climate exports an easy and rare win in the age of Trump — and the companies that stand to benefit are leaning in. They engaged 'from the very start' to shape provisions of the bill, including a fire intelligence center and a pilot tech-testing program, said Matt Weiner, the CEO of nonprofit Megafire Action, which has allied with tech companies. 'This is an industry that was largely grown in California, and that's expanding nationwide now,' said Weiner. 'What you're seeing is policymakers nationwide seeing the potential and the need here…it's an exciting time.' They might actually be having more success in D.C. than at home. The Los Angeles fires triggered a wave of state legislative proposals focused primarily on immediate financial relief for victims and boosting Cal Fire staffing, but tech input has been sparse (the exception being Vibrant Planet's support for Sen. Josh Becker's SB 326, which bolsters wildfire planning and coordination among state agencies and utilities.) And last month, a bill by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris to set up an autonomous firefighting helicopter pilot stalled in the appropriations committee amid the broader budget deficit. Part of the D.C.-Sacramento split-screen is because California's been taking small bites out of wildfire policy as wildfires began shattering records over the past seven years, spending billions to boost its firefighting force — including more than $4 billion for Cal Fire in this year's budget — and tweaking laws to improve prescribed burning and forest management. And partly it's because no one in Sacramento has attempted the type of sweeping reform gaining traction in D.C. Dan Munsey, the San Bernardino County fire chief, testified at Thursday's hearing that he liked the spending on Cal Fire. But he also said that local agencies like his are ahead of the rest of government in embracing technology like firefighting drones. And he said tech can only go so far. 'The answer to this isn't the technology that is broadly available. The answer is leadership,' Munsey said. 'We lack interagency department collaboration. It's very bifurcated. I fully support President Trump's creation of the U.S. wildfire agency. We have to break down the barriers. We're slowly innovating. We are burdened by the regulatory process.' — CvK Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here! GRID GAMES: Everyone from Microsoft to Rivian to IBEW is trying to save a proposal to create a West-wide electricity grid after state lawmakers tried to wrestle back control for California. A broad coalition of business, environmental and utility groups urged state lawmakers to pass legislation to set up the regional grid in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Speaker Robert Rivas on Wednesday. Their fear is that amendments taken earlier this month to Sen. Josh Becker's SB 540 could alienate utilities in other states. The amendments aim to give state lawmakers more oversight of the regionalization effort, but according to the companies and groups, they risk turning off other states that fear giving California too much control over a unified grid. 'Without California's collaborative action on this policy, its partners will leave the current markets, making energy more expensive, less reliable, and making the state's climate goals more challenging and expensive to achieve,' they wrote. Opponents of the bill, including some environmental groups and ratepayer advocates, fear regionalizing California's grid will cede control over its clean energy goals to less environmentally friendly forces. The bill is still waiting for its first policy hearing in the Assembly. — CvK START NEGOTIATING: The clock is ticking for the seven Western states fighting over their share of the dwindling Colorado River. The Trump administration has told the states that border the critical water source that they have until November 11 to reach an 'agreement in principle,' or tell the Interior Department that a deal is unlikely, POLITICO's Annie Snider reports. Scott Cameron, acting assistant secretary for Water and Science at the Interior Department, told state negotiators during a meeting of the Upper Colorado River Commission Thursday that the federal government prefers a state-led deal, but isn't afraid to impose unilateral cuts. States have struggled for more than a year to agree on new rules governing water deliveries to replace those set to expire at the end of 2026. The fight has pitted California, Arizona and Nevada against the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah over how to divvy up water from a river that has shrunk by 20 percent over the past quarter century thanks to drought and climate change. — AN RARE EARTH TROUBLE: The Trump administration's fight with China over rare earth minerals is sending a shock through automakers' electric vehicle supply chains. China's tightening restrictions on the critical minerals used in electronics and heavy-duty motors found in electric vehicles and hybrids are already causing reduced parts supply for car companies, Hannah Northey and Mike Lee report for POLITICO's E&E news. Not all automakers are in the same tenuous position. Ford was forced to shut down a plant in Chicago that makes Explorer SUVs for a week, while BMW and Suzuki have reported disruptions. General Motors, meanwhile, has found itself buffered from the growing trade war after stocking up on rare earth minerals early. The disruption to rare earth supply chains comes as automakers warn that Trump's 25 percent tariff on imported cars and parts — and his threat to increase that levy — will lead to shortages and higher prices at dealerships. — AN — 2024 was the hottest year on record, but it's only likely to get hotter this year. — Longtime Elon Musk ally and top Tesla executive Omead Afshar has left the struggling automaker. — Malaysia, a top destination for California plastic waste, says it will no longer accept shipments from the U.S.
Politico
2 days ago
- Business
- Politico
The California climate export catching fire in Trump's DC
California's wildfire tech companies are seizing their D.C. moment as Congress and President Donald Trump eye sweeping fire reforms. Representatives from Truckee, Calif.-based forest mapping company Vibrant Planet and Earth Fire Alliance, a nonprofit coalition working on wildfire-tracking satellites that includes Google and Muon Space, backed the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C. on Thursday focused on wildfire policy and technology. They had a receptive audience, with both Rep. Bruce Westerman, the Republican chair of the committee, and Rep. Jared Huffman, the Democratic ranking member, enthusiastically encouraging everything from drones to artificial intelligence to mapping software. 'There is no downside to scaling new technologies across the federal government, especially innovative technologies that improve wildfire suppression and response and facilitate more proactive land management,' said Westerman. To be sure, there are still cracks. Though the bill passed the House, it's cooling its heels in the Senate, where California Sen. Alex Padilla is co-sponsoring it, amid broader budget talks. And on Thursday, while Westerman praised Trump's executive order seeking to consolidate federal wildfire agencies and encourage the use of privately developed technology, Huffman lambasted the Trump administration's jobs cuts that are hampering those same wildfire agencies ('This is where I feel like sometimes we must be living on different planets,' Huffman told his Republican counterparts.) But the growing bipartisan embrace of fire technology gives California's climate exports an easy and rare win in the age of Trump — and the companies that stand to benefit are leaning in. They engaged 'from the very start' to shape provisions of the bill, including a fire intelligence center and a pilot tech-testing program, said Matt Weiner, the CEO of nonprofit Megafire Action, which has allied with tech companies. 'This is an industry that was largely grown in California, and that's expanding nationwide now,' said Weiner. 'What you're seeing is policymakers nationwide seeing the potential and the need here…it's an exciting time.' They might actually be having more success in D.C. than at home. The Los Angeles fires triggered a wave of state legislative proposals focused primarily on immediate financial relief for victims and boosting Cal Fire staffing, but tech input has been sparse (the exception being Vibrant Planet's support for state Sen. Josh Becker's SB 326, which bolsters wildfire planning and coordination among state agencies and utilities.) And last month, a bill by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris to set up an autonomous firefighting helicopter pilot stalled in the appropriations committee amid the broader budget deficit. Part of the D.C.-Sacramento split-screen is because California's been taking small bites out of wildfire policy as wildfires began shattering records over the past seven years, spending billions to boost its firefighting force — including over $4 billion in this year's budget for Cal Fire — and tweaking laws to improve prescribed burning and forest management. And partly it's because no one in Sacramento has attempted the type of sweeping reform gaining traction in D.C. Dan Munsey, the San Bernardino County fire chief, testified at Thursday's hearing that he liked the spending on Cal Fire. But he also said that local agencies like his are ahead of the rest of government in embracing technology like firefighting drones. And he said tech can only go so far. 'The answer to this isn't the technology that is broadly available. The answer is leadership,' Munsey said. 'We lack interagency department collaboration. It's very bifurcated. I fully support President Trump's creation of the U.S. wildfire agency. We have to break down the barriers. We're slowly innovating. We are burdened by the regulatory process.' Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's California Climate newsletter.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Senator from St. Louis region pushes to ban DEI practices at Missouri colleges
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Republican state senator representing several counties in the St. Louis region is pushing to ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices at Missouri public colleges. Missouri State Sen. Ben Brown, who represents parts of St. Louis, Franklin and Warren counties, has introduced SB 326 for the ongoing legislative session. The bill was scheduled for a hearing Tuesday within a Senate Education Committee. The bill appears to be part of a broader effort from Missouri Republicans to scale back DEI initiatives, which critics argue promote preferential treatment based on race, gender and other characteristics. St. Louis Blues clinch spot in 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs As currently written, SB 326 would ban public universities from submitting 'written or oral' DEI statements and endorsing any ideology deemed as 'discriminatory' based on characteristics such as race, gender, or religion. The bill would also prohibit 'preferential consideration to any applicant, employee, student, or contractor' for an opportunity within the university based on an 'unsolicited statement' related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, the bill would require universities to submit a compliance report each year to state legislative leaders. If passed, SB 326 would allow applicants, employees, students or contractors to pursue 'injunctive or declaratory relief' against a university found in violation of the bill's provisions. The bill also calls for steep penalties, including unpaid leave for a full academic year upon first offense and termination with five-year statewide employment ban in higher public education upon second or subsequent offense. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Along with this legislative push, Gov. Mike Kehoe has previously signed an executive order to ban DEI initiatives within Missouri state agencies. And on Tuesday, the Missouri Attorney General joined 14 other attorneys general in signing a letter to White House officials, urging what they called 'the country's leading companies' to abandon DEI practices. According to the Associated Press, DEI policies typically are intended to root out systemic barriers to the advancement of historically marginalized groups in certain fields or roles. Meanwhile, SB 326 has had two readings on the Senate floor as is currently under review by a Senate Education Committee. It's unclear how much momentum this bill could gain before the Missouri's legislative session ends on May 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Arkansas bills aim to limit foster care removals
A pair of bills moving through the Legislature seek to tweak foster care and child maltreatment policies, including making it harder to take children away from their parents because of poverty-related neglect. Why it matters: Advocates argue that removing children from their parents is traumatic and should happen only when necessary, J. Robertson of Opportunity Arkansas told Axios. The big picture: The idea that poverty is not neglect is already instilled in Arkansas law, but language in the proposed legislation would make it harder to take a child away solely because of parental finances, Christin Harper, policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, told Axios. Family services would be provided first more often before removal was considered, Robertson said. For example, Robertson cited providing a winter coat for a child if not having one was the reason for a Department of Human Services (DHS) call. Zoom in: SB326, filed by state Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale), states children's health or physical safety being in "immediate danger that cannot be mitigated with the provision of services and support" are grounds to remove them from their parents rather than "substantial risk of serious harm." It also defines neglect as a pattern and removes emotional neglect from the definition. Clark has said that emotional neglect should be removed from the law because it's not clearly defined. SB325, also filed by Clark, would allow parents whose rights were terminated to file to get them back, a filing traditionally handled by DHS or an attorney. That process could start as early as two years after parental rights are terminated instead of the current three-year waiting period. How it works: Harper said it's ideal for children to reunite with their parents in most cases, but it typically requires changes by the parents. The state usually waits at least a year to terminate parental rights after placing children in foster care, giving parents a chance to change. Caveat: The state moves to terminate parents' rights faster in extreme cases, including sexual abuse. By the numbers: As of the end of February, 3,353 children were in foster care in Arkansas, according to DHS. Arkansas had 1,359 foster homes as of Jan. 1, short about 440 of the Division of Children and Family Services' (DCFS) goal of 1,800, DHS spokesperson Gavin Lesnick told Axios in an email. State of play: About 62% of Arkansas children in foster care are moved to a home outside their county, which often means being moved to a new school, according to DHS data. That's partly because the DCFS prioritizes placing children with a family member or family friend who might live outside the child's home county, Lesnick said. Zoom out: SB325 also specifies who, and what cases, will be on the child maltreatment registry, which currently includes all substantiated determinations of child maltreatment. The proposed legislation does not require that parents accused of neglect be on the registry. Being on the registry can prevent parents from getting a job they need to support their child, Robertson said. The proposed law would keep parents investigated for abuse, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation on the list.
