Transcript Highlights:

• with Brooks Engineering.
• I'm a licensed professional engineer with over 38 years of experience ensuring the safety of solar energy
• I'm the lead regulatory engineer for UL Solutions.
• Statewide public health costs associated with emissions from these generators are estimated to reach
• up to $266 million by 2028, and even modest emissions... $166 million by 2028, and even modest emissions

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• He was an engineer.
• He acted like an engineer, and he was a great engineer, but a great person with a great heart.
• He was an engineer.
• He acted like an engineer, and he was a great engineer, but a great person with a great heart.
• and he was a great like an engineer and he was a great engineer,<02:16:45.359><c> but</c><02:16:45.760

Bills: HR1206 , HB6387 , HB4690 , HR1182 , HR1189

Keywords: David Scott, Representative David Scott, Georgia, House resolution, memorial resolution, condolence resolution, death of a member, adjournment in honor, Congressional tribute, House of Representatives, ceremonial resolution, obituary resolution, Clean Air Act, wildfire risk, air quality monitoring, exceptional events, regulations, environmental policy, energy efficiency, federal buildings

Transcript Highlights:

• She plans to major in mechanical engineering.
• If you're a mechanical engineer, you're an electrical engineer, systems engineer, we need you.
• limits, requiring greenhouse gas emissions reporting.
• Greenhouse gas emissions limits, requiring greenhouse gas emissions reporting, and expanding duties and
• Establishing statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits, requiring greenhouse gas emissions reporting,

Transcript Highlights:

• rail network to improve the supply chain, reduce road congestion, and support our greenhouse gas emission
• As a civil engineer, I would love to do every single one of these projects that I'm asked to do, but
• Ninety percent of greenhouse gas emissions from Logan Airport are from jet fuel.
• One-third of our fleet of airside buses are now zero emission, and, working with Phil and the MBTA, we'll
• Each of those hybrids that move stacked containers in the yard reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held an informational hearing with invited testimony from MassDOT leadership, the MBTA, Massport, and the state’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. MassDOT officials outlined work across highways, rail and transit, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and aeronautics, emphasizing major capital spending, bridge and roadway programs, transit grants, rail expansion, airport safety, and modernization efforts. They highlighted Chapter 90 and municipal grant programs, the Compass Rail and West-East Rail efforts, RMV upgrades such as electronic titles and driver licensing systems, and aeronautics work on airport pavement, drones, and advanced air mobility. Committee members focused on safety, service access, and project implementation. Questions to MassDOT covered automated enforcement and rising roadway fatalities, the Allston multimodal project’s federal funding, Complete Streets access for rural communities, and South Coast Rail staffing and future electrification. The RMV was asked about the Work and Family Mobility Act, Real ID demand, and appointment access, especially in Metro West. Members also raised concerns about South Coast Rail operations, Keolis staffing, and whether the Stoughton route remains part of future plans; MassDOT and MBTA officials said they are working on staffing, service reliability, and long-term expansion, while noting that nothing is off the table for future rail improvements. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng reported progress including workforce growth, elimination of subway speed restrictions, expanded reduced-fare access, bus network redesign, South Coast Rail launch, and commuter rail signal upgrades. He said the agency is pursuing a new commuter rail operating contract designed to support future regional rail, electrification, and higher-frequency service, while maintaining service and workforce stability amid funding uncertainty. Members also asked about fare collection data privacy and the impact of state funding levels; Eng said the MBTA needs the governor’s proposed funding to preserve service and staffing, and that the fare system’s data are encrypted and handled through a secure vendor system. Massport CEO Rich Davey reported record activity at Logan, Worcester, and the cruise and maritime facilities, along with major capital and climate investments such as sustainable aviation fuel planning, shore power at Flynn Cruiseport, renewable diesel, and expanded ground transportation. He said Massport is planning for continued passenger growth and managing congestion through parking, HOV, and curbside changes, while monitoring federal policy, tariffs, and air traffic control staffing issues. Federal Funds Director Quentin Palfrey described the administration’s efforts to secure federal infrastructure dollars, citing about $9 billion in federal awards since the start of the administration, including major transportation grants for the Cape Cod Bridges, Allston, West-East Rail, North Station drawbridge replacement, roadway safety, and clean school buses. He warned that changing federal policies, grant delays, and possible future congressional actions create uncertainty, but said the office is working case-by-case with municipalities and agencies to protect awarded funds and find alternative financing where needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• A public water systems must submit water system plans, small water system management plans, or engineering
• A public water systems must submit water system plans, small water system management plans, or engineering
• Right now, with the Department of Health, the PUD is currently processing engineering and constructing
• It clarifies that a waste-to-energy facility's baseline greenhouse gas emissions are those annual emissions
• not double-allocate no-cost allowances to mitigate the cost burden rather than for greenhouse gas emissions

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, the state is rightly pursuing ambitious climate goals, including reducing emissions
• At the same time, the state is rightly pursuing ambitious climate goals, including reducing emissions
• We'd also be leaving cost-driven emission-reduction strategies on the table.
• We are developing the Kaleidos reactor, which is a portable zero-emissions power source.
• This is zero-emission technology.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and one resolution focused on recycling, housing affordability, air quality, coastal protection, wildfire resilience, and nuclear policy. AB 2559, by Assembly Member Ward, would require local governments to return refundable construction and demolition permit deposits if compliance documentation is submitted within three years of final inspection; supporters said it would prevent homeowners and developers from losing deposits due to mismatched local deadlines, and it passed unanimously as amended to Appropriations. AB 1704, by Assembly Member Gonzalez, would require CARB to assess the cost of lower-embodied-carbon building materials and pause the embodied-carbon program if cost parity is not reached; supporters framed it as a housing affordability safeguard, while environmental groups argued it would delay implementation of a key climate law. The bill passed on a party-line vote to Appropriations. AB 2349, by Assembly Member Solache, would create regional air quality incident response centers for emergency monitoring and coordination; it drew strong support from air district and local government representatives and passed unanimously to Appropriations. ACR 149, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and Coastal Conservancy, highlighted coastal access, habitat protection, and climate adaptation; it passed the committee, though some members voted no. AB 1960, by Assembly Member Bennett, would let Cal Fire fund community-level wildfire hardening projects through the Wildfire Prevention Grants Fund; members raised questions about funding and implementation, but it passed to Appropriations. AB 2254, the Coastal Monarchs Protection Act, would require coastal local governments to add monarch overwintering protections when updating local coastal plans; supporters cited steep monarch declines and economic benefits, while local government groups opposed the mandate as duplicative and burdensome, and it passed to Water, Parks and Wildlife. AB 2253 would restrict deceptive recycled-content claims and mass-balance accounting practices; supporters said it would protect consumers and real recyclers, while business groups argued it would conflict with recognized accounting systems and EPR programs. The transcript also included AB 1757, which would create a limited carve-out from California’s nuclear moratorium for microreactors; supporters said it could provide clean, local power and support data centers, while opponents warned of cost, waste, and safety risks. The committee ultimately rejected AB 1757 on a divided vote, then granted reconsideration, and the discussion continued without a final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to emissions from emissions-intensive... Last line. Insert subsection 9. Thank you.
• Energy-intensive trade-exposed emissions make up about 10% of Washington's emissions.
• for Washington to meet our statutory greenhouse gas emissions targets.
• They're the engine of our state.
• You're undermining the very economic engine.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Air Force Civil Engineering Center. I'm a UNM graduate.
• And again, this is engineering via lawyers.
• It's less than 1% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
• And Actually, our second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is vehicles.
• So I think I'll echo Marlene in saying we're facing greenhouse gas emissions.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• estimates, those sorts of engineering and technical information.
• And that takes into consideration the emissions from a facility, so we would take.
• The piece of equipment we would use engineering technical information EPA approved we would determine
• what the emissions rates are and then use that information to then use.
• Or the projections are lining up with the actual emissions. Okay, we'll get that. Thank you.

Bills: HB1520 , HB1525 , HB1530 , HB1535 , HB2068 , HB2091 , HB2347 , HB2372 , HB2805 , HB2815 , HB2867 , HB3154 , HB3482 , HB3483 , HB3663 , HB3781 , HB3901 , HB3915 , HB4135 , HB4153 , HB4158 , HB4329 , HB4331

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> emissions profile of the state, right? emissions profile of the state, right?
• </c> eventually to get to zero emissions. eventually to get to zero emissions.
• </c> zero emissions. zero emissions. follow<00:48:44.079><c> up.</c> follow up. follow up.
• And that is both the safety program and the emissions. >> Safety and emissions.
• </c> and the emissions. and the emissions.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> emissions reduction up to $2 a gallon. emissions reduction up to $2 a gallon.
• All the systems we have in place today can reduce emissions today.
• </c> in place today can reduce emissions in place today can reduce emissions today.<00:23:01.440><c>
• </c><00:28:38.880><c> As</c> of Hawaii's greenhouse emissions. As of Hawaii's greenhouse emissions.
• Operating Engineers Local 3 with comments.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1694, which would create a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and HB 1695, which would expand the state’s renewable fuels production tax credit. For HB 1694, supporters from the airlines, renewable fuels industry, business groups, and some environmental and youth representatives said sustainable aviation fuel is a practical near-term way to cut emissions in aviation, a hard-to-decarbonize sector, and argued the credit would send a market signal, support local production, and help meet state climate goals. Opponents, including Energy Justice Network and a taxpayer-focused testifier, argued the bill could subsidize expensive fuels that may not be truly clean, could duplicate benefits available under other tax provisions, and should not support transpacific aviation or technologies they said are unproven or harmful. The Department of Taxation stood on written testimony, and the chair later asked that all verbal testimony on remaining bills be limited to one minute because of time constraints. HB 1695 drew similar support and opposition, but focused more broadly on renewable fuels for transportation, trucking, shipping, and other sectors. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Energy Office, airlines, PAR Hawaii, the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pacific Biodiesel, and the RNG Coalition, said the bill would help scale local fuel production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support jobs and agriculture, and advance the state’s climate and energy goals. Several supporters emphasized that the credit would help build a local industry and that life-cycle accounting should be used to measure emissions benefits. Opponents repeated concerns that some biofuels and waste-based fuels may not be climate-beneficial, may rely on flawed modeling, and could create costly infrastructure that would need to be replaced later. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• an expiration date from an agricultural fuel exemption in the Climate Commitment Act and exempts emissions
• Currently, there's an exemption for emissions from motor vehicle fuel or special fuel that's used exclusively
• The bill also has an agricultural production or food storage exemption to hydrofluorocarbon emissions
• Currently, the Department of Ecology administers a refrigerant management program to reduce emissions
• We practice alongside our architects and engineers within our professional scope.

Bills: HB2721 , HB2616

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: commercial interior designer, interior design licensure, registered interior designer, NCIDQ, Washington State Board for Architects, professional regulation, title protection, firm registration, seal and signature, continuing education, building code, nonstructural interior design, space planning, interior architecture, design profession, public safety, occupational licensing, architects, engineering scope, permit review

Transcript Highlights:

• So any emission we speak of that you have, no matter what that emission is, if it's naturally occurring
• from a fire or from an engine or whatever.
• Just that I think that all emissions are subject or would be for sequestration. So any emissions.
• So any emission we speak of that you have, no matter what that emission is, if it's naturally occurring
• from a fire or from an engine or whatever.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on March 17, 2026, adopted its rules again because they had not been properly posted, and voluntarily deferred several bills before taking up the day’s agenda. The committee then moved through a series of commerce and financial services measures, with members repeatedly noting the bills had been worked on jointly by authors and stakeholders. HB 489, on transfer-on-death securities, was amended to make the transfer requirements mandatory and to remove a liability limitation for registering entities, then reported favorable. HB 545, which narrowed a consumer-loan bill to origination fees only, was amended and reported favorable. HB 555, expanding protections for eligible adults from financial exploitation, was amended with technical changes and an amendment from Rep. Boyd, then reported favorable after testimony from bankers and advocates describing scams targeting seniors and the need for delayed transactions, trusted contacts, and training. HB 797, creating the Bayou Gold Program, was amended to clarify electronic payment platforms and reported favorable after questions about state involvement, insurance, and consumer protections. HB 952, modernizing the consumer loan framework, was amended to a three-tier rate structure and to add ability-to-repay and disaster-relief provisions, then reported favorable. The committee also considered two economic development bills from Rep. Owen. HB 672 would encourage brick manufacturing in Louisiana; after an amendment changed LED’s role from directing a priority industry to allowing support through existing programs and guidance, the bill was reported favorable. Testimony emphasized Louisiana’s clay deposits, limited in-state brick production, and potential benefits for housing costs and jobs. HB 670, on wood pellet manufacturing, received a similar amendment limiting LED to support and guidance rather than mandates, and was also reported favorable. A consultant testified that a proposed North Louisiana pellet facility could generate significant payroll, local spending, and revenue from timber that is currently underused, while LED described the sector as part of the state’s agribusiness and energy strategy and discussed global demand, carbon footprint requirements, and the role of CCUS in attracting large projects. The discussion on HB 670 continued at the end of the transcript, with members probing how the industry works and how Louisiana could benefit from it.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what the industry helps produce as an economic engine.
• emissions control rule.
• It's a little bit cleaner than coal from an emissions standpoint.
• The short answer is, I'm an engineer, and it depends.
• We have the engineering expertise.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• or whether the primary driver is an electric engine.
• Manufacturers are starting to move towards these electric propulsion-type engines.
• Mainly, a lot of it has to do with emission standards.
• Listen, electric vehicles are much heavier in some cases than our normal gas-driven engines.
• That truck did differently than a gas engine or a hybrid, and I just pulled it up right here.

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB514 , HB593 , HB618 , HB732 , HB908 , HB961 , HB1010

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, senior citizens, homestead exemption, Louisiana Constitution, motor vehicles, local fees, transaction fees, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be up to the state engineer.
• That would be up to the state<00:02:01.320><c> engineer.</c> state engineer. state engineer.
• </c> it would also require the state engineer it would also require the state engineer deny<00:24:49.560
• So that would be tailpipe emissions.
• We're talking and lowering emissions.

Bills: HB0116 , HB0056

Committee: Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Doug Coates, and I'm a firefighter engineer for the City of L.A., and I'm proud to serve as
• Firefighters continually are going out to scenes and often have the residual emissions from all types
• We know that hard-to-electrify end uses now are causing 15% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions,
• Even with the EU's stricter emissions limits, modern incinerators...
• Potentially the air emissions are too high in that area.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Why this obsession with methane emissions?
• So, while I know that The intent is to focus on oil and gas emissions.
• world's CO2 emissions, along with more natural gas and 43% more coal.
• gas emissions that we can't reduce in other ways.
• And that sector is responsible for over 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• We have code officials, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, the disabled community, residential
• We have code officials, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, the disabled community, residential
• piece, that you have other mandates on carbon emissions and gas, greenhouse gas emissions, Clean Energy
• So Roger Herring, I am the structural engineering representative, the history.
• I ran DCI Engineers, a structural engineering firm, for about 15 years.

Summary: The committee heard first from Ferndale city officials and a representative of FutureWise on annexation planning. Ferndale described its “annexation blueprint” or phased annexation plan as a way to tie urban growth area planning, capital facilities, and eventual annexation together earlier in the process. Speakers argued that counties often allow incremental development in urban growth areas without city-level standards, impact fees, or coordinated infrastructure planning, which can leave cities and taxpayers with higher future costs and make annexation less likely. Members raised questions about fire districts, county revenue loss, and whether annexation incentives or interlocal revenue-sharing agreements could help. FutureWise supported requiring annexation phasing in countywide planning policies, using pre-annexation agreements, and applying city standards in urban growth areas to make annexation more predictable and less contentious. The committee then received a primer and update from the State Building Code Council (SBCC). Staff explained the council’s composition, standing committees, technical advisory groups, and rulemaking process, including normal, expedited, and emergency rulemaking. They described the ongoing 2024 code cycle and the separate work underway on Senate Bill 5491 and related legislation concerning single-stair residential buildings and multiplex housing. Members discussed how the legislature can better direct the SBCC, the difference between prescriptive and performance-based code approaches, and the importance of involving technical experts early. The SBCC also addressed concerns about the wildfire urban interface code, noting that problems arose when code language and maps were developed on different timelines and applied to urban areas in ways that were not anticipated. Several members asked about regional differences, especially energy code impacts in eastern Washington and the role of natural gas. SBCC representatives said the council can use climate zones and appendices for some regional variation, but statewide statutory targets still constrain the energy code. They emphasized that the council is largely reactive to legislative direction and public proposals, and that clearer legislative intent would help avoid ambiguity in future code development. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Legislature passed AB 1250, which set a maximum curb weight of 25,000 pounds per axle for zero-emission
• the Legislature passed AB 1250, which set a maximum curb weight of 25,000 pounds per axle for zero-emission
• ZEBs with each procurement, with the ultimate requirement that transit agencies have a 100% zero-emission
• Procurement, with the ultimate requirement that transit agencies have a 100% zero-emission bus fleet
• This bill aims to address the conflict between the state's ICT regulation for zero-emission fleets and

Committee: Senate Transportation