Transcript Highlights:

• vision and leadership, Chancellor Sharp oversaw the nearly 12. billion dollar investment in the construction
• Transportation funding a g4473 by canals hurling the study of the texas department of transportation the construction
• Resources history 4584 by Metcalfe relating to the funding mechanisms to support the construction of
• criminal jurisprudence SB 4625 by Kitzman relating to the design build method for certain government construction
• Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs, HB 4880 by Olcott, relating to the signed requirements of construction

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• documented O&M and repair needs, there are approximately 607 out of the 2,038 structures that are not constructed
• to high hazard design criteria because at the time of construction, they were low hazard and out in
• The NRCS paid for the design, the construction just to put it there, and then the local government entities
• The market for industrial hemp, including textiles, construction materials like hempcrete and biofuels
• Public and education market development, promote industrial hemp applications in construction, bioplastics

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• offer a variety of cost-effective loans and grants—programs that provide for design, planning, and construction
• Those are 2018 numbers, and we've seen what the costs of interest rates, construction, and labor have
• issues, soil movement, severe weather conditions, or instances where we see pipes break during construction
• maintenance (O&M) and repair needs, there are approximately 607 out of the 2,036 structures that were not constructed
• capital repair and improvement needs at TPWD headquarters, parks, fisheries, and wildlife capital construction

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The judicial branch has rules about how they interpret legislation, known as rules of statutory construction
• Our preference is that there never be any statute. construction.
• There are rules of statutory construction.
• Chairman, I might remind us all that the first rule of statutory construction is that the legislature
• That's a really important rule of statutory construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Total upfront construction cost increase should be about $2,300.
• Total upfront construction cost increase should be about $2,300.
• Total upfront construction cost increase should be about $2,300.
• income tax credit for taxpayers that incur costs related to the design, materials, insulation, and construction
• income tax credit for taxpayers that incur costs related to the design, materials, insulation, and construction

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard several bills on building codes, taxation, police reports, National Guard benefits, and discriminatory reporting. SB 48 would have required the State Building Code Council to assess financial impacts of code adoption on homes and include utility costs; testimony was mixed, but the bill drew concerns about housing costs and code timing. SB 120 would have changed the State Building Code Council’s responsibilities and code adoption process; the International Code Council and Sierra Club opposed it, while BIA Hawaii and others supported it, arguing current code cycles raise costs and counties need more flexibility. The committee later noted that county building departments had not submitted testimony on SB 48 or SB 120. SB 138 would create a nonrefundable income tax credit for hurricane-resistant safe rooms. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and revenue uncertainty, while Hawaii Emergency Management stood on written comments. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including a clarifying tax language change and an effective date of July 1, 2077. SB 112 would allow immediate family members of deceased persons to receive police closing reports after a set period; the Attorney General and prosecuting attorney supported access in principle but requested explicit redaction authority for minors and confidential personal information. The committee adopted amendments reflecting those concerns and passed the bill. SB 88 would authorize allowances for TRICARE, dental, and vision coverage for Hawaii National Guard personnel ordered to active duty for more than 30 days. It received support from National Guard and Department of Defense representatives and was passed as is. SB 16 would create civil remedies for discriminatory reporting to law enforcement based on protected characteristics and require public guidance from the Department of Law Enforcement and Civil Rights Commission; it received support from the department and several advocates, with one opposition testimony. The committee passed SB 16 with an amended effective date and technical changes. In final action, the committee deferred SB 48 and SB 120, and adopted the chair’s recommendations on the remaining measures before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have plenty of construction defect attorneys looking all over the place for those.
• Or maybe a lot of them have had construction defect settlements, but those settlements were pennies on
• So they weren't able to actually do the repairs for the construction defects that they recovered maybe
• panel, March 27th, 1981, in North Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, a five-story building under construction
• Beach, a March 27th, 1981 and North Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, a five-story building under construction

Summary: The committee on Regulated Industries convened with a quorum and began a panel discussion focused on condominium milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS), with members framing the topic as part of Florida’s post-Surfside condo safety reforms. The chair and panelists reviewed how the state got here, emphasizing that the problems predated Surfside and were driven by long-term deferred maintenance, underfunded reserves, and aging buildings. Panelists included representatives from Florida Realtors, engineering and reserve-study firms, a CPA, a community association attorney, and Broward County’s building safety official, all of whom described their roles in inspections, reserve planning, and code enforcement. Testimony centered on what inspectors are finding in the field. Panelists said the most common problems are not subsidence but wear-and-tear and maintenance failures, especially in stairways, balconies, roofs, parapet walls, waterproofing, and corrosion. They described examples of buildings with hidden deterioration, hurricane-exposed damage, and associations that were underfunded despite prior inspection regimes in Miami-Dade and Broward. Dr. Barbosa explained that Miami-Dade’s recertification program began in the 1970s and Broward’s in 2005, with current timelines generally requiring notice, a first milestone review, and then time to begin substantial repairs; she said the program has improved compliance but that SIRS has added confusion. Members also raised concerns about the cost and implementation of SIRS, including whether reports are being used to generate unnecessary work, whether contractors or firms have conflicts of interest, and whether the law’s use of “fully funded” is being misunderstood. Panelists said the statutory reserve requirement is better understood as baseline funding, not having all money in the bank immediately, and suggested clearer definitions and possibly changing the terminology to “adequately funded.” They also discussed the need to separate required structural items from optional or cosmetic items in reserve reports, improve transparency for buyers and lenders, and ensure associations provide documents through websites and other portals. No votes were taken. The committee used the meeting as an information-gathering session and signaled that more panels and discussion would follow, with members and witnesses agreeing that the state may need further clarification, education, and possible statutory adjustments to reduce confusion while preserving building safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis County, facilitating trail development, engineering, permitting, and construction. about how we're
• <01:04:33.039> Um,<01:04:33.760> joining<01:04:34.079> us and construction.
• Um, joining us and construction.
• trail constructed in Cooching County. trail constructed in Cooching County.
• construction and ATV use of the route. construction and ATV use of the route.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most homes in the high-risk areas were built before the modern fire-resistant construction standards
• Modern fire-resistant construction standards took effect.
• years, we have had state-adopted some of the nation's first wildfire building standards for new construction
• siding like stucco or fiber cement, tempered glass windows, enclosed eaves, ignition-resistant construction
• We have 19 properties in active construction and 370 properties with assessments completed, waiting for

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• members, um, members of this committee are already very familiar with the process of building and constructing
• So, what we're talking about in when we build new or construct or we construct new or rebuild existing
• So, what we're talking about in when we build new or construct or we construct new or rebuild existing
• So, what we're talking about in when we build new or construct or we construct new or rebuild existing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the role-out dates that we've received for four months from visiting region based coverage The construction
• behavioral health funding that I previously mentioned and the second is for community service construction
• as Medicaid, removing one-time funding for certain projects and actions. such as state hospital construction
• employees we have a hundred and thirty nine million and operational funding for state hospital construction
• and I'm assuming doesn't either you know updates and or new construction.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Enbridge Energy up in Duluth hired me, so I was a construction project manager for them and then moved
• Enbridge Energy up in Duluth hired me, so I was a construction project manager for them and then moved
• Enbridge Energy up in Duluth hired me, so I was a construction project manager for them and then moved
• Enbridge Energy up in Duluth hired me, so I was a construction project manager for them and then moved
• in duth hired me so I was a construction in duth hired me so I was a construction project<00:03:

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Committee on Energy Finance and Policy met for an informational session and quorum was present, but the chair stated no action would be taken. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Chris Swedzinski outlined the committee’s broad goals of improving Minnesota’s energy system for families and businesses, with an emphasis on affordability, reliability, and development. Several members echoed those priorities, especially concerns about electric reliability, base-load generation, and the needs of rural communities, co-ops, munis, farms, and small businesses. House fiscal analyst Ashley presented a budget overview for the committee’s jurisdiction. She reviewed spending and base amounts for the Energy Resources Division, the Renewable Development Fund, the Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund, and the Public Utilities Commission, and explained that the committee also oversees special revenue and other accounts. She noted that the Renewable Development Fund is supported by utility payments for spent nuclear fuel storage, the cleanup fund by a petroleum distribution fee, and that the Commerce Department receives significant federal LIHEAP and weatherization funds. Members asked about the large increase in the Climate and Economic Development Fund and the status of recent appropriations; staff explained that the 2023 session set a larger target, that about $79 million had been spent from the relevant budget, and that some funds may carry forward. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on community solar gardens. Representative Dave Baker asked for an update on the program, and staff explained that Minnesota has about 1,600 megawatts of solar, with more than 900 megawatts in community solar. Staff said 2023 legislative changes capped annual additions and created new incentives for low- and middle-income participation. Members also discussed concerns about program cost, local siting opposition, and a large interconnection queue; staff said there is a backlog of projects, including a reported 56 gigawatts in the MISO queue, and that utilities need distribution upgrades to handle new capacity. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• House: the Senate bill extending the deadline for the town of Milton to appropriate money for the construction
• An act extending the deadline for the town of Milton to appropriate money for the construction of a new

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with ceremonial recognitions, including the United States of Wales girls swim team for its third consecutive state championship, the Weston High School girls indoor track team for its state title, and students visiting from the Squantum Schools. The chamber then adopted a resolution honoring Carl F. Kowalski of Whitman for more than 40 years of public service after suspending the rules. The House also took up a Senate amendment to the fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill, House No. 528. After suspending the rules, the House voted not to concur with the Senate amendment and instead agreed to appoint a committee of conference. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee then recommended several bills for immediate consideration, including measures on Milton school land timing, tolling reform, LIHEAP automatic re-enrollment, Massachusetts identification cards, Quincy public safety records, and parity among Massachusetts beaches; the House suspended Rule 7A, ordered them to third reading, and advanced them. On third reading, the House concurred in the Senate amendment to House No. 4259, designating the Weeder Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell tennis courts. It then passed to be engrossed bills on Haverhill election procedures (House Nos. 4203 and 4204), extending Dalton Fire District interim fire chief employment (House No. 4321), and regulating elections in Conway (House No. 4498). Finally, the House took up the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill, House No. 5500, but postponed further consideration until April 27, adopted an order to meet the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 5308 by Representative Cortez codifies the adjutant general's authority over construction-related
• Bill 5308 preserves the Texas Military Department's. streamlined procurement for timely military construction

Bills: HB101, HB290

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding, PFAS, agriculture, criminal offense, pollution, Johnson County, environmental regulation, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:17:01.640> or a property, construction or a property, construction or improvements,<01
• Jones. to construct a unit of home housing is to construct a unit of home housing is more<01:19:24.280
• For example, we constructed a project in Warroad, Minnesota, called Icon Apartments.
• How much gap funding would you need to construct 200 units, Mr. Duchaine?
• How much gap funding would you need to construct 200 units, Mr. Duchaine?

Bills: HF3279, HF1879, HF1417, HF2462

Keywords: housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Cheating 110 construction workers out of their hard-earned overtime pay.
• Construction cost savings can't be taken out of the workers' pockets, end quote.
• <00:52:51.546> [snorts]<00:52:51.760> construction week.
• Construction [snorts] construction week.
• Construction [snorts] construction cost<00:52:52.640> savings<00:52:53.560> can't<00:52

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee began with resolutions HCR 93 and HR 85, which ask the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the Department of the Attorney General, to form a working group and report on ways to strengthen protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s office said it could support the effort as legal counsel to the commission but preferred not to be an active working-group member, and suggested the Legislative Reference Bureau could instead conduct a nationwide study for stakeholders. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the resolutions but urged broader scope to include prevention and intervention, expanded stakeholder membership, keeping the Attorney General involved, and adjusting the report deadline. Testimony in support also came from the Emoa Alliance, which emphasized the prevalence and harms of image-based abuse and the need for stronger protections. Members asked questions about current criminal and civil remedies, reporting barriers, and whether the commission could administer the effort without the Attorney General; no votes were taken on the resolutions during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HCR 113 and HR 106, supporting the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group’s request for more resources and a timeline extension to fiscal year 2026-2027. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support, saying Native Hawaiian culture, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions are increasingly being commercialized and exploited without adequate protection, and that the working group needs more time, resources, and community consultation to complete its work. The committee noted six supporters and no opposition or comments. The hearing also covered HCR 193 and HR 183, which would establish a court security and Department of Law Enforcement capacity working group to address staffing shortages and the use of private security at state courts. The Judiciary supported the intent, asked that the working group supplement rather than replace its budget request, and proposed allowing the chair to add members with relevant experience. In response to questions, Judiciary said it has requested $3.25 million for armed private security, which it said would cover about 18 contracted individuals, though with significant company overhead. The committee then moved through several bills: SB 2667, which restricts certain commercial vehicles and trailers from the far-left lane on multi-lane roads, received support from the Department of Transportation; SB 2851, which allows deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation for law enforcement access, drew testimony in support; SB 2521, which updates emergency vehicle rules and exempts EMS personnel from CDL requirements, received testimony from Honolulu Emergency Services; and SB 2466, which would make the Chief Elections Officer terminable only for cause, drew support from the League of Women Voters and opposition from Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, who argued the change could reduce accountability and create election disruptions if litigation over termination occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• They focus on how constructive the regulatory climate is and metrics like cash flow to total debt.
• They focus on how constructive the regulatory climate is and metrics like cash flow to total debt.
• Uh, as you know, we represent 14,000 construction laborers across Minnesota, North Dakota.
• > laborers represent 14,000 construction laborers represent 14,000 construction laborers across
• and data construction owners, uh, Excel<00:59:20.400> and<00:59:20.640> Centerpoint,<00

Bills: HF4236, HF4122, HF4377

Keywords: public utility, interim rates, utility rates, rate case, general rate case, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, PUC, rate increase cap, rate freeze, refunds, customer refunds, ratepayer protection, electric utility, gas utility, regulated utility, ratemaking, return on equity, rate base, test year, rate design

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires the design of all new state building construction, where parking is included, to provide
• all new state building construction all new state building construction [cough]<01:36:32.239>
• [snorts] Well, clearly the new construction requirement applies across the board.
• construction projects if they have it. construction projects if they have it.
• Okay, well, I guess given that understanding that the make-ready work is a new construction.

Bills: HB1617

Keywords: carbon emissions, tax credit, fossil fuel, agriculture, food security, environmental tax, greenhouse gas, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on HB 1949, which would create a public dashboard for the green fee to improve transparency and accountability. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and many community and conservation groups was generally supportive, with several speakers urging that the governor’s project recommendations remain largely intact and that community-driven projects continue to guide spending. One amendment was suggested to place the dashboard at the Department of Budget and Finance for fiscal expertise, while other testimony favored keeping it with the commission. Members asked about procurement, ETS involvement, recurring hosting costs, and whether the dashboard could be funded from green fee revenues; the commission said it could work with ETS and that green fee funds could reasonably be used. The committees then voted to pass HB 1949 with amendments. The committees also heard HB 2618, which would require the governor to submit a separate bill for amounts tied to any increase in the transient accommodations tax and, in later discussion, was expanded into a broader restructuring of future green fee allocations. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and others supported the bill and emphasized the value of more predictable, dedicated funding for conservation and climate-related work. During decision-making, the chair described amendments creating several special funds under DLNR, including a watershed biodiversity and wildfire risk reduction fund, an aquatic resources conservation fund, a coastal restoration fund, a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund, and a green fee special fund for remaining revenues, with recommended amounts discussed for some of the funds. The committees voted to pass HB 2618 with amendments. The hearing then moved to HB 1644, a consumer protection measure for residential solar sales that would require compliance with consumer protection laws, licensing or contractor affiliation for sellers, and a standardized disclosure form. Testimony in support came from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and several solar companies and individuals. Supporters said the bill would address complaints about third-party sales practices and improve disclosure, especially around financing. The committee then began hearing HB 2243, which would require electric utilities to provide public, electronic customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission; the Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC offered comments supporting the measure’s intent.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just some background, I do construction.
• . ...noting that post-injection site care, the construction costs of things like monitoring wells for
• . ...some construction costs that it should not include going into that because things like the actual
• So a lot of the subcontracting for construction projects, for example, is being carried out by local
• construction companies.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a background in power generation infrastructure construction, so I'm pleased to be on this committee
• I have a background in power generation infrastructure construction, so I'm pleased to be on his committee

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee held its first meeting with a quorum present and began with member roll call and brief introductions from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and other members. The chair outlined the committee’s jurisdiction, including transportation, energy, utilities, telecommunications, broadband, EV-related issues, batteries, recycling, tolls, AI, net metering, impact fees, and rural internet expansion, and emphasized the committee’s role in addressing Florida’s infrastructure needs. Members highlighted district-specific concerns such as hurricane recovery in Pinellas County, transportation and transit efficiency, rural infrastructure, broadband, and utility needs across urban and rural districts. The chair announced that the committee would depart for a site visit to the City of Tallahassee electric utility to learn about grid management, storm response, and use of a microgrid to support critical infrastructure. No legislation was debated or voted on during the meeting. The chair introduced committee staff and explained the logistics for the tour, including splitting into two groups and returning to the Capitol by van. The meeting concluded with an adjournment without objection once the vans returned.

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the signature resorts constructed one of the signature resorts that<00:19:17.919> our<
• Thousands of strong families... construct a better and safer tomorrow construct a better and safer tomorrow
• And we would certainly and construction.
• That's the only thing that prevents the construction of this museum from moving forward.
• <04:56:03.920> and member of the military construction and member of the military construction

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1012, house, all