Transcript Highlights:

• Do you still have connections to? Your family and... I'm just going to Rosa. It's not too rosary.
• You can carry or do you still have connections to rural New Mexico?
• I also very much appreciate Regent King's connections to the community, to industry, to the national
• labs, and, most importantly, her generosity of time in helping researchers and students alike connect

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't need to connect the dots. You are fully capable of doing that and getting to that point.
• /c><00:03:51.000> don't<00:03:51.159> need<00:03:51.280> to<00:03:51.400> connect
• <00:03:51.720> the for you we don't need to connect the for you we don't need to connect the

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota House Democrats reacted to the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling that a quorum in the House is 68, saying the decision confirms that neither party can act alone and that Republicans and Democrats must negotiate to organize the chamber. They argued that the GOP’s actions over the prior two weeks were illegitimate once Secretary of State Steve Simon determined there was no quorum, and said all committee activity and the election of a presiding officer during that period were not valid. A major focus was the status of Rep. Brad Tabke’s seat in Shakopee. Democrats said Republicans were trying to use a temporary one-seat advantage to oust Tabke despite his election win, recount victory, and court ruling, which they said found it mathematically impossible that he lost. They said they would not return to the Capitol unless Republicans agreed not to remove him and to respect the voters’ will. Democrats said they were still open to a negotiated power-sharing deal and emphasized that such agreements should be in writing. They described their current offer as allowing Republicans to run the chamber while they hold a one-seat advantage, with committee members from the DFL not voting, and then moving to full power sharing if the House returns to a tie. They said the special election timeline was not changed by the court ruling and that the governor could still issue the writ on February 5, with the session having begun on January 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• required for an applicant, but it's a way that we can get folks who are interested in our program to connect
• whether there are partnerships involved, or something called a sponsorship option that we have connecting
• So we connect with state agencies and federal agencies on a regular basis.
• So we connect with state agencies and federal agencies on a regular basis.
• So we're well connected, we're networked, we do coordinate and collaborate a lot.

Summary: The task force met to focus on funding systems and incentive structures for a proposed regional waste infrastructure effort, including how a future WIPA framework might support solid waste planning in the Willamette Valley. Staff and members heard presentations from DEQ on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, from Business Oregon on the Special Public Works Fund, and from Oregon State Treasury on state bonding capacity and the bond issuance process. Presenters explained how their programs are structured, how projects are scored or approved, what kinds of public entities and projects are eligible, and how interagency coordination and co-funding can work. DEQ emphasized that its revolving loan fund is driven by water-quality benefits and public-health criteria, while Business Oregon described a broader infrastructure loan program for public entities with no scoring system, and Treasury outlined the state’s debt-capacity process and the differences between general obligation and lottery bonds. Members used the presentations to discuss whether similar funding tools could support solid waste infrastructure, especially for transfer stations, regional hubs, and related facilities that may need to be built before Coffin Butte reaches the end of its lifespan. Several questions centered on whether public-private partnerships could qualify, whether equipment inside facilities could be financed, how repayment would work, and whether planning costs could be covered. DEQ and Business Oregon both said they could potentially collaborate on scoring or co-funding, but noted eligibility limits and the need for public ownership in many cases. Treasury said bond capacity is limited and competitive, especially for lottery bonds, and that project authorization generally runs on a two-year cycle, though unused authority can sometimes be reauthorized. In task force discussion, members debated whether the group should pursue a dedicated funding lane for the seven-county region rather than having local governments compete with other statewide needs. Some members stressed the importance of criteria to avoid stranded assets and to ensure funding is available when projects are ready, while others raised concerns about how cities and counties would generate revenue to repay debt during construction and early operations. The group also discussed flow control, system fees, and the need for regional collaboration among counties, cities, and haulers to create enough waste volume to support new infrastructure. Staff noted that pre-session filing materials for the legislature are due September 11, and the chair said the August meeting will focus on organizational structure and identifying partners. During public comment, Representative Kevin Mannix submitted written testimony supporting the WIPA concept and urging the task force to endorse it. Commissioner Bubba King of Yamhill County urged the task force to compare alternatives objectively and warned against adding bureaucracy before evaluating existing infrastructure and costs. Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Roger Nyquist of Marion and Linn counties described regional hub-and-spoke concepts, transfer stations, and intermodal options, emphasizing the need for planning, strategic siting, and collaboration with haulers and local governments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the human connection with our students at the individual and collective level plays a critical role
• I'm also an active social media user, and while I value the connections it creates, I'm often struck
• Social media can offer connection and opportunities to learn, but it is also structured by engagement-based
• it's when the stakeholders, all the stakeholders, come to the table, they are truthful, they are connected
• and they are focused on the They are connected, and they are focused on the shared goal that we are

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on several artificial intelligence bills, opening with remarks about the 9/11 anniversary and then broad statements from the co-chairs about AI’s promise and risks. Chair Farley-Bouvier and Senator Moore emphasized the need for guardrails, transparency, and worker and consumer protections, while Senator Finegold described Senate Bill 37, which would create a framework for AI model training with safety assessments, audits, incident reporting, Attorney General oversight, and workforce reporting. Members also discussed Massachusetts’ position relative to other states and the need for state action in the absence of federal regulation. A large portion of the hearing focused on the Fair Act, House 77 and Senate 35, which would limit workplace surveillance, restrict collection of biometric and location data, require notice and human review for automated employment decisions, and protect workers from retaliation. Labor leaders, including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, building trades, and other worker representatives, testified in support, describing harms from bossware, automated benefits denials, hiring and promotion screening, scheduling, and monitoring in workplaces ranging from health care and education to manufacturing and construction. They argued that AI systems are already affecting wages, benefits, safety, and job security, and that Massachusetts should act now to set clear rules. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 74, which would require informed consent and clear contract terms for digital replicas of voices and likenesses, with SAG-AFTRA representatives supporting the bill as a protection for performers and creators. Another major topic was Senate Bill 51 on social media algorithm accountability and transparency; child safety advocates, researchers, and a public health expert described harms from engagement-based algorithms, including exposure to harmful content, eating disorders, and youth mental health impacts, and supported independent audits and public reporting. A few industry and civil liberties witnesses supported regulation but urged balance, warning against overly burdensome rules while acknowledging the need for privacy, transparency, and accountability. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill connects high school career technical education with registered apprenticeships, allowing students
• to design a youth apprenticeship system, and the CAP program emerged as a central strategy for connecting
• Program and providing students with earlier exposure to apprenticeship opportunities and career-connected
• Program and providing students with earlier exposure to apprenticeship opportunities and career-connected
• This bill helps create stronger connections between education, apprenticeship, and employment while investing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I reference the financial risk to the project, and I'll kind of connect Chair Marsh to your kind
• However, it’s also a critical resource to provide case management and connection to other supportive
• So for one of our clients who was in eviction court, she was able to connect with rent assistance.
• She was able to connect with rent assistance.
• This type of direct financial support, paired with service connection and case management, is an effective

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through her leadership, the Heiau has become a living classroom, connecting generations of young people
• 02:49.400> a<00:02:49.440> living<00:02:49.840> classroom,<00:02:50.800> connecting
• become a living classroom, connecting become a living classroom, connecting generations<00:02:51.960
• :04.960> an<00:30:05.080> official<00:30:05.800> language That constitution connected
• said he would not object to this, and indicated an openness to require disclosure of political connections

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• And that connection is what AB 1585 protects. And this standard is not new or unusual.
• When we extended our Penfolds brand to include California wines, our goal was to thoroughly connect those
• When we extended our Penfolds brand to include California wines, our goal was to thoroughly connect those
• When we extended our Penfolds brand to include California wines, our goal was to thoroughly connect those
• We work across the U.S. and internationally to connect businesses, develop workforce pipelines, and help

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with testimony largely split between supporters and opponents on policy and implementation. Assembly Member Wynn presented AB 2507 to strengthen state consultation with federally recognized tribal governments by requiring clearer tribal liaison roles, a tribal advisory committee, and more consistent early consultation across agencies. Supporters from Wilton Rancheria and the California Tribal Business Alliance said the bill would improve respect, coordination, and program outcomes; no opposition was heard. Wynn also presented AB 2024, a cleanup bill intended to reduce delays in outdoor advertising permit processing by requiring agencies to act on submitted applications. Supporters said it would clarify existing law and reduce uncertainty, and members expressed interest in the measure as a final fix to longstanding interpretation problems. Both bills were later approved and sent to Appropriations. Assembly Member Connolly presented AB 1585, which would require wine labeled “American” to be made from 100% American-grown grapes, aligning the federal “American” designation with California’s 100% sourcing rule for California-labeled wine. Supporters, including growers, farm bureaus, consumer advocates, and family wineries, argued the bill would improve truth in labeling, protect consumers, and help an industry facing bankruptcies, vineyard removals, and job losses. Opponents from major wineries and Wine Institute argued the bill could confuse consumers, create costly label changes, and disrupt blends and cross-regional products that are currently legal under federal law. After extended debate, the committee passed the bill to Appropriations. Assembly Member Ransom presented AB 1605, a DUI safety bill that would allow judges to place a no-alcohol-sales notice on the licenses of repeat or serious DUI offenders, limiting their ability to purchase alcohol. Supporters from law enforcement and roadway safety groups said the measure would address recidivism and help prevent alcohol-related crashes and deaths, while retailers and restaurant groups raised concerns about implementation and ID-checking burdens. The committee discussed committee amendments and the bill passed to Appropriations. Assembly Member Hoover’s AB 2211, allowing craft distillers to operate a second tasting room, also advanced with support from the distilling industry and no opposition. The committee also took up AB 1578, which would require local and state elected officials to take anti-hate speech training; supporters said it responds to rising hate crimes, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and objected to the lack of a clear definition of hate speech. After a lengthy exchange, the bill passed on a party-line-leaning vote to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2717, extending a sunset for off-site advertising displays at large sports venues, was introduced as a venue-revenue and fan-experience measure tied to major upcoming events, and the transcript indicates it was being considered with committee amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• the same process and move to the Appropriations Committee in the Assembly, of which we have some connections
• issues, such as safety, station design, traffic flow, construction mitigation, and neighborhood connectivity
• And again, it's a connectivity. But also the housing need that can come in and fill.
• And again, it's a connectivity. You can't have housing without transportation.
• Site prep, utility connections, access improvements—these costs routinely make otherwise feasible projects

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which would place a $10 billion housing bond on the ballot to fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation of existing deed-restricted units, acquisition/rehabilitation of naturally affordable housing, farmworker housing, and tribal housing. The author and supporters argued the state needs major new subsidy to address homelessness and the affordable housing shortage, while many organizations and local governments testified in support. Habitat for Humanity opposed unless the bond explicitly reserved 10% for CalHome; members discussed that issue and broader negotiations over possible amendments. After quorum was established, the committee approved the bill on a do-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the measure held on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. The author and supporters from LA Metro and the building trades said the bill would prevent opposition to future transit stops from undermining transit expansion, jobs, and climate goals. Several groups that had initially opposed or been neutral, including cities and housing advocates, withdrew opposition after amendments; the League of California Cities moved to no position pending review. The bill passed the committee as amended to Senate Local Government on a do-pass motion, with the roll held open for absent members. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, requiring local agencies to provide early good-faith estimates and itemized lists of on-site and off-site improvements tied to housing projects. Supporters said both bills would improve project feasibility and reduce late-stage cost surprises; there was little opposition, though some local government representatives sought continued discussion on implementation details. Both measures were approved on do-pass motions to Senate Appropriations and held on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines permitting for energy-code-compliant window replacements and limits added aesthetic requirements, with the new-construction portion narrowed to San Francisco; it received support from housing and decarbonization groups and was moved to Appropriations on a do-pass motion, also held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• statute, we'll be discussing them by topic and in sections, and discussing throughout the areas that connect
• Comprehensively, we identify that the curriculum and standards are connected to each other and define
• It has components that are connected to it, but this chart right here is not tied specifically to the
• It has components that are connected to it, but this chart right here is not tied specifically to the
• I think they're connected, but I don't think they're the same thing exclusively. Thank you.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee received a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability, and achievement as part of the adequacy study. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act, the 2003 Quality Education Act, and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required course offerings, graduation requirements, career and technical education pathways, and recent additions such as success-ready pathways, Arkansas history, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a comparative chart showing how the laws and requirements changed over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained the state’s long-term goals for 2030, including 80% proficiency in ELA and math, 52% of English learners on track to English proficiency, and 94%/97% four- and five-year graduation rates. They reviewed 2025 assessment results showing proficiency rates generally in the 30s, with English learners and students with disabilities performing lowest and white students highest. They also discussed school support and improvement categories, equitable access to educators, and report card/public reporting requirements, noting that some ESSA-related measures such as the school index, equity labs, and certain 2024 report card data were not currently available or not being calculated. Members questioned whether those ESSA commitments were being met and asked staff to follow up with DESE, including whether the legislature can revise the ESSA plan. The committee also reviewed the Arkansas Accountability Act and related assessment data. Staff described the Atlas assessment system, alternate assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, ELPA 21 for English learners, ACT results, and NAEP comparisons. They reported that no student group met the 80% proficiency goal in 2025, Arkansas’s ACT composite score declined slightly over time, and Arkansas generally trailed national and SREB averages on NAEP. Members asked for additional data, including historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. The meeting ended with agreement to invite the Department of Education to a future meeting to answer questions about missing data, equity labs, report cards, and ESSA compliance.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have been storing those lands for generations and have a hard... ...connection to that land and
• But they have that hard connection and that commitment to their land and to their community and their
• I farm, I know, I understand that connection with the land and that love that folks have with the land
• But they have that hard connection and that commitment to their land and to their community and their
• I farm, I know, I understand that connection with the land and that love that folks have with the land

Summary: The committee’s final day focused first on a historical overview of New Mexico tax packages by Pam Stokes of Legislative Council Services. She described how tax packages have alternated over the decades between tax relief, revenue raising, and tax reform, with examples ranging from the creation of the gross receipts tax in 1966 to major packages in 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2019, 2022, 2024, and the vetoed 2025 package. Members discussed how tax policy often tracks revenue conditions, how packages can combine increases and decreases, and how local government gross receipts taxes and hold-harmless distributions have affected communities differently. Several members reflected on past packages, especially the 2004 food tax repeal and the 2013 film tax and manufacturing changes, and noted that tax policy can have major economic and political effects even when it is not “sexy” legislation. The committee then heard a proposal to expand the health care practitioner gross receipts tax deduction to include co-insurance, and to extend the sunset date. Sponsor Senator Figueroa said the bill was intended to help recruit and retain medical providers and build on prior deductions for co-pays and deductibles. Testimony explained that co-insurance is the patient’s share after the deductible, that providers currently absorb the gross receipts tax on those payments, and that the proposal would cost about $30 million to the state plus about $20 million to municipalities and counties, with the exact fiscal impact likely to be updated. Members raised concerns about the effect on local governments, whether insurers could be required to reimburse providers, whether the bill would actually attract doctors, and whether better evaluation measures and sunsets should be added. The sponsor said the bill was part of a broader set of efforts to address provider shortages and that the discussion would continue. Representative McQueen then presented a bill to update the Land Conservation Incentives Act. He and conservation partners said the program has protected more than 500,000 acres but has not kept pace with rising land values, especially for irrigated agricultural land in the Middle Rio Grande. The proposal would increase the percentage of conservation value eligible for the credit, raise the per-transaction cap from $250,000 to $2 million, and make the credit refundable rather than only transferable. Testimony emphasized that the program is voluntary, keeps land in private ownership and production, and helps land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve farmland and water rights. Members asked about average credit amounts, how easements work, whether landowners could effectively buy land and then use the credit, and whether there should be inflation indexing or a statewide cap. The discussion also touched on water rights, fencing, and the role of conservation easements in protecting agricultural land and compact water deliveries. Finally, Senator Sharer previewed his 2% tax proposal with a historical presentation on New Mexico tax law, using props to illustrate the evolution from early territorial tax codes to the modern tax system. He argued that the state’s current tax structure is overly complex and that recent federal changes have disrupted the personal income tax base. The committee did not take any votes on the day’s presentations; the meeting was primarily informational, with members offering feedback and raising policy concerns for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities fitting this definition are those that are typically considered high voltage and that connect
• Low-voltage lines, such as those that connect directly to residences, are not within the scope of this
• Low-voltage lines, such as those that connect directly to residences, are not within the scope of this
• The only areas that were excluded were marine areas and islands without bridge connections, as those
• would require... ...were marine areas and islands without bridge connections, as those would require

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• travel and buses that will be taking us different places, we want to make sure that members are connected
• You'll see when these pieces Context, components, connections, infrastructure, and scale come together
• New Mexico's early childhood system is stronger, more connected, and more transparent than ever before
• And connections, it's going to get at exactly the point you're making, and we agree with, and so does
• And we'll look forward to staying connected.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will travel south all the way to Lowman, connecting about 50 miles.
• South all the way to Lowman, connecting about 50 miles.
• It just depends on how we can connect and how we go in that direction. Thank you for that.
• connection.
• And so getting them connected to local food banks, to local providers in their area to see that that

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's figure out a way to actually connect them with the resources, not just create another frustrating
• So let's just make sure that we connect the two. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you.
• Um, are we able to, if you could help connect us with, and I don't know, do we have someone from Texas
• Is there a way and maybe you can connect, if you can connect my office with the folks who the best training
• believe we will also have an investigative committee, um, To address things that aren't necessarily connected

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Madam Chair, members of the community, my job here is just to help show how this connects to other
• We want to discharge them back to where they have connections, whether it's family or other ties.
• They do all of that, and then they're connected to the Gateway Center and the Gateway housing, which
• They can be brought into this setting and then also connected to services.
• They get connected to services. There's a family location.

Transcript Highlights:

• the reason he is so conflicted is that on several occasions he has had the opportunity to tour and connect
• uh<00:16:00.959> to<00:16:01.279> tour<00:16:01.920> and<00:16:02.800> connect
• <00:16:03.360> with opportunity uh to tour and connect with opportunity uh to tour and connect
• this transition unfolds, we need to make sure that their humanity, their safety, and the human connection
• I want to make sure that I also connect this last idea.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• was... ...eventually arrested in Waco after a crime spree, and that evidence was crucial in... connecting
• 50 connection.
• Yes ma'am, I'm sorry, I'm not using the right language, but let's just say 50 connections.
• Members who are large suds and also water supply corporations that have 50,000 connections.
• I want to make the connection between the public information act process and the procurement process.

Bills: HB 111, HB1545, HB2145, HB2467, HB2520, HB4136, HB4181, HB4214, HB4218, HB4219, HB4359, HB4437, HB4822, HB111

Keywords: Texas Public Information Act, open records, public records, government transparency, confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, governmental body, Chapter 552, public information law, nonprofit association, quasi-governmental entity, economic development, trade secrets, proprietary information, commercial financial information, Alamo restoration, local workforce board, TDCJ contract facility, civil commitment facility, water supply corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• comments probably a few times on Prop. 4, so I'm just going to talk about some of the energy-related connections
• , we're also implementing recent legislation that strengthens utility oversight and accelerates connections
• So we were looking for not only suitable sites with gas connection, but we needed the interconnection
• Then we would have to find a new place to recommission them and spend more construction money to connect
• .. ...one that the Legislature has lots of concerns about, and we really need to find some way to connect

Summary: The hearing was an informational budget session on energy agency proposals, with no votes taken. Early discussion focused on Proposition 4 climate bond implementation, including funding for demand-side grid support, offshore wind development, and transmission financing. The Department of Finance said the budget includes allocations for demand-side grid support and offshore wind, but not yet for the $325 million transmission financing piece pending a required study. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to consider whether to wait on offshore wind funding, whether to keep shifting funds into demand-side grid support, and how to direct future transmission financing. Members also raised concerns about local technical assistance for offshore wind, Salton Sea priorities, and the need for more information before final decisions. The California Energy Commission and CPUC then reviewed the broader energy package. The CEC highlighted the demand-side grid support program’s growth, distributed energy backup assets, long-duration storage, hydrogen grants, and the SIRP clean energy reliability program. CPUC testimony emphasized affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, rooftop solar cost shifts, and efforts to reduce rates while maintaining reliability and clean energy goals. Members questioned CPUC staffing, delays in proceedings, coordination with the CEC and CAISO, and the impact of rate increases on customers. The agencies also discussed the AB 3264 transmission financing study, with CPUC saying work on the study had already begun and was on track for the July 1 deadline. Several trailer bill and implementation items were also discussed. The committee reviewed a proposal to extend the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program surcharge, with members split over whether it should be handled in budget trailer bill language or policy legislation; the administration said the surcharge supports a critical program serving about three-quarters of a million Californians. The committee also heard a CPUC data-sharing proposal to allow nondisclosure agreements for transmission and reliability data, which members generally supported as a technical fix. DWR explained a proposal to clarify language for the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve so it can potentially sell three gas-fired units it owns, and the CEC presented a federal transmission grant proposal tied to grid-enhancing technologies and ratepayer cost recovery. Finally, the committee discussed California Lifeline and possible broadband pilot reforms in light of uncertainty around federal Universal Service Fund support, with CPUC saying it is exploring a statewide standalone broadband option for eligible customers.

Transcript Highlights:

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• 00:07:28.759> internet responsible for any bad internet responsible for any bad internet connection
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Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 22, which would limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration detainers. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, the Office of the Public Defender, and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, argued the bill would protect due process and constitutional rights regardless of immigration status. Some supporters requested amendments, including removing a probable-cause terrorism provision, adding enforcement language, and preserving warrant requirements. Public testimony was heavily in favor, with the chair announcing 91 testimonies in support and 52 in opposition. The committee then heard HB 73, which would prohibit setting aside public lands for immigration detention facilities. Testifiers in support said public land should serve local needs, not detention centers, and cited housing, food security, and community trust concerns. The Office of the Public Defender and others also supported the measure, and the chair reported 85 testimonies in support and 40 in opposition. The committee next took up HB 438, which would fund legal representation for people in immigration proceedings. Supporters, including the Public Defender, the University of Hawaiʻi Law School Refugee and Immigration Clinic, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU, emphasized the civil nature of immigration court, the severe consequences of removal, and the need for more pro bono and trained attorneys. Several suggested amendments focused on training and building a legal-services pipeline; the chair reported 83 testimonies in support and 51 in opposition. The committee also heard HB 457, aimed at requiring notice to detained individuals about their rights when ICE seeks to interview them or has a detainer request. Supporters said the bill would ensure people understand their right to remain silent and to refuse interviews, and the Legal Clinic suggested the warning be given orally, potentially via recorded messages, rather than only in writing. The Office of the Public Defender noted the bill aligns with existing due-process warnings in criminal court and suggested referencing current law. Finally, HB 476, which would raise the capital gains tax rate, drew support from Hawaiʻi Appleseed on fairness grounds; the Department of Taxation said it would review revenue questions but had no estimate available. After recess, the committee returned to decision-making and moved HB 22 forward on the chair’s recommendation of HD1, with the chair noting that the bill already contained language allowing counties to adopt stronger standards and protections.