Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:20.399><c> The</c><00:16:20.639><c> motion</c><00:16:20.959><c> prevails</c><00:16:21.440>
• The motion prevails and please say no.
• The motion prevails and the<00:16:21.839><c> conference</c><00:16:22.240><c> committee</c><00:16:22.560

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 98 ayes and 15 nays, the motion to table prevails. Mr. Bryant, for what purpose?
• There being 92 ayes and 56 nays, the motion of the table prevails. The following amendment.
• There being 88 ayes and 59 nays, the motion to table prevails.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers can then choose to provide wage replacement benefits for either birth or adoption, caring for
• This amendment prohibits payment of benefits from being considered as wages in lieu of workers' compensation
• This amendment prohibits payment of benefits from being considered as wages in lieu of workers' compensation

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> The motion prevails. Members, in our tradition, as you know, we start with prayer.
• The motion prevails.<00:07:42.479><c> Members,</c><00:07:42.960><c> in</c><00:07:43.199><c> our</c><00
• :07:43.440><c> tradition,</c><00:07:44.160><c> as</c> prevails.
• Members, in our tradition, as prevails.
• The motion prevails. say no. The motion prevails.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the test for whether or not to issue an injunction is whether one of the parties is likely to prevail
• So the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion saying that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail as to some specific

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 1448, described by the sponsor and Deputy Attorney General Phil Skinner as a cleanup bill responding to a Ninth Circuit ruling in ongoing litigation over Idaho’s library law. Skinner said the bill removes language the court flagged as potentially unconstitutional, including a phrase that added subjective factors to the obscenity analysis, and adds an “adolescent minor” definition to align the statute more closely with Supreme Court obscenity precedent. He emphasized that the bill was intended to preserve the existing standard and penalties while helping moot the lawsuit and avoid further litigation costs and possible attorney fees. Several members raised concerns that the bill still left in place provisions defining “sexual conduct” in ways that could sweep in benign material, especially references to homosexuality, and questioned whether the bill truly fixed the constitutional problems. Representative Handy asked about the cost of the litigation and whether repealing the law would be an option; Skinner said the goal was to save the state money by resolving the case and that repeal would be a policy choice for lawmakers. Jenny Emery Davidson testified against the bill, arguing that the process was rushed, public access was limited, the new minor definition was problematic, and the better course would be to repeal the underlying law rather than amend it. Members also questioned the bill’s late arrival and legislative path. Chairman Scott explained that the bill had moved quickly through the Senate and that posting was limited because the bill number was not yet available. Skinner added that an earlier, similar House bill had not advanced and that this measure was a narrower attempt to address only the court-identified issues. After a motion to send S-1448 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, the committee voted, with at least one member requesting to be recorded as a no. In closing remarks, some members reflected on the cost and frequency of court-driven legislation and the challenges of passing bills that later require fixes.

Transcript Highlights:

• You prevailed? Yes. Yes, did go to civil court, and it was determined who was at fault there.
• You prevailed? Yes. At least you got your new bike. Did you wear a helmet that day? Mr.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is no objection, the motions will prevail.
• Hearing no objection, the motions prevail and the substitutions will be made.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 3 ayes and 1 nay, the motion prevails.
• Busey, Representative Johnson, Representative Pearson, there being 3 ayes and 1 nay, the motion prevails

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; The motion prevails. &gt;&gt; The motion prevails.
• The amendment is motion prevails.
• The motion prevails. &gt;&gt; Any oppose say nay. The motion prevails.
• 03:49:15.520><c> adjourned</c> prevails.
• The House stands adjourned prevails.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a question for clarity for the wage garnishment. Is it possible?
• For clarity, for the wage garnishment, is it possible for the individual, for the fine to be taken out
• of the individual's wages instead of withholding it, where that can be a way for them to pay back?

Summary: The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum and took up two bills. First, it heard SCS for SB 348, which would make it an ethics violation for a public official, candidate, or appointee to falsely claim military rank or honors for material gain, and would also require withholding delinquent ethics fines from the paychecks of current public officials or employees after 90 days. Senator Gates presented the bill, the Florida Commission on Ethics supported it, and members discussed the wage-withholding process. The committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 400, which removes the repeal date from Florida’s participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, making the compact permanent unless later repealed by the Legislature. Senator Wright explained that the compact helps military families with school transitions, and a representative from Foundation for Florida’s Future waived in support. The committee voiced support and voted SB 400 favorably. After completing both measures, the committee had no further business and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• from what government was subsidized Do you have middle-income folks' wages?
• So we're capturing in our analysis, attempting to capture the wages paid, the corporate income taxes,
• paid the gross receipts taxed on any activity, and then also those wages paid to those employees.
• You know, I just don't know how they're going to do that on a minimum wage.
• But a lot of and then let's be frank, there's still going to be minimum wage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Apprentices are just about universally placed, near 100% placement, with the majority experiencing wage
• It is a job where you can make money and earn a living and a good wage in California.
• That's not salaries and wages, that's just payroll at fringe and admin.
• And that's not salaries and wages. $150,000 per year, and that's not salaries and wages, that's just
• These programs stabilize creative labor, support equitable wages, strengthen workforce pipelines, and

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, developed under AB 127 by the California Arts Council with an interagency work group and outside research support. Committee members and panelists described the plan’s purpose as strengthening the state’s creative workforce, stabilizing creative businesses, expanding equity and access, and building infrastructure for long-term implementation. The opening presentation highlighted major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business growth, cultural tourism and identity, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity-building. Testimony from the California Department of Education and the Workforce Development Board focused on existing workforce pipelines, including updated arts/entertainment/design CTE standards, the Entertainment Equity Alliance, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways, and High Road Training Partnership investments. Speakers said these efforts are producing strong placement outcomes, including paid on-the-job training, union placements, and support for workers facing barriers, while also emphasizing the need for entrepreneurship training and wraparound supports. Committee discussion also centered on a major unresolved issue: how to define and measure the creative economy consistently across agencies, since current labor data often misses gig, contract, nonprofit, and business activity. A second panel of practitioners and advocates described local examples of the plan in action. The Handy Foundation, Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and the California Arts Council chair all argued that artists and creative workers should be treated as essential contributors to education, community health, local economies, and resilience, not as peripheral workers. They urged stronger school partnerships, more arts access, and better recognition of creative careers. Members also discussed AI’s impact on creative work, with panelists saying it should be treated as a tool that requires guardrails, training, and union and educator involvement rather than as a replacement for human creativity. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members expressed support for continued implementation, better data systems, and additional funding in future budget and policy actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the agenda: Senate Bill 15, an act relating to minimum wage exceptions.
• Senate Bill 15, an act relating to minimum wage exceptions. Senator Amanda Bledsoe: Good morning.
• I was curious what the minimum salary or minimum wage under this collective bargaining agreement would
• I was curious what the minimum salary or minimum wage under this collective bargaining agreement would
• What is the minimum salary or minimum wage under this collective bargaining agreement, which I assume

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:24 SB 3 Discussion 01:06 SB 3 Vote 04:51 SB 15 Discussion 07:14 SB 15 Vote 14:42 SB 103 Discussion 15:39 SB 103 Vote 33:53 SB 201 Discussion 35:44 SB 201 Vote 39:47, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 3, relating to student athletes and NIL. Senator Max Wise said the bill would modernize Kentucky’s NIL framework so universities remain competitive and student-athletes can benefit, noting the state’s earlier NIL law and the need to act before a pending national settlement. Several members supported the bill but expressed concern that NIL has changed college athletics and could eventually affect high school sports. The committee reported Senate Bill 3 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Bill 15, relating to minimum wage exceptions for minor league baseball players. Senator Amanda Bledsoe and MLB representative Josh Allen explained that the bill would align Kentucky law with the players’ collective bargaining agreement, treating the players as salaried rather than hourly workers and addressing overtime issues. Members discussed the minimum weekly salaries at Single-A and Triple-A, along with housing, meals, and health benefits under the agreement. The committee adopted a committee substitute, passed a title amendment, and reported Senate Bill 15 favorably. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 103, which concerns the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and services for people with disabilities. Senator Danny Carroll and provider advocates said the bill would add regulatory oversight, require reporting to the legislature and governor, and give preference to in-state services when available, while preserving access to out-of-state services when needed. Testimony focused on Kentucky’s low employment ranking for people with disabilities, unused federal funds, provider funding concerns, and an OVR order of selection that would limit services to the most severe cases. The committee adopted a committee substitute and reported Senate Bill 103 favorably after supportive comments from members about the program’s impact on employment and quality of life.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been talking about the minimum wage ad nauseam for years, trying to get that increase.
• I rise today because it's been 7,292 days since Pennsylvania last raised the minimum wage. 11,292 days
• since Pennsylvania last raised the minimum wage.
• workers cannot afford to let another budget season come and go without finally raising the minimum wage
• The people earning minimum wage are not asking for luxury; they are asking for dignity.

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• around $3 million to restore some of the essential services that we have lost and provide a living wage
• In reading the language in the bill and talking about sort of looking at the lowest wage earner, are
• you concerned at... ...talking about sort of looking at the lowest wage earner, are you concerned at
• In the largest hospitals in Massachusetts, the lowest-paid workers making minimum wage, just $15 an hour
• They also call for a more just structure by linking CEO compensation to the wages of those doing the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a broad set of health care bills focused on cost, market oversight, pharmaceutical access, transparency, hospital closures, and pharmacy access. Chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman opened by emphasizing recent health care reforms and the need for further action on the drug supply chain, PBMs, private equity, and affordability. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including a Betsy Lehman Center bill to make technical changes and create a permanent trust account for federal and private funding, and bills on hospital profits and fairness, hospital closures and health planning, pharmacy deserts, and health care market oversight and pharmaceutical access. No votes were taken during the hearing. On the hospital profits bill, physicians and labor advocates strongly supported capping hospital CEO compensation at 50 times the lowest-paid worker, requiring greater financial transparency, and directing penalties from high-margin public hospitals into a Medicaid reimbursement fund. Testifiers argued that executive pay is excessive while frontline staff and safety-net services are under strain. Committee members raised concerns about unintended consequences, including whether hospitals might shift workers to contract status or lose executive talent, and whether the bill would actually direct money to the safety net. Supporters responded that the measure is one piece of a larger effort and that the bill’s Medicaid reimbursement provisions would help underserved hospitals. Testimony on market oversight and pharmaceutical access centered on rising health care and drug costs, PBM practices, and the proposal to give the Health Policy Commission authority to set upper payment limits for certain drugs. Consumer advocates, disability advocates, an independent pharmacist, the Attorney General’s office, and others supported stronger oversight, citing premium increases, affordability problems, and the impact of high drug prices on patients and community pharmacies. Pharma and some industry witnesses opposed parts of the bill, warning that upper payment limits could disrupt access, create legal issues, and fail to address the broader supply chain. The committee also heard support for stronger hospital closure notice and public hearing requirements, and for a pharmacy deserts bill aimed at identifying and addressing closures like the one in Roxbury that affected thousands of patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• , $164 million from ancillary spending of students and visitors, and $1.5 billion from an enhanced wages
• meeting the return on investment is if you can work with us to provide information on placement and wages
• meeting the return on investment is if you can work with us to provide information on placement and wages
• , good union wages, and benefits under safe working conditions.
• They have a direct impact of loss of wages, lost health insurance coverage, which I alluded to.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the economic impact of Massachusetts higher education institutions, with opening remarks noting the significance of September 11 and the role colleges and universities play in the state’s economy, workforce, and research ecosystem. UMass leaders testified first, describing UMass as a major employer and economic driver that educates large numbers of Massachusetts residents, supports thousands of jobs, and generates billions in annual economic activity. They emphasized the importance of research funding, warned that federal grant cancellations, suspensions, and slowdowns were harming research operations and talent retention, and voiced strong support for Governor Healey’s proposed DRIVE initiative as bridge funding to protect research capacity and jobs. Committee members focused heavily on workforce preparation in emerging fields such as AI, cyber, quantum computing, and engineering. UMass leaders said AI is being embedded across curricula and research, but also warned that financial constraints forced reductions in PhD admissions, especially in computer science and engineering, which could weaken the future workforce pipeline. They also described the practical effects of grant uncertainty, including reduced graduate admissions and concerns about losing researchers to institutions abroad. Members asked for more detailed data on grant timing, funding gaps, and where students and researchers were going. A second panel from private colleges and universities, including AICUM, Suffolk, Smith, and Clark, highlighted the broad economic and civic contributions of private higher education. Testimony cited large annual economic impacts, job creation, tax revenue, community service, legal clinics, dual enrollment, entrepreneurship support, sustainability investments, and access programs. Speakers also discussed enrollment pressures, COVID-related social and mental health challenges, student visa and federal policy concerns, and the need to preserve liberal arts alongside career-focused training. The committee then heard from MIT, where testimony focused on research commercialization, biotech spinouts, and the role of federal, philanthropic, and industry funding in sustaining innovation; members pressed for more data on funding sources and asked what state policy could do to keep talent and businesses in Massachusetts. The hearing continued with additional public higher education testimony, including Bridgewater State, Bristol Community College, and Northeastern, which emphasized workforce-aligned programs, social mobility, apprenticeships, co-op education, and the need for better coordination between higher education, employers, and state workforce systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it would be helpful because we have a set of minimum wage laws and other things that are more common
• And it would be helpful because, you know, we have a set of minimum wage laws and other things that are
• Our agricultural wages are among the highest in the nation. So if...
• Our agricultural wages are among the highest in the nation.
• It supports higher wages and stability for growers, bolsters California's wine economy, and advances

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on California’s wine industry held its first meeting at Napa Valley College, with opening remarks from Chair Senator Christopher Cabaldon and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry emphasizing the wine industry’s importance to California’s economy, communities, and tourism. The chair said the hearing was intended to gather information and ideas, not to take legislative action that day, and to prepare for future work on legislation, budget, and oversight. The first panel focused on research and trends, with experts from Sonoma State, UC Davis, and Terrain describing a major structural downturn: falling wine production and sales, rising costs, labor shortages, housing pressures, changing consumer habits, tariffs, and the loss of younger consumers. They argued the industry needs to shift toward new-customer acquisition, more accessible products and messaging, evidence-based business decisions, and greater investment in research, education, and innovation, including work on disease, climate stress, and health-related consumer questions. Committee members pressed the panel on whether the industry’s future depends on adaptation by existing producers or market-driven consolidation, and on how California can reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining standards. Witnesses said the state’s universities are a “superpower” but are underfunded for wine research, especially on the business and regulatory side, and they urged review of outdated rules, better data collection, and more efficient compliance systems. They also discussed trade competitiveness, especially with imports and the collapse of exports to Canada after tariffs, and raised the need for transitional support for vineyard removals and replanting. The chair and majority leader emphasized that regulations should be evaluated for effectiveness and that California should use its research capacity to improve both industry practices and regulatory implementation. A second panel included representatives from growers, the Wine Institute, and family winemakers. Michael Miller of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers described a severe grower crisis: grapes left unpicked, vineyards abandoned or removed, falling vineyard values, and a need for relief on regulatory costs, trade barriers, water policy, and vineyard removal expenses. Honor Comfort of the Wine Institute focused on consumer outreach, especially younger drinkers, and described the Share Wine Co-Lab, an open-access marketing platform with research, webinars, case studies, and office hours to help wineries better reach Gen Z and millennials. Jane Lisa Tamayo of Family Winemakers of California was present but her remarks were largely garbled in the transcript. Committee members again stressed the need for education, better messaging, and caution about simplistic policy fixes, while also noting the importance of Canada as an export market and the risks of tariffs. The final panel addressed tourism, farmworker impacts, and water regulation. Visit Napa Valley CEO Lindsay Gallagher said Napa’s tourism economy remains relatively strong but is feeling the same international headwinds as the wine sector, including reduced Canadian visitation; she said Napa is broadening its message beyond wine to cuisine, wellness, and outdoor experiences. Sonia DeLuca of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation said declining sales and rising costs are reducing hours, wages, and training opportunities for farmworkers, and urged targeted relief, removal of barriers to sales, wage-loss support, and continued bilingual workforce training. She also said Napa’s workforce-development model is ready to support technology adoption if legal changes allow more automation. Finally, State Water Board official Annalisa Kihar gave an update on the Winery General Order, explaining that it was created in 2021 to streamline and standardize wastewater permitting, with tiered requirements and exemptions for very small wineries; she said 56 wineries have enrolled and 122 are under review, and that the board is working with industry and regional agencies to improve compliance support and flexibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the fact that our IHSS workers are leaving the work. workforce at alarming rates because of low wages
• While IHSS wages vary across California, there is not a single county that pays IHSS workers. a living
• wage.
• And by transitioning to a collective bargaining process at the state level, we can provide living wages
• As we are looking at our home health workers and looking at the low wages, we need to recognize that

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of these individuals, the average hourly wage is $20.52.
• to talk about is, again, through our Business Enterprise Program: we had $26.2 million in taxable wages
• A four-year degree is not necessary to get a high-skill, high-wage career, and we want students to know
• job, and Spend their summer semester working full-time at a minimum-wage job, and at the conclusion
• And for those who are employed, the median wage is $50,000, which is significantly higher than those

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• These aren't just jobs; they're careers with good wages, with benefits, with real opportunity that did
• These aren't just jobs; they're careers with good wages, with benefits, with real opportunity that did
• When you add wages on top of that, you're above 90%.
• And while we're talking about wages, the one thing I want you to consider is when you look around and
• We pay our workers a living wage. They're able to raise a family. What's it made up of?

Bills: SB287

Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.