Transcript Highlights:

• Dramatically reduces utilities' costs if you can structure it that way.
• Are the utilities generally being responsive?
• It's dramatically reduces utilities costs if you can structure it that way.
• Are the utilities generally being responsive?
• So this funding is primarily being utilized for new infrastructure.

Summary: The House Transportation Committee held a work session focused on Climate Commitment Act transportation spending and electrification programs. Staff first reviewed overall CCA transportation allocations, saying about $2.2 billion has been allocated over three biennia, with major categories including public transportation, active transportation, ferry electrification, zero-emission vehicle programs, rail/ports, and planning. Members asked for additional breakdowns comparing CCA dollars with total program costs across categories. The Department of Ecology presented on the zero-emission school bus grant program. Ecology said the program was codified in 2024 and supports the transition from diesel to electric school buses, including buses, charging infrastructure, and training. For 2025-27, Ecology received $38.3 million in CCA funding; $21.4 million is already obligated or spent, replacing 91 diesel buses in 28 districts, with the rest to be awarded by the end of the biennium. Members asked about cost parity, exemptions for rural and extracurricular routes, health data, and whether the funding covers chargers as well as buses. Ecology said OSPI is developing the parity formula and exemptions are available when electric buses cannot meet district needs. The Department of Commerce described its clean transportation role, including EV rebates, tribal charging and electric boat projects, and the EV Coordinating Council. Commerce said its rebate program was designed to lower monthly costs and prioritize low-income households, with 89% of recipients saying the rebate was essential to their purchase. It also reported strong demand for charging grants, progress on tribal projects, and concerns about utility interconnection timelines, vandalism, and range anxiety. The Department of Enterprise Services reported on state agency EVSE projects, saying it has completed 82 sites with 567 Level 2 ports and 46 DC fast chargers, and that current projects will add 152 more Level 2 ports; members asked about replacing aging chargers and the state’s EV fleet purchasing mix. WSDOT closed with updates on charging, transit, and port electrification. It said its corridor charging program has awarded 23 sites this biennium, with 13 in overburdened communities and five tribal sites, and that the Washington Zero Emission Incentive Program opened with $112 million for vouchers for zero-emission commercial vehicles and equipment. WSDOT also described transit grants, including bus and bus facility funding, commute trip reduction, paratransit, tribal transit, and zero-emissions access car-share projects. The rail freight and ports division reported $89.8 million for port electrification projects, including shore power and drayage trucks, but noted only about 10% has been spent so far because projects are still in design and permitting. Members raised concerns about funding gaps, supply-chain delays, utility capacity, and whether the programs are sufficient to meet broader electrification needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you mentioned utilization, and so how do we know the actuarial projections on utilizations are accurate
• We're talking missing 1.5% on my utilization request.
• We're gonna see more utilization.
• The second half of this program, so it is for utilization.
• That's just more utilization in the system.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, these are owned and operated by the utility.
• So now we have a homeowner and the utility.
• Why would the vendor contract with the utility contractor, or the utility contract with a vendor to install
• So it could be a Representative Connelly: different from utility to utility, the rules or regulations
• They were first utilized by the EPA in 2019.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Utilities Commission with comments.
• We've been doing a utility providers.
• collaboratively with our utility collaboratively with our utility partners<00:27:34.880> to
• <01:11:57.120> And utilized this point-based system.
• And utilized this point-based system.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 31 and heard a series of resolutions focused on roadway safety, transportation access, and infrastructure coordination. Early measures included HCR 104/HR 96 on advancing coastal trails on O‘ahu’s North Shore and HCR 63/HR 57 on clarifying responsibility for Honouliuli Bridge and addressing safety, wildfire, and emergency access concerns. The Department of Transportation supported both, and a resident testified that the Honouliuli bridge is a single-lane emergency replacement on state land that has limited access for fire protection, heavy vehicles, permits, and repairs. DOT said it was working with DLNR and that jurisdiction may ultimately lie with the County of Maui, with research ongoing. The committee also heard HCR 62/HR 56 on alternative vegetation management along Hana Highway, HCR 43/HR 39 on raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary, and HCR 52/HR 48 on integrating the safe system approach into county road design; these drew support testimony and no opposition. The committee then considered HCR 120/HR 112 on regulating transportation network companies under motor carrier law. DOT and the Public Utilities Commission offered comments, while Lyft opposed, arguing the legislature already created a TNC-specific framework in 2022 and that motor carrier law is not a good fit for app-based ride platforms. In questioning, PUC explained that TNCs would fall under both PUC motor carrier jurisdiction and DOT permitting, and DOT said it would follow up on enforcement questions. Members also discussed HCR 119/HR 111 on an indirect traffic disruption grant program, with the chair asking DOT to clarify how it enforces penalties when contractors or others fail to follow road closure requirements. Other measures discussed included HCR 96/HR 88 on moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system, which DOT supported; HCR 128/HR 120 on coordinating capital improvement planning for Hawaiian Home Lands developments, which DOT and DHHL supported; HCR 127/HR 119 on a state highway police force, which DOT supported; and HCR 125/HR 117 on a statewide plan for derelict utility poles and lines, which drew support from DOT, Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Telcom, with DOT acknowledging it lacks current statutory authority to force immediate removal. The committee also heard HCR 58/HR 54 on school crosswalk safety for Mililani Elementary, HCR 55/HR 51 on using artificial intelligence to mitigate traffic and improve road safety, and HCR 54/HR 146 on expanding the Hele-On Shared Ride program on Hawai‘i Island. Supporters of the Hele-On measure said expanded service would help rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities reach medical appointments and daily activities, while noting cost and technology-access concerns; they said missed or delayed appointments are a real issue in remote areas. The final item discussed in the excerpt was HCR 64/HR 58 on minimizing rumble strip dimensions on Kūhiō Highway on Moloka‘i, with DOT saying it had already removed some strips where large emergency vehicles were affected on narrow curves.

Transcript Highlights:

• certificate of need the Public Utilities certificate of need the Public Utilities Commission<00:
• a blank check the Public utility a blank check the Public Utilities<00:04:40.800> Commission<
• the tech uh industries that utilize the tech uh industries that utilize security<00:11:56.240>
• centers um so the Public Utilities centers um so the Public Utilities Commission<00:19:28.280>
• make more efficient use of uh utilities make more efficient use of uh utilities resources<00:25:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that the utility uses, the same assumptions, modeling inputs, and data used by the utility to evaluate
• The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or co-op from imposing interconnection
• Under the bill, no utility, municipal utility, or electric co-op can be liable for damage or injury caused
• The bill requires any such agreement to provide that the locality pay the utility.
• And finally, it shall be collected by the utility on behalf of the locality.

Keywords: House Room A, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergency room utilization...
• , with a significant increase in utilization across most age ranges.
• Further building upon the utilization management concept could be to introduce a more comprehensive utilization
• incorporate the PBM's proprietary utilization management practice.
• On slide 14, you talk about the different pharmaceutical utilization management.

Summary: The Budget Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. HB 677, relating to state-covered fertility preservation for employees undergoing cancer treatment, was introduced as coverage for egg and sperm preservation for up to three years, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $813,000. After brief questions and no public testimony or amendments, the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/HB 59, which would reform Florida’s wrongful incarceration compensation process by extending the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, removing the clean-hands requirement, and allowing exonerees to choose between the state compensation process and a civil lawsuit; it was supported by the City of Flagler Beach and passed unanimously. CS/HB 1313, which recreates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund in the Department of Environmental Protection before its scheduled termination in 2025, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from advocacy groups. The committee received a lengthy presentation from the Department of Management Services on the State Group Insurance Program and the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. The presentation covered enrollment, revenues and expenditures, rising medical and pharmacy costs, emergency room utilization, GLP-1 drug spending, and options for tighter formulary and utilization management. Members asked about ER cost growth, GLP-1 coverage and copays, PBM oversight and potential conflicts, avoidable ER visits, cancer screening claims, dental and vision costs, specialty drug biosimilars, and possible savings from more restrictive pharmacy models. DMS said it would follow up on several questions and noted ongoing work on cancer coordination, preventive screening, biomarker testing, and a proposed member-facing benefits platform. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 301, which would raise sovereign immunity caps from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $1 million and $3 million, align limitations periods with private claims, and allow government entities to settle above the caps without a claims bill. Local governments, school-related entities, and county and city associations opposed the bill, warning of major fiscal impacts, higher insurance costs, and pressure on services; several speakers urged smaller increases or a tiered approach. Proponents, including families affected by catastrophic injury or death, argued the current caps are too low and the claims bill process is inefficient and unfair. After debate, the bill passed on a recorded vote, with some members voting no, and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• risk from an electric utility perspective.
• We brought in experts in the field from the nuclear field and from the utility industry.
• It can be utilized for a number of uses power generation, of course.
• The Voyager utilizes power modules to scale this more up and down and capacity.
• We're delighted to be here. >> Scg is the the 25 utilities, their 25 utilities, members of SCG.

Transcript Highlights:

• capacity do we have to utilize wood waste in the seven-county metro?
• <00:11:10.880> and would greatly help the utilization and would greatly help the utilization
• These savings are based on 2021 utility rates.
• savings are based on on 2021 utility savings are based on on 2021 utility rates.<00:53:24.000>
• > each<00:53:49.280> of<00:53:49.359> these utility costs for each of these utility

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are getting a good utilization rate.
• As an electric utility, we see electric vehicles as assets that can help us improve utilization of our
• And you said that the utility that El Paso Electric pays for that.
• You said that the utility provides that.
• versus the residential rates of that utility.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can tell you that there are landowners in those areas that would like to utilize this same thing
• the same time, if we wanted to leave it open to where those landowners just east of the Pecos could utilize
• And I can tell you that there are landowners in those areas that would like to utilize this same thing
• And I can tell you that there are landowners in those areas that would like to utilize this same thing
• And I can tell you that there are landowners in those areas that would like to utilize this same thing

Bills: HB2385, HB3349, HB3962, HB3883, HB4396, HB4811, HB5088, HB4588, HB4867, HB4895, HB5398, HB5616

Keywords: NRA, funding, major events reimbursement, annual meetings, exhibits, events trust fund, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, motor sports racing, local control, event support contract, INDYCAR, Arlington, tourism, funding eligibility, sporting events, economic impact, local governments, American Performance Horseman, American Rodeo

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current Texas law, investor-owned utilities... ...municipally owned utilities and telecommunications
• We have utilized both buried and aerial facilities in the past.
• The remedy that's available is just not being utilized.
• But nor is the Public Utility Commission.
• We have some services in some utilities in towns. Linegar does too.

Bills: HB3445, HB3448

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:03:53.040> road to things like utilities, road to things like utilities, road alignment
• <00:43:55.839> Advanced<00:43:56.240> Metering Utilities Advanced Metering Utilities Advanced
• I am the general manager for Rochester Public Utilities.
• Rochester Public Utilities is the largest municipal utility in the... Mr.
• McCulla said Rochester Public Utilities is the largest municipal utility in the state of Minnesota, and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the version that the insurance companies and utility companies came to an agreement with.
• But the rebuttable presumption protection for utilities goes beyond that, doesn't it? Mr.
• But the rebuttable presumption protection for utilities goes beyond that, doesn't it? Mr.
• The solvency of utilities, that is a shared interest. Continue.
• Ultimately, the utilities would like to get to that space.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on Senate Bill 2339 and worked from engrossed version 02001, which members said reflected an agreement between insurance companies and utility companies. Representative Olson moved to recommend that version to the full committee, and Representative Johnson seconded. Representative Conmy raised concerns about keeping strict liability in the bill but removing a rebuttable presumption provision on page 3, arguing it favored utilities and shifted burdens unfairly to landowners. Levi Andres, speaking for North Dakota power companies, opposed removing the language and said the bill was a negotiated, incremental step that still leaves the plaintiff with the burden of proof in court. The discussion also clarified that the bill’s language was intended to codify negligence standards and encourage wildfire mitigation plans, with the utility side noting the Public Service Commission was not yet ready for a mandatory review-and-approval process. A technical correction was noted on page 4, line 2, changing “shall” to “may,” and members confirmed that change was already reflected in the version before them. The committee did not pursue additional amendments, including a proposed Mincota-related change, and voted unanimously to recommend the bill as presented. The motion passed 4-0, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:09.760> on<00:42:10.240> rideaways utilities on rideaways utilities on rideaways
• , relocation of the utilities, relocation of the utilities, >> yeah, >> yeah, >>
• told they have to relocate the utilities told they have to relocate the utilities to<00:42:47.599
• which is the public utilities staff. which is the public utilities staff.
• capital expense funds to be utilized capital expense funds to be utilized here<01:11:35.440>

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 12 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began by noting the plan to suspend the rules later that afternoon so several measures could be taken up on the floor, including bills that may be on final passage or contain reverse repealers. Members were reminded to clearly identify which bills were final passage measures so the chamber would know it might be the last opportunity to vote on them. The committee then moved through a series of appropriations bills. In the education and judicial budgets, Senator DeBar explained House Bills 1928, 1933, 1935, 1936, and 1937, covering the legislative operations budget, DFA buildings reappropriations, K-12 education, MPB, and the library commission. He described increases for teacher pay, special education supplements, testing contracts, ELC coaches, financial literacy, ESA funding, and other adjustments, along with reductions in some areas and a decline in student enrollment affecting the funding formula. The bills were adopted by title sufficient, do pass, with strike-all motions where applicable. Senator Wiggins presented House Bills 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1931, covering the Attorney General, Capital Postconviction Council, district attorneys and staff, the Office of State Public Defender, and the Supreme Court/AOC budget. He highlighted salary increases for agency attorneys, human trafficking funding, new district attorney positions from judicial redistricting, public defender support for family defenders and the rural legal services pilot, and major court-system items such as judicial salary increases, youth court intake, CCID courts, and the MyCIDS replacement system. Questions focused on the meaning of personal services, vacancy funding, and possible use of opioid settlement funds for AOC; the committee was told those issues could be handled through the reverse repealer or other vehicles. The bills were advanced, with the committee noting which ones contained reverse repealers and which were final action. Subcommittee 5 and 6 then handled human services, health, licensing, and transportation-related measures. House Bills 1906, 1909, 1912, and 1921 covered Child Protective Services, Human Services, Medicaid, and Rehabilitation Services, with explanations for new attorney positions, salary and vacancy funding, SNAP administration, Medicaid agency funding, and restoring positions in rehab services. House Bill 1908 for the Department of Health added money for Jackson water litigation and public health priorities such as obesity management, remote monitoring, cancer screenings, and maternal-infant health. House Bills 1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, and 1918 were taken up together for licensing boards, with most changes described as cloud services, PIN restoration, or vacancy funding; only the Board of Medical Licensure bill had a reverse repealer. Finally, Senator Thompson handled special fund and transportation bills, including the Port Authority, waterway and river districts, Yellow Creek, and MDOT. He noted overtime concerns at the Port Authority, special-fund increases for contractual services and capital improvements at the water districts, and MDOT increases for salaries, commodities, equipment, and the three-year highway plan. Senator Wiggins raised a question about utility relocation costs in transportation projects, saying some municipalities were being told to pay those costs themselves; Senator Thompson said he would follow up with MDOT.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:48.159> act to this Gulf Coast regional utility act to this Gulf Coast regional utility
• Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. uh utilities such as uh gas initial gas uh utilities such as uh
• It says current language says municipally owned and operated utility, utility electric utility.
• <00:09:56.560> utility<00:09:57.600> electric and operated utility utility electric
• and operated utility utility electric utility<00:09:58.560> I'm<00:09:58.800> sorry<00

Keywords: Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several energy, utility, and infrastructure bills. Bill 2527 on solar decommissioning was presented as a landowner consumer-protection measure that would set statewide baseline requirements for solar lease agreements, preserve some freedom of contract, preempt duplicative local rules, and protect landowners from reclamation costs; after no questions, it was moved and passed. The committee also discussed changes to the Gulf Coast Regional Utility Act in HB 2058 and HB 2309, including new first-right-of-refusal language, prohibitions on unauthorized service, civil penalties and enforcement tools, and legislative intent language aimed at preventing duplication and protecting public investment; both were adopted as committee substitutes and passed. HB 2018 was amended to extend similar oversight to water systems, and it was reported after questions about the scope of the change. Several bills focused on water and wastewater oversight. SB 2311 and SB 2312 would create statewide A-to-F grading systems for drinking water and wastewater systems, require annual public reporting, and direct the health and environmental agencies to adopt objective scoring rules; both were passed. SB 2526 would create a Mississippi Rural Water Oversight Committee, require rate studies, capacity studies, and asset management plans for water associations, and provide staffing and funding support from existing revolving-fund resources; it was adopted as a committee substitute and reported, with supporters saying it would help identify and assist troubled associations. The committee also heard a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority, allowing a lease of city system assets, special revenue bonds to refinance legacy debt, and supplemental revenue sources such as sanitation fees and possibly sales tax revenues; the sponsor said no general fund money would be used, and the bill was reported. The committee also advanced HB 2641, which was stripped down to a study committee on wind turbine facilities, grandfathered existing projects, and imposed a moratorium on new construction until the study is completed; members asked about existing projects and were told current projects under construction would not be penalized, and the committee substitute passed. SB 2783 would make targeted definition changes to BEAD-related broadband grant programs so remaining federal funds could support other state initiatives, including AI workforce training, and it was reported after questions about future federal guidance. Finally, HB 2787 would add propane to the school gas-leak testing statute; the sponsor said the inspections would not require additional state funding because propane dealers and the State Fire Marshal’s office already handle the checks, and the bill passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Private sector and utility use cases.
• Electric utilities.
• Uh, wastewater utilities are using it, water utilities, oil and gas, especially inspectors here in the
• 00:08:56.080> water<00:08:56.560> utilities, utilities are using it, water utilities, utilities
• to maintaining and updating our utility to maintaining and updating our utility infrastructure.<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings after a motion and second, then heard a presentation from Kent Annis and Boyd Sheerer of the Kentucky Division of Geographic Information on the state’s “KY from Above” aerial imagery and elevation program. The presenters described the program’s goals of creating openly accessible statewide imagery and elevation basemaps, reducing duplicative local and state spending, and supporting uses such as transportation, emergency response, utilities, broadband planning, property taxation, economic development, and education. They said the data is owned by the Commonwealth, distributed in the public domain, and has strong return on investment, with statewide ortho imagery coverage completed in 2022 and elevation phases completed or underway in multiple stages. The witnesses emphasized that the program relies on cost-sharing among state, local, and federal partners and that a small state “seed” appropriation is needed to leverage larger federal contributions. They said about $300,000 a year in seed money could help secure additional federal funds, while a three-year imagery refresh cycle would cost about $5.7 million annually and storage/processing about $150,000 a year. They also noted that no subscription fee is charged for access, opposed charging for use of the data even by for-profit users, and said the program is intended as an economic development tool that avoids multiple entities paying for the same geography. Members asked about the funding request, the potential federal match, and whether the state should charge private companies for access. The witnesses explained that the requested amount was for aerial photography and LAR seed money, that federal funds would not cover aerial photography directly, and that the program already uses a cost-share model with 28 partners rather than subscriptions. They also clarified that imagery is refreshed every three years and elevation data on a longer cycle, with elevation prioritized because it supports accuracy for roads, water lines, and broadband planning. The presentation concluded with no formal vote on the program itself; after questions ended, the chair thanked the witnesses and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not utilities, not regulators, and not Washington telling us what to do.
• > and<00:04:41.240> not Not utilities, not regulators, and not Not utilities, not regulators
• reviewing the util- what the utilities<00:05:21.600> file,<00:05:22.520> but<00:05:22.760
• > proactively<00:05:23.919> telling utilities file, but proactively telling utilities file
• <00:42:45.880> to<00:42:46.040> those have utilities, water already to those have utilities

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 02:25 SB 100 Discussion 02:59 SB 100 Roll Call Vote 31:10 SJR 134 Discussion 32:41 SJR 134 Roll Call Vote 33:43 SB 222 Discussion 34:43 SB 222 Roll Call Vote 39:55, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Devin is utilizing surfactants.
• If you utilize it in a... You get a five-year incentive.
• If you utilize CO2 from coal, you get a 10-year incentive.
• And if you utilize it for a non-Bakken, you get X, and if you utilize it for this, you get Y.
• So we have the blessing of the average deposit balances of the state that we utilize.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.