Video & Transcript Research : 'retroactive application'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- housing vouchers faced discrimination 86% of the time when trying to rent apartments. 80% of white applicants
- without vouchers were able to schedule a viewing, compared to only 46% of Black applicants.
- holders, regardless of their race, were routinely ghosted by landlords and brokers. ...of Black applicants
- New license applicants will complete at least four hours of fair housing law instruction... ...and those
- prohibits real estate brokers and landlords from discriminating on the basis of race or on whether an applicant
Summary:
The Senate opened with recognitions of several young climate advocates visiting the State House and then adopted an adjournment in memory of Nancy Driscoll, with remarks honoring her long public service and family legacy. The chamber then took up Senate No. 2947, An Act Regarding Fair Housing Practices in the Commonwealth, after a Ways and Means redraft. Senators supporting the bill described housing discrimination against voucher holders and Black applicants, emphasized the need for stronger enforcement, transparency, and fair housing education, and noted the bill’s goal of increasing penalties and public reporting for discriminatory brokers.
Several amendments were debated. Senator Tarr offered an amendment to require annual HUD-related compliance certifications from municipalities and public agencies, notification to the Attorney General of federal findings, corrective action plans, and possible enforcement consequences; it was defeated on a roll call, 6-30. Senator Kennedy’s gender-neutral language amendment changing “salesmen” to “salespersons” was adopted. Senator Payano’s amendment to require publication of license suspensions as well as revocations for discriminatory conduct was also adopted. Senator Edwards withdrew an amendment that would have expanded housing protections for returning citizens. Senator Keenan’s amendment to anonymize complaint summaries while preserving publication of revoked licensees’ names was adopted.
After the Ways and Means amendment, as amended, was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a unanimous roll-call vote of 37-0, later clarified as 38-0. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of John Arizian and Nancy Driscoll.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Banking and Insurance Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 02:34 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- sections, makes technical corrections, includes technical updates, and adds clarifications, such as applicable
- changing references from the commission and board of managers to the Insurance Commissioner where applicable
- The birthday guaranteed issue application period would begin on the first day of the month of the individual's
- The birthday guaranteed issue application period would not be available to an individual who is not enrolled
- At the request of an applicant, the effective date of a replacement Medicare supplement policy could
Summary:
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass.
The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee.
Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass.
Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Banking and Insurance Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 02:34 pm
Banking and Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- sections, makes technical corrections, includes technical updates, and includes clarifications as to applicable
- changing references from the commission and board of managers to the Insurance Commissioner where applicable
- The birthday guaranteed issue application period would begin on the first day of the month of the individual's
- The birthday guaranteed issue application period would not be available to an individual who is not enrolled
- At the request of an applicant, the effective date of a replacement Medicare supplement policy could
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 17th, 2026 at 05:06 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- And it would clarify that the credit application is due one year from the date the last expenditure is
- Bill 20 relates to identification and amends the existing New Mexico law to allow Native American applicants
- Taxation Revenue Department to include a Native American designation only when requested by an eligible applicant
- support regarding jurisdictional questions of law, identifying the status of children, and the applicability
- and reliable identification while Respecting the cultural identity and privacy of Native American applicants
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 4, 2026 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- As a result, this amendment narrows the bill's application to Dade and Broward County.
- Specifically, this bill prohibits the land application of septage when a sanitary sewer treatment facility
- as long as we have a facility within a specific mileage, then we are not going to be doing land application
- Since the movement of our DOH enforcement of septage or land application over into DEP, the cost has
- facilities are not accepting those flows, then one of these Representative Boyles: Alternate land application
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/21/2026 - Senate Education Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- That's just because they withdrew their applications before the board approved the financing.
- I can look to see if there were applications that they did not take action on because they reached the
- I can look at the applications to see if there was part of the reason to ask.
- department's key statutory responsibilities related to the program include reviewing school program applications
- emergency operation plans, which are so critically important, we now have an encrypted system where applicants
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee of Reference met for sunset reviews and first heard a presentation on the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board from the Governor’s Office. The presenter explained that the board, created in 2016, has no dedicated staff or administrative budget and is supported by existing budget and policy staff and the Treasurer’s Office. The board’s purpose is to lower borrowing costs for qualifying schools by using a guarantee fund to enhance credit ratings, and it has largely been used by charter schools. Because the board has reached its statutory leverage cap and has not met since 2022, it is currently in a monitoring role, but it must remain in place to honor guarantees if any approved financing defaults. The committee asked about financing maturities, demand from schools, and whether a shorter continuation period would make sense. No public testimony was offered, and the committee voted to recommend continuing the board for 10 years, until July 1, 2036.
The committee then reviewed the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE’s president described the interstate compact, its regional role in higher education access, workforce development, and data services, and its major student programs: the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the Western Regional Graduate Program, and the Professional Student Exchange Program. She highlighted tuition savings for Arizona students and the state, the return of many PSEP graduates to practice in Arizona, and additional cost savings through cooperative purchasing and technology contracts. The committee asked no substantive questions, and it voted to recommend continuing WICHE for 10 years, until July 1, 2036.
The final major item was the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program performance audit, followed by testimony from the department. The Auditor General reported that the program has grown substantially, especially after expansion to counselors and social workers and increased appropriations, but that ADE did not consistently ensure schools complied with program requirements. In a sample of 16 schools, most had issues such as missing or incomplete operational plans, inadequate safety team activity, incomplete required training, missing activity logs, or reimbursement requests lacking expenditure reports. The audit said these problems reduced the program’s effectiveness and increased the risk of improper spending, and it recommended stronger monitoring, written procedures, and better documentation review. ADE accepted the findings and said it is implementing the recommendations through more direct staff oversight, training requirements tied to funding, encrypted submission of emergency plans, site visits, and representative desk reviews. The discussion then shifted to whether emergency plans should address federal law enforcement actions; the director said the plans are designed for campus safety threats generally and do not specifically contemplate ICE enforcement. The committee took no vote on the audit presentation and adjourned after discussion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture Committee Meeting - 2025-03-26
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- the most recent round of grants, fiscal year 25, we received $1.58 million in requests from 73 applicants
- Chair, no applicants were turned away at this point in time. All requests were fulfilled. Ms.
- We have an application, we have a grant process, and the awarding of the grant, whether it's a smaller
- appropriations, we would have some reform to make this consistent with other areas, with having grant applications
- So I'm not sure how this amendment is really as applicable as maybe some think it is.
Keywords:
beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, it expands the scope of practice for optometrists to include laser applications to the lens capsule
- of the eye in the treatment of capsular clouding or other defects, and laser application to structures
- This bill adds felony convictions to disqualify applicants, and those are outlined on page 4, section
- This bill also permits the department to apply an unreasonable risk standard to disqualified applicants
- Lastly, a judicial review for disqualified applicants was added on page 5, Section E, subsection 2, in
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 11 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- on the application. on the application.
- year where there's an application year where there's an application process.<00:25:12.840>
I'm - <01:56:53.400>
would to allow uh you know, an applicant would to allow uh you know, an applicant - <02:23:01.760>
or uh application or uh application or his<02:23:03.040>job. - You have to have completed your FAFSA, your aid applications, and all of that.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Reverend Anthony Phillips, and dispensed with the reading of the journal and committee reports. The chamber also recognized several guests in the galleries, including family members of senators, medical professionals for Early Childhood Day, and advocates and local officials. After introductions, the Senate moved into the calendar and began considering bills and motions.
Among the measures taken up, the Senate passed House Bill 1393 to create the Mississippi Energy Infrastructure Fund, with the sponsor explaining it would allow MDA to support energy projects and require compliance with state procurement laws. The Senate also passed House Bill 420, which provides a full homestead ad valorem tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans age 85 or older and allows an unremarried surviving spouse to keep the exemption; senators asked about eligibility, age limits, and safeguards against improper exemptions. Another bill passed was House Bill 1941 on the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, which would allow funding through bonds or other means in addition to direct appropriation and raise the DFA processing cap from 2% to 3%; several senators raised concerns about state debt and the funding mechanism.
The Senate concurred in Senate Bill 2906, which gives the Secretary of State additional time to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for county election systems. It also adopted motions to table reconsideration on several House bills, including House Bill 908 on absentee ballot receipt dates, House Bill 525 on mandatory minimum penalties for sexual battery, and House Bill 538 on sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement. The chamber voted to reconsider and then again pass House Bill 1613, described as a bill on aggravated trafficking weight and pill counts that also included a chemical abortion ban, after some senators who were absent earlier asked to go on record. For House Bill 2409, dealing with a comprehensive mitigation program for retrofitting insurable homes, the Senate voted not to concur and invited conference. The Senate also passed and retained numerous other items as it worked through the calendar.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Mar 31st, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR84, HR85, HR86, HR87, HR88, HR89, HR90, HCR42, HCR43, HB1087, HB1088, HB1089, HB1090, HB1091, HB1092, HB1093, HB1094, HB1095, HB1096, HB1097, HB1098, HB1099, HB1100, HB1101, HB1102, HB1103, HB1104, HB1105, HB1106, HB1107, HB1108, HB1109, HB1110, HB1111, HB1112, HB1113, HB1114, HB1115, HB1116, HB1117, HB1118, HB1119, HB1120, HB1121, HB1122, HB1123, HB1124, HB1125, HB1126, HB1127, HB1128, HB1129, HB1130, HB1131, HB1132, HB1133, HB1134, HB1135, HB1136, HB1137, HB1138, HB1139, HB1140, HB1141, HB1142, HB1143, HB1144, HB1145, HB1146, HB1147, HB1148, HB1149, HB1150, HB1151, HB1153, HB1154, HB1155, HB1156, HB1157, HB1158, HB1159, HB1160, HB1161, HB1162, HB1163, HB1164, HB1165, HB1166, HB1167, HB1169, HB1170, HB1171, HB1172, HB1173, HB1174, HB1175, HB1176, HB1177, HB1178, HB1179, HB1180, HB1181, HB1182, HB1183, HB1184, HB1185, HB1186, HB1187, HB1188, HB1189, HB1190, HB1192, HB1193, HB1194, HB1195, HB1196, HB1197, HB1198, HB1199, HB1200, HB1201, HB1202, HB1203, HB1204, HB1205, HB1206, HB1207, HB1208, HB1209, HB1210, HB1211, HB1212, HB1213, HB1214, HB1215, HB1216, HB1217, HB1218, HB1219, HB1220, HB1221, HB1222, HB1223, HB1224, HB1225, HB1226, HB1227, HB1228, HB1229, HB1230, HB1231, HR73, HR74, HR75, HR77, HR78, HR79, HR80, HR81, HR83, HCR36, HCR37, HCR38, HCR39, HCR40, HCR41, HB368, HB433, HB1017, HB1018, HB1019, HB1020, HB1021, HB1022, HB1023, HB1024, HB1025, HB1026, HB1027, HB1028, HB1029, HB1030, HB1031, HB1032, HB1033, HB1034, HB1035, HB1036, HB1037, HB1038, HB1039, HB1040, HB1041, HB1042, HB1043, HB1044, HB1045, HB1046, HB1047, HB1048, HB1049, HB1050, HB1051, HB1052, HB1053, HB1054, HB1055, HB1056, HB1057, HB1058, HB1059, HB1060, HB1061, HB1062, HB1063, HB1064, HB1065, HB1066, HB1067, HB1068, HB1069, HB1070, HB1071, HB1072, HB1073, HB1074, HB1075, HB1076, HB1077, HB1078, HB1079, HB1080, HB1081, HB1082, HB1083, HB1084, SB111, SB122, SB195, SB221, SB404, HR1, HCR6, HCR19, HB27, HB81, HB134, HB154, HB163, HB170, HB194, HB214, HB217, HB220, HB254, HB259, HB290, HB308, HB311, HB360, HB382, HB401, HB410, HB417, HB463, HB514, HB575, HB592, HB718, HB723, HB750, HB755, HB776, HB812, HB830, HB838, HB844, HB882, HB885, HB888, HB950, HB961, HB966, HB980, HR15, HR20, HCR14, HB58, HB69, HB93, HB166, HB199, HB201, HB202, HB218, HB223, HB224, HB231, HB235, HB246, HB338, HB349, HB352, HB379, HB405, HB429, HB535, HB547, HB577, HB588, HB626, HB636, HB652, HB653, HB669, HB688, HB691, HB721, HB738, HB806, HB851, HB857, HB861, HB889, HB904, HB907, HB908, HB929, HB1009, HB13, HB23, HB25, HB32, HB41, HB90, HB120, HB121, HB122, HB127, HB138, HB139, HB141, HB179, HB187, HB213, HB247, HB286, HB332, HB344, HB357
Keywords:
physical therapy, healthcare, prevention, wellness, education, Louisiana, landscape architecture, environment, public health, economic development, infrastructure, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, Roger D. Boudreaux, Church Point, mayor, Louisiana House of Representatives, community service, local government
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- have had with the hiring company, to get that out quickly, have a shortened period for bringing in applicants
- It's, um, the position I'm sorry, we're going through the applications right now and we're looking at
- I'm sorry, we're going<01:49:33.280>
through <01:49:33.440>the <01:49:33.600>applications - <01:49:34.320>
right <01:49:34.639>now going through the applications right now going - through the applications right now and<01:49:35.199>
we're <01:49:35.520>looking <01:49
Summary:
The joint House Committee on Tourism and Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism held an informational briefing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract updates, destination management action plans, and state auditor findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson described her role as temporary and said she was focused on identifying problems, gathering information, communicating with stakeholders, and implementing solutions. She said HTA is now operating as a typical state agency subject to state controls, but noted that HTA’s work often involves nontraditional programs that can create process errors. She also said she had directed staff to review the auditor’s findings on the destination management action plan process and that the review was posted publicly.
A major topic was the search for a permanent CEO and the agency’s restructuring under SB 1571. HTA board chair Tata Po said he hoped to select a CEO within about four months, with three to six finalists expected in roughly two to two-and-a-half months, and said the job description would largely remain the same except for compensation and reporting changes under the new law. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism representatives explained that HTA’s board is now advisory and does not approve the budget, while DBEDT retains budget authority. They also said HTA is working with the governor’s office and DBEDT on contract and budget transitions, including a possible shift to a calendar-year process so grantees and contractors have more certainty.
Members pressed HTA on staffing, oversight, and accountability, especially around the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB contracts. HTA said the destination stewardship team supports destination management and product development, including workforce development, sports, and implementation of destination management action plans, and that staff provide direction to contractors rather than simply handing work over to them. Anderson said the stewardship team had 11 people and that the destination management side covered about 15 contracts, while the branding side had three managers overseeing nine contracts. She said the agency had 47 contracts overall and that the major contracts included CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB. Several members criticized HTA’s management history, questioned staffing qualifications and compensation, and expressed concern that the agency had lost public trust. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 04/01/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- The other thing I would note is that this is sort of an application with applicable state and local building
- Toble: The other thing I would note is that this is sort of an application with applicable state and
- that are seeking to open in their jurisdiction, that those applications are in the cannabis side that
- seeking to open in their jurisdiction, so those applications can be reviewed for zoning compliance on
- or the risk was the application or the risk was something<01:05:12.079>
that <01:05:12.200>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- that money was structured as low-interest loans, 3% loans for entities that qualified through an application
- approve it before it can be distributed as a grant regarding the specific qualifications of that grant applicant
- . ...qualifications of that grant applicant.
- And so obviously the office, of course, evaluates each application, and you'll look on page 11 based
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up a long list of House bills as pending business, voting to report many of them favorably to the full Senate. Bills reported favorably included HB 705, 1094, 2037, 3005, 3112, 3320, 3388, 3516, 3923, 4134, 4214, 4233, 4350, 4559, 4748, 4765, 5093, 5129, and 5196, with several also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Some measures were reported with committee substitutes, including HB 3516, HB 3848, HB 4211, and HB 14. HB 2488 and HB 3320 had some dissenting votes, while most other bills were approved unanimously or near-unanimously.
The committee spent the most time on HB 14, which Senator Schwertner explained would create the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office in the governor’s office and the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund. The substitute would appropriate $350 million this biennium for reimbursement-based grants to support nuclear generation, supply chain development, pre-construction work, and construction-stage costs, with approval from the lieutenant governor, speaker, and governor. Senators Menendez and Nichols asked clarifying questions about whether the program involved grants rather than loans, how reimbursable grants would work, and who would evaluate applications; Schwertner said the program was modeled on the Enterprise Fund and that the grants would not be loans.
After the committee had recessed, Senator Zaffirini asked to change her no votes on HB 4211 and HB 4233 to ayes so those bills could be placed on the local and uncontested calendar, while still registering no votes there. Senator Kolkhorst similarly asked to change her vote on HB 2488 to an aye for calendar purposes, while preserving her no vote. The committee then recessed again after completing its actions on the bills before it.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- hire a third-party engineer if a city or county takes longer than 45 days to approve development applications
- 2354, a developer would have the option, not the requirement, to hire a third party to review applications
- The bill gives permit applicants the option to work with qualified third-party professionals who often
- jurisdictions—and we work with all of them—are very thinly staffed and are overwhelmed by the volume of permit applications
Bills:
SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044
Keywords:
workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, uh, the committee substitute for Senate Bill 2052 adds clarity to the bill on the applicability
- One beneficiary or all together submit the application for ownership transfer as needed.
- Committee sub introduces a new provision stating that the beneficiary designation becomes void if the application
- Of of within a year and a day of the death and also applications for ownership transfer must be mailed
Keywords:
probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (04/13/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- c> self-disclosing,<00:42:30.880>
is their application is self-disclosing, is their application - ultimately be setting up the application ultimately be setting up the application so<03:53:41.920
- Applications for open enrollment may be denied.
- Applications for open enrollment may be denied.
- Applications for open enrollment may be Applications for open enrollment may be denied.<04:02:14.479>
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- They do it occupied type application. They do it one<00:29:34.159>
time. - In this particular bill, it says applicable year.
- It doesn't say applicable tax year. It doesn't say prior calendar year.
- It doesn't say applicable tax year.
- which risks inconsistent application which risks inconsistent application across<00:52:41.520>
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, March 24, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- demonstration and Commercial application demonstration and Commercial application activities<02:
- demonstration or commercial application demonstration or commercial application activities<02:20
- It also provides us with vital information for many important applications.
- This imagery and data has a number of important applications.
- And I yield back. ...has a number of important applications.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-EIG, CPN-HHS, CPN DEFER Public Hearings 02-11-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- For instance, I believe the companies have filed two applications with the commission to issue new debt
- <00:32:46.600>
with <00:32:46.720>the filed um two applications with the filed um two - applications with the commission<00:32:47.399>
to <00:32:47.799>issue <00:32:48.159> - I think it's also worth pointing out that oftentimes the applicants, the utilities, you know, they will
- I think it's also worth pointing out that oftentimes the applicants, the utilities, you know, they will
Summary:
The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted.
The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- What's your standing application process? How many applicants? How many are trying to get in?
- Other companies are also part of the educational community, filling out applicants' applications and
- Material science is becoming more and more important in applications to healthcare, in applications to
- But we have lots of applicants for GME slots.
- for a lot of the applicants.