Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Through you, Madam President, your memo says the fiscal impact is to be determined.
• Is to be determined.
• We know that every few years there are rate cases where the PSC determines if bills are..."
• Through you, Madam President, that is for the PSC to determine. The sponsor yields.
• THAT IS FOR THE PSC TO DETERMINE. >> OH, THE PSC AGAIN, OKAY. >> CORRECT.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of utility and public service bills and resolutions. A resolution sponsored by Senator Scarcella-Spanton designating April 9, 2026, as Yellow Ribbon Day was adopted after remarks honoring veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The chamber then moved through several Public Service Law measures focused on utility affordability, consumer protections, and PSC procedures, with some bills laid aside and others advanced. Among the bills passed were measures by Senators Mayer, Cleare, Hinchey, Comrie, and Parker. Debate on the Mayer bill centered on limiting utility expenses and fees recoverable in rate cases; supporters said it was part of a broader package to reform PSC practices, while opponents argued it would not lower current bills and had been softened from earlier versions. The Webb bill creating a residential utility usage monitoring program drew extended debate over whether it would meaningfully reduce costs, who would pay for the program, and whether it could lead to government monitoring of household usage; supporters said it would give consumers more control and transparency, while critics said it would not lower rates. The Gonzalez bill, which would add consumer protections during PSC investigations and delay shutoffs in certain circumstances, also passed after questions about whether it applied to rate cases, with the sponsor saying rate cases were explicitly excluded. Several members explained their votes, with supporters emphasizing affordability, transparency, and consumer protection, and opponents arguing the package would not address immediate rate relief and could burden ratepayers or encourage nonpayment. Senator Tedisco and others criticized PSC appointments and state energy policy, while Democratic sponsors argued the bills were part of a longer-term effort to reform utility regulation and address climate and affordability concerns. The chamber restored multiple bills to the non-controversial calendar before final votes, and the recorded results showed passage of the major utility bills by substantial margins, along with one amendment appeal being ruled nongermane and rejected.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we need to determine the will of the committee if we want to start the 60-day clock on the town.
• So now we can determine if we want to file the report, which we can still file with the 60-day clock
• Therefore, the validity and propriety of these disbursements could not be determined.
• The objectives of the review were to determine if revenue was properly deposited, determine the selected
• Without supporting documentation, a business purpose of these expenditures could not be determined.

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um determinations would be made if we would go that far as far as any spending that would take place.
• will be special session. uh bills will be introduced.<00:03:40.720> Um<00:03:41.280> determinations
• Um determinations would be introduced.
• Um determinations would be made<00:03:42.879> if<00:03:43.120> we<00:03:43.280> would
• to bring uh to the our determination to bring uh to the legislature<00:14:43.440> in<00:14:43.600

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there is a cost associated with developing the software, um, but LBB made the determination that
• Wants to determine whether more tea or coffee is sold at lunchtime.
• It's hard to determine meaning from a single data point.
• Which can then be used to to determine a pattern. That's what the algorithm uncovers a pattern.
• So that means that you're not calculating those when you're determining the majority.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess, who determines under this?
• Chair, who makes that determination? How's that based? Mr.
• Chair, how did you determine the distance that's in this bill? Mr.
• Evans, do you know how those states made their determination on what distance to put into statute?
• Determined list that the Water Quality Control Commission tests for?

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires the tax to terminate after the earlier of 25 years or when the city council determines that
• <00:15:04.160> that the city council determines that the city council determines that sufficient
• sufficient funds have council determines sufficient funds have been<00:23:04.320> raised<00:23
• <01:23:09.360> sufficient The city council determines sufficient funds have been raised to
• years or when the city determine years or when the city determine sufficient<01:31:37.360> funds

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:33.600> determining<00:15:34.079> the<00:15:34.240> numerators determinating
• determining the numerators determinating determining the numerators and<00:15:34.880> denominators
• <00:15:48.320> to<00:15:48.480> be process for counties uh determined to be process
• for counties uh determined to be non-compliant<00:15:49.279> and<00:15:49.519> any<00:
• flexibility in order to determine flexibility in order to determine whether<00:16:17.519> or<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3322 relating to law enforcement. Chairs recommended adopting amendments from the Department of Law Enforcement that would exempt plainclothes officers from identification requirements, limit conspicuous agency markings to vehicles used in immigration enforcement operations, and allow a plainclothes officer to wear a mask when within eyesight of an unmasked officer from the same agency while performing official duties. Although there was an initial quorum issue, both committees ultimately voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation and advance the bill as amended. The next major item was SB 3333 relating to property tax treatment for certain housing. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from a Maui County real property tax board member and a representative of Nali Maui, who described homeowners in affordable housing being taxed at much higher rates when exemptions were missed or when resale restrictions kept values below market. The committees recommended passing the bill with amendments, including a deferred effective date of April 19, 2042, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also heard SB 2422 on a pro housing score program for counties, SB 2981 on eliminating minimum off-street parking requirements in urban districts, SB 2007 on county land use boundary amendments, SB 3028 on restructuring the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system, SB 3033 on public petitions for review of beach structures, and SB 2434 on electric vehicle infrastructure. SB 2422 drew support with a request for flexibility and an appeals process for counties facing extraordinary circumstances; the chair’s recommendation was to pass it with amendments and note a $200,000 implementation study request, which was adopted. SB 2981 received strong support from housing and transportation advocates and was advanced unamended, while SB 2007 drew opposition from the Sierra Club and discussion about the Land Use Commission’s limited enforcement tools and the number of approved but unbuilt units. SB 3028 received mixed testimony, with support for the marginal-rate change but concerns about earmarking and blanks in the bill, and SB 3033 was supported as an early-warning mechanism for erosion-threatened coastal structures, though OPSD said it should not be the regulatory decision-maker. SB 2434 prompted concern about whether utility capacity can support EV infrastructure goals, with the chair citing a recent report suggesting transmission and distribution constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• If that happens, we have every ability at that time to determine what a state-only benefit would
• what a stateon at that time to determine what a stateon benefit<01:14:52.960> would<01:14:53.280
• So, it's not only an opportunity to determine the cost, but to determine what doesn't get funded if we
• <01:26:07.440> the we have the opportunity to determine the we have the opportunity to determine
• determine the cost, but to determine determine the cost, but to determine what<01:26:16.800>

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to entertain that perhaps we can use production per acre as a metric to determine a bona
• <00:24:47.600> But metric to determine a blunt farmer.
• But metric to determine a blunt farmer.
• <00:26:00.559> of they can use that as a determination of they can use that as a determination
• production as a measure of determining production as a measure of determining if<00:27:15.279>

Bills: HB1601, HB1828, HB1616, HB1603, HB1606, HB1604, HB1605

Keywords: biosecurity, invasive species, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, appropriation, agriculture, land use, farm dwelling, renewable energy, income qualification, solar energy, geothermal resources, hydropower, agricultural tourism, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, land leases, Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a very, very detailed process to make the determination. Should we charge this capital?
• It is a very, very detailed process to make the determination. Should we charge this capital?
• It is a very, very detailed process to make the determination. Should we charge this capital?
• It is a very, very detailed process to make the determination. Should we charge this capital?
• It is a very, very detailed process to make the determination. Should we charge this capital?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, but making a permanent move to 120% AMI and then allowing venue short shopping to determine where
• Uh, but making a permanent move to 120% AMI and then allowing venue short shopping to determine where
• That technicality should never determine That technicality should never determine whether<01:00:
• And that is what this bill does. has a right to determine whether city has a right to determine whether
• I'm willing to take the arrows," that individual should make those determinations.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My question for you is, how are the score cutoffs determined for practice pass, not pass?
• <00:52:24.079> for are the score cut offs determined for are the score cut offs determined
• determining their own cutoff scores? determining their own cutoff scores?
• Uh we did determine that as today.
• what you need to beginning to determine what you need to do. do. do.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:13 Approval of Minutes - 4:07 Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing - 5:18 Math Improvement Committee Report - 21:02 ETS Praxis Exam - 41:47 KDE Performance Review Data - 1:15:04 Adjournment - 1:57:54, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from KDE on the revised Kentucky academic standards for reading and writing. KDE explained the statutory six-year review process, the public comment periods, and the main revisions, including updates tied to the science of reading, decodable text, encoding/decoding, and an updated vision statement. KDE said 308 responses were received on the initial public comment, most respondents favored keeping standards as-is, and about 12% of standards were revised. The department also said the document was streamlined by removing repeated graphics and reducing its size by about 24%, and that a later comment period drew more than 400 responses. No new standards were flagged for review. Members asked about alignment between standards, curriculum, assessments, and NAEP, and KDE said instructional resources should be aligned to standards, KSA assessments are aligned to the standards, and screeners/diagnostics help identify student needs. Representative Truett raised the idea of a textbook-to-standards crosswalk, and KDE said publishers and a future repository partner should provide such crosswalks for local districts. Representative Bojanowski asked why foundational reading skills are not directly assessed on the third-grade KSA; KDE responded that the assessment is designed to measure end-of-grade expectations, while screening and diagnostics are used earlier to identify decoding needs. Representative Gel asked about early childhood supports, and KDE said it is working with early learning and special education offices and promoting LETRS professional learning for both teachers and preschool educators. The committee then received the mathematics improvement committee report. KDE said the mathematics committee unanimously approved a new strategic plan for improving math achievement from pre-K through grade 20 and adult education. The plan centers on six priorities: student empowerment, effective mathematics teaching and learning, continuous educator development and growth, a continuum of learning, community and family partnerships, and teacher recruitment and retention. KDE said the plan is intended as a living document with goals, recommended actions, and evidence bases, and that it aligns with the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act by supporting high-quality instructional resources, professional learning, and family resources. In response to Senator Thomas, KDE explained that the professional learning recommendation means districts should tailor teacher training to classroom needs and instructional materials so math teachers are better equipped to implement standards and support students.

Transcript Highlights:

• The audit aimed to determine whether I-1163 achieved its broad policy goal of increased safety for vulnerable
• We then built a statistical model to determine whether some groups are less likely to use all long-term
• We have developed criteria to determine how many test sites are needed and where they should be located
• , and we determine the cost to establish and supply additional test sites.
• As a result, staff must spend hours trying to contact applicants to determine if they want to continue

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office performance audit of Washington’s Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163). Auditors said the initiative’s background checks and 75-hour training requirement are widely viewed as safety measures, but the state lacks pre-2011 data to directly measure safety outcomes. They also found Washington’s long-term care workforce is still short, though the state ranks better than many others in workers per disabled person, and that some groups and regions have larger gaps between authorized and actually used Medicaid care hours, suggesting access problems for certain clients. The audit focused heavily on the certification process for home care aides. Auditors reported that many applicants never finish certification, that the process often exceeds the 200-day legal deadline, and that delays can cause lost income, job loss, and in some cases repeated employer changes that allow aides to keep working without becoming certified. They recommended that the Department of Health accept applications only after training and testing are completed, move testing into training programs more broadly, and eliminate redundant DOH verification of FBI background checks. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and the role of immigration in workforce shortages; auditors said they found no financial performance standards in the Prometric contract, did not specifically study immigration status, and did not focus on language barriers in this audit. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services officials largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including expanded in-program testing, more staffing, and rule changes, and that testing has been integrated into more than 110 training programs. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Both agencies said they support further streamlining and expect continued collaboration, including possible budget or legislative requests. No public testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned without taking any vote or formal action on the audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• But my question is: how do you determine who is interested?
• But my question is, how do you determine who is interested and how to track them?
• that you are conducting your data collection, surveys, whatever you're doing in your office, to determine
• So that's the other way we're trying to determine it.
• Monday... ...and then, depending on where we finish in the reading of the bills on Monday, we'll determine

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met to hear House Bill 7, sponsored by Representative Garrett and Representative Cates, which would continue and support apprenticeship and workforce training funding. The sponsors and the Department of Workforce Solutions described strong growth in apprenticeship participation, especially in the building trades, and said the fund has helped expand programs while maintaining high retention and employment outcomes. They emphasized that the bill would provide predictable, sustained investment in skilled labor needed for construction, infrastructure, and other growing sectors. Supportive testimony came from contractors, chambers of commerce, trade unions, and a small business owner, all of whom said apprenticeship funding is essential to meeting workforce shortages and keeping workers in New Mexico. Committee members asked about program demographics, geographic distribution, rural participation, reentry and high school dropout data, and how apprenticeships connect to displaced workers from energy and industrial closures. The secretary explained that the department uses Rapid Response and economic transition programs for layoffs and closures, and also surveys current energy workers to gauge retraining interest. Several members praised the bill’s return on investment and retention of workers in the state, while Representative de Rassas suggested adding more public transparency and performance metrics. Representative Ortiz asked about future funding after 2031 and whether the program could scale with more money. After discussion, Representative Hall moved a do pass, Representative de Rassas seconded, and the committee approved House Bill 7 with no opposition. The chair also announced upcoming committee meetings and asked members to consent to sharing contact information for committee purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> WHAT IF THERE'S A YEAR YOU SAID THERE COULD BE DISCUSSIONS IF THEY DETERMINE THAT THEY WANT TO USE
• THE SECOND IS IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL STATE NEED THAT IS THE AVENUE TO ACCESS THOSE
• CHAIR HOOPER, YOU MENTIONED THERE IS BASICALLY THAT THE DEFINITION OF CRITICAL STATE MEANS FOR DETERMINING
• IT'S UP TO US, THE LEGISLATURE, TO DETERMINE AND THE AMENDMENT IF APPROVED WHAT IS THE CRITICAL STATE
• DEFINITION OF WHAT IS A CRITICAL STATE NEED THEN SOMEONE WILL JUST USE THEIR OWN SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA TO DETERMINE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• includes consumer protection, with the support of the LRB, to convene a legislative working group to determine
• includes consumer protection, with the support of the LRB, to convene a legislative working group to determine
• working the LRB to convene a legislative working group<00:19:51.600> to<00:19:51.760> determine
• <00:19:52.160> recommendations<00:19:52.799> for group to determine recommendations
• for group to determine recommendations for establishing<00:19:53.600> appropriate<00:19:54.080

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Government Operations Committee met on March 20, 2025, and heard two resolutions. STR 239/SR 215 would request the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to provide universal changing accommodations in state facilities, state parks, and city and county parks. The only testimony noted was late comments from DAG; no one testified in person or on Zoom. The committee also heard STR 44, which seeks to convene a legislative working group to recommend family notice and standardized consent provisions for pre-contracts governing cremation. Testimony was mixed: DCCA’s complaints and enforcement office asked to include the Department of Health Environmental branch, while the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association, Mililani Group, Dodo Mortuary, and Soy Garden Mortuary opposed the measure, saying funeral homes already provide the relevant disclosures; Senator Carol Fukunaga and one individual testified in support. The chair said the issue belonged more properly in the consumer protection committee, but the committee would still move the resolution forward and note the concerns in the report. In decision-making, the committee adopted both measures as Senate Draft 1 with technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. For STR 44, the committee also agreed to keep DCCA in the working group, add the Department of Health Environmental branch, and change the phrase “mainland jurisdiction” to “other states.” The measures passed with the vice chair and Senator Sam Bentura voting yes, while Senators Morawaki and Favilla were excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• determined by a statutory calculation. determined by a statutory calculation.
• <01:26:10.639> of does is that upon the determination of does is that upon the determination
• uh, we haven't had the determination uh, we haven't had the determination given<01:29:39.440>
• been made aware of that determination. been made aware of that determination.
• I was as determined by the governor.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 4420 authorizes the Regional Rehabilitation Reentry Center Authority to determine county
• They would specify that the proportional share of inmates for each county and, if determined by a separate
• They should not be subject to prices secretly determined by an algorithm analyzing their personal data
• But fundamentally, we're just concerned the language talks about anything that determines or adjusts
• But there are models, many of which New Jersey consumers rely on, that are determined and are influenced

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also determined that the safety of the gas distribution system can be maintained at a lower level
• We are thoughtfully reviewing those comments to determine the next steps on this matter.
• But will you share what you find and what the calculations are and how you determine?
• But just as the early obligation-to-serve cases determined that a utility couldn’t pick a customer in
• The town is eager to play a more active role in these determinations that affect our community.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on two related issues: gas utilities’ climate compliance plans filed with the Department of Public Utilities and the recent DPU orders reforming the Gas System Enhancement Program (GSEP). Chair Creem and other senators emphasized that Massachusetts must reduce gas use, shrink the gas distribution footprint, and move customers to alternatives such as heat pumps, network geothermal, and non-gas pipeline alternatives (NPAs). DPU Chair Jamie Van Nostrand said the new GSEP orders lower the annual revenue cap from 3.0% to 2.5%, phase it down toward 1.5%, eliminate carrying charges, require more rigorous risk prioritization, and push utilities to consider advanced leak technology, relining, repairs, and NPAs. He also described the climate compliance plans as the start of a longer process covering decommissioning, stranded costs, line extension allowances, integrated energy planning, and targeted electrification demonstrations. Senators pressed the DPU and utility witnesses on the lack of specificity in the climate compliance plans, especially the absence of numeric goals for gas usage reduction, customer conversions, and near-term deployment of NPAs. Utility representatives from Eversource and National Grid said their plans include NPA frameworks, integrated energy planning, targeted electrification pilots, network geothermal, and workforce transition efforts, but argued that implementation takes time, requires customer participation, and depends on coordination with electric utilities and communities. They said some NPA and electrification projects are being evaluated now, while larger-scale deployment is expected later in the decade. Senators also raised concerns about line extension allowances, with utilities explaining that new customers may be charged based on whether existing ratepayers would otherwise be harmed, while National Grid said it has begun increasing customer contributions to send stronger price signals. Attorney General Mary Gardner supported the DPU’s GSEP reforms and said the office favors eventually stepping the GSEP cap down to zero by 2030, with repair and replacement costs recovered in base rate cases instead. She argued that the utilities’ plans still rely too heavily on business-as-usual approaches, do not adequately quantify scope 3 emissions, and leave unresolved questions about the obligation to serve and the future of line extension allowances. Advocacy witnesses from the Conservation Law Foundation and Acadia Center were more critical, saying the plans lack the detailed modeling, targets, and transparency needed to show how the utilities will help meet the Commonwealth’s heating and cooling sublimits and broader climate goals. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just making sure that we're looking at all of the right factors as we determine the need.
• So that will come before us by way of a workshop, and then for a final determination.
• And then it's on us to determine how much time we should give them to comply, determine what treatment
• And we determined that that was the right thing to do because, first of all, there's language barriers
• We've been at this for decades trying to determine what may or may not happen.

Keywords: 987, senate, all