Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at study after study shows that diversity, inclusion and equity within a corporation increases
• We offer courses to our Texas high school students in African American studies and Mexican American studies
• Have access to Mexican American studies and African American studies.
• But we know that these studies.
• On how to effectively participate in the legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico's study had that same study repeated... and showed that one physician generates $11.3 million
• And there's good science on this, and this is not a one-off study. Show the next.
• This competition is happening even though study after Study have shown that business location decisions
• And it's interesting that if you read the news on legislative actions and legislative Discussions in
• And it is not surprising, therefore, that tax incentives are easy to legislate.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the study committee to consider and having been on a few study committees before, um, I know typically
• Will<00:55:58.240> this<00:55:58.880> study<00:55:59.480> committee Will this study
• legislation. Uh Representative Sherer. legislation. Uh Representative Sherer.
• <00:58:10.360> committee the study committee the study committee um um um there's<00:58:13.760
• consider and having been on a few study consider and having been on a few study committees<00:58

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I I'm don't really need legislation?
• legislative one? legislative one?
• One of them is a legislative study, which has only senators and House members.
• study which has only legislative study which has only senators<01:38:35.840> and<01:38:36.159
• worked through the legislative process. worked through the legislative process.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is something that people now I need to address and largest studies.
• So these are topics of safety studies that people focus on as well.
• So my major messages we love studies using real.
• Top prioritize studies on effectiveness, woke indications and safety concerns.
• That's really need a prospective study and patient enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The study from St.
• So this is a piece of legislation that is critically important.
• I turn it over to our legislative agent, Paul Jakes, and also legislative agent Craig Hardy is here as
• presumption, any legislation...
• Any legislation that says we can do better, we are in full support of such stuff.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public safety and public sector employees, with most of the discussion focused on expanding occupational presumptions and retirement protections for police, firefighters, correction officers, court officers, and other public employees. Testifiers from the Legislature, police and fire unions, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, PERAC, and the AFL-CIO generally supported bills covering cancer presumptions, contagious disease presumptions, Parkinson’s disease for firefighters, PTSD-related disability and death, and equity for post-certified police officers under the Heart Law. Several speakers emphasized that these conditions are linked to long-term occupational exposure, that current law leaves out agencies such as UMass police, Environmental Police, DMH police, and other state or campus police, and that the bills would correct gaps in existing benefits and presumptions. Representative Colleen Garry and Senator Joan Lovely spoke in support of expanding the Heart Law and cancer presumption protections, while Representative and Senator sponsors for the firefighter and PTSD bills described the health risks faced by first responders and urged favorable reports. PFFM and MassCOP representatives argued that firefighters and police officers face toxic exposures, infectious disease risks, and chronic stress, and cited studies and other states’ laws in support of the measures. PERAC testified that the PTSD accidental disability bill would clarify confusing case law and update filing requirements so traumatic incidents can be used in applications even when PTSD develops later, while still requiring medical review and retirement board approval. Additional testimony came from correction officers and trial court officers seeking comparable disability and pension protections, including a bill to extend a 100% disability pension to correction officers injured in violent attacks and a bill to treat court officers more like police and firefighters when injured in the line of duty. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, including about whether the PTSD bill would address post-retirement claims and about the impact of excluding “forgotten” police agencies. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee ultimately adjourned after hearing all scheduled testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's fairly new after the legislative session we started that.
• We received funding to do a study Secretary: which we're working to get the study done.
• And depending on the results of that study, I will be requesting additional funding during the legislative
• At '23, we did not have an increase, but we started a new cost study since the '17 study was fairly old
• Because it doesn't need legislation to happen at this point.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Medicaid impact study proposed in the legislation is a critical step towards monitoring and responding
• The Medicaid impact study proposed in the legislation is a critical step towards monitoring and responding
• :54.320> critical<01:49:54.639> step the legislation is a critical step the legislation
• I I move intro study. study. study.
• study will be a true interim study. study will be a true interim study.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, health, and a market demand study.
• oversight and recent legislative oversight and recent legislative changes.<01:10:10.640> So
• > kind<01:30:49.120> of put out, market study, that does kind of put out, market study,
• um legislative discussions. um legislative discussions.
• So, if you're looking at studies and doing there was a recent study that came out from Johns Hopkins

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• The A5 amendment to this bill provides for a bus rapid transit alternative analysis study.
• when we take alternative analysis study when we take on<00:10:09.279> these<00:10:09.480>
• <00:14:32.519> that so that we can do the study that so that we can do the study that representative
• good idea after we've done this study good idea after we've done this study then<01:00:03.640>
• And so I would ask every member here to oppose this piece of legislation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• study.
• Boyd make an interim study. Boyd make an interim study.
• >> enabling legislation. >> enabling legislation.
• . legislate. legislate.
• inexpedient to legislate passes. inexpedient to legislate passes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . legislation. legislation.
• transmission studies.
• I came across that same study myself. I came across that same study myself.
• constant um studies on these vaccines. constant um studies on these vaccines.
• cut off time when studies don't happen? cut off time when studies don't happen?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Waiting on comprehensive committee substitutes from legislative counsel, it is the chair's intention
• Members of the public who wish to testify on legislative business may register at the kiosk outside.
• It just makes it a legislative. Oh, I apologize. OK, thank you. That committee substitute.
• I'd like to give some background and context to this legislation.
• I'd like to give some background context to this, uh, proposed legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our association has previously study.
• interim study. interim study.
• Um, so that study is underway.
• <01:15:49.360> even happy to endorse this legislation even happy to endorse this legislation
• there in 2020 when this legislation there in 2020 when this legislation passed.<01:16:04.080>

Bills: SJ0001, SF0017

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, forestry management, good neighbor authority, state lands, employee funding, donations, revolving account, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A legislative council version, so there were no changes other than cleaning it up through the legislative
• Senate Bill 2269 will codify the legislative intent that...
• Information and misinterpretation of certain studies.
• Who is Funding the studies?
• When you really dig into those studies, you'll find that a...

Bills: SB623, SB1266, SB1310, SB1373, SB1580, SB1952, SB2032, SB2269, SB2544, SB2653, SB2796

Keywords: pharmacist, vaccine administration, COVID-19, exclusive authority, healthcare, Medicaid, provider enrollment, credentialing, administrative burden, Texas Health and Human Services, senior retirement communities, emergency response, residential safety, contract provisions, health and safety regulations, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, this was based off of a population study we did in 2020 after the census.
• This is just like the study they did in the European countries called the Five Finger Study, and the
• POINTR Study.
• This is just like the study they did in the European countries called the Five Finger Study, and the
• Pointer Study.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• study there are plans for 10 of the 11 tribes to participate if we are able to do this study.
• We're also inclusive in the study.
• So how is the study used?
• <00:25:32.000> in last study in last study in 2018.<00:25:33.919> So<00:25:34.159><
• Uh, really appreciate it. are able to do this study. are able to do this study.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the<00:42:05.680> qualitative MMB study came after the qualitative MMB study came after
• <01:13:38.960> We legislation passing 24 and 25. We legislation passing 24 and 25.
• The study was is.
• legislation. Next slide please. legislation. Next slide please.
• As of July 1st, we've legislation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also had four legislators, legislators serving as non-voting members of the work group, three
• And we also had four legislators, legislators serving as non-voting members of the work group, three
• In 2024, we completed a study plan.
• He noted that this is the 10-year study and that the 20-year study is still coming out a year later.
• I'll talk using North Plains Connector as a case study.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience opened by electing Senator Shoemake as chair and Representative Alex Ibarra as vice chair. Members then moved into a series of work sessions focused on data centers, transmission, and workforce needs tied to Washington’s clean energy and grid planning challenges. Kate Bruns and Glenn Blackman presented preliminary findings from the governor’s Data Center work group, created under Executive Order 25-05. They said the group met for six months, received more than 1,000 public comments, and included representatives from agencies, industry, tribes, labor, utilities, environmental groups, and research institutions. The presenters emphasized that data centers are expected to be the largest source of load growth over the next five to ten years, creating concerns about grid capacity, ratepayer impacts, forecasting, water use, backup generation, and compatibility with Washington’s energy and climate laws. They described nine recommendations, including protecting existing energy and climate policy, improving forecasting, seeking more clean power and transmission, and encouraging flexible data center operations. A proposed tax incentive change that would have expanded eligibility while tying the exemption to new clean electricity sources narrowly failed in the work group. Members asked about tribal consultation, cooling technologies, and local benefits from data centers; the presenters said tribal consultation was ongoing and a final report would follow. Keegan Moyer of West Tech then outlined a regional transmission study showing major strain on the Western grid from load growth, electrification, resiliency needs, and limited transmission capacity. He said the 10-year study identified about 12,000 line miles of needed projects across the West, with roughly $56 billion in estimated costs, including planned projects, reliability upgrades, and new interregional transfer projects. He stressed that many projects are upgrades within existing rights-of-way, but new corridors are still needed, and he previewed recommendations on permitting, equipment procurement, cost allocation, and project sponsorship. In response to questions, he discussed the difficulty of crossing jurisdictional “seams,” the role of federal coordination, landowner compensation, eminent domain as a last resort, and the limited role of public financing beyond a federal GRIP grant. Stephanie Scott of Commerce presented the transmission workforce study, which focuses on substation technicians, line workers, and line clearance tree trimmers. She said current workforce levels are far below what will be needed under a clean energy expansion scenario, and that active projects are essential because apprenticeship training depends on thousands of hours of hands-on work. She highlighted barriers such as high upfront CDL and pre-apprenticeship costs, the need for wraparound supports, and the importance of expanding access for women, people of color, and tribal communities. Members asked about tribal utility apprenticeship programs, utility-run training pipelines, and whether the study included funding sources; Scott said the report would include an inventory of apprenticeship programs and tribal considerations, but revenue ideas were outside the study scope. Finally, Brant Johnson of Grid United described the North Plains Connector as a case study in large transmission development. He said the project, a 420-mile, 3,000-megawatt HVDC line connecting Montana and North Dakota, has relied on early stakeholder engagement, route changes, tribal consultation, and coordinated federal and state permitting to reduce risk and shorten timelines. He said the project aims for permits by the end of 2026 and construction beginning in 2028, with an earliest commercial operation date of 2032. In response to questions, he discussed the challenges of crossing regional seams, interconnection queues, land acquisition and compensation, eminent domain, and financing, noting that the project is primarily privately financed with a $700 million federal grant covering a portion of costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge the committee to drive to three categories of legislative packages this session.
• That same logic is now driving the SB 254 study.
• You each laid out a few legislative items that you would like to see pursued. But Ms.
• At the end of the day, I think every legislator wants to make victims whole.
• I think that the legislative...

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.