Video & Transcript Research : 'group purchasing'

Page 114 of 500
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/16/2026 - Senate Finance

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • For the record, my name is Patrick Bray, representing the Arizona Farm and Ranch Group.
  • if you purchase from Amazon.
  • If you purchase from Amazon. There's not a whole lot of this going on in the United States.
  • that actually use social credit scores: BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, and the Vanguard Group
  • It could be what you purchase, your social media postings—it's all up to that organization that wants
Summary: The committee first approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and held House Bills 29 and 2939 at the sponsor’s request. It then took up House Bill 2016, which would eliminate the late-filing penalty for taxpayers with zero income tax liability; after discussion about whether taxpayers still need to file to establish that they owe nothing, the committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to income tax filers and passed the bill 4-3. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral on the bill but supported the amendment. The committee next heard House Bill 2289, which updates the property-value examples used in bond/override election pamphlets and truth-in-taxation notices from older low values to $300,000. Supporters said the figures are outdated and should better reflect current home values; opponents questioned whether $300,000 was the best benchmark and whether adding another example would confuse voters. The bill passed 4-3. The committee also approved House Bill 4103, which bars school districts from calling bond elections if enrollment is below 50% of capacity. Supporters argued districts should use or monetize excess space before asking taxpayers for more debt, while school administrators and others said the measure would block needed maintenance, safety upgrades, and local decision-making. It passed 4-3. Two related agricultural property bills, House Bills 2104 and 2105, were both amended and passed 4-3. HB 2104 creates a four-year period after a successful agricultural property tax appeal during which assessors generally may not reclassify or reinspect the property absent changes in use, ownership, splits, or improvements. HB 2105 requires advance notice of inspections and inspection reports and provides a three-year inspection exemption after the most recent inspection, with similar exceptions. Farm and ranch groups said the bills provide fairness and certainty after successful appeals; county assessors opposed them as limiting oversight and creating unequal treatment. The committee also passed House Bill 2256 unanimously, which sets notice and title procedures for salvage auction dealers when insurance claims are denied or unpaid, and House Bill 2979 unanimously, which updates credit union regulatory timelines and procedures. Later, the committee passed House Bill 2996 unanimously, clarifying that certificates of insurance are informational only and cannot expand coverage or rights, with penalties for misrepresentations. It also heard House Bill 2174, which renames and updates regulation of insurance modeling and data organizations, requires model filings, and revises related reinsurance provisions; the discussion focused on how DIFI would regulate models versus the companies that create them, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. Finally, House Bill 2477 was introduced to conform Arizona’s 529 plan to federal law by increasing the K-12 withdrawal limit to $20,000, adding post-secondary credentialing expenses, and allowing rollovers to ABLE accounts and Roth IRAs if requirements are met; the sponsor and Treasurer’s Office supported it as a cleanup/conformity measure, and discussion began on how the new rollover options would work.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Appropriations Committee, January 12, 2026 - AM

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • been purchased in 26. been purchased in 26. >> Any<00:14:26.240> followup?
  • <01:47:50.480> uh an appropriation to purchase uh an appropriation to purchase uh transmission
  • ago, this group resisted ago, this group resisted the<02:26:58.240> pull<02:26:58.560> to<
  • So, Senator Group, the floor vote today. So, Senator Group, the floor is<02:31:48.479> yours.
  • But again, I'm take those in group.
Keywords: 916, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session-Day 4, February 12, 2026-PM

Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • group shows the result at this stage of the process.
  • our liquor purchases and liquor sales. our liquor purchases and liquor sales.
  • time for additional capacity purchase time for additional capacity purchase agreements<01:55:24.719
  • Uh maybe capacity purchase agreement.
  • <02:03:02.880> agreement mistake, the capacity purchase agreement mistake, the capacity purchase
Keywords: 916, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 22nd, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, today there's a group of professionals that help support Louisianians in some of their darkest
  • must provide verifiable consent before allowing a minor to download any application, make in-app purchases
  • Senate Bill 415 by Senator Abraham, food purchase cards, create the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program
  • Food purchase cards, create the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, provide for duties of the Department
Summary: The House met with a quorum and handled a mix of ceremonial recognitions, committee reports, and floor action on a large number of bills and resolutions. Members recognized several championship high school teams, including Northlake Christian, Archbishop Hannan, St. Scholastica, Lutcher, and St. Louis, and also designated or commended groups and individuals such as Ascension Parish, the Louisiana Counseling Association, LSU, Dr. Paul Correll, and others. The chamber adopted several resolutions without objection, including measures naming Counseling Day at the Capitol, LSU Day at the Capitol, and honoring Dr. Correll’s retirement, while also receiving and referring various other resolutions and Senate bills to committees or laying them over. The House then took up and passed a series of bills, many with amendments. Major measures included HB 159 creating a Caddo Parish home incarceration pilot program with court, sheriff, and district attorney coordination; HB 364 directing public safety PSAs about celebratory gunfire; HB 414 on background checks for certain health care workers; HB 74 creating a Spectrum Alert program for missing children with autism; HB 568 increasing penalties for visible marijuana use in school zones; HB 786 prohibiting extrapolation in Medicaid provider audits; HB 1033 expanding the definition of critical infrastructure; HB 1041 limiting medical-intervention-based discrimination and mandates; HB 1062 revising the Special School District board; HB 1079 giving charter-school enrollment preference to certain preschool, military, foster care, and custody-ordered students; HB 1139 on discharge planning for involuntarily admitted behavioral health patients; HB 1182 changing occupational therapy licensure credentialing; HB 1214 creating an Office of State Health Care Facilities; and HB 1241 requiring insurers to check for child-support arrears before paying certain settlements. Most of these bills passed by wide margins, often after technical or substantive amendments. Several local and administrative measures also advanced, including bills on utility district per diem, abolishing a police chief position in Edgefield, a crime prevention district fee, and New Orleans historic preservation penalties. The chamber also referred or temporarily returned a number of bills to the calendar, and one local bill on historic preservation in New Orleans was introduced at the end of the transcript. Overall, the meeting was marked by broad bipartisan support for many measures, with recorded roll-call votes on the more contested bills and no major procedural disputes beyond extended questioning on the marijuana-in-school-zones bill and the medical-intervention bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session - part 1 May 18th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • to make up for some of those cuts: we have 6.8 million over the next four years for local food purchasing
  • Just in fiscal year 2025, the federal government canceled $13.3 million to purchase food for schools
  • And that comes from a lot of people, a lot of outside groups that are cities and counties and other folks
  • We're going to make it impossible for you to ever make that purchase.
  • We need money for revolving loan funds so when parks go up for sale, residents can purchase their parks
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/18/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, in part one of the bill, you see where I have health benefit purchasing organizations.
  • Now, in part one of the bill, you see where I have health benefit purchasing organizations.
  • So let's open up the bidding process with a health benefit purchasing organization.
  • So let's open up the bidding process with a health benefit purchasing organization.
  • We did have some questions about the health benefits purchasing organization section.
Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs, and Elections heard several election, health care, and sovereignty-related measures. HB 4115 and mirror resolution HCR 2051 would extend existing statewide rules for paid petition circulators and initiative/referendum disclosures to municipal and county measures, including badge/display requirements for paid circulators and disclosure of expenditures and revenue sources. Speaker Montenegro and supporters framed the bills as transparency and anti-out-of-state influence reforms; the committee recommended HB 4115 do pass by 5-2 and HCR 2051 by 4-3. The committee also considered HCM 2010, urging Congress to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment and return selection of U.S. senators to state legislatures. Sponsor Rep. Powell argued it would restore state sovereignty and accountability, while other members raised concerns about direct democracy, deadlock, and the need for broader public support. The memorial failed on a 3-3-1 vote after a present vote was recorded, despite some members expressing sympathy for the concept. HB 2940 proposed major changes to AHCCCS and DES eligibility verification and procurement, including expanded data checks, a unified eligibility rules engine, new contracting concepts, and a fixed benefit price list. The sponsor said the bill was intended to increase competition, transparency, and fiscal discipline; AHCCCS testified neutrally, noting it already uses many data matches but would need additional work and costs for some provisions, while health plan representatives opposed the bill as a major operational shift that could limit negotiated rates. The committee recommended the bill do pass 4-3. HB 2874, which would ease termination-statement requirements and penalties for committees that never raised money, passed unanimously 7-0. HB 467, requiring inactive-voter status information to appear in precinct registers, signature rosters, or e-poll books, was amended to change a mandatory “shall” to permissive “may” and then passed 5-2. Finally, HB 2775, as amended, would bar state and higher-education participation in implementing international-organization rules or agreements; after removing rulemaking authority for ABOR and adding a higher-education review process, it passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Rules Mar 3rd, 2026

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • It establishes targeted code accommodations that support workforce and charitable small group housing
  • If they believe any of their administrators need coverage, they can purchase those protections.
  • If they believe any of their administrators need coverage, they can purchase those protections.
  • They'll also say that it's the vaccinated group against the combined groups of unvaccinated or unknown
  • They'll also say that it's the vaccinated group against the combined groups of unvaccinated or unknown
Summary: The committee first took up SB 354, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which creates a framework for large planned communities on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area and a streamlined local review process. Senator McLean presented the bill and a strike-all amendment, and members raised concerns about local control, conservation enforceability, data centers, concurrency, multi-county projects, and whether reserve lands could later be converted. Audubon Florida and 1,000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill, arguing the conservation protections were not permanent enough and that the reserve areas could be changed later; small-county representatives also worried about tax-base impacts. Supporters argued the bill would better manage growth, preserve green space, and provide a more orderly alternative to sprawl. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judiciary, school, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship. Amendments added disclosure about whether federal candidates intend to trade stock if elected and adjusted 2026 congressional qualifying procedures in the event of redistricting, including a new qualifying window and petition rules. The bill was reported favorably after brief support from a member of the public and discussion about candidate vetting. The committee also reported favorably CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill with amendments addressing My Safe Florida Home notices, condo pilot eligibility, firefighter hiring, unclaimed property, and related financial-services provisions. Next, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1620, a school board members’ bill of rights. A substitute amendment narrowed the bill to access to records, fiscal transparency, and nondisclosure agreements, while preserving board members’ rights to timely documents, budget information, and public comment, and setting deadlines for records requests. Superintendents and a school board member testified in support, saying the bill clarifies roles and prevents board members from being frozen out. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material”; one senator supported the terminology change but warned about preserving legal precedent and avoiding appellate issues. The committee then reported favorably SB 1548, an update to the Live Local affordable housing law expanding eligible sites and clarifying setbacks, airport proximity, and fair-housing protections. Finally, the committee took up the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates. The bill allows trained master’s-level VPAs to perform limited veterinary services under a veterinarian’s supervision, and an amendment tightened the standard to immediate supervision on premises. Supporters said the measure would expand access to care, especially in rural areas with vet shortages, while opponents argued it added unnecessary regulation. After testimony from veterinary educators and others, the bill continued with support expressed by committee members, including praise for the direct-supervision amendment.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/05/25

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that also kind of came from some of the groups and is built out of, oh, this kind of Senator CPC's
  • Potassium is a key element in crop fertilizers and is typically supplied by purchasing potash, which
  • <00:56:56.960> that support it has received groups that support it has received groups that
  • Once producers purchase equipment to implement these practices, it signals to the rest of the...
  • practices once producers purchase practices once producers purchase equipment<01:10:25.640> to
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 11th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • But it is a big problem for a certain group of people.
  • You can give to that group.
  • There's no doubt that a larger group has certain efficiencies and economies that a smaller group doesn't
  • I mean, there's purchasing power there; there's the ability to negotiate.
  • There's nobody out there that wants to buy it except a group like that.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (04/21/2025)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:48:34.160> They for purchase power agreements." They for purchase power agreements."
  • enter into a purchase power agreement. enter into a purchase power agreement.
  • come up with uh power purchase come up with uh power purchase agreements<00:52:37.359> over
  • <01:05:31.440> power participate in a purchase power participate in a purchase power agreement
  • <02:14:58.400> power 112 relative to purchase power 112 relative to purchase power agreements
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Limiting SNAP purchases 3/24/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:06:44.400> under would be unavailable for purchase under would be unavailable for purchase
  • changing underlying purchasing behavior. changing underlying purchasing behavior.
  • she utilized her per diem to purchase she utilized her per diem to purchase that<00:23:34.360>
  • Now, remember, we had a testifier state that 60% of purchases are split purchases using SNAP benefits
  • are split purchases using of purchases are split purchases using SNAP<00:29:38.560> benefits.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 3603, and Representative Olson first offered and had adopted an A1 author’s amendment. Olson then explained that the bill would direct the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families to seek a USDA waiver allowing Minnesota to bar SNAP purchases of items subject to state sales tax, such as prepared foods, chips, soft drinks, and candy. He argued the goal was to promote healthier nutrition, noted that other states have similar waivers, and said the change could help Minnesota qualify for significant federal rural health care funding. Public testimony was divided. Patrick Garofalo of the Minnesota Grocers Association opposed the bill, saying SNAP is a supplemental program and that the proposal would be difficult to administer at retail stores, create confusion, and expose retailers to serious penalties for mistakes. He argued the state tax code is not a nutrition standard and pointed out inconsistencies, such as some candy-like products still being taxable or some healthy items being treated as prepared food. Will Hagen of Minnesota Retailers also opposed the bill, warning it would require costly point-of-sale changes, retraining, and would turn store employees into enforcers while creating cross-border shopping problems. Matt Schmidt of the American First Policy Institute supported the concept, saying SNAP should emphasize nutrition and that restricting unhealthy purchases would reduce taxpayer subsidies for junk food and soda. Members then debated the bill’s logic and practicality, including questions about which snacks would or would not be allowed under the tax-based standard. Representative Sencer-Mura offered an H2 amendment, framed as applying the same restrictions to legislators’ own per diem spending; Representative Hansen responded that the comparison was not equivalent and raised concerns about household circumstances and accessibility. The H2 amendment was put to a vote and did not prevail. The committee then continued member discussion on the bill.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 5th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Regarding volume purchasing on slide 18, only a handful of states have passed this.
  • However, we did this back in 2019 with the Interagency Pharmaceutical Purchasing Council, which helps
  • when we do volume purchasing through GSD, for example.
  • Making sure that none of those groups are getting left out.
  • Is CYFD a member and participant in each of the regional planning groups?
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • I was part of the group that started the rental housing revolving fund in the 1990s, and the whole goal
  • I was part of the group that started the rental housing revolving fund in the 1990s, and the whole goal
  • testimony, delete any potential preference for housing projects that was providing funding for that group
  • yet too traditional forms of assistance yet too little<00:57:47.520> to<00:57:48.039> purchase
  • Also, to clarify that the chairperson of the group shall be the chair of the board of directors of HHFDC
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related measures. SB 38 SD2 drew mixed testimony on changes to 21H projects, with HHFDC supporting and county and community groups split between support and opposition. In discussion, members focused on how county legislative bodies can alter projects in ways that increase costs, including changes to AMI mixes and fee waivers. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, limiting county changes that would impose stricter conditions than HHFDC, stricter AMI requirements, or reduced fee waivers; the motion passed with one member voting with reservations and two members excused. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 71 SD2, which would revise the rental housing revolving fund. Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi YIMBY, and NAAP Hawaiʻi opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken support for deeply affordable units, eliminate the 5% set-aside for households at or below 30% AMI, and create a funding gap for households between 60% and 120% AMI. Supporters of the bill, including public housing and some development interests, emphasized the need to redirect funding and make the program more flexible. In decision-making, the committee described the bill as making comprehensive changes that would narrow Tier 2 toward higher-income projects and favor shorter loan terms, then moved it out with amendments. The committee also heard and advanced several other measures with little or no opposition: SB 40 SD2 on state finances, SB 378 on HHFDC, SB 572 SD1 on housing, SB 1229 ST2 on the dwelling unit revolving fund, and SB 602 on the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority all received support testimony and were moved forward. For SB 65 SD2, HPHA and other agencies supported the measure, and HPHA testified it sought roughly $8 million to $10 million for repair and maintenance of units not covered by CIP funds. The committee also took up SB 826 SD1 on the low-income housing tax credit, where HHFDC, the Tax Foundation, and DHHL expressed confusion over the bill’s intent and whether it would bar state agencies from using LIHTC financing; no action was taken on that item in the excerpt. SB 944 SD2 on LIHTC transferability drew support and a suggestion to keep clarifying language that notifies the tax department, and the committee indicated it would keep the provision in.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (04/08/2026)

Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that's a group that represents 500 individual and stakeholder groups to promote healthy aging in
  • Uh, as indicated, my name is Jim Monahan from the Dupont Group.
  • I'm here today in behalf Dupont Group.
  • Um, so a $3 reduction for every $10 that you actually expect to reduce purchases by.
  • restrictions on purchase of soft drinks<04:47:19.520> and<04:47:19.760> candy.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for $30,000 that will allow us to help purchase
  • These committees are groups of stakeholders who provide guidance, expertise, recommendations, and support
  • These committees are groups of stakeholders who provide guidance, expertise, recommendations, and support
  • During the summer before ninth grade, a selected group of students meet at the high school each day for
  • This interdisciplinary group has been instrumental in our planning process because we know that this
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held an informational hearing at Quincy Public Schools focused on career and technical education (CTE). Committee members said the visit was intended to gather input for statewide CTE legislation, including efforts to expand awareness and access, improve middle school exposure, invest in equipment and facilities, and strengthen ties to workforce boards and labor pathways. Quincy officials described their CTE system as integrated with academics and highlighted support from district, city, and state partners. School leaders outlined Quincy’s CTE offerings, including 15 Chapter 74 programs at Quincy High School and four at North Quincy High School, with about 1,360 students enrolled. Presenters emphasized curriculum aligned to DESE frameworks, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials, safety training, business electives, dual enrollment and articulation with Quincy College, and grant funding such as Skills Capital and Perkins. They also discussed support liaisons for nontraditional careers and military pathways, advisory committees, and plans to seek Chapter 74 approval for an engineering program at North Quincy, along with new computer science and business offerings. Testimony from MassHire South Shore described workforce partnerships, YouthWorks, job fairs, resume workshops, and the Credit for Life Fair, while the assistant superintendent explained Quincy’s MyCAP planning grant and efforts to build a student-driven college and career readiness system. Three students testified about their pathways in welding, early education and care, and healthcare technology, describing hands-on learning, certifications, clinical or co-op experiences, and future plans for college and careers. Committee members praised Quincy as a model for combining CTE with general education, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous adjournment.
DE
Transcript Highlights:
  • And then the sunset allows us to come back and say, hey, maybe there's another group we need to look
  • So I appreciate this attempt because I do think it's the right group that is hurting the most right now
  • Allows us to come back and say, hey, maybe there's another group we need to look at.
  • So I appreciate this attempt because I do think it's the right group that is hurting the most right now
  • versus New Jersey and $2,280 versus Pennsylvania and Maryland on an estimated $38,000 in taxable purchases
Summary: The House Revenue and Finance Committee met to consider two tax-related measures sponsored by Representative Holofsky. The first was House Substitute 1 for House Bill 386, the Tipped Worker Tax Relief Act of 2026, which would allow a temporary Delaware income tax deduction of up to $15,000 for qualified tips for tax years 2027 through 2029, with phaseouts at higher incomes and a refundable credit for lower-income workers. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill applied to residents and non-residents, whether credit-card tips were included, the need for an updated substitute, and the expected fiscal impact. The Office of the Comptroller General said the bill would likely reduce general revenue and that the fiscal note had not yet been fully reviewed, while Deputy Secretary Goldsmith said the Department of Finance could administer it and that implementation costs would be modest. After public comment, the committee voted on a motion to release the bill, but it did not receive enough votes, so the chair said she would walk it for additional signatures. The committee then heard Senate Bill 219, which would phase in an increase in the military pension income exemption from $12,500 to $25,000 by tax year 2029. Representative Holofsky argued the measure would help attract and retain military retirees, support the economy, and provide a strong return on investment through spending, taxes, and community participation. Members raised concerns about whether the benefit should be income-based, with one member arguing that higher-income retirees may not need the tax break, while supporters emphasized the multiplier effect and the value of veterans to the state. Public testimony from Veterans of Foreign Wars representatives strongly supported the bill and described how the exemption could influence retirement decisions and local economic activity. A motion to release the bill also failed to get enough votes, and the chair said she would walk it for signatures before adjourning the meeting.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit Committee Feb 19th, 2025

Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit

Transcript Highlights:
  • I would like to have it considered by some of the groups that we've worked with. Mr.
  • Address this group, I think the last time we were here was a couple years ago.
  • And actually, I don't think it was this exact group, so it's really an honor to be here.
  • Regarding the steel terminal I mentioned, we're just doing some standard crane repairs and purchasing
  • This is one of the areas when we announced that when we purchased about 272 acres, now 3 years ago, I
Bills: HB1, HB247, HB1
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Drowning impact African-Americans and Native American children more than any other group with drowning
  • I represent the nonpartisan group CAUSE, Californians United for Sex-Based Evidence in Policy and Law
  • Chairman and members my name is Andy Stroud and I'm counsel to Cal's cave school purchasing cooperative
  • We need to purchase two to three EV buses to replace a single diesel bus.
  • And being able to purchase and maintain school buses, that's going to be a greater challenge long term
Keywords: 988, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (01/20/2026)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:06:26.880> of my bill is. and it's for the purchase of my bill is. and it's for the purchase
  • fees for purchase of emergency vehicles?
  • So, in order for us to help uh groups.
  • priority housing by any of these groups priority housing by any of these groups that<00:40:31.200
  • <05:34:58.558> of has to do with the purchase of has to do with the purchase of additional
Keywords: 1189, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EEP-LAB Joint Public Hearing - Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Energy & Environmental Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:14:31.400> of<00:14:31.520> fuel<00:14:31.839> and<00:14:32.080> purchased
  • <00:14:32.440> power >> made up of fuel and purchased power >> made up of fuel
  • and purchased power costs<00:14:33.120> and<00:14:33.200> not<00:14:33.400> direct<
  • <01:07:28.720> should participate as part of the group should participate as part of the group
  • Or it's part of the groups?
Bills: SB3326
Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.