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Bill to create climate change division in DES draws split testimony; committee recommends ITL
Summary
House Bill 526 would create a Climate Change and Damage Division inside the Department of Environmental Services to coordinate adaptation, research and public engagement; DES testified additional staff would likely be needed and the committee voted 10–8 to recommend ITL.
Representative Wendy Thomas introduced House Bill 526, which would establish within the Department of Environmental Services (DES) a division titled Climate Change and Damage to coordinate adaptation planning, research, public education and grant management.
"The division will focus on climate adaptation planning, identifying vulnerabilities such as sea level rise, extreme weather events and shifting ecosystems," Representative Wendy Thomas said. She told the committee the new unit would gather scientific information, model risks and administer grants to support resilience across municipal,…
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