Video & Transcript : 'energy finance' :

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NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Feb 5th, 2026 at 11:33 am

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • That works with energy companies and governments. That works with energy companies and governments.
  • With development timelines and financing and pulling it all together and stacking up financing, I can
  • So I think it's good to incentivize our energy folks. Mr.
  • by title, is referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
  • There's no reason for this going to finance.
Keywords: 996, all
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session, 2/5/2026 #1

Maryland Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:03:57.360><c> energy</c> assistance and home energy energy assistance and home energy energy
  • . finance. finance.
  • Madam Chair of Finance, any announcements?
  • ><c> any</c> Madam Chair of Finance, any Madam Chair of Finance, any announcements?
  • So, what finance All right. Never mind.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Reverend Carissa Serber, and journalized her remarks. Members then welcomed several guests and groups in the gallery, including Maryland Community Action Partnership advocates, Cecil College students and Dr. Mary Bolt, Cecil County Executive Adam Strait, the Maryland Association of Justice, Faith Baptist School students, and several interns and staff members. The chamber also introduced Senate Bill 585 and a bond initiative for the Active Achievers Youth Center, both of which were referred to the appropriate committees or subcommittees. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 255, the Voting Rights Act of 2026 for counties and municipal corporations. Senators questioned the bill’s scope, especially whether it would affect county commissioner election methods, who could bring suit, what “vote dilution” means, and whether the measure was tied to district maps or candidate filings. The sponsor explained that the bill creates a state framework for the federal Voting Rights Act, provides standing rather than a remedy, and applies when a protected class believes its vote has been diluted; political party was said not to be a protected class. The committee amendment was adopted without objection, and the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. On third reading, Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 29 passed with constitutional majorities. Senate Bill 93 also passed. Senate Bill 141, dealing with election misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes, was moved back to second reader for a technical amendment and then special ordered to Tuesday. The Senate also held a lighthearted recorded vote on Seahawks versus Patriots, with the Seahawks winning 28 to 8, and then received committee scheduling announcements for upcoming hearings and voting sessions.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The U.S. is facing a rapidly growing demand for energy. COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
  • IS FACING A RAPIDLY GROWING DEMAND FOR ENERGY Production and domestic manufacturing.
  • As we work to fulfill President Trump's goal of energy dominance, I look forward to seeing this bill
  • and energy storage.
  • AND ENERGY STORAGE.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • lower the costs for utilities to purchase new clean energy.
  • lower the costs for utilities to purchase new clean energy.
  • Dan Chow, on behalf of Ava Community Energy, in support.
  • Alicia Priaga on behalf of San Jose Clean Energy in support.
  • Mark Fenstermaker for Peninsula Clean Energy in support. Mr.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy convened with a quorum and first heard SB 254, a major utility affordability and wildfire package authored by Senator Becker and coauthored by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris. The bill was described as combining wildfire mitigation reforms, $6 billion in securitized financing for future fire-mitigation capital spending, a public ownership/transmission financing program, tighter scrutiny of utility profits, clean energy permitting streamlining, stronger customer connection timelines, and a successor wildfire fund/continuation account to replace the current fund. Supporters, including the Governor’s office, TURN, labor, clean energy groups, utilities, and public advocates, said the measure would lower bills, stabilize utilities, protect fire victims, and reduce wildfire-related bankruptcy risk. Opponents and some local government groups raised concerns about affordability impacts, the volumetric wildfire fee, strict liability, and provisions they said could affect local control. After discussion, the committee approved SB 254 on a 16-0 vote and sent it to the floor. The committee then held an informational hearing on AB 825, which would enable California to participate in a West-wide electricity market. The authors said the proposal could save ratepayers up to $1 billion annually, improve reliability by allowing California to draw on a larger regional supply, reduce curtailment of renewable power, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Support came from environmental organizations, labor, utilities, community choice aggregators, large energy users, and the Public Advocates Office, all emphasizing cost savings, reliability, and cleaner energy integration. TURN opposed the measure, warning that last-minute amendments removed safeguards against subsidizing out-of-state fossil generation and could expose California ratepayers to unwanted costs. Members questioned governance, exit rights, CPUC oversight, and local control, and the authors responded that the bill includes multiple safeguards, legislative reporting, the ability to exit without penalty, and continued local consultation. No vote was taken because the hearing was informational only.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

GVO DEFER, GVO Public Hearings 02-04-2025

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> facilities costeffective Energy facilities costeffective Energy Efficiency<00:04:27.639><c> measures
  • </c> since it all has to do with Energy since it all has to do with Energy Efficiency<00:04:36.280><c
  • We're going to remove the distributed energy...
  • Budget and Finance, good afternoon.
  • Budget and Finance, good afternoon.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/09/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • President, your Committee on Finance, having under consideration House Bill 2016, recommends the bill
  • Chairman, I move the Finance Committee amendment be adopted.
  • I move the Finance Committee amendment be adopted. Members, any questions or comments?
  • Between 2023 and 2025, data centers were projected to account for 94% of all growth in energy demand
  • costs, and people's quality of. ...have a negative effect on the environment, home energy costs, and
Keywords: 1182, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • He’s also the director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research at MIT.
  • They're spending more energy, but also more money, to stay warm.
  • Massachusetts has some of the highest energy bills in the country.
  • Part of the reason is, of course, we continue to ...highest energy bills in the country.
  • The more energy we spend to heat our homes, the more greenhouse gas emissions we're producing.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Feb 11th, 2026

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll just stand on energy.
  • The investment seems to be in other places, in other forms of energy.
  • The investment seems to be in other places, in other forms of energy.
  • We took action to protect our clean energy future.
  • My question just comes in just kind of my experience with finance.
Summary: The hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs and testimony from Governor Healey and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz. The chairs emphasized fiscal caution amid choppy revenue growth, rising health care and education costs, and federal uncertainty, while the governor framed House 2 as a $62.8 billion budget that grows spending by about 1% without new taxes or fees and aims to protect core services while advancing affordability. The administration said the budget uses efficiencies, program integrity, and Fair Share surtax revenue to support education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety, and it also filed a supplemental Fair Share bill using surplus FY25 funds. Much of the questioning focused on the federal “OB3” tax law and the administration’s separate proposal to delay or phase in certain corporate tax changes, especially research and experimental deductions, to avoid in-year budget shocks. Members also pressed the administration on Fair Share allocations, with the governor and secretary explaining that operating-budget surtax spending is weighted more toward education while supplemental spending is more transportation-focused, and that combined spending is roughly balanced overall. The administration highlighted Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, rural school aid, local aid, child care, the MBTA deficit, regional transit authorities, and a new HHS transportation line item as part of the broader transportation strategy. Several members raised concerns about Chapter 70 equity, rural districts, municipal overrides, out-migration, housing affordability, public housing repairs, and the MBTA Communities Act. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion on school funding formulas, PILOT, and municipal aid, and stressed housing production, energy affordability, and workforce development as key responses to out-migration. On energy, the governor defended an all-of-the-above approach, including renewables, gas, and exploration of nuclear, while saying she would continue pushing utilities and regulators to reduce ratepayer costs. The governor also said fire safety grants would not be withheld for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, and members discussed public safety, housing, and local grant impacts in that context. Other topics included the Bright Act and higher education capital investments, with the administration saying it is preparing to support campus infrastructure across the public higher education system and that the bill is intended to strengthen Massachusetts’ competitiveness and retain graduates. Members also questioned cuts to the PCA program and EAEDC, and the governor responded that the state’s PCA program remains strong but is under pressure from large federal health care reductions. No votes were taken; the session was a hearing on the governor’s budget proposal and related policy bills, with the administration taking questions and offering explanations of its recommendations.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Housing Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • But I think that's why you see so much energy because it's sort of this pent-up energy of like, we need
  • We kind of facilitate that; we link them up with financing and so forth.
  • You have to look at park finances. You have to look at the leases.
  • In addition to that, there are financing costs, commitment fees, etc.
  • They have to secure financing. They have to be able to do that.
Committee: Senate Housing
Keywords: 987, senate, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/25/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There is a Finance Committee amendment. Mr.
  • I actually thought they took up 1% of global energy usage.
  • I indeed support nuclear energy as a clean energy technology as long as we have important safeguards
  • This technology regarding nuclear energy is true. It's existed. It's various types of energy.
  • HB 2016, tax returns late filing penalties; Finance.
Keywords: 1182, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Mar 2nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Second, I'll move on to financing costs and conditions.
  • Second, I'll move on to financing costs and conditions.
  • One of them is financing GGRF.
  • Are you talking about enhanced infrastructure finance districts or tax increment financing schemes?
  • One would be financing against cap and invest.
Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee held an oversight hearing on California High-Speed Rail, focusing on the authority’s supplemental project update report and the newly released 2026 draft business plan. Committee leaders emphasized transparency, the project’s funding challenges, and the need for clear answers on costs, schedule, and scope. The High-Speed Rail Authority said the project has made major progress in the Central Valley, including substantial construction completion, right-of-way acquisition, and railhead development, and highlighted over $14 billion in savings from a rebased project plan, plus an additional $2 billion in savings in the draft business plan. The authority also said it expects to begin laying track by the end of the year and continues to pursue private-sector partnerships and clean-energy opportunities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Inspector General both raised concerns about whether the current funding plan is sufficient and whether the authority has clearly identified the timing of future expenditures versus revenues. The LAO said the project likely still faces a funding gap for Merced-to-Bakersfield once financing costs and the loss of $4 billion in federal funds are considered, and warned that cap-and-invest revenues are volatile and may not be well suited for borrowing without additional safeguards. The Inspector General said the authority still has not provided a precise funding plan, estimated the project is about two years away from lacking funds on hand to stay on schedule, and urged lawmakers to focus on financing costs, procurement timing, schedule risks, and distinguishing true cost cuts from scope changes. Members questioned the authority about proposed statutory changes, including CEQA and permitting streamlining, court resources, third-party process changes, sales tax exemptions on materials, and expanded land-use/value-capture tools. They also pressed the authority on the loss of federal funds, the withdrawal of litigation over those funds, and whether the project’s revised savings depend on moving station locations away from downtown Merced and Bakersfield and on other scope changes such as more single-tracking and blended operations south of Palmdale. The authority said it is still committed to Merced-to-Bakersfield, believes the business plan shows a path to completion with sufficient funding, and will work with the Legislature on any needed changes before the final plan is submitted.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 28th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • These are methods of finance. There are three items.
  • Chair, those are all the methods of finance.
  • Members, are there any questions about these methods of finance?
  • Chair, those are all the methods of finance.
  • Lauren Ballard, Chief of Staff, Energy and Environment.
Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Session (01/07/2026)

New Hampshire Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> usually we'd go on to the finance usually we'd go on to the finance report,<00:37:55.040><c> but
  • I do not need it in finance and finance.
  • ; non-FN bills approved for referral to Finance by today's FN report to the Committee on Finance; and
  • ><c> to</c><00:40:05.920><c> finance</c><00:40:06.400><c> by</c> approved for referral to finance by
  • So, finance.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Jul 14th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will agree to that... ...price if you finance the car through us.
  • Department of Energy.
  • Isn't California already a leader on clean energy?
  • California is continuing to transition to clean energy.
  • Energy supply chains to make sure we reach our clean energy goals while providing and protecting good-paying
Summary: The committee first took up SB 712, which would expand California’s smog-check exemption for classic vehicles by adding model years 1976 through 1986 in phases, with a sunset in 2032. The author and supporters, including lowrider advocates and the Specialty Equipment Market Association, argued the bill would preserve car culture, support a small class of rarely driven collector vehicles, and reduce burdens on owners who struggle to find equipment for older smog tests. Opponents, including air district officials, the American Lung Association, and other environmental groups, warned the bill would weaken an important emissions-control program and increase pollution. After discussion, the committee adopted the motion to do pass as amended to Appropriations on a roll call vote of 10-0, with the roll held open for additional votes. The committee then heard SB 800, which requires Caltrans, working with local governments, to assess mitigation measures for suicide prevention on locally owned overpasses crossing state highways. The bill was presented as a response to recent tragedies in Rancho Cucamonga and was supported by local officials, health organizations, and suicide-prevention advocates, who said the measure would help identify high-risk locations and lead to life-saving interventions. There was no registered opposition. The committee members expressed support, and SB 800 was passed to Appropriations on a unanimous roll call vote, with the roll held open. Next, the committee considered SB 30, which would prohibit California public entities from selling, donating, or transferring decommissioned diesel locomotives and railroad equipment with Tier 1 or older engines unless the engine is removed, while allowing Tier 2 and newer transfers under certain conditions. The author and supporters framed the bill as a climate and public-health measure to prevent older, dirtier locomotives from continuing to pollute elsewhere, while transit agencies opposed it, arguing it could limit useful transfers of equipment that still supports passenger service and could be better handled through case-by-case air-quality review. After debate, the committee voted 6-4 to pass SB 30 as amended to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also heard SB 791, which replaces the flat dealer document processing charge cap with a 1% fee capped at $350, along with new disclosure requirements. Dealers and industry groups supported the bill as a way to recover costs and improve transparency, while consumer advocates opposed it as an unjustified increase that would burden buyers. The committee approved SB 791 on a 8-? roll call vote and held the roll open. The meeting then moved on to SB 34, a port-air-quality bill presented by Senator Richardson, but the transcript ends during testimony and debate on that measure.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 29th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Californians are asking for lower-cost, reliable energy, and responsible budgeting.
  • This bill has an automatic salary increase for the Vice Chair of the Energy Commission.
  • trucks, and overall the clean energy future that we inevitably will have to have.
  • I rise to present SB 165, our skilled nursing facility financing reauthorization.
  • California is committed to reaching 100% clean energy by 2045, but the development of clean energy industries
Keywords: 988, house, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session - 2026-04-29 - 11:00AM

Vermont Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Listen to the Committee on Finance.
  • I recognize the to education finance.
  • So I appreciate the Finance get.
  • </c> recommended by the committee on finance. recommended by the committee on finance.
  • </c> proposed by the committee on finance. proposed by the committee on finance.
Keywords: 927, senate, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Senate May 6th, 2026

Louisiana Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We opened up more energy exploration, and our state’s been a leader for generations in energy, and we
  • It is referred to Finance.
  • It is referred to Finance.
  • It is referred to Finance. Commissioner referred to finance.
  • It comes from the Committee on Finance.
Keywords: 974, senate, all
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 11:34 am

West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining moved to amend the title of the bill.
  • I request unanimous consent to withdraw the Energy Industry and Mining Committee amendment.
  • The Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining moved to amend the title.
  • Your Committee on Finance will meet today at 2 p.m. Further announcements? Senator from Fayette.
  • Your committee on finance will meet today at 2 p.m. Further announcements? Senator from Fayette?
Keywords: 994, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Feb 11th, 2026 at 11:30 am

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Renewable energy is cost-competitive.
  • , is referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
  • , is referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
  • for prioritizing water projects pursuant to the Water Project Finance Act, allowing the New Mexico Finance
  • Senator, did you make an announcement on Senate Finance? I did.
Keywords: 996, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Sep 11th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm here representing the Department of Finance.
  • Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Finance to examine loan or financing options that might
  • Does the Department of Finance agree with that analysis? So Jessica Holmes, Department of Finance.
  • Andrew Hull with the Department of Finance.
  • and renewable energy cultivation.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.