Transcript Highlights:

• </c> energy resources. energy resources. &gt;&gt; Representative<01:24:01.360><c> Stewart.
• Um, but these are a really critical piece of saving folks money on their energy and being energy independent
• </c> folks money on their uh on their energy folks money on their uh on their energy and<01:32:54.800
• :32:56.320><c> their</c> and being energy independent in their and being energy independent in their
• So it'll be down to uh to energy.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• field Energy Energy Efficiency field Energy Efficiency Efficiency Efficiency measures<00:28:46.559><
• </c> 30 years um and so you know energy 30 years um and so you know energy conservation<00:29:37.039>
• Energy Efficiency programs that our Energy Efficiency programs that our utilities<00:33:09.960><c> run
• </c><00:46:25.480><c> regulation</c> all energy regulation all energy regulation the<00:46:28.319><c>
• </c> Energy Efficiency and sustainable energy Energy Efficiency and sustainable energy board<03:32:30.680

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't handle the finance side. We handle the vehicle for purchasing.
• Item B are the methods of finance presented for your review this month.
• This is the Freeboro Hall planetarium equipment method of finance.
• Number eight is also with UAMS for the West Central Energy Plant boiler.
• Number two, Department of Energy and Environment with Insafe Incorporated.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee first considered an $88,000 used tire program contract for District 4 with LTR Intermediate Holdings. Senators raised concerns that the tire district’s revised business plan had not yet been approved and that the contract could worsen cash flow before funding was confirmed. Questions were also raised about procurement language in the RFP that excluded bidders under corrective action plans. After discussion, a motion was made and approved to hold the contract until next month so the tire board could appear and answer questions. Members then reviewed a large slate of methods of finance, alternative delivery projects, and discretionary grants. These included capital projects at ASU Mid-South, Arkansas Tech, Ozarka, UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UAMS, and UCA; a new UCA multi-purpose arena project estimated at $75.5 million; and DHS and Department of Health grants for aging services, substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition, hearing-loss follow-up, HIV services, and rural hospital quality improvement. All of these items were reviewed without objection. The committee also heard a ratification request from UAMS for a Family and Medical Leave Act outsourcing contract with FMLA Source. UAMS said an amendment had been prepared but never submitted for review, and payments continued after expiration; members expressed frustration and asked UAMS to review whether other contracts had similarly lapsed. The committee then reviewed numerous construction-related, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including airport economic impact study work, parking guidance technology at the University of Arkansas, veteran nursing services, and multiple DHS service contracts. Most items were reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after reports of routine contract amendments and minor contracts were presented for information.

Transcript Highlights:

• "We don't handle the finance side. We handle the vehicle for purchasing.
• Item B are the methods of finance presented for your review this month.
• "Number eight, also with UAMS, is for the West Central Energy Plant boiler.
• Number two is Department of Energy and Environment with InSafe Incorporated.
• Number two, also with the Public Service Commission, is with Daymark Energy Advisors.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the select committees are kind of only as good as the energy we all put into them.
• And so they are more insurable, they're financeable, and they're buildable.
• Sylvia Solis Shaw here on behalf of Advanced Energy United in support. Thank you.
• Motion to pass as amended to the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy. Haney, aye.
• I think the financing costs are going to add up year over year because of the delay.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Financing Authority um budget. Financing Authority um budget.
• </c> to offset their own energy consumption. to offset their own energy consumption.
• </c> receive federal energy assistance. receive federal energy assistance.
• Department of Energy.
• </c> as reported by Excel Energy each year. as reported by Excel Energy each year.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• energy future in California.
• So for the sake of energy affordability, for the sake of clean energy, and for the safety of these devices
• Dave Shukla, Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy, support if amended.
• Program and Department of Energy Science and Engineering.
• Program and Department of Energy Science and Engineering.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, which would streamline approval for portable plug-in solar devices for homes and apartments. The author and supporters argued the bill would help renters and other Californians lower electric bills, expand access to solar, and create statewide safety standards through UL certification and the National Electrical Code. Opponents, including electrical workers, firefighters, utilities, and PG&E, raised concerns about shock, fire, backfeeding, older electrical systems, and the bill bypassing the California Electrical Code and Building Standards Commission process. After extended discussion and testimony from UL, the author agreed to add California Electrical Code language, and several opponents indicated they would move to neutral; the committee then passed the bill out as amended to the Senate Judiciary Committee on a roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 886, which would establish rules for large data centers to prevent electricity cost shifts to other ratepayers. The author and supporters said rapid data center growth could drive major grid costs and that the bill would require data centers to pay for their own infrastructure, participate in demand response, and secure new zero-carbon resources. Supporters included environmental and consumer groups, while opponents such as the Data Center Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, utilities, and business groups argued the bill was unnecessary, could duplicate CPUC proceedings, and might impose operationally risky mandates, especially around demand response and backup power. Committee staff described amendments narrowing the bill to large data centers, clarifying tariff and cost-allocation provisions, replacing behind-the-meter storage with a pre-funded long-term clean energy contract, and exempting certain public and critical facilities; the discussion continued with questions about cost responsibility, clean energy targets, and peak-load management.

Transcript Highlights:

• for energy and renewable development accounts.
• money for energy and renewable development accounts.
• However, for my fourth energy budget, this is the best energy bill I've ever seen.
• Renewables are the cheapest source of energy.
• Not just as an energy source.

Transcript Highlights:

• Teresa Constantinitis is executive vice president for finance and administration, and she's responsible
• Members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, please stand.
• Members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, please stand.
• Energy and minerals comes in above that 2.7 average that is there for the state.
• Speaker, gentleman, by small local public bodies to help them get their finances in order?

Bills: HB95 , HB111 , HJR1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM3 , HM11 , HM14 , HM15 , HM21 , HM34 , HB2 , HB32 , HB33 , HB61 , HJM2 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26

Keywords: HB95, additional judgeship, district court, judicial district, First Judicial District, Second Judicial District, district judges, court administration, judicial staffing, caseload, access to justice, New Mexico courts, judiciary, judge vacancy, court backlog, state courts, water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered an invocation and pledges, and then moved through a series of memorials, recognitions, and announcements. House Memorial 49, declaring February 4, 2026 UNM Day, was taken from the Speaker’s table, explained, and debated at length. Members from both parties and several guests praised the University of New Mexico for its role in education, health care, research, public service, and workforce development, with special recognition of President Garnett Stokes, interim provost Barbara Rodriguez, and Health Sciences leaders and students. The memorial highlighted UNM’s enrollment, degrees awarded, scholarship support, patent activity, and the UNM Hospital and Health Sciences Center. It passed 70-0. House Memorial 48, declaring February 4, 2026 Valencia County Day, was also brought forward and passed unanimously. Supporters described Valencia County’s history, culture, economic growth, and traditions, including the annual matanza, Route 66 heritage, and major employers and development projects. Members from the county and local officials were recognized, and the memorial emphasized both historic communities and current business and infrastructure expansion. House Memorial 50, declaring Lincoln County Day, was introduced by title and placed on the Speaker’s table, but not taken up for final passage during this segment. The chamber also recognized the Artesia Bulldogs football team for winning another state championship, Del Norte High School’s class of 1966 on its 60th anniversary, and a number of guests tied to nursing, education, and local community service. Several members used announcements to highlight nurses, school programs, and local events, including a Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus invitation and a reminder that the day was the final day to file bills with the clerk. The session closed with continued announcements and guest introductions, reflecting a day focused heavily on community recognition and celebratory memorials rather than substantive legislation beyond the memorial votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• energy future in California.
• So for the sake of energy affordability, for the sake of clean energy, and for the safety of these devices
• You know, it's not often that we follow Utah in clean energy policy.
• Dave Shukla, Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy, support if amended.
• Program and Department of Energy Science and Engineering.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A global liquid supply as projected by Rystad Energy.
• They're based off a different model that Rystad Energy produces.
• It's government-financed growth that takes tax dollars to go in for government-financed growth.
• So on slide 19, those are the production forecasts by Rystad Energy.
• In this update, Rystad Energy revised that.

Transcript Highlights:

• The finance committee.
• Um I I'm good with one in finance.
• The finance these.
• It protects the renewable energy fund and supports energy efficiency.
• </c> It protects the renewable energy fund and supports energy efficiency.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that the Committee on Finance be relieved of S. 154, an act relating to health insurance coverage
• Senator from Washington has moved that the Committee on Finance be relieved of S. 154, an act relating
• S. 296, an act relating to development agreements for tax increment financing, introduced by Senator
• The bill is referred to the Committee on Finance.
• It's referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• across the state to experience significantly lower energy bills.
• Our members are on the front lines of California's clean energy transition.
• But for the clean energy transition to work, the process has to work in the real world.
• Craig Scholler on behalf of AILA Community Energy, in support. Good afternoon.
• delays and at times jeopardizes the financing of the of the project.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harris relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction
• HB 1157 by Hinojosa relating to the use of average enrollment for purposes of the public school finance
• Refer to the Committee on Energy Resources.
• Refer to the Committee on Energy Resources.
• Refer to the Committee on Energy Resources.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend the Education Law, the Local Finance Law, and the Environmental Conservation Law in relation
• to the electric school bus mandate, to repeal certain provisions of the Education Law, the Local Finance
• to the electric school bus mandate, to repeal certain provisions of the Education Law, the Local Finance
• Sorry, the bill moves to the Energy Committee.
• Sorry, the bill moves to the Energy Committee.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met on May 5, 2026, and considered a series of bills, several of them brought up through motions for committee consideration. Chair Shelley Mayer said she would allow brief remarks but stated her opposition to those motioned bills, emphasizing her general practice of giving minority members’ bills consideration. The committee first took up S-16 (Jacob’s Law, on bullying and related school safety issues), which was moved out of committee on a majority vote, with Senators Jackson and Bynoe recorded without recommendation. The committee then debated S-717, a local bill by Senator Rose to exempt the Wantagh Union Free School District from the state’s indigenous mascots/logos restrictions. Senator Rose argued Wantagh’s mascot and name are tied to local history and not intended to denigrate anyone. The bill was moved, but the committee vote was not favorable enough to advance it, and it was referred onward to the Investigations Committee. S-4496, Senator White’s bill to protect women’s sports from what supporters described as unfair competition by biological males, drew strong support from the sponsor and strong opposition from Chair Mayer, who said she opposed it as mean-spirited and unnecessary; the bill did not advance. The committee also considered several school bus and transportation bills. S-4748, by Senator Borrello, would repeal the electric school bus mandate and replace it with a feasibility study; he cited safety, cost, and operational problems with early adopters. S-8847, by Senator White, similarly sought to remove electric bus mandates and leave decisions to local districts, and S-9667, by Senator Ryan, would delay the zero-emission school bus mandate by five years. The committee advanced some of these measures to other committees or the floor, while others did not move. In addition, the committee approved S-7788 on special education reserve funds, S-8288A on reasonable rates for public school room use, S-8368 on records retention for Education Department proceedings, S-8370 on temporary resident placement of children with disabilities, S-8370 on release of student records to juvenile detention facilities, and S-1049 on updating the Dignity for All Students Act’s cyberbullying definition to include AI-related harassment.

Transcript Highlights:

• affordable while transitioning to clean energy.
• Renewables, JKB Energy, Citadel Roofing and Solar, Altadena Energy, Solar Technologies, Calcom Energy
• Register the support of Altadena Energy and Solar, Brighton Solar, White Pine Renewables, JKB Energy,
• Citadel Roofing and Solar, Altadena Energy, Solar Technologies, Calcom Energy, HES Renewables, Simply
• Solar, Sunlight and Power, Solar Gane West, Baker Home Energy, Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met as a subcommittee and announced that all bills on the agenda had revenue impacts placing them on the suspense file, so none were eligible for immediate vote. The chair also reviewed procedural rules, including the deadline for position letters and the suspense-file threshold, and later established a quorum before proceeding through the agenda. Most measures were presented, heard, and then referred to suspense without committee votes. Several bills focused on tax credits or exclusions tied to housing and property. AB 1606 proposed a five-year tax credit for small businesses facing cleanup costs from illegal dumping and encampments; AB 1971 would clarify that home-hardening retrofits are not assessable for property tax purposes; AB 2394 would create a capital gains exclusion to encourage long-term homeowners to sell and downsize; AB 1714 would offer a credit for sellers who complete required repairs for CalHFA-assisted first-time buyers; and AB 2389 would extend the property tax exclusion for newly installed solar systems. Supporters generally framed these bills as targeted relief or affordability measures, while opponents raised concerns about revenue loss, policy effectiveness, or implementation. The committee also heard a series of agriculture-related bills. AB 2427 proposed a tax credit for qualified agricultural producers to offset labor, equipment, infrastructure, and production costs, and AB 2192 would extend the state’s farm equipment sales tax exemption to local sales taxes with a General Fund backfill for local governments. Supporters argued both measures would help preserve California agriculture, jobs, and food security amid rising costs and regulatory burdens; opponents questioned the need for the subsidies and the size of the fiscal impact. Both bills were referred to suspense. Other measures included AB 1611, which would end a tax break on capital gains from single-family home sales for large corporate investors to discourage investor competition with homebuyers; AB 2522, which would exempt over-the-counter medications from sales tax; AB 2444, which would add a state deduction for ScholarShare 529 contributions and align California law with federal Roth IRA rollover rules; and AB 1550, which would allow deductions for tips and overtime. Each drew support from sponsors and allied groups, while tax reform and local government representatives opposed several bills over revenue and policy concerns. All of these measures were also sent to the suspense file, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• buildings and investments in renewable energy sources, energy storage technology, and energy resilience
• the energy efficiency of our campus buildings, utilizing renewable energy resources, and providing clean
• We've reduced our energy use by 36%.
• We believe with lower energy costs... We believe the energy costs...
• We believe with lower energy costs, we believe the energy costs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually. University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience. Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs. Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Non-FN bills approved for referral to Finance by the day's FN report to the Committee on Finance.
• </c> is ordered to the Committee on Finance. is ordered to the Committee on Finance.
• </c> is ordered to the Committee on Finance. is ordered to the Committee on Finance.
• ><c> Natural</c> Committee on Energy and Natural Committee on Energy and Natural Resources<00:48:51.680
• But, um, you know, if join the members of the Energy and join the members of the Energy and Natural<00

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to be here in Finance.
• to be here in Finance.
• to be here in Finance.
• My first term I served on Science, Tech, and Energy, and these last two terms I'll be on Finance Division
• My first term I served on Science, Tech, and Energy, and these last two terms I'll be on Finance Division

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for an organizational opening session in which the chair, Ken Weyler, called the committee to order and members introduced themselves. The introductions established the committee’s leadership and membership, including Vice Chair Dan McGuire, ranking member Mary Jane Wallner, deputy ranking member Karen Eil, clerk Jerry Griffin, and other members from both parties. Many members briefly described prior legislative service and professional backgrounds, with several noting prior experience on Finance or related budget committees. Chair Weyler then outlined committee procedures and expectations. He emphasized that Finance handles spending bills and fiscal notes, that bills will generally be heard by the full committee and then referred to the appropriate division, and that executive sessions may be used to save time when positions are clear. He reviewed rules on attendance, dress, phones, paperwork handling, committee replacements, conflict of interest and recusal, and the process for testimony, including that members should listen without debating witnesses and that sponsors of bills must recuse themselves from questioning witnesses on their own bills. He also described the committee’s structure and workload, noting three divisions and the role of legislative budget staff. Weyler said the committee would likely see bills from many policy committees that have fiscal impacts, and he encouraged policy committees to find offsets within their own areas rather than assume new spending will be added. No bills were heard and no votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.