Video & Transcript Research : 'Texas Utilities Code'
Page 162 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Community Affairs Dec 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- If it's acting as a code enforcement mechanism, it's basically supplanting code enforcement for proper
- So when you go to the post office and change your zip codes.
- So when you go to the post office and change your zip codes.
- So it's with product, it's with technology, zoning, and building codes.
- But the zoning regulations, too, are the zoning codes.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 on local business taxes while allowing municipalities to continue imposing a gross-receipts-based business tax on merchants. Senator Trumbull presented the bill for the sponsor, and committee members questioned what services local governments fund with local business tax revenue and whether the bill should be considered alongside broader property tax changes. County and city representatives opposed the bill, arguing that local business taxes are capped home-rule revenues used for general fund services such as public safety, zoning and licensure checks, economic development, and business support, and warning that repeal would shift costs to residential taxpayers and reduce local flexibility. Senator Shreve said he would vote no because of ongoing property tax discussions, while Senator Pizzo said he would support the bill but wanted clearer accounting of how the revenue is spent. The committee voted 5-1 to report SB 122 favorably.
The committee then held a housing panel discussion focused on Florida’s housing shortage, affordability, and supply constraints. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven largely by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs roughly 100,000 additional units per year just to keep up with in-migration and that local planning systems often do not prioritize housing enough. He urged more emphasis on measurable impacts, streamlined permitting, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other market-responsive tools. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center said Florida is seeing more single-family and multifamily construction but that production is concentrated in a handful of counties, while condo construction remains limited; she also noted that rents and home prices spiked sharply in the early 2020s and remain above pre-2020 levels, with nearly 905,000 low-income renters cost-burdened. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research said the national housing market is slow, Florida has a severe affordability problem, and builders are lowering prices and offering incentives but still face high land, labor, materials, and insurance costs.
In committee discussion, senators focused on whether Florida should encourage more density, including townhomes, build-to-rent products, modular housing, and redevelopment of existing sites rather than relying on large new subdivisions. Members also discussed the role of local zoning, impact fees, density bonuses, and state incentives tied to housing targets. Several senators said Florida’s growth and affordability challenges require updating land development codes and planning for where future residents will live without overbuilding rural or environmentally sensitive areas. The chair closed by emphasizing that density can support affordability and that Florida should use existing footprints more efficiently.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- So, I have members from the coal industry, the oil and gas industry, renewables, and the utility space
- Uh, this year we had 15 state legislators from Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, and Utah.
- Uh, this year we had 15 state legislators from Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, and Utah.
- , 15 state legislators from Texas, 15 state legislators from Texas, Nebraska,<00:07:47.919>
Missouri - Who is the co-op or the utility in that area?
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Specifically, the executive recommendation focused on the administration and operations P code and, For
- What we care about is actually doing the thinning, just thin it, and then you can utilize the waste.
- By the way, if you're going to effectively engage in utility oversight and regulation on behalf of rate
- budget of this size and magnitude is in itself a very complicated thing because Take, for example, Texas
- Operational costs, higher facilities, utility, hardware.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (7-24-25) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- utility bills. utility bills.
- which is primarily electric utilities. which is primarily electric utilities.
- They may need utility assistance.
- care of folks utilizing this program. care of folks utilizing this program.
- I'm also Texas voters. Texas voters.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:26
Approval of Minutes 00:02:27
LIHEAP Presentation and Public Hearing 00:02:42
Conservation Opportunities in Kentucky 00:29:52, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first took up a public hearing and presentation on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Shannon Hall of the Department for Community Based Services and Rick Baker of Community Action Kentucky explained that LIHEAP is a 100% federally funded block grant that helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills, avoid utility disconnects, and support weatherization. They outlined the program’s components, eligibility limits, seasonal application periods, and recent participation figures, including tens of thousands of households served through the summer cooling, fall subsidy, winter crisis, and spring subsidy components. They also described weatherization priorities, the partnership with Kentucky Housing Corporation, and the role of Community Action agencies in administering the program statewide.
Members asked about Assurance 16, the balance between need and available funding, summer cooling assistance, weatherization measurement, renter versus homeowner participation, and whether federal changes could affect LIHEAP. Hall and Baker said Assurance 16 supports energy-burden reduction through education, case management, and conservation strategies; that funding has generally been sufficient in recent years but crisis funds have sometimes been exhausted quickly in the past; and that summer assistance is primarily electric utility support. They also said weatherization uses return-on-investment testing and that Kentucky still has a large backlog of homes needing service. On federal funding, they said the recently passed federal bill did not directly cut LIHEAP, but future appropriations could still affect it, and any major reduction could leave a gap the state might need to consider filling. The committee approved the minutes and later approved the LIHEAP finding of fact; no members of the public signed up to testify.
After concluding LIHEAP, the committee heard a presentation from Heather Jeff of The Nature Conservancy on conservation opportunities in Kentucky. She described the organization’s voluntary land-protection work and highlighted the Cumberland Forest project, a conservation easement on about 55,000 acres in Bell, Knox, and Leslie counties supported in part by a $3.875 million state appropriation. She also reported on mine-land reforestation, elk habitat work, and the rapid allocation of a $2 million appropriation for the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. Jeff emphasized the economic value of conservation for tourism, hunting and fishing, agriculture, forestry, bourbon, and flood protection, and said the group is finalizing a Kentucky conservation needs assessment and related feasibility research.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Apr 10th, 2025
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Texas school districts and charter schools offer diverse CTE programs designed to equip students with
- Additionally, we believe it is equally important that those becoming Texas teacher certified in areas
- We We show you registered as Robin Painovich on behalf of Career and Technical Association of Texas,
- I was just getting ready to try to look, bring, I didn't bring my code with me, so, um.
- How's this gonna affect the, the, the So I work for the Texas Education Agency.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Right now, Texas and Florida are generating more clean power than California, Right now, Texas and Florida
- These large-scale utility plants, or these large-scale solar plants.
- Senate Bill 1098 by Senator Pérez and relating to public utilities.
- If we just build, build, then utility bills will skyrocket.
- If we just build, build, then utility bills will skyrocket.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning.
Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments.
The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Rook, Texas. Rook, Texas, and who was that group? I mentioned it earlier.
- It's a coalition launched with the TRA, Texas Association of Business, Early Matters Texas. and Texas
- And Texas must do the same.
- Texas has.
- Texas Appleseed, Texas CASA, and Texas Network of Youth Services worked with legislators to pass two
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Press Conference: Youth Representation in Policy Making Apr 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The passage of the school vouchers bill in Texas is not just a political decision.
- Today, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas congregates for its annual advocacy day.
- Across Texas, we're witnessing an alarming trend.
- And today, that is the Texas Capitol.
- We're at the Capitol today to hold them to this vision that we hold for our Texas.
Summary:
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) held an advocacy day at the Texas Capitol with more than 300 young Texans and allies to press lawmakers on education policy. Speakers framed the event around student visibility in policymaking and criticized recent Texas actions on school vouchers, book bans, and legislation affecting LGBTQ students and classroom content. Representative Donna Howard briefly attended and voiced support for students having a seat at the table, citing a prior effort to add a student to a school board as an example of the kind of participation SEAT is seeking.
Several student speakers described how voucher expansion threatens public schools and argued that public education is being underfunded and undermined rather than failing on its own. Others focused on LGBTQ inclusion, saying bills such as SB 12 and SB 13 would erase queer students’ experiences and make schools less safe and welcoming. One speaker also condemned book bans and censorship, arguing that students need access to diverse books and honest, inclusive education to think critically and feel represented.
SEAT executive director Cameron Samuels closed by describing the group’s earlier organizing against book bans and internet restrictions and by connecting that work to broader demands for public schools, student rights, and safety. The event did not include any legislative vote or formal committee action; it was an advocacy press conference aimed at influencing lawmakers during the session.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 26th, 2025
County and Municipal Government
Transcript Highlights:
- ... ...County, if you have the building code officials in the municipality, they set the wind code requirements
- Engineers go to the building code, follow the wood table stuff, and copy... ...code, and they copy this
- When we talk about building codes, they are produced by the International Code Council.
- So we have the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.
- So if I could use the building code as it's written, I would be more... ...code as it's written, I would
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:04:19.919>
resources education while utilizing resources education while utilizing resources - Automatic enrollment policies in Texas.
- There was one dissent in Colorado in the House and the Senate, and two dissents in Texas.
- There was one dissent in Colorado in the House and the Senate, and two dissents in Texas.
- There was one dissent in Colorado in the House and the Senate, and two dissents in Texas.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I would say the same of any other presumptions that exist in the criminal code or criminal law.
- A SIMILAR BILL WAS ALREADY TRIED IN TEXAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
- IF I COULD SUMMARIZE, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW IN TEXAS THIS WAS SIMILARLY DRY, IN TEXAS THEY TRIED TO CREATE
- Driskell: THE BILL IN TEXAS WAS SENATE BILL 4. OUR SENATE BILL 4 ALSO.
- SO THIS IS WHAT THE DISTRICT COURT SAID IN THAT CASE, US VERSUS TEXAS.
Keywords:
immigration enforcement, unauthorized alien entry, death penalty, capital felonies, 287G agreements, in-state tuition, undocumented students, DACA, TPS, Venezuelan immigrants, law enforcement funding, immigration detention, federal preemption, equal protection, constitutional challenges, immigration status determination, school resource officers, conscientious objection, clergy protection, teacher protection
Summary:
The Florida House passed two immigration enforcement bills during a special session. Senate Bill 4C creates new state offenses for unauthorized alien entry/reentry into Florida and mandates the death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of capital felonies. Senate Bill 2C establishes a state immigration enforcement board, provides $300+ million for local law enforcement immigration cooperation, creates a $1,000 bonus program for officers participating in federal immigration enforcement, and repeals in-state tuition for undocumented students effective July 1, 2025. Multiple amendments were proposed but failed, including protections for Venezuelan TPS holders, DACA recipients, students in critical professions, and conscientious objection provisions for clergy and teachers. Debate included constitutional concerns about federal preemption, equal protection violations, and mandatory death penalty provisions. The session also included a memorial urging DHS to provide 287G agreement training opportunities.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- If it's acting as a code enforcement mechanism, it's basically supplanting code enforcement for proper
- The way we track migration, by the way, is we look at people changing their ZIP codes.
- So when you go to the post office and change your ZIP codes...
- So when you go to the post office and change your zip codes.
- We're going to have to have a whole new re-look at our land development codes.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and first took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 governing local business taxes while allowing municipalities that already levy a gross-receipts-based business tax to continue doing so, with limits on changing the tax rate. The sponsor’s proxy and committee members discussed whether local business taxes fund identifiable services, with supporters saying the bill would reduce burdens on businesses and opponents arguing it would remove a capped home-rule revenue source used for general services, economic development, inspections, fire and police support, and business regulation. The Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities opposed the bill, citing a statewide revenue loss and concern that costs would shift to residential taxpayers, while one member noted the bill should be considered in the context of broader property tax changes. SB 122 was reported favorably by a roll call vote, with Senators Leek, Passidomo, Pizzo, Trumbull, and Chair McClain voting yes and Senator Sharief voting no.
The committee then held an extended informational panel on Florida’s housing shortage and affordability challenges. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven primarily by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs far more units each year, that local comprehensive plans and zoning often fail to prioritize housing, and that the state should focus more on measurable impacts, density, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other ways to let the market respond. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center presented data showing increased single-family and multifamily construction but limited condo growth, highly concentrated new development in a handful of counties, and continued high cost burdens for renters, especially lower-income and older households. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research and Consulting said the national housing market is slow, Florida prices are easing but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and affordability problems are being driven by land, construction, financing, and insurance costs; she urged more product diversity, including build-to-rent, townhomes, manufactured housing, and higher-density redevelopment tailored to local demographics.
Members questioned the panel about density, vertical development, impact fees, construction costs, and incentives for local governments. Several senators said local governments need clearer direction or incentives to approve more housing, while others emphasized preserving local character and avoiding overdevelopment. The panel generally agreed that no single policy will solve the problem, but that Florida needs more housing types, more density in appropriate places, updated zoning and building codes, and a more market-responsive regulatory framework. After the presentations and discussion, the committee adjourned with no further business.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, December 9, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The gentleman from Texas reserves.
- >> The gentleman from Texas reserves. >> The gentleman from Texas reserves.
- Texas seek recognition? Texas seek recognition?
- Texas is recognized. Texas is recognized. >> Reserve. >> Reserve.
- from Texas is recognized. from Texas is recognized. >> Reserve. >> Reserve.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the Texas State Lead for Climate Cabinet.
- But this isn't just happening in Texas.
- They are African American and Hispanic. districts in Texas.
- But we will stand here, defending Texas, defending Texans, and defending Texas families.
- In this case, Texas Democrats and Texas Republicans in Congress all oppose this plan.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Thu Feb 6, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Jennifer Kaban continued: I have to get different parts that are, like, SAK coded, so I'll take it to
- Those were actually building code and fire code laws meant to ensure fire safety because black powder
- He said this allows her or him to utilize it properly.
- Jason Wolford continued: “This allows her or I to utilize this firearm for self-defense.
- Happens all the time in Texas, uh, one of the church shootings.
Summary:
The committee hearing covered House Bill 279 and House Bill 392, both relating to firearms. HB 279 would restrict carrying or possessing firearm parts except at or between certain locations and in an enclosed container, define firearm parts and prohibited persons, and increase penalties for violations. The Department of Law Enforcement strongly supported the bill, saying it would close a loophole involving disassembled or “ghost gun” parts and help law enforcement charge people who carry weapons in pieces. Most public testimony opposed the measure, with speakers arguing it was unconstitutional, vague, hard to enforce, and would burden lawful gun owners, gunsmiths, and firearm dealers; several also said existing laws already cover the conduct. One supporter, Dennis Dunn, said additional firearm security could reduce theft and suicides. The chair noted the committee had received 270 testimonies on HB 279, with 39 in support, 234 in opposition, and one comment.
The committee then heard HB 392, which would prohibit the possession, transfer, and sale of ghost guns and establish mandatory minimum sentencing for using a ghost gun in a felony. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s office supported the bill, saying unserialized firearms are difficult to trace and that prosecutors need clear laws to address them. Supporters argued the measure would help prevent untraceable weapons from circulating and align penalties with other firearm offenses. Opponents, including several gun owners and association representatives, said the bill was unnecessary because existing state and federal laws already prohibit unserialized firearms, and warned it could create confusion, criminalize lawful owners of antique or self-built firearms, and be difficult to administer. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I appreciate the opportunity to come before you this evening with HB 112, which establishes the Texas
- HB 112 also establishes the Texas Science Park Commission to develop a statewide plan that fortifies.
- By supporting HB 112, we are protecting Texas jobs, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring the
- I'm president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. We're the Texas State Chamber.
- Current law in Texas government code requires all Texas police agencies to provide retired peace officer
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Aug 11th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We also developed some maps that show where one can utilize geothermal resources.
- Texas, Madam Chair? Chair and panel.
- Texas sounds like they're leaning towards the surface ownership.
- I would assume Texas and Mexico, but... Yes, Madam Chair, Representative, we...
- How much water is Texas pulling across our borders?
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 50 (3-19-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- An act relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency.
- An act relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency.
- House Bill 676 creates a statewide health data utility.
- creates a statewide health data utility. creates a statewide health data utility.
- a utility housed outside of the cabinet. a utility housed outside of the cabinet.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But we have uses that they also look at that we haven't utilized.
- I mean, Texas is a pretty amazing state.
- because Texas is the best place to live and do business.
- The Texas economy starts to shift, and that's the hard part.
- Is that we are generating in Texas alone.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm the Mayor of Austin, Texas.
- The exotic game industry is a crucial part of the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas where it
- It benefits ranchers, landowners, and hunters in Texas. And I want to thank the committee.
- Prior to 2003, Texas provided credits and refunds for both diesel and gasoline using APUs and PTOs, but
- when the motor fuel tax code was rewritten, diesel... school was inadvertently excluded, leaving a gap
Keywords:
diesel fuel tax, tax credit, auxiliary power units, power take-off equipment, refund, energy efficiency, firefighter retirement, municipal contributions, pension system, retirement benefits, funding ratios, sales tax exemption, exotic animals, game animals, agriculture, livestock, civil liability, motor vehicle, legal protection, removal