Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Kyra How, utility analyst at the Public Utilities Commission.
• members my name is Kyra how utility members my name is Kyra how utility Analyst<00:52:41.720>
• the Public Utilities Analyst at the Public Utilities Commission<00:52:43.920> uh<00:52:44.040
• and or near uh electric utility and or near uh electric utility facilities<00:54:19.520> so
• work at or near electric utility work at or near electric utility facilities<00:55:07.319> thank

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on March 21, 2025, and heard several resolutions related to corrections, emergency preparedness, and wildfire risk. Early items included HCR 62/HR 57 on flying the National League of Families POW/MIA flag year-round at the state Capitol, for which no one testified, and HCR 154/HR 49, which would request a comprehensive forensic audit of DCR and DAGS spending tied to planning and building a new jail to replace the Ahu Community Correctional Center. The ACLU strongly supported the audit, arguing that the state has spent millions on jail planning over many years without clear accounting, that a new jail is unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible, and that public-private partnership arrangements could reduce transparency. Committee members questioned the use of the term “forensic,” the age of some cited allegations, and whether the auditor could instead conduct another type of audit; the ACLU said it was open to other audit language and offered to help compile background materials. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard HCR 63, asking DCR to provide separate clinical counseling services for correctional staff, with one supporter, and HCR 23, which asks DCR to include circuit and district court facilities in planning the new Ahu Community Correctional Center and to establish a release procedure that avoids releasing detainees into residential communities or public spaces. DCR Director Johnson said the department supported the intent of HCR 23 and had discussed it with the Chief Justice and court administrator, adding that one multi-purpose courtroom could handle both district and circuit proceedings. The chair then moved on without further discussion. A major portion of the meeting focused on HCR 37, which asks HEMA to work with other agencies on outreach and preparedness for kūpuna. Testifiers from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, AARP Hawaii, and the Hawaii Council of Community Associations supported the measure, citing the vulnerability of older adults and people with disabilities during disasters, lessons from the Lahaina fires, and the need for clear evacuation plans, siren reliability, and better coordination with care homes and condominium associations. Several speakers described local preparedness efforts and concerns about gaps in communication and implementation. The committee also discussed HCR 69/HR 62 on creating a vegetation management working group to reduce wildfire risk; the Division of Consumer Advocacy supported it, with testimony describing dangerous incidents involving vines and bamboo contacting electrical lines and causing sparking and a utility pole fire. The meeting ended with testimony and questions continuing on that topic, and no final committee action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as manufacturers picked up more of the costs of the drugs and people were utilizing more drugs
• And so as manufacturers picked up more of the costs of the drugs and people were utilizing more drugs
• And so as manufacturers picked up more of the costs of the drugs and people were utilizing more drugs
• Kirsten: ...more and more drugs were being utilized, because you didn't have that big donut hole.
• Kirsten: ...more and more drugs were being utilized, because you didn't have that big donut hole.

Summary: The committee received an update from Grant Wallace on the state employee Medicare Advantage group plan and the ongoing rebid with UnitedHealthcare. Wallace said the agency is exploring “decoupling” the medical and pharmacy portions of the plan, and that preliminary estimates suggested potential savings of about $100 to $200 per participant per month. He said the final CMS rate-setting process would conclude in April, with a revised contract amendment likely to come before the committee in May or June after review by the EBD Advisory Commission and State Board of Finance. He also clarified that the plan covers post-65 teacher and state employee retirees, including retirees from state agencies and K-12 public schools. Representatives from Segal Consulting then gave a broader presentation on Medicare Advantage and Part D market trends, reviewing Arkansas’s prior decision to adopt a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan and the savings generated since the 2023 RFP. They explained that the Inflation Reduction Act significantly changed Part D financing by shifting more federal support into a direct subsidy tied to risk scores, which makes accurate risk adjustment more important and creates a larger difference between Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans and standalone Part D plans. They said this has led to a growing divergence in funding, especially for standalone Part D, and is the main reason decoupling medical and pharmacy coverage is being considered. Committee members asked about how the risk-score changes affect costs and members. Segal said the new structure has reduced member out-of-pocket costs, with the annual cap now at $2,000 and many members reaching it after roughly $600 to $800 in spending, but that the plan absorbs more of the cost. They also said the market appears to be adjusting through annual bids, and that a decoupled structure could allow the state to capture more favorable funding on the Part D side. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after being told to expect further information once the April rate notice and renewal proposal are available.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted to address, um, I guess, the largest private wastewater utility in Madison County.
• We understand pretty well the model of regulated utility rate-making. >> As I said, I can't be positive
• <00:09:51.120> rate well the model of regulated utility rate well the model of regulated utility
• My understanding is the<00:12:10.639> utility<00:12:10.959> in<00:12:11.120> Shelby<
• County that was the utility in Shelby County that was regulated<00:12:12.720> two<00:12:12.959

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• utility if there is an issue. utility if there is an issue. um<00:02:05.840> AGC<00:02:06.479
• Safety and coordination around underground utilities are essential parts of our work.
• utility projects across Minnesota. utility projects across Minnesota.
• <00:10:27.920> Um<00:10:28.320> some utilized as they are intended.
• Um some utilized as they are intended.

Bills: HF3919, HF3791, HF1781, HF3908, HF4233, HF3966, HF3430

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, security, protective services, state officials, Capitol complex, state patrol, public safety, legislative protection, threat assessment, transportation, electronic attestation, traffic signals, accident reporting, legislative routes, agricultural aircraft

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the USGS will come in and utilize that information.
• We utilized drones and then LIDAR and lasers right.
• To get old logging roads open so fire crews can utilize them to combat fires.
• The utilities are all very enthusiastic about this process.
• So we did utilize Guard Carpenter as recommended by the superintendent of insurance.

Transcript Highlights:

• statement made about the utilities statement made about the utilities having<00:50:55.680> to
• <00:59:56.400> regulation around uh around utility regulation around uh around utility regulation
• The utility, the owner-operator, may develop a method for the owner to inform the utility of the wattage
• <02:53:02.640> um governor's advisor for utility um governor's advisor for utility um critical
• uh manager of the New England utility uh manager of the New England utility cyber<02:53:08.080><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cyber Security Act, sponsored by Rep.
• utilities.
• While larger utilities may have more resources to invest in cybersecurity, the smaller utilities and
• Yet many small and rural utilities lack the...
• Small and rural utilities lack the capacity and expertise to act on this information.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 29, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in that way um the utilities.
• goes through the public utilities goes through the public utilities commission<00:40:19.520>
• Do they all sell to the utilities, or do they have customers other than the utilities?
• <01:09:33.040> just the public utilities commission. just the public utilities commission.
• utilities commission. utilities commission.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on April 14 and began by welcoming a new member, Representative Samban Denier, who briefly described his background as a Clarkson University environmental engineering graduate and Air Force veteran. The committee then moved into a work session on five energy-related bills, starting with Senate Bill 65 on stormwater management for solar arrays. Representative McGee presented amendment 1594H, which would exclude projects in shoreland areas from the bill’s permit-by-notification process and require the standard alteration-of-terrain permit review instead. Members asked for clarification, and McGee explained the amendment was requested by the New Hampshire Lakes Association and others to preserve the fuller review process for shoreland projects. The committee appeared satisfied with the explanation and moved on. The committee next discussed Senate Bill 230 on electric utility restructuring and investment in distributed energy resources. Members concluded that section one was unnecessary because a better definition of advanced nuclear resources had already been added to House Bill 710, and that section two would allow investment in advanced nuclear resources in a way they had already rejected in another bill due to ratepayer risk. Several members agreed the bill was redundant and supported an ITL motion. They also discussed Senate Bill 232 on net metering terms and conditions, focusing first on whether hydroelectric generators could be listed in ISO New England while also taking net metering credits. Granite State Hydropower Association representative Heidi Kroll testified that generators are subject to checks and balances, that double-dipping is not occurring, and that rules and tariffs already require participation in one market arrangement or the other. Discussion on Senate Bill 232 then shifted to section two, which would bar retroactive changes to net metering tariffs in place as of January 1, 2025. Representative McGee proposed alternative language to protect existing customer generators, group hosts, and municipal hosts from retroactive changes, while others said the language was needed to provide stability for current participants operating on thin margins. Some members supported the clearer wording; others argued the committee should not tie the hands of the PUC and DOE, noting future circumstances could require regulatory flexibility and that conflicts could be resolved in court if necessary. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Talking about Minnesota specifically, how would we benefit from utilizing nuclear energy?
• from utilizing nuclear energy yeah<00:03:55.360> so<00:03:55.720> Minnesota<00:03:56.319
• Every utility company, if they want to build one, is going to have to come with a pretty strong plan.
• It all has to get reviewed and questioned and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
• company if they want to build utility company if they want to build one<00:08:07.759> is<00:08

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:41.640> operating that allows schools to utilize operating that allows schools to utilize
• capital revenue to pay for utility capital revenue to pay for utility services.<00:06:44.880>
• Agricultural Utilization and It's Agricultural Utilization and Research<00:47:40.440> Institute.
• . utility. utility.
• You utilities, and those that find it.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first adopted a conference committee report on House File 3900, a constitutional amendment related to state government and school trust lands. Members from both parties praised the work on the bill and said the conference committee returned a clean version of the House-passed measure. The report was adopted without opposition, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 134-0 roll call. The chamber then took up Senate File 4282, a forecast-adjustments bill covering K-12 education, human services, children and families, and transportation. Representative Youakim explained that the conference report restored all four forecast articles plus several no-cost education items, including school fund transfers, utility-payment authority, a paraprofessional licensing clarification, a grant extension, and school trust lands language. Representative Mueller moved to refuse adoption, arguing the report had become a catchall and omitted agreed-upon literacy language; that motion failed 62-72. The House then adopted the conference report, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 94-37 vote. Next, the House concurred in Senate amendments to House File 4138, the social media bill aimed at restricting addictive social media harms for minors. The Senate had removed House “threat alert” language, and the author said that was the only substantive difference. Supporters said the bill would protect kids online and require parental permission for social media accounts for children 15 and under. The House concurred and repassed the bill as amended by the Senate on a 131-2 vote. The House then began consideration of Senate File 2373, a labor and industry bill exempting minor league baseball players from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Through a series of amendments, members added provisions on rural cancer research, disability services and employment access, unemployment insurance for certain laid-off Iron Range miners, and agricultural funding items such as depredation, local foods, down payment assistance, and meat processing grants. One proposed amendment to remove the double-fencing requirement for farmed cervidae was strongly opposed as a threat to deer health and was defeated 61-72. The transcript ends during debate on that amendment, before final disposition of the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• KYVA utilizes live synchronous instruction across all grade levels.
• KYVA utilizes live synchronous instruction across all grade levels.
• KYVA utilizes live synchronous instruction across all grade levels.
• KYVA utilizes live synchronous instruction across all grade levels.
• <00:14:29.759> flexible inhibits the ability to utilize flexible inhibits the ability to utilize

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard first from the Washway Nicotine Youth Advocacy Group, which urged stronger enforcement of Kentucky’s Tobacco 21 law. Youth advocates described the harms of flavored vaping products, argued that nicotine use is targeting children, and called for retailer licensing, annual compliance checks, harsher penalties for illegal sales, and more funding for enforcement. Committee members praised the presentation, and one senator said he had heard a bill on licensed retailers may be coming soon. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Cloverport Independent School District and the Kentucky Virtual Academy about the state’s virtual school model. Superintendent Keith Haynes and principals Brandy Fagan and Sally Johnson said KYVA serves about 2,800 students, many of whom are at-risk or have health, safety, behavioral, or family reasons for choosing virtual education. They emphasized that the program uses live synchronous instruction, provides devices and materials, and offers special education and related services. They also said the school had a large wait list and that virtual programs need more flexibility in staffing ratios, scheduling, and testing windows. School leaders acknowledged criticism of KYVA’s proficiency scores and said many students entered far below grade level, with 59% not proficient in English language arts and 79% not proficient in math on recent state testing. They argued the program is too new to judge solely on one year of data and pointed to growth in MAP scores, as well as middle and high school rankings in the top half of Kentucky schools. Fagan and Johnson outlined improvement efforts, including daily interventions, small-group instruction, literacy programs, staff training, and expanded clubs and student activities. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's unclear to me if the council has intended to access and utilize field data.
• Marco Vera, you're general manager of the McAllen Public Utility, and you are for House Bill 3125.
• Uh, Mark Vega, McAllen Public Utility, general manager.
• We can drill deeper, and we can drill, you know, we can go and, and really utilize the resource, uh,
• There's actually families that are living there if we can make Those resources such as utilities more

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're going to try to figure out how we can utilize if there's ways we can utilize the state's bonding
• 19.759> pool we can utilize the state's bonding pool we can utilize the state's bonding pool to
• <00:27:35.520> and process that could be utilized here. and process that could be utilized
• Our Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power utility serves Cheyenne and is separate from, say, our utility in
• Our Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power utility serves Cheyenne and is separate from, say, our utility in

Bills: SJ0001, SF0017

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, forestry management, good neighbor authority, state lands, employee funding, donations, revolving account, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When chairs, committee members, John, chair of the Public Utilities Commission.
• Thank you. the mainland where utilities can lean on the mainland where utilities can lean on neighboring
• >> I want to state at the outset, I also have with me our utility analyst, Daniel Park.
• utility analyst uh Daniel Park. utility analyst uh Daniel Park.
• That's going to add costs no matter what the structure of the utility is.

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most utility customers are billed monthly for energy use.
• I'm Nick Dominguez, general manager of Lassen Municipal Utility District.
• We're a small municipal-owned utility.
• Derek Dahloff, on behalf of the California Municipal Utilities Association, in strong support.
• Okay, many utility companies support must be very good. It's very unique and fully understand.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 716, Carrillo, motion is do pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Ransom? Aye.
• The road is being torn apart, utilities are being cut off.
• Yes, utility prices are very high. Okay, yeah. Climate, climate.
• AB 783, the motion is due passed to the Committee on Utilities and Energy.
• AB 716, do pass to the Committee on Utilities and Energy. Calderon? Aye. Calderon, aye.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have public utilities in the state of California.
• We don't have public utilities in the state of California.
• The motion is do pass to Energy, Utilities and Communications. Current vote is 7 to 0.
• Utilities and Communications. Current vote is 7 to 0. Chair and Vice Chair voting aye.
• The motion is do pass to Energy, Utilities, and Communications. Current vote is 8 to 0.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We agree that opioids should never be over-utilized.
• The state has strict guidelines that protect against the over-utilization of them.
• We agree that opioids should never be over-utilized.
• So utilizing science, utilizing new things coming down the pike, this is actually where we should be.
• So utilizing science, utilizing new things coming down the pike, this is actually where we should be.

Bills: HB2048, HB2189, HB2248, HB2403, HB2728, HB2729, HB2730, HB2731, HB2906, HCR2058

Keywords: orders of protection, domestic violence, court procedures, legal guardian, enforcement, healthcare, licensed health aides, scope of practice, ventilator care, training standards, medical freedom, healthcare mandates, employment requirements, public health, government regulation, elderly, physical disabilities, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, home and community based services, funding increase

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) on homelessness in Maricopa County and CASS programs for single adults, families, and older adults. The witness described rising homelessness, especially among older adults, and said recent declines were linked to American Rescue Plan Act funding for shelters and flexible rental assistance. Members asked about CASS partnerships with mutual aid and service organizations; the witness described collaborations for food, banking, haircuts, digital access, and behavioral health. No vote was taken on this presentation. The committee then considered HB 2248, the Arizona Medical Freedom Act, which would bar businesses, schools, and government entities from denying services or employment based on medical interventions and limit employer medical requirements, with a school outbreak amendment adopted. Proponents framed the bill as protecting bodily autonomy and informed consent, while opponents argued it would weaken employers’ ability to control communicable diseases and protect public health. The committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill on a 4-3 vote. It also advanced HB 2906, requiring one oral and maxillofacial surgeon on the State Board of Dental Examiners, and HB 2189, directing the Nursing Board to implement rules for licensed health aides performing routine ventilator care; both passed with amendments and strong support from sponsors and board representatives. Later, the committee approved HB 2403, appropriating $2.5 million in FY2027 for home- and community-based services providers serving elderly and physically disabled Arizonans. Supporters said the funding would help retain caregivers and reduce more expensive hospital or facility care. The committee also passed several continuation bills, including HB 2731 for the Physician Assistants Board, HB 2730 for the Occupational Therapy Board, and HB 2729 for the Nursing Board, all on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes after testimony from board staff emphasizing public protection and oversight. The committee then took up HB 2728, a DES continuation bill that also incorporated nine previously vetoed policy bills affecting SNAP, unemployment, and related benefits. Opponents argued it would make access to essential benefits harder and turn a routine continuation bill into a vehicle for controversial policy changes; supporters said it was needed for oversight and program integrity. The bill advanced on a 4-3 vote. Finally, the committee approved HB 2048, a strike-everything amendment requiring AHCCCS to treat a new non-opioid pain medication no more restrictively than opioids in utilization controls, and ACR 2058, which would require a comprehensive Medicaid claims audit funded by recoveries. Both measures drew support from sponsors and some personal testimony, while opponents warned about cost, duplication of oversight, and incentives that could bias audits; each advanced on 4-3 votes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They measure the utilization rate really against all available funding sources.
• USDA; we utilize anybody.
• So, I do utilities, and during COVID, costs really, really increased—doubled.
• for the water utilities.
• We do utilize CES quite a bit. We utilize HGAC quite a bit.

Transcript Highlights:

• A tariff rider is a supplemental charge on a utility bill that is not included in the base rate.
• There's a fundamental disconnect with having a public utility that is privately owned and operated for
• I think it's time we reconsider for-profit public utilities.
• a public utility that is privately<00:59:52.680> owned<00:59:53.039> and<00:59:53.280>
• when taxpayers have to Public Utilities when taxpayers have to bail<01:00:22.280> them<01:00:

Keywords: 910, house, all