Video & Transcript Research : 'subsurface utilities'
Page 165 of 476
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- through the port, including steel products, aluminum, minerals, liquid bulk, and windmill components, utilize
- The clarification of House Bill 50 to 18 will ensure the port can fully utilize all designated bridges
- Eliminating the 5% gross weight tolerance would reduce the utility of the permit and place unnecessary
- We utilize the, um, the 84,000 pounds, uh, regularly in the crane industry, uh, which is pretty vital
Bills:
HCR 114, HB 137, HB 283, HB 1398, HB 1960, HB 2153, HB 2431, HB 2638, HB 2699, HB 2999, HB 3208, HB 3389, HB 3413, HB 3510, HB 3642, HB 3859, HB 3974, HB 3986, HB 4142, HB 4173, HB 4174, HB 4542, HB 4605, HB 4663, HB 4731, HB 5064, HB 5216, HB 5218, HB 5332, HB 5453, HB 5577
Keywords:
memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority, highway routes, healthcare, insurance, mental health, treatment access, state funding, transportation, axle weight, aggregates, regulations, Texas law
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Products, aluminum, minerals, liquid bulk, and windmill components utilize this overweight corridor.
- The clarification of House Bill 5218 will ensure the port can fully utilize all designated bridges, supporting
- Eliminating the 5% gross weight tolerance would reduce the utility of the permit and place unnecessary
- We utilize the 84,000 pounds regularly in the crane industry, which is critical for our operations. .
Bills:
HB137, HB283, HCR114, HB137, HB283, HB1398, HB1960, HB2153, HB2431, HB2638, HB2699, HB2999, HB3208, HB3389, HB3413, HB3510, HB3642, HB3859, HB3974, HB3986, HB4142, HB4173, HB4174, HB4542, HB4605, HB4663, HB4731, HB5064, HB5216, HB5218, HB5332, HB5453, HB5577
Keywords:
state budget, fiscal biennium, budget repeal, financial management, state funding, Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, low-income individuals, insurance coverage, memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C County & Regional Government Apr 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- because he's, he's doing double duty, um, he, so their perspective is he represents a lot of municipal utility
- And that is designed precisely to prevent municipal utility districts represented by Mr.
- Once we started utilizing our online auction system, we were able to sell them by palletfuls, which then
- put us out of, um, The ability to utilize the current statute for charitable donations.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Taxes, utilities, and so on. GLOAA has no paid staff, and all board members are volunteers.
- they're asking for your support in securing funding to cover the startup costs for materials and utilities
- city of Two Harbors will receive a $10,000 donation, which will be used for essential expenses like utilities
- Fond du Lac hopes to utilize this opportunity both to tell the story of the sturgeon restoration project
Keywords:
cultural heritage, funding, White Earth Nation, tribal community, construction, Delano, sesquicentennial, community events, fall of Saigon, Saigon anniversary, Vietnam War commemoration, Vietnamese Minnesotans, Cambodian Minnesotans, Lao Minnesotans, Southeast Asian refugees, Asian American heritage, cultural heritage fund, Minnesota Humanities Center, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, equity funding
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- published before they enact the new statute, and they are held accountable for what has previously been utilized
- in impact fees, not only... ...for what has previously been utilized in impact fees, not only the cost
- published before they enact the new statute, and they are held accountable for what has previously been utilized
- in impact fees, not only for what has previously been utilized and impact fees, not only the cost associated
Keywords:
ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school
Summary:
The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending.
The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony.
SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- or entity, regardless of the number of contracts or qualified community rehabilitation programs utilized
- ><00:18:59.440>
program community rehabilitation program community rehabilitation program utilized - <00:19:00.320>
for <00:19:00.559>the <00:19:00.799>personal utilized for the personal - utilized for the personal service.<00:19:03.280>
Okay.
Summary:
The Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several bills, mostly related to workers’ compensation, labor relations, retirement, and employment exemptions. HB 423 would clarify selection of certified rehabilitation providers and require automatic approval of vocational rehabilitation services when likely needed for suitable gainful employment; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested timeline amendments, including advancing the plan within 90 days of the initial evaluation and filing it with the employer, employee, and director within two days. HB 480 would let an attending physician request a functional capacity exam without employer permission and deem licensed occupational and physical therapists qualified to perform such exams; it drew support from the department, the Hawaii Insurance Council, and the Hawaii Medical Association. HB 162 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators for collective bargaining disputes by allowing the HLRB to request a list from FMCS as well as the ABA, and testimony from labor groups supported that change. HB 164 concerned indebtedness to the state and wage deductions; HGA supported it with comments, while the Department of Accounting and General Services raised concerns about the percentage structure but said it could implement the requested changes.
The committee also heard HB 1152, which would permanently exempt three specialized Department of Taxation positions from civil service; the department supported the measure and said the positions are not currently civil service positions. HB 214 would allow certain retirees to work in school resource officer or investigator roles without losing retirement benefits, subject to conditions; ERS expressed concerns about shortening the required separation period from 12 months to 6 months and about uniform administration and cost implications, while the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education supported the bill, and the Department of Law Enforcement asked to include its investigators as well. HB 874 would amend the Uniform Custodial Trust Act for child performers, requiring trust accounts for minors meeting certain earnings thresholds and making misuse of funds a fiduciary breach; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii Nurses Association supported it, and members discussed that enforcement would likely need further research, possibly through labor or the film office. HB 159 would cap the civil service exemption for personal service contracts with qualified community rehabilitation programs at $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity; United Public Workers, HGEA, and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported it.
No final votes were taken because the committee lacked quorum. After recessing and reconvening, the chair announced that decision-making on the agenda would be deferred to Wednesday, March 12 at 3:01 p.m. in Room 224.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine reforming SBIR-STTR for the 21st century. Mar 5th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- what I've been able to see, a system so skewed towards the status quo and entrenched players is not utilizing
- That is why we have utilized the long-standing success of the SBDC network to come alongside the FAST
- More often than not, companies utilize SBIR to develop technologies that ultimately reach the market
- basis to explore ways to expand the scenarios and situations in which open topic proposals can be utilized
Keywords:
SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer
Summary:
The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- DISTRICT COLLEGES AND FLORIDA COLLEGES OF INSTITUTION WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE EXAMPLES OF HOW THEY'VE UTILIZE
- IT CREATES A GREAT UTILITY IF YOU WILL FOR HOW WE SHARE FRAMEWORKS, USE FRAMEWORKS TO REALLY ADVANCE
- REMODEL THEM AND THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT TOOL AT OUR ELIEZER ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE
- OVERALL THE OPEN GRANT PROGRAM WE HAVE HAD STUDENTS UTILIZE IT FOR $1.2 MILLION OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Virginia Commission for the Arts Board Meeting Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They also added that we would not utilize the principal. We would only use the interest and income.
- they had to think through all of these things and how the arts intersect with them, how they're utilizing
- what to say to what funders, how to think about when they're talking to funders, thinking about the utility
- and we are conservatively calculating this interest going back to just 2016 at what has not been utilized
- Fran has put forward three different options for how we can engage and utilize her.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 15th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 330, Padilla, from the Utilities and Energy Committee to the Education Committee.
- SB 1370, Stern, from the Utilities and Energy Committee to the Natural Resources Committee.
- I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 56 to allow the Utilities and Energy Committee to
- of living is going down, if you think your health care premiums are going down, if you think your utility
- That is why this measure is so important: to cap and think about how we're utilizing our tax credits
Summary:
The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for the fatal B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, and proceeded with routine procedural business, including re-referrals of numerous Senate bills to different committees and several rule suspensions to allow bills to be heard or moved. Assembly Member DeMaio attempted to amend and then return AB 109 to the Senate to add health care premium reductions, but the motions were ruled out of order and his request to suspend the rules failed on a 13-45 vote.
The main floor action was on AB 109, the 2026-27 state budget. Assembly Member Gabriel presented the budget as balancing fiscal responsibility with protections for health care, schools, housing, wildfire prevention, and the safety net, while opponents argued it raised costs, underfunded education and public safety, and relied on gimmicks. Supporters emphasized investments in hospitals, Medi-Cal, IHSS, child care, food banks, housing, and reserves, and repeatedly defended the budget’s approach to Proposition 36 funding and prison closures. After extensive debate, the Assembly voted to concur in the Senate amendments to AB 109, and the bill was immediately transmitted to the Governor.
Later, the Assembly took up SCR 89 on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Members from several caucuses spoke in support, arguing DEI is central to equal opportunity, civil rights, and California’s identity, and warning against federal efforts to roll back such programs. Assembly Member DeMaio spoke in opposition, saying DEI treats people differently based on immutable characteristics. The transcript ends during that debate, with the resolution still under consideration.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Previous legislation established an adjustment factor for programs to utilize funding to implement early
- preschool, general child care, and family child care home education network providers will be able to utilize
- In my experience, increasing providers' ability to utilize mental health consultation has a huge potential
- the adverse childhood experience screener optional, consultants can choose when it makes sense to utilize
- Excellence and Family Finding on best practices, participating in CDSS kinship navigation sprints, and utilizing
Summary:
The Senate Human Services Committee heard a long agenda of child welfare, food assistance, child care, and social services bills. Early actions included AB 308 on regional center safety training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, AB 1049 to remove sponsor deeming from the California Food Assistance Program, AB 1201 to narrow a violent-felony bypass for family reunification services, AB 2379 to require know-your-rights training for family child care providers, AB 2429 to ease requirements in early childhood mental health consultation, AB 1755 to repeal CalWORKs’ 100-hour work penalty, AB 2478 to create a kinship family approval pathway, and AB 1969 and AB 1996 to expand coordinated cradle-to-career and child-poverty reduction efforts. The committee also began discussion of AB 1932, which would continue and strengthen community-based crisis response services.
Testimony was largely in support across the hearing. Advocates, county representatives, child care providers, legal aid groups, food banks, disability organizations, and anti-poverty coalitions argued that the bills would reduce administrative barriers, improve access to benefits and services, and better protect children and families. Several authors and witnesses emphasized real-world harms from current rules, including fear of immigration enforcement, wrongful benefit denials, delayed kinship placements, and the burden of outdated eligibility requirements. On AB 1201, county welfare officials and child welfare advocates said the bill would preserve judicial discretion while allowing more parents a fair chance at reunification; on AB 2478, they said a kin-specific approval path would help place children with relatives more quickly; and on the child care bills, providers said current reimbursement and compliance systems are unsustainable.
There was some committee concern about accountability and safety, especially on AB 1049 and AB 1201. One senator questioned whether removing sponsor deeming could weaken program integrity, and another raised concerns about whether narrowing the reunification bypass could expose children to unsafe environments or criminal activity. Authors and supporters responded that the bills still leave eligibility screening, judicial review, supervision, and service plans in place, and that the changes mainly remove automatic barriers or overly broad rules. Votes taken during the hearing were generally favorable: AB 308 passed 3-0 and was held on call; AB 1049 passed 2-1 and was held on call; AB 1201 passed and was held on call; AB 2379 passed 3-0 and was held on call; AB 2429 passed and was held on call; AB 1755 passed and was held on call; AB 2478 passed and was held on call; and AB 1969 and AB 1996 both passed and were held on call. The committee also noted that some bills were on the consent calendar and approved those items 3-0 while holding them open.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 4th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- including lack of funding to complete the project, challenges acquiring right-of-way and moving utilities
- declares that sections 11 and 12 of this act, which adds sections 187035 and 187037 to the Public Utilities
- All of these have resulted in higher insurance premiums, higher utility bills, and devastation to my
- All of these have resulted in higher insurance premiums, higher utility bills, and devastation to my
- This will reduce insurance premiums, lower utility bills, and wood byproducts can create cheap energy
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved a procedural motion by a 41-17 roll call to re-refer AB 2690 and AB 1863 to Appropriations and to allow guests for the Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. House Resolution 92, recognizing Cinco de Mayo Week, was adopted after supportive remarks from members of several caucuses, and the chamber then held the 2026 Latino Spirit Awards ceremony honoring 11 individuals and organizations in higher education, human rights, philanthropy, health and science, advocacy, business, environmental justice, journalism and media, culinary arts, and a legacy award for Los Tigres del Norte. After the ceremony, the Assembly resumed business with guest introductions and moved through the daily file, passing or retaining a number of bills and resolutions.
Among the measures taken up, the Assembly passed AB 1657 on domestic violence restraining order procedures (64-0), AB 2042 on civil procedure and service of process (66-0), AB 1660 on probate and public guardians (45-10), AB 1917 on criminal procedure and reinstatement of dismissed charges (43-15), AB 2148 clarifying that public school employees are human beings in the context of AI (69-0), AB 1647 protecting juvenile statements at transfer hearings (63-0), AB 1555 expanding community college access in Siskiyou County (66-0), AB 1608 on High-Speed Rail Inspector General oversight and reporting (45-18), AB 1803 requiring anti-hate speech training in workplace harassment prevention (50-9), AB 2128 protecting tenants in subsidized housing from certain federal work requirements and time limits (44-16), AB 2576 as a land-use cleanup bill protecting historic resources (61-0), AB 2601 allowing concurrent review for certain housing projects, and AB 2764 on extended foster care eligibility (60-0). Several items were passed and retained on file, and AB 2601 was interrupted by a call of the house before later business continued.
The chamber also adopted ACR 159 on indigent defense after adding 59 coauthors, then heard guest introductions from chief public defenders from multiple counties. ACR 179, designating Wildland Urban Interface Preparedness and Resilience Day, was adopted with 65 coauthors after remarks on wildfire risk and forest management. Later, ACR 183 establishing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week was presented with extensive testimony from members of multiple caucuses emphasizing racial health disparities, maternal mortality, life expectancy gaps, and the need for systemic change; the debate continued beyond the excerpt provided. Throughout the session, members repeatedly used guest introductions to recognize visiting groups and individuals, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members, UAW President Shawn Fain, California Women in Agriculture, and others.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 2782, Corporation Commission utilities authorization and tariffs — Natural Resources.
- HB 2331, electricity utility reliable energy standard — Natural Resources.
- HB 2457, public utilities plant construction co-location — Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
- HB 2912, utility resource plan commission review — Natural Resources.
- HB 2756, utilities high load factor customers. HB 2762, food products labeling cultivated cells.
Summary:
The meeting opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and several guest introductions, including the Doctor of the Day, realtors visiting for Realtor Day, and a representative from Home of Hope. The Senate then handled a large number of bill referrals and second-reading items before moving into Committee of the Whole on multiple calendars. Several bills were advanced with committee and floor amendments, including SB 1494, SB 1497, SB 1503, SB 1535, SB 1544, SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1584, SB 1585, SB 1602, SB 1632, SB 1723, and SB 1798. Many of the amendments were described as technical cleanups, but some made substantive changes, such as SB 1535’s provisions on sealing records for sex-trafficking victims and SB 1723’s domestic-violence release and monitoring provisions. The Committee of the Whole also adopted a report recommending several bills do pass as amended.
The chamber adopted House Concurrent Resolution 264 honoring former Senator Barbara Leff, followed by a moment of silence and remarks from her family. The Senate then returned to Committee of the Whole for Calendar 1, where it retained SB 1332 and advanced SB 1654, SB 1711, SB 1743, SCR 1047, and HB 2993. HB 2993 drew the most debate: opponents argued it had a single-subject problem, relied on funding from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Fraud Fund, and could create unnecessary outside-counsel costs for DPS, while supporters cited the need for the supplemental and defended the funding approach. The motion to report HB 2993 do pass carried by division, 16-13.
In third reading, the Senate passed HB 4115 and a series of Senate bills, including SB 1012, SB 1213, SB 1416, SB 1474, SB 1511, SB 1549, SB 1573, SB 1634, SB 1647, and SB 1649, with several passing on close 16-13 votes. Debate centered heavily on immigration enforcement, concealed carry in businesses serving alcohol, CDL and driver-license issues, campaign finance disclosure, and a digital asset reserve fund. Members on both sides repeatedly explained votes on constitutional, public safety, fiscal, and civil-rights grounds. The session ended with bills transmitted to the House after passage.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 23, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Union Calendar Number 427, H.R. 390, a bill to utilize the advanced capabilities for emergency response
- >> UNION CALENDAR NUMBER 427, H.R. 390, A BILL TO UTILIZE THE ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY
- This legislation ensures that NASA can continue to evaluate, access, and utilize cost-effective, cutting-edge
- This legislation ensures that NASA can continue to evaluate, access, and utilize cost-effective, cutting-edge
- the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop resources for small businesses and utilizing
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 12th, 2025
Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We're going to increase that and improve access so families can utilize the service.
- We utilize our Depths of Relationships Survey, which goes out to our community partners and measures
- We need to capitalize and utilize our federal dollars to the fullest.
- And best utilize.
- It utilizes what it can from an All Payer Claims Database.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- At this point, we'd have to work with El Paso Electric on utilities and look at our water lines, and
- One of the things I saw was that in affordable homes, only between 0.5% and 1.3% of people are utilizing
- So if you want to meet the needs of people that are utilizing These homes, which we should meet their
- That's great news for New Mexico because we fully utilize those from our farm service agents.
- helping families with our safety net services are adding into an income that they wouldn't have to utilize
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session: 2025 First Special Session - part 3 Jun 9th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a good bill to ensure that when unforeseen things happen with our utilities—several years ago, we
- This bill will help allow the utilities to spread those costs over a number of years to make those bills
- So it's a good bill that will help make our utilities affordable.
- And if for those that do backup generation, the utility has the ability to have them get off at peak
- The certificate of need is more used when a utility wants to create more capital investment.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Government Contract Review Committee (5-13-25) - Reupload Part 2
Transcript Highlights:
- What I mean by that is they still utilize travel agents and tour operators.
- What I mean by that is they still utilize travel agents and tour operators.
- So, yes, we expect that they will utilize this data to advocate for change in systems, but we want to
- <00:23:48.320>
this <00:23:48.640>data expect that they will utilize this data expect - that they will utilize this data uh<00:23:49.760>
to <00:23:50.240>uh <00:23:50.480>
Summary:
The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion.
Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call.
The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved.
Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Fri Mar 21, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- And number five: leverage monopoly powers, which is the fact that the state and utilities are the single
- , which is the fact that the state powers, which is the fact that the state and<00:46:13.599>
utilities - c> the<00:46:15.280>
the <00:46:15.520>single <00:46:15.839>largest and utilities - are the the single largest and utilities are the the single largest buyers<00:46:16.720>
of <00 - We have, um, our plan for this measure is to adopt the DBED testimony and utilize the language in an
Summary:
The committee heard several resolutions focused on economic development, tourism, technology, and related policy issues. Testimony generally came from state agencies and industry groups, with DBED, HTDC, and others mostly supporting measures that would create working groups, promote advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, encourage a Michelin Guide for Hawaii restaurants, support Taiwan’s international participation, and explore import substitution. One measure on a tourism and gaming working group drew strong opposition from the prosecutor’s office, which argued it would signal support for gambling and could worsen social harms, while other witnesses supported it as a way to gather data before any policy decisions. The committee also heard support for relocating the Pearl City Post Office to improve traffic and safety, and for a resolution to focus HTDC on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.
Several items were amended before action. The committee agreed to amend the tourism and gaming working group resolution to narrow and clarify its purpose, and to amend the Taiwan resolution to add the president of the Republic of China as a recipient. The import-substitution resolution was also amended to add a definition, include language about avoiding new import dependencies such as LNG, and direct state and utility purchasing power toward substituting imports. A resolution on HCR 211/HR 203 was rewritten to address lowering fire insurance rates and mitigating fire risk in Puna lava zones, but decision-making on that item was deferred to a later hearing so the new language could be posted publicly.
The committee voted to adopt several measures, including HCR 57/HCR 152, HCR 156/HR 151, HCR 19/HR 115, and HCR 33/HR 32, with some passed as amended and others passed as is. HCR 192 was adopted with amendments despite reservations from some members, and HCR 209/HR 2011 was adopted with amendments. The committee also recessed for decision-making during the hearing and later adjourned after completing action on the agenda.
FL