Transcript Highlights:

• Slide the Medicaid members utilizing Slide the Medicaid members utilizing Behavioral<00:07:40.680
• 421,000 individuals in 2023 utilizing 421,000 individuals in 2023 utilizing Behavioral<00:07:54.520
• So in a sense, we are using the utilization and are paying just for the utilization, but, like you said
• , there could be some that’s not utilizing.”
• So in a sense, we are using the utilization and are paying just for the utilization, but, like you said

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services held its first meeting and received an overview from the Department for Medicaid Services on Medicaid’s behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal said Kentucky Medicaid serves about 1.4 million members, including over half of Kentucky children, with 485,000 expansion members, more than 69,000 enrolled providers, and total fiscal year 2024 expenditures of $18.5 billion. They said Kentucky covers a broad range of behavioral health services, and behavioral health provider enrollment has grown from a little over 4,500 in 2019 to nearly 8,000 in 2024. They also described how Medicaid spending and utilization are tracked through claims and encounter data, with most members served through managed care organizations. Members focused on sharp increases in certain behavioral health billing codes, especially peer-to-peer services, and asked about reimbursement, utilization review, and whether the growth reflected increased need or expanded coverage. DMS said the rise was partly tied to combining facility and nonfacility behavioral health fee schedules in 2023, choosing the higher reimbursement rate to avoid cuts, and that the department has seen an uptick in peer-to-peer services. In response to concerns about overutilization, DMS said it mailed a letter to behavioral health providers, is considering limits and prior authorizations for some services, and plans to create a standardized monthly behavioral health report to monitor trends consistently and identify when controls may be needed. Lawmakers also asked whether the provider network is sufficient and whether access is adequate, especially for children. DMS said provider enrollment has expanded because behavioral health services were added to Medicaid in 2014 and because demand increased after COVID, but acknowledged studies showing children have less access than adults and said that would be an area of focus. The department said managed care organizations are required to ensure access to needed services and that current trends indicate access is available, though one member disagreed and said workforce shortages remain a major concern. Another member asked about non-emergency medical transportation spending, and DMS explained that it is handled through a capitated arrangement administered by the Transportation Cabinet rather than directly by the managed care organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dan Diorio: Yes, utility tariffs in Texas. Mr. Raymond: I know, I know the utility.
• You have data centers utilizing recycled wastewater.
• Should we allow anybody else other than utilities to own generation?
• I think for the transmission and distribution utility, Oncor is a utility that we have been adding employees
• And so our budget is fully approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dan Diorio: Yes, utility tariffs in Texas. Mr. Raymond: I know, I know the utility.
• Diorio: You have data centers utilizing recycled wastewater.
• Looking at larger scale utility scale battery storage systems as well.
• I think for the transmission and distribution utility, Oncor is a utility that we have been adding employees
• And so our budget is fully approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is from your utility company showing your discount as a result of being a community solar subscriber
• . and estro counts Passed on to other utility customers.
• An escrow account set up by the utility specific to the community solar subscribers assures that this
• That's a challenging thing to provide for somebody who pays your utility bill in cash.
• Being one of the utilities of Maryland, has implemented this as of the beginning of the year, and we

Bills: SB9

Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and first considered SB 321 with Senate Amendment 1, the community solar utility billing bill. The sponsor explained that it would consolidate the two-bill system for community solar subscribers into one utility bill, with the utility forwarding the subscriber fee to the solar facility through an escrow mechanism so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers. Testimony from the solar industry, the Public Advocate, and environmental advocates supported the measure, emphasizing easier enrollment, fewer barriers for low-income customers, and guaranteed savings. The committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, but after a roll call vote it was released from committee. The committee then heard SB 9 with Senate Amendment 1, a wetlands protection bill creating a state non-tidal freshwater wetlands permitting program. The sponsor and DNREC described a framework of exemptions, general permits, and individual permits based on wetland type and value, with an advisory committee to develop regulations. Witnesses explained that “exceptional value” wetlands would include unique wetland communities and high-functioning wetlands, and that the bill was intended to preserve important habitat while allowing farming, drainage, and other exempt activities to continue. Some members raised concerns about flooding, land classification, and the balance of the advisory committee, while supporters said the bill was the product of broad stakeholder consensus and would protect wetlands without unduly harming agriculture or development. Public comment on SB 9 was strongly supportive from environmental groups, the Delaware Native Species Commission, the Home Builders Association, the Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and affordable housing advocates, who said the bill balanced conservation with practical land use concerns. After remote testimony, the committee took a roll call vote and SB 9 was released from committee. The meeting concluded with remarks thanking the chair for her service and instructions for members to sign the backers before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:34.880> custodial not limited to utilities custodial not limited to utilities custodial
• Could say additional expenses including but not limited to utilities and... sentence and that kind of
• <00:08:59.200> C Insurance utilities C Insurance utilities C custodial<00:09:01.240> Etc
• <00:12:15.040> and But not limited to utilities and custodial services.
• and custodial Services shall utilities and custodial Services shall be<00:15:13.639> negotiated

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee discussed HB 694, focusing on how to set fair market rates for lease renewals involving state agencies and political subdivisions. Members and the New Hampshire Association of Counties worked through draft language defining fair market value, including how appraisals, depreciation, and building deficiencies should be considered. Testimony emphasized that market value and appraised value can differ significantly, and that the bill should allow flexibility rather than require a rigid formula. The group also debated what expenses should be included in lease terms. After discussion of examples such as utilities, custodial services, insurance, maintenance, and newer needs like communications or internet service, members agreed not to create an overly specific list. They settled on language stating that additional expenses, including but not limited to utilities and custodial services, would be negotiated separately. The final amendment was revised to apply to lease renewals for land, buildings, or space between a political subdivision and the State of New Hampshire, with renewals at fair market rate unless otherwise agreed by the lessor. The subcommittee agreed to have the amendment drafted at OLS and then closed the public subcommittee meeting on HB 694.

Transcript Highlights:

• So think of 100% of how we generate energy: wind is now close to a quarter for some of the utilities.
• What we've done for Xcel Energy, which is the only utility that uses nuclear, is we've allowed them to
• to buy more of it down causing utilities to buy more of it the<00:03:26.400> cost<00:03:26.599
• <00:04:25.759> that<00:04:25.919> uses which is the only utility that uses which is
• the only utility that uses nuclear<00:04:27.360> is<00:04:27.520> we've<00:04:27.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just adds utility improvements serving an industrial site. Thank you.
• House Bill 1404, fraudulent utility conversion; create crime when landlord fails to pay utilities and
• tenants' utilities are interrupted.
• And so, they uh those uh utility bills.
• Funds not utilized in local and private. Funds not utilized in local and private.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled a series of introductions and announcements. Members welcomed guests in the gallery, recognized the doctor of the day, and later made several announcements about memorials, committee meeting times, and calendar deadlines. The chamber also agreed to dispense with the reading of the journal and the titles of bills and resolutions. The body then took up multiple measures, mostly on the appropriations, rules, and general bills calendars. Among the bills discussed and passed were House Bill 941 on the Mississippi Healthcare Industry Zone Act, with an amendment changing the repealer date to 2028; House Bill 1633 on the Site Development Grant Program, with a strike-all clarifying eligible utility and site-improvement expenditures; House Bill 1404 on fraudulent utility conversion, with a substitute strike-all adding protections and criminal penalties related to landlords failing to pay tenant-funded utilities; House Bill 907 revising the timing for sample ballots from the Secretary of State; House Bill 867 allowing Ross Barnett Reservoir funds to be used for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention; House Bill 1558 revising compensation and reimbursement for the Tishomingo County Water District; and House Bill 514 revising the Veterinary Practice Act to protect certified veterinary technicians and update board membership and fees. Several other measures were also addressed, including Senate Bill 2648, which would let the MSU Extension Service assist poultry farmers with comprehensive nutrient management plans and was amended by the House to add Alcorn State University; Senate Bill 2637, on flexibility for the Northeast District livestock show location, on which the Senate voted not to concur and invite conference; House Bill 1069, the Mississippi Agriculture and Farmland Wind Tower Protection Act of 2026, which was amended to shift review of a waterfowl impact assessment to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and impose a one-year moratorium with a study committee; House Bill 1073, a consumer choice bill restricting bans on gas-powered farm equipment and lawn tools; House Bill 942 extending the chiropractic licensure repealer and allowing certain animal chiropractic work under veterinarian supervision; and House Bill 479, which extended temporary licensing timeframes for psychology and marriage and family therapy and added safeguards tied to background checks and qualifications. Most of these measures were adopted and passed by voice vote or by afternoon or morning roll call, with a few items retained on the calendar and several motions to reconsider or hold bills for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• These data centers are designed and utilize closed-loop systems.
• We're definitely interested in healthy utilities because without a healthy utility, we don't get power
• So it's really important that we have healthy utilities.
• There is a cost causation principle in utilities, and so when utilities are building out, let's say,
• Are you a high-tech utility?

Transcript Highlights:

• The utility sets the fee and they have a responsibility to make sure that every utility has a fee set
• That's the utility has a fee set.
• we're saying here is that if the utility we're saying here is that if the utility changes<00:45:
• sets a standard by which the utilities sets a standard by which the utilities must<00:54:10.520>
• from the solar industry and utility from the solar industry and utility experts<00:55:34.560>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223. The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority. Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Thomas Gleason, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
• And you pay down an industrial system by having it utilized.
• You have data centers utilizing recycled wastewater.
• I think for the transmission and distribution utility, Oncor is a utility that we have been adding employees
• And so our budget is fully approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, we utilize tax increment financing and tax abatement as development tools.
• In addition, we utilize tax increment financing and tax abatement as development tools.
• <00:36:09.680> and to make sure that those are utilized and to make sure that those are utilized
• <00:37:22.600> creative our community, we've utilized creative our community, we've utilized
• our zoning ordinances, and utility our zoning ordinances, and utility plans. plans. plans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:14:20.880> property longer be subject to utility property longer be subject to utility
• tax there no longer a regulated utility tax there no longer a regulated utility as<01:14:23.320>
• regarding the assessment of utility regarding the assessment of utility properties<01:18:30.880>
• Power plants are taxed as if they're the utilities, and utilities can recover their costs and guarantee
• Power plants are taxed as if they're the utilities, and utilities can recover their costs and guarantee

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CS for House Bill 1075 improves how essential Representative Alvarez: utility services are delivered
• All of these have tiny towns with tiny water utilities to serve the residents.
• The bill would force these tiny utilities to risk becoming large regional-type utilities to support massive
• And yes, the bill does offer a way for utilities to recover the initial upfront cost of extending the
• But here's the reality: municipal utilities operate beyond their municipal boundary.

Transcript Highlights:

• We, uh, are municipal owned utility and co op reporting.
• , the utility, the utility cost goes down and you take that delta between your baseline, which is what
• they established in the utility budget.
• An online gas utility annual reports today we get 10,000 pages annually.
• Again, from residential to the utility scale level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I want to say we are working with stakeholders to make sure that all types of utility workers are
• TPPA represents the 72 municipally owned electric utilities and other publicly-owned electric systems
• Um, similarly to the other utilities that are represented in this bill and probably in this room.
• they were utility workers, um, and we even had utility workers from other parts of the state, out of
• They were harassed, assaulted specifically for being utility workers, and I do want to say that.

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• And then utilities or this or that.
• And that really sort of underlies everything in utility regulation.
• And that really sort of underlies everything in utility regulation.
• And that really sort of underlies everything in utility regulation.
• And that really sort of underlies everything in utility regulation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regularly in our advoc Public Utilities regularly in our advoc Public Utilities Commission<00:12
• should occur at the Public Utilities should occur at the Public Utilities Commission<00:18:24.120
• They are not connected to the utility grid.
• <00:53:09.359> Commission asked the Public Utilities Commission asked the Public Utilities
• Sorry, I'm used to being at Public Utilities Commission; I have my cadence better there.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• “Neighbor and utilizes that.
• I wonder how this would affect water or not affect water, affect utilities or not affect utilities where
• and things that connect to the electric utilities. ...related to electric utilities and things that
• connect to the electric utilities.
• And the Blaine aquifer, he said it wasn't being utilized. It's been utilized since 1950.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The objective evidence therefore suggests that the primary investigative utility is realized shortly
• The objective evidence therefore suggests that the primary investigative utility is realized shortly
• Trent Smith, on behalf of the California Municipal Utilities Association.
• We do have a couple of concerns, utility-specific.
• of the high-speed rail project and the impact this may have on existing utilities.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have two big topics today to talk about: carbon capture utilization and sequestration, and then we'll
• Now, utilization, people tend to think that as, you know, only so far it can scale, where, you know,
• It's also, frankly, not necessary because there are ways, again, to treat carbon capture, utilization
• And that way we can treat carbon capture, utilization, and storage... ...new compliance categories.
• Utilized.

Summary: The committee held an interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), then on hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR). On the CCUS topic, industry and nonprofit presenters described point-source capture, direct air capture, mineralization, and geologic sequestration, emphasizing Washington’s basalt formations and state trust lands as strong candidates for storage. They argued that CCUS can help hard-to-abate industrial sectors, support jobs and investment, and provide a pathway for compliance, while also noting the need for clearer permitting, subsurface rights, pipeline authority, and storage infrastructure. Ecology and Commerce staff explained current state policy touchpoints, including Cap-and-Invest offsets and exemptions for permanently stored CO2, the public comment process underway to define “thousand-year” permanence, and how CCUS might fit within the Clean Energy Transformation Act without counting emitting generation as non-emitting. Some presenters supported more state action and primacy over federal permitting, while others warned about costs, energy use, uncertain capture performance, and the need to ensure real net greenhouse gas reductions and long-term liability protections. Members asked about public meetings, whether mineralized carbon would qualify as exempt under the Climate Commitment Act, the timeline for Ecology guidance, aquifer and water-quality concerns, energy intensity of capture systems, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Responses said Ecology’s guidance process is already underway, public meetings will be virtual, mineralized carbon would likely qualify if it meets the permanence standard, and EPA rules require storage in deep saline formations below drinking water aquifers. Industry speakers said capture energy use varies by source and concentration, and one presenter noted that some states use trust funds funded by injectors to address long-term liability. The second half of the session shifted to hazardous waste and EPR. Ecology staff reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste management in Washington. They highlighted that E-Cycle and PaintCare are producer-funded, that the battery stewardship program will begin in 2027, and that the mercury lamp program is in transition after its prior stewardship organization exited, prompting enforcement notices and a pending replacement plan. Ecology recommended best practices for future EPR programs, including clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong agency enforcement and plan approval authority. Local government speakers from King County and Douglas County described rising collection costs, equity and access barriers, rural travel distances, and the need for stable funding and flexible local implementation. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and supports EPR as a way to shift costs from ratepayers to producers, while Douglas County emphasized that rural residents will participate when services are accessible and that future systems should account for geography and local infrastructure.