Transcript Highlights:

• We have added, uh, wind and solar to the generation mix and of course wind and solar are intermittent
• They're cloudy days we don't have solar and windy days and days when we don't have so much wind.
• Which means that in order to serve the load on some days you had to have some wind or some solar online
• Solar and wind during winter storms are, uh, usually not at their top performance for icing, snow on
• Solar is also in that time range as well. Are there any policies that you'd like to see changed?

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi, Ashley Michelin with the California Retailers Association in opposition. Thank you.
• A contractor pitches a no-cost upgrade or rebate-backed improvement, often solar panels.
• This is particularly true with solar financing.
• This is particularly true with solar financing.
• Later, she received a bill on a loan before the solar panels ever were operational.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We test at the retail location. But with shrimp, normally you have big lots.
• It's going to amend it to say retailers rather than vendors.
• And in that engrossed version, it would be changed to reflect retailers instead of restaurants.
• In other words, solar, wind, and, of course...
• In other words, solar, wind, and, of course, the combustion of these fuels.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and welcomed a new member, then took up a series of agriculture-related bills, many focused on Louisiana seafood and producer protections. HB 121 by Rep. Domain would let the Department of Agriculture and Forestry seize and destroy adulterated imported seafood after a stop order, rather than relying on another agency to do it; the commissioner said the bill would improve enforcement without adding major cost, and it was reported favorably. HB 725, also by Rep. Domain, was amended to require retailers to keep invoices for imported seafood for six months so inspectors can verify country of origin and labeling; the committee adopted the technical amendment and reported the bill favorably. HB 367, dealing with Structural Pest Control Commission hearing notices, was described as a technical change to align notice procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act and was also reported favorably. HB 505, on certification cards for commercial applicators, pesticide salespersons, and agricultural consultants, was amended to keep unexpended pesticide fund money in the fund and streamline renewal timing; it too passed favorably. The committee then considered several measures aimed at protecting farmers from market losses. HB 344 by Rep. Coates raised the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund thresholds for suspending and restarting assessments, with the commissioner explaining that recent bankruptcies and broker failures had shown the need for a larger reserve; the bill was reported favorably. HB 370, a follow-up measure on the same fund, increased the assessment rate on agricultural commodities so the fund could grow faster, and it also passed without objection. HB 847, on Soil and Water Conservation Commission district supervisor elections, was amended to require certified nominating petitions, shift election administration to the Secretary of State, and remove outdated statewide election language; supporters said the change would modernize a system that had become costly and unwieldy, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 370 and HB 847 drew discussion about ballot access, election administration, and the nonpartisan nature of soil and water districts. The meeting also included a lengthy agriculture update from Commissioner Strain and a presentation from LSU Ag Center Dean Matt Lee. Strain discussed seafood imports, labeling enforcement, shrimp industry promotion, feral swine damage, fertilizer and diesel cost pressures, pesticide disposal, and export markets for rice and timber, emphasizing that Louisiana agriculture depends on testing, marketing, and international trade. Lee reported that LSU Ag Center research is ranked among the nation’s top agricultural programs, with major work in sugarcane variety development, and said the center’s research generates substantial economic returns for Louisiana producers. Several industry representatives, including Louisiana Farm Bureau and LSU Ag Center staff, spoke in support of the bills and the state’s agricultural programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• FDA did an investigation on larger retailers, and they found that many of these retailers were selling
• FDA did an investigation on larger retailers, and they found that many of these retailers were selling
• FDA did an investigation on larger retailers, and they found that many of these retailers were selling
• : There are types of retailers—retailer one that doesn't sell illegal products, and retailer two that
• </c><01:30:52.520><c> solar</c><01:30:52.840><c> lending</c> declared we've got a solar solar lending

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have added wind and solar to the generation mix.
• The area there is the thermal generation, then you see the increasing amounts of solar, wind, and battery
• Solar and wind during winter storms are...
• highest peak in the winter will be before the sun comes up or after it goes down so you don't get solar
• has everything in order has a good spot less than three years those are probably your two fastest solar

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:17.840><c> thermal</c> gas and in item G about solar thermal gas and in item G about solar
• </c> then similarly in item G for solar then similarly in item G for solar thermal<00:07:39.520><c> energy
• </c> geothermal and G concerning solar geothermal and G concerning solar thermal<00:13:47.760><c> energy
• </c> cost shifting to other retail customers. cost shifting to other retail customers.
• </c> the you know all of the other uh retail the you know all of the other uh retail customers<05:11:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The idea here is if you have solar panels and they produce, but not enough for all your home use, you
• can join a group and get the benefit of someone else's solar panels as well.
• </c> metering, it would mean more solar metering, it would mean more solar energy.<00:36:07.119><c> Now
• </c><00:39:29.680><c> It</c> solar, and that's true. It solar, and that's true.
• But solar systems already see does.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may choose to buy a solar panel. Mr. Carr, you may choose to eat less meat.
• You may choose to buy a solar panel.
• It would increase the handling fees paid to retailers and redemption centers.
• It also exempts small retailers.
• It's called universal return to retail.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused mainly on two subjects: expansion of the Massachusetts bottle bill and bills to remove woody biomass from state clean-energy and greenhouse-gas programs. On the bottle bill, supporters from municipal, environmental, public health, and local government groups argued that the 5-cent deposit is outdated, redemption rates have fallen, and expanding coverage to more beverage containers—especially water, sports drinks, and small alcohol bottles—would reduce litter, cut plastic waste and microplastics, and save cities and towns money. Several speakers also backed raising handling fees for retailers and redemption centers, and some supported restoring a Clean Environment Fund so unclaimed deposits would support recycling-related purposes. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Beverage Association and the National Waste and Recycling Association, argued that curbside recycling and transfer-station systems are more convenient, that the targeted containers are valuable to local recycling programs, and that the proposal would shift costs onto consumers and municipalities. Committee members questioned witnesses about redemption rates, handling fees, the 2014 ballot question, and whether the bill had changed from prior sessions. The biomass portion drew strong support from Springfield officials, state legislators, environmental advocates, and public health groups. They said woody biomass should not count as clean energy because burning wood produces particulate pollution and carbon emissions, and they warned that current law contains a loophole that could help finance the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant in Springfield. Witnesses emphasized Springfield’s air-quality and asthma burdens, the public health impacts of PM2.5, and the need to close the loophole before a January 1, 2026 deadline. One forest-industry witness supported a separate bill promoting modern wood heat with pollution controls, arguing it is cleaner than older wood systems and has minimal ratepayer cost, while noting that those credits would be affected if the governor’s broader energy affordability bill repeals the alternative energy portfolio standard. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs managed testimony by alternating between the bottle bill and biomass topics, asking speakers to keep remarks brief and to note when they agreed with prior testimony. Several legislators also testified in support of the bills, and committee members asked follow-up questions on deposit levels, retailer handling fees, recycling economics, and the public-health rationale for the biomass restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Power Solar LLC. Cruz Romero in support. Power Solar LLC. Cruz Romero in support.
• Rocky Hawaii Solar Energy Association.
• </c><00:54:40.880><c> Energy</c> Mole with the Hawaii Solar Energy Mole with the Hawaii Solar Energy
• Uh, Malama Solar offered testimony in support. Hawaii Solar Energy Association.
• </c> local chamber of commerce, retail local chamber of commerce, retail merchants,<02:01:05.920><c>

Bills: HB1617

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. ...about retail sales? We're talking about housing?
• And the answer to that is solar panels with battery backup. Mr.
• President, this solar development tax credit has a sunset.
• I decided to do this bill before I was even asked to buy the solar industry.
• I think it's important that we continue to incentivize solar at this point.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this was my complaint about wind and natural gas—or, sorry, wind and solar—is that solar panels are
• </c><01:12:45.679><c> is</c> natural gas or sorry wind and solar is natural gas or sorry wind and solar
• </c><01:16:02.159><c> is</c> because it's very clear here solar is because it's very clear here solar
• eight years, and that solar panels will last 25 to 30 years, not 10 years or 15 years.
• </c><01:17:26.719><c> and</c><01:17:26.960><c> solar</c> investment within eight years. and solar investment

Bills: HF3298

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• put solar on their properties.
• </c> residential and commercial solar residential and commercial solar installations<00:02:24.599><c>
• </c> years for the installation of a solar years for the installation of a solar energy<00:02:32.480>
• Solar has no fuel costs.
• /c><00:09:03.560><c> uh</c><00:09:03.720><c> education</c> solar through solar to Ed uh education solar

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:29.800><c> pollinator</c> license plate for our solar pollinator license plate for our solar
• </c> pollinators are, but what is a solar pollinators are, but what is a solar pollinator<00:04:35.280
• </c><00:05:04.240><c> Cows</c><00:05:04.720><c> like</c> use the solar panels as shade.
• Cows like use the solar panels as shade.
• So the same idea solar panels on it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:16:35.000><c> price</c> can expect this hold up to retail price can expect this hold up to retail
• My solar panels are very productive at solar noon, which is not exactly the peak time for when the power
• ><c> not</c> productive at solar noon which is not productive at solar noon which is not exactly<02:29
• So if I'm producing a lot at solar noon and it's not really needed at solar noon by the grid as a whole
• </c><04:31:25.640><c> panels</c> over 200 square miles of solar panels over 200 square miles of solar

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1329, Real Property Tax Active Solar Energy System.
• SB 1329, Real Property Tax Active Solar Energy System. The motion is due pass.
• SB 1103, Large Home Improvement Retailers Immigration Enforcement Reporting.
• SB 1103, Large Home Improvement Retailers Immigration Enforcement Reporting.
• SB 868, portable solar generation devices. The motion is due pass.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing and voted only on measures already heard previously, with no public testimony. The chair explained that bills were taken up quickly in author order, with amended bills to be followed by addendum analyses. The committee considered a very large slate of Senate bills and two Assembly measures covering wildfire resilience, housing, insurance, energy, transportation, public safety, elections, health care, labor, environmental regulation, and various administrative and tax issues. Most measures were approved, many on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 party-line votes with Republicans generally voting no. Several bills were amended before passage, including changes to funding contingencies, timelines, reporting requirements, definitions, and removal of certain enforcement or private-right-of-action provisions. A few members noted concerns on specific bills, including Senator Richardson on SB 1203 (private security training), though he said he would vote for it at this stage. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on wildfire smoke, wildfire recovery, mobile home parks, insurance nonrenewals, AI transparency, data center energy issues, Medi-Cal and health coverage, criminal justice, election administration, housing, and labor/workforce standards. The committee also approved AB 46 and AB 736. No bills were held for testimony because the hearing was vote-only, and the meeting adjourned after all items on the agenda were disposed of.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was noticing you have a slide that has quite a bit of solar and battery on there.
• And then in recent years, you see the growth in solar, wind, and batteries.
• What it means is it reflects the intermittency that you see in solar and wind.
• And then during the winter peaks, there's no solar support.
• And then during the winter peaks, there's no solar support at very extremes.

Bills: SB438, SB512, SB647, SB648, SB1495, SB2121, SB2145, SB2154, SB2167, SB2184, SB2211, SB2268, SB2349, SB2443, SB2629, SB2702, SB2902

Keywords: SB 438, Texas, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative law judge, ALJ, public information act, open records, confidentiality, privacy, home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, social security number, family members, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Tax Code 25.025, public records, government transparency

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first voted out several pending bills. Senate Bill 1612 was reported favorably to the full Senate with objections sent to the local and contested calendar. The committee then adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported Senate Bills 2717, 1468, 1642, and 1789, with 1642 and 1789 sent to the floor. SB 2717 would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council and add agencies to it; SB 1468 and SB 1642 were discussed as changes affecting utility and insurance-related structures; and SB 1789 would establish pole standards, with the author saying it would clarify PUC authority and create more practical statewide standards. The committee also heard an ERCOT update from Pablo Vegas, who said Texas load growth remains strong but ERCOT is adjusting its large-load forecast downward using historical delays and realization rates for data centers and other large loads. He said the adjusted forecast is still very high, but more realistic for planning, and members discussed reliability, generation timelines, demand response, and the role of Senate Bill 6 in helping model large data centers as flexible load. The committee then took testimony on a series of bills and left most pending after public comment. SB 2629 would allow condominium and property owners associations to hold meetings and vote electronically; testimony supported it as a way to improve access, though some members expressed concern about overuse of virtual meetings. SB 2702 would let nationally certified professionals test backflow prevention assemblies instead of requiring a separate TCEQ license, and was supported as a workforce and public health measure. SB 2167 would let TDLR pause new massage-establishment license applications when an applicant is subject to a human trafficking emergency order or pending SOAH case. SB 2349 would exempt short-term residential leases and certain leasebacks from floodplain disclosure requirements while allowing the notice to be included in the lease packet. SB 2121 would tighten the data broker registry law from the prior session, and SB 2443 would allow TDLR to use electronic delivery for notices and contested-case documents. Additional bills focused on consumer protection, housing, and regulatory administration. SB 2902 would help victims of coerced debt and identity theft stop collection efforts by requiring proof such as a court order or FTC report; advocates said it would protect survivors while still preventing fraud. SB 512 would bar money transmission license holders from fining users for terms-of-service violations in a way that forfeits account funds, and supporters framed it as a protection against private financial penalties. SB 2145 would allow public improvement districts and tax increment finance districts to meet virtually with at least one member physically present, while SB 2268 would give the PUC flexibility to extend Texas Energy Fund loan deadlines in certain cases. SB 1495 would create an advisory board for electric vehicle supply equipment standards, SB 2154 would extend statewide regulation to delivery network companies, SB 2184 would lower the age for pyrotechnic operator and fireworks display licenses from 21 to 18, SB 438 would expand confidentiality protections for SOAH administrative law judges, SB 2211 would treat digital products and desalinated water as industrial products to support combined energy-water projects, and SB 647 would strengthen title-theft protections by improving notice and clerk authority to reject fraudulent filings. Most of these bills were left pending after testimony, and several drew support from industry, consumer, or advocacy witnesses along with some member concerns about electronic meetings, licensing, and data accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> go to bof fiels if we go to solar go to bof fiels if we go to solar there's<01:20:27.760><c> a</
• Biofuels is an option, but comparing biofuels to solar, it's a much more intense land use demand.
• I just wanted to touch on the retail wheeling provision.
• Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support. Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee.
• Rocky Mold, Hawaii Solar Energy Association. We stand in strong support of this bill.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and first heard SB 137 SD2 HD1 relating to electric utilities. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the Public Utilities Commission said they stood on their written comments, IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill, and Ulupono Initiative also supported it. Hawaiian Electric supported the intent but asked for an amendment, saying the bill’s definition of “acquiring entity” was too broad and could unintentionally cover purely local utility transactions. A later witness from Life of the Land supported the bill only if the merger/acquisition language were removed, arguing the PUC would not have a workable mechanism to let a cooperative intervene in a utility sale process. Committee members questioned whether the bill could still work without that section, and Ulupono said it was open to clarifying language but did not seek to remove the provision; the discussion ended without a vote in the excerpt provided. The committee then took up SB 1220 SD2 relating to a renewable gas tariff. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC again stood on written comments. HGas strongly supported the measure, saying it would create a faster, more cost-effective path for a voluntary renewable gas tariff without requiring a full rate case, while preserving PUC oversight and consumer protections. The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas also supported the bill, emphasizing that it would expand consumer choice and help Hawaii’s clean energy goals while keeping the program voluntary and shielding non-participating customers from costs. Henry Curtis of Life of the Land opposed the bill, arguing that HGas already had an active rate case and could have raised the issue there, and that the proposal did not increase renewable gas supply or speed up acquisition; he called it a gimmick. In response, HGas said the bill was mainly a mechanism to speed filing and that the details would be worked out in a PUC docket. Committee members pressed HGas on whether the measure would actually add renewable gas, what source would be used, and whether customers would simply be paying more for the same gas; HGas said it had two projects in development, including banagrass and hydrogen-related work, and that the tariff would be a voluntary opt-in rate for customers seeking renewable natural gas to meet sustainability goals. No vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• solar and cause roads or we're via time for questions.
• And 3rd piece today is a is a growing solar flee.
• You see your yellow solar use your blue batteries.
• Much like solar.
• Those solar Farms are located.

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases uncertainty for solar future in California.
• What remains is simple: a clear and fair set of inputs for assessing solar projects.
• Opposition may claim that solar is seeking special treatment, and it's important to highlight how solar
• Claim that solar is seeking special treatment, and it's important to highlight how solar is unique.
• Ryan Elaine, on behalf of the California Retailers Association, in support. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that required me to put solar on it.
• And the solar system was a lot more than I could afford and that I wanted to afford.
• And we've heard that discussion in the solar discussion, by the way, every hearing.
• Lillian Mervis with a large-scale solar association here in support.
• McKinley-Morley, with the Solar Energy Industries Association, in support.

Keywords: 988, house, all