Transcript Highlights:

• and countries are doing is, yes, they're putting money in, but they're also putting intention and energy
• and countries are doing is, yes, they're putting money in, but they're also putting intention and energy
• They're also putting in tension and energy, and they're investing in the pipeline.
• The Joint Finance Appropriation Committee is here.
• The Joint Finance Appropriation Committee is here.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• VC financing on a grand scale. It is small but a mighty force, just like Siber within federal R&D.
• And I just want to thank you all for your ideas, for your energy to bring them into reality and to really
• trends in the commercial sector are occurring and make sure we are providing a healthy amount. of financing
• The Department of Energy is high on the list as well, but 80%, as we know, of the Department of Energy

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a good discussion in the Energy Committee earlier today, and, yeah, there's a lot of meaty pieces
• And we covered that a little bit in the Energy Committee earlier.
• So we look carefully at not just how do you reduce energy usage and increase energy efficiency, and how
• And so we look carefully at not just, you know, how do you reduce energy usage and increase energy efficiency
• Does that also include cheaper energy utility bills, right? So what does that look like?

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• So this builds on a program from the 2023-25 biennium that provided energy rebates to low-income families
• A number of programs funded by CCA support both pollution reduction and reduced energy and fuel costs
• We've also seen clean energy tax credits disappear, causing clean energy projects to increase in cost
• One way to reduce this burden is to follow Governor Ferguson's lead and invest in energy assistance,
• These next two budgets may be our last large-scale investment in building that clean energy future.

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses

Transcript Highlights:

• the resources of the money the finances the resources of the citizens<00:56:16.400><c> of</c><00:56:
• They are hurting because of the energy idiocy that is imposed on them.
• It's a lot of energy to try to raise a few select individuals when the tide has gone out.
• It's families hurting because of increasing energy costs.
• </c> hurting because of increasing energy hurting because of increasing energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk to consumers, dealerships, and auto finance companies daily to try to resolve these complaints
• include a 30-day free look period, contract disclosures, as well as requirements that the vehicle financing
• The finance committee overwhelmingly voted in favor of this article.
• heavy-duty diesel engines achieve near-zero emissions and help Massachusetts meet its clean air and energy
• We have filed language to try to refocus energies on compliance with the law, and we’re more than happy

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution. The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers. In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Water agencies do use energy.
• It leaves us with not only high-cost energy, but unreliable sources of energy.
• And as we look at making up the shortfall, where are we getting our energy?
• A third of our energy is coming from other sources.
• He was known for his infectious energy and his street wisdom.

Summary: The Assembly convened with a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a large procedural and floor agenda. Members suspended rules for adjournments in memory, guest introductions, and expedited committee action, rereferred AB 1199 to Health and AB 2728 to Local Government, and removed several items from calendars or returned bills to the Senate at authors’ requests. The chamber then moved through concurrence and third-reading files, with many measures passing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including AB 230 on Pierce’s disease control, AB 1636 on a Cerritos College seamless enrollment pilot, AB 1982 on alcoholic beverages, AB 2120 on school district employees, AB 2413 on political reform and billboard use, AB 2437 and AB 2453 on vehicles, AB 2596 on housing, AB 1760 and AB 1873 on technical clarifications, AB 2312 on tidelands, AB 2390 on housing cleanup, AB 2685 and AB 2778 on agriculture, and ACR 194 on Women’s Equality Day. The Assembly also adopted several resolutions and Senate measures. HR 112 designating Black Music Month drew extensive remarks about Black artists’ influence and was adopted with 62 coauthors. HR 132 declaring September Young Women’s Reproductive Health Awareness Month was adopted with 50 coauthors. SJR 8 urging federal immigration reform passed 45-2, with supporters emphasizing immigrant contributions and the need to modernize the registry system. SCR 7 on permanent standard time was debated at length, with supporters citing health benefits and opponents warning about darker mornings and voter intent; the resolution ultimately passed 41-3 after a roll call. Other Senate bills passed included SB 105 on penny rounding for local agencies, SB 928 on AI guardrails in CSU classrooms, SB 1038 on CalPERS audit notices, SB 308 on community college reporting, SB 1172 on tax-sharing consultant fees, SB 1159 on AI-generated public participation, SB 1055 on flood project procurement, SB 1285 on juvenile dismissals, SB 1274 on industrial cities and transportation funding, SB 965 easing library card access for 16- and 17-year-olds, SB 1375 creating a narrow CEQA exemption for certain transit projects, SB 952 on clean energy accounting for water agencies, and SB 917 expanding farmers market wine sales eligibility. Several measures drew notable opposition or discussion. On SB 965, one member objected that the bill should preserve parental decision-making, while supporters argued it would remove an unnecessary barrier to library access. On SB 952, one member criticized state energy policy and the bill’s project labor agreement, but the measure still passed 64-1. On SB 1375, supporters framed the bill as reducing duplicative environmental review for major transit projects like Diridon Station while preserving other protections. The chamber also added coauthors to consent-calendar resolutions and adopted the second-day consent calendar items without objection. The meeting concluded with multiple adjournments in memory, including tributes to Eric L. Washington Jr., Ivan Garza, Darryl Preston Jackson, Richard “Dick” Oliphant, and former Madera Mayor Santos Garcia. Members described Washington as a community leader and peacemaker, Garza as a young athlete whose life was cut short, Jackson as a mentor and founder of the 1020 Club, Oliphant as a civic leader who helped shape the Coachella Valley, and Garcia as a labor advocate and public servant who fought for working families and helped reopen Madera Community Hospital. The Assembly observed moments of silence in their honor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water to order.
• I'm the assistant analyst helping out Corbyn on Natural Resources, Energy and Water as well as Land,
• 2024 expands the definition of water supply development as it pertains to the Water Infrastructure Finance
• Judah Waxelbaum, Chief of Government Affairs for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona
• So we'll go on and go back and have a presentation for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority.

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard introductions from members and staff, then took up several water and natural resources bills. House Bill 2024 would expand Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) authority to include snowpack augmentation and related planning and permitting costs. Supporters, including a cloud-seeding company, argued the technology can increase snowpack and water supply at relatively low cost, while opponents raised concerns about weather modification, chemicals such as silver iodide, uncertainty in the science, and potential environmental effects. After debate, the committee passed HB 2024 on a 6-4 vote, with some members explaining they wanted more research but were willing to advance it for further consideration. House Bill 2053 would appropriate $100,000 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources to update stormwater recharge mapping statewide, including private land, and the committee adopted an amendment extending the timeline and revising language about recharge sites and surface-water conflicts. ADWR said it could do the mapping but noted legal concerns about determining appropriable surface water rights. SRP and the Sierra Club opposed parts of the bill, arguing the language could affect existing water rights or exclude nature-based recharge areas. The bill passed as amended on a 6-4 vote. The committee then heard a presentation from WIFA director Chelsea McGuire on the agency’s revolving funds, conservation grants, and long-term augmentation efforts, including seven proposed augmentation projects and a request for no budget cuts. House Bill 2097, which would cap groundwater pumping in irrigation non-expansion areas at six acre-feet per acre and add related reporting, exemptions, and substitution provisions, drew support from the sponsor as a conservation measure but opposition from ADWR and environmental advocates who said the cap was too high or could encourage pumping; it passed 6-4. House Bill 2116, appropriating $1 million to the Colorado River Litigation Fund, passed 8-1 amid comments that it was a precaution in ongoing Colorado River negotiations. Finally, House Bill 2117, a cleanup bill shifting environmental special plate fund authority to the new conservation district board and updating distribution rules, was presented as a technical correction and education-fund update; the transcript ends before a final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The May 7th, 2025 meeting of the Senate Finance Committee will come to order.
• Senator Clark, your first time in Finance Committee, and Mr. Keaneley is going to come up with him.
• Welcome to the Senate Finance Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• </c><00:08:40.560><c> Um</c><00:08:41.120><c> and</c> the finance committee.
• Um and the finance committee.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Townhomes are unique in that they are financeable, they're buildable, and there is demand.
• Town homes are unique in that they are financable, they're buildable, and there is demand.
• standards for a qualified plug-in photovoltaic system, or plug-in PV for short, to function as an energy
• This new technology allows electric customers to access affordable clean energy and helps take control
• These systems are a type of technology that allow users to directly access affordable, clean energy,

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• currently limit the ability of a CIC to restrict or prohibit homeowners from installing things like solar energy
• For the program administered by the Housing Finance Commission, the fee may only be collected on the
• Instead, the fee may be financed in the loan and paid from loan proceeds at the time of closing.
• the fee must be disclosed in accordance with federal and state law, but may be excluded from the finance
• The homeowner assistance fund study would require Commerce, in consultation with the Housing Finance

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• So I have the great privilege of working on all things customer related, and obviously energy is a lot
• Between the OCC and the Department of Finance, and prior to my role as the Financial Institutions Bureau
• But I'm more about the people, the engagement, and finance in general, and that's really... ...if I did
• , and finance in general, and that's really my trigger, so.
• It's probably unfair, but where you're so embedded and your career is so into finance and all those kinds

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll start with the Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance, please kick us off.
• This one's for the Department of Finance.
• This is for finance, sorry. Devin Mitchell with the Department of Finance.
• Devin Mitchell with the Department of Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are hearing more every day in this chamber about the rising cost of energy in the Commonwealth.
• the choice for consumers to choose reliable, affordable baseload energy sources.
• Especially preserving the choice for consumers to choose reliable, affordable baseload energy sources
• Let's continue supporting an affordable, homegrown energy resource while relying on facts to guide our
• House Bill 2685, Finance. House Resolution 583, Human Services. House Bill 268, Legal Control.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests, including a student advocate and family members connected to a resolution on scoliosis awareness. The chamber first took up committee reports from Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tourism and Recreation and Economic Development, and later Appropriations, Rules, Commerce, and Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, agreeing to the reported bills and resolutions. House Resolution 531, designating June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month, was adopted 201-1 after remarks describing the condition and the advocacy of a young constituent. The House also adopted resolutions designating Diaper Need Awareness Week, directing a study on PANS/PANDAS, recognizing 717 Day, Little League World Series Week, and commemorating America 250 in Pennsylvania, with broad bipartisan support. The House then considered several bills on final passage. House Bill 2146, updating the Sunshine Act’s 24-hour agenda notice rule after a court ruling, and Senate Bills 130, 511, 971, 972, 1181, and 1235 were agreed to. House Bill 1239, limiting HOA restrictions on rooftop solar, drew multiple amendments; some were withdrawn, and others failed on tied votes, after debate over HOA governance, native plants, and net metering. House Bill 2219, on license plates and transportation provisions, had an amendment agreed to removing indemnification language for elected officials at special events, and then passed as amended. House Bill 2558, banning non-compete agreements for broadcast workers, saw an amendment to preserve limited non-competes fail, and the bill passed. House Bill 2359, prohibiting government NDAs related to data centers, passed 171-31 after extensive debate over transparency and local control. The chamber also passed House Bill 2455, granting Pittsburgh school administrators collective bargaining rights, despite objections that existing appeal protections already exist; it passed 106-96. House Bill 2460, creating hunting and trapping education provisions, passed 180-22 after debate over whether it duplicated existing law and imposed a mandate. House Bill 2499, expanding the State Workers’ Insurance Fund’s equity investment authority, passed 173-29. House Bill 2529, scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance, passed 198-4 amid testimony about overdose risks and concerns about criminalization. Senate Bill 604, joining the Counseling Compact, passed 188-14, and Senate Bill 1259, clarifying parole record privilege and expanding notice to denied parole applicants, passed unanimously 202-0. The House then made referrals and committee assignments, signed the two Senate bills for presentation to the Governor, and adjourned until July 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we are independently reviewed by an auditor of our finances. We do not own or operate housing.
• I forgot to mention the Energy Efficiency. I assume it’s probably increased quite a bit.
• We are assisting Face to Face with the financing of this project.
• We are assisting Face to Face with the financing of this project.
• We are assisting Face to Face with the financing of this project.

Bills: HF2148 , HF2693 , HF2542 , HF1141 , HF1770 , HF1489 , HF1709 , HF244 , HF1266 , HF807 , HF2619 , HF1340

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• An act for the Department of Finance and Administration disbursing officer appropriation for the 2026
• An act for the Department of Finance and Administration disbursing officer appropriation for the 2026
• I mean, the energy sit there and said in testimony, we've got planners here a couple years ago.
• Because, like I said, energy already said, we're not going to, these are not going to cause rates to
• Energy already said, we're not going to, these are not going to cause rates to be raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• schools and teachers; repealing Section 33-356, Idaho Code, relating to school building design and energy
• schools and teachers; repealing Section 33-356, Idaho Code, relating to school building design and energy
• House Bill 598, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding campaign finance.
• House Bill 598, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding campaign finance.
• Respectfully, Vito Barbieri, Chairman, House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so happy to see so much energy in the room.
• Our recent report on the clean energy workforce, released in December, highlighted issues relating to
• permitting and financing clean energy projects that have our skilled construction workers facing delayed
• Our recent report on the clean energy workforce released in December highlighted issues relating to permitting
• and financing clean energy projects that have our skilled construction workers facing delayed start

Bills: HB2405 , HB2406 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2492

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations, employee rights, union representation, non-covered employees, wage enforcement, labor standards

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so happy to see so much energy in the room.
• Our recent report on the clean energy workforce, released in December, highlighted issues relating to
• permitting and financing clean energy projects that have our skilled construction workers facing delayed
• Our recent report on the clean energy workforce released in December highlighted issues relating to permitting
• and financing clean energy projects that have our skilled construction workers facing delayed start

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several Labor and Workplace Standards bills. HB 2492 would require building and construction apprenticeship programs, beginning in 2027, to include two hours of behavioral health and wellness training covering topics such as suicide prevention, substance use disorder, recognizing distress, peer support, and connecting to resources. The prime sponsor and many labor, apprenticeship, and contractor witnesses supported the bill, describing high suicide and overdose rates in construction and sharing personal stories about losses and struggles in the trades. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 2405, a Department of Labor and Industries request bill creating a pilot to allow earlier treatment for PTSD claims in workers’ compensation, including up to 11 treatment sessions before claim adjudication and limited follow-up treatment after closure. L&I and NFIB supported the measure as a way to speed treatment and reduce barriers, while one legal advocate supported it but raised technical concerns about pre-claim treatment and urged more focus on workplace prevention; another witness cautioned against emphasizing psychiatric drug treatment. The bill was heard only; no action was taken. HB 2406 would expand L&I’s ability to send notices electronically, with opt-in/opt-out provisions and some changes to timing rules for workers’ compensation and WISHA notices. L&I supported the bill as a modernization measure, while labor and workers’ advocates opposed changes affecting workers’ compensation notices, arguing that email should not become the default for vulnerable workers who may miss deadlines. HB 2478 would give L&I discretion, rather than a mandate, to investigate wage complaints and allow penalties when the department initiates an investigation; L&I supported it as a more efficient enforcement tool, and the committee discussed how complaints would still be handled and communicated. Finally, HB 2471 would create a state collective bargaining framework for private-sector workers if federal labor law or the NLRB no longer covers them. Supporters said it would preserve organizing and dispute-resolution rights if federal protections fail, while agricultural employers and NFIB opposed it, arguing it would inappropriately apply to agriculture and small businesses, could disrupt perishable harvests, and should rely on secret-ballot elections rather than card check. No votes were taken on any of the bills in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• that producer of food towards energy.
• Do we grow crop or do we grow energy?
• Do we live without the food or do we live without the energy?
• </c> else such as alternative financing else such as alternative financing mechanisms,<00:59:06.920><
• is an alternative financing mechanism for infrastructure.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee heard multiple governor’s messages for confirmation to the Agribusiness Development Corporation board and one appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. For GM 606, David Ige Hinazumi was supported by ADC and DBEDT, with testimony highlighting his private-sector experience, technology background, and ability to help with risk management and finances. He told senators he had attended board meetings since 2018, saw ADC as a state business arm for agriculture, and supported expanding land, facilities, and even aquaculture if resources allowed. Senators asked about ADC’s role relative to the Department of Agriculture, and he said the department’s strength is research/regulatory work while ADC should focus on business development, support, and facilities for farmers and aquaculture businesses. For GM 607, Jason Watts was strongly supported by ADC leadership, DBEDT, and many agricultural and community groups, with one opposing testimony from Hawaii Farm Bureau. Supporters praised his governance, accountability, transparency, and frequent communication with the agency. In questioning, Watts said ADC’s top priority should be increasing land holdings, and he discussed ADC’s role in water systems, including preserving agricultural water sources and inventorying systems statewide. He also said ADC could potentially help small farmers comply with environmental permitting through a broader, regional approach if authorized by the Legislature. The committee also heard from Joshua Uyehara for GM 682, who was supported by ADC, county officials, and farm groups. He said his priorities would be accelerating ADC projects, expanding capacity, and possibly using ADC as a center of expertise for water systems and for helping farmers with environmental requirements; he also said biofuel crops and food production can be complementary, though food should be prioritized when water is constrained. The committee then considered GM 513, Tracy Lester Smith’s appointment to the Aloha Stadium Authority. The stadium authority and DBEDT supported her, citing her experience in NASCAR, boxing, and Bellator MMA as useful for marketing, attracting events, and commercializing the stadium. Smith said she was eager to serve and would bring experience from both the landlord and tenant perspectives, helping the board think about venue operations, sponsorships, and event attraction. Senators asked about improving public perception and execution, and she emphasized accountability, timelines, and building a venue that can draw major sports and entertainment events. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.