Transcript Highlights:

• I may consume. I may consume.
• time as I may consume. time as I may consume.
• may consume. may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > greater<00:09:18.160> transparency consumer bills and greater transparency consumer bills
• <00:09:42.640> pay significant share of what consumers pay significant share of what consumers
• <00:16:28.639> advocate that DOE and and the consumer advocate that DOE and and the consumer
• It is a the consumer liaison group.
• So it's time-consuming.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:43.200> utilities<00:48:43.520> or consumer-owned utilities or consumer-owned utilities
• There are no consumer-owned utilities.
• <00:51:37.599> in highest monthly bill uh per consumer in highest monthly bill uh per consumer
• owned by local consumer-owned utilities. owned by local consumer-owned utilities.
• Thank good for Minnesota fuel consumers.

Bills: HF3298

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

Transcript Highlights:

• myself as much time as I may consume myself as much time as I may consume gentle<02:59:45.560>
• <03:03:59.920> to yield as much time as he may consume to yield as much time as he may consume
• Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
• <03:12:24.600> here as much time as I may consume here as much time as I may consume here
• I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Yes, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Robert Harrell, I'm the Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California.
• This is a bill opposed by a number of consumer groups and also by domestic violence organizations.
• League, the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and a number of domestic violence groups.
• But consumers do not experience them that way.
• Consumer processes is also a repair provider.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on June 24, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum and began by hearing presentations only. SB 308 was presented as a bill to streamline fiscal reporting for California community colleges by combining two overlapping annual audit reports into one. SB 895, the California Science and Health Research Bond, drew extensive testimony from the authors and many supporters, who argued it would help offset federal research cuts, protect California’s science infrastructure, support jobs, and preserve life-saving research in areas such as cancer, HIV, Parkinson’s, ALS, climate resilience, and quantum computing. The bill was described as a bond measure that would require a three-party agreement and was sent to suspense. After quorum was established, the committee took up the consent and suspense calendars. Several bills were approved on consent, including SB 308 and a large group of other measures, while the suspense calendar was deemed approved, including SB 895 and other bills listed by the chair. Public comment on SB 895 continued for a long period, with many researchers, students, labor representatives, university officials, and patient advocates speaking in strong support and urging the bill be moved to the floor. The committee also heard SB 1350, which would expand green hydrogen by allowing renewable portfolio standard credits for certain hydrogen use in power generation; the author and supporters said it would help clean energy development, create jobs, and support projects like ARCHES and Element. Later, SB 1306 was presented to align California law with federal exemptions for certain chemical mixtures containing GBL used in semiconductor manufacturing research. The author and SEMI’s representative said the bill would reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, avoid disrupting semiconductor supply chains, and not change rules for pure GBL. The bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with one no vote and one not voting. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And third, the bill includes a consumer protections provision to ensure that data centers will pay for
• of the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, or CUB, a non-profit advocate for Minnesota's energy consumers
• And I've spoken with consumer advocates in other states with higher concentration of data centers who
• Consumers, as you know, are demanding care for the environment as part of product and service delivery
• Eventually, all of these costs will be passed on to consumers.

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• It if it serves their residents better, while maintaining existing consumer protections.
• another option to repay entrance fees with the potential to expedite the process while keeping all consumer
• this bill simply expands choice and, where appropriate, improves outcomes for both providers and consumers
• This bill definitely caught our attention because it helps our consumers live independently by working
• Thousands of our consumers in the Independent Living Centers network live in high fire risk zones.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
• I'll yield myself such time as I may consume.
• I yield myself such time as I may consume.
• <04:35:39.119> and costs low for the American Consumer and costs low for the American Consumer
• <04:38:28.760> if on small businesses and consumers if on small businesses and consumers if

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've allowed us to consume more quantities of food.
• I'm senior director of state affairs with the Consumer Brands Association.
• Our members are the makers of food and beverage products and consumer packaged goods that, you know,
• They're just not in the taste of food consumers and beverage consumers in the EU.
• So these ingredients do have a result or an effect on people consuming them.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is part of the consumer protection that we see as essential for ratepayers.
• In addition to this essential consumer protection, we also note that the bill has additional consumer
• deliver and what and what consumers deliver and what and what consumers want.<00:53:42.559> So
• And as we know, getting consumers to invest in green energy often can cost money.
• And as we know, getting consumers to invest in green energy often can cost money.

Bills: HF2986, HF3555

Keywords: virtual power plant, VPP, distributed energy resources, DER, demand response, load management, grid modernization, peak demand, peak shaving, battery storage, energy storage, solar photovoltaic, solar panels, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, heat pumps, aggregator, public utilities commission, PUC, rate recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:04.640> $2 already asked investors to consume $2 already asked investors to consume
• on sp135 SC2 relating to Consumer on sp135 SC2 relating to Consumer Protection<01:24:19.000>
• I'm the executive director of the Office of Consumer Protection.
• <01:25:43.040> has by a hotel after the consumer has by a hotel after the consumer has already
• First up, we've got DCCA and Consumer Advocacy with comments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Myra Baena with the Mesa Verde Group, on behalf of the Consumer Federation of California, in support.
• I also like to mention joining me today is Tony Signorelli, deputy commissioner for consumer services
• The goal of SB 495 is to simplify the process for consumers already facing traumatic experiences.
• Maida Baena with the Mesa Verde group on behalf of the Consumer Federation of California.
• Tony Signorelli, Deputy Commissioner, Consumer Services, Department of Insurance. That's correct.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several bills related to insurance coverage, wildfire risk, workers’ compensation, and paid family leave. SB 8 by Senator Ashby would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers, with testimony emphasizing that they perform law-enforcement-like duties and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. SB 429 by Senator Cortese would create a public wildfire catastrophe model and related wildfire safety program, with support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates who said public access to modeling data would improve transparency and help evaluate private insurance risk models. The committee also heard SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the FAIR Plan to offer coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, including replacement cost coverage. Supporters said the bill would help lower-income residents obtain meaningful insurance protection, while no opposition testified. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger contents-coverage advance after a total loss during a declared emergency without requiring an immediate itemized inventory, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to provide catastrophe modeling and reinsurance data to the Department of Insurance. Several insurers withdrew opposition after amendments, and the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the measure. SB 590 by Senator Durazo would expand paid family leave to cover care for designated persons or chosen family members, with strong support from AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and health organizations, and testimony from a parent describing the need to care for a non-legal family member during surgery recovery. The committee also took up consent items SB 230 and SB 854. After roll calls, SB 8, SB 429, SB 495, SB 525, and SB 590 all received do-pass votes, with SB 429 sent to the Committee on Emergency Management, SB 495 to Judiciary, and SB 525 and SB 590 to Appropriations. The consent calendar bills were also approved, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I may consume. I may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume.
• I rise today in support I may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is to reduce the energy cost for consumers across the state.
• This is a way we can also allow consumers to participate and benefit the state.
• It promotes consumer savings as well as environmental stewardship.
• The cost of that debt, including interest rates, is passed along to the consumer.
• All of which benefit the consumer. Thank you for that testimony.

Bills: HB551, HB 1281, HB1378, HB1617, HB2868, HB2881, HB3374, HB4439, HB4726, HB4732, HB4878, HB4914, HB4921, HB4958, HB5200, HB5318, HB5360, HB5402, HB5568, HB5573, HB5623, HJR218

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our mission is to represent residential and small commercial consumers as a community. class and utility
• Regarding how you all go about representing residential and small consumers, one of your exceptional
• I just hope you all have enough in the budget to actually properly represent residential consumers and
• We're often having consumers call in to us just to help.
• I think, as I serve on BNC, about the complications of this and how the consumer can be very frustrated

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But uh it on to the consumer.
• nevertheless uh it's up to the consumer nevertheless uh it's up to the consumer to<00:20:17.280>
• on consumer surveillance data. So, Mr. on consumer surveillance data. So, Mr.
• <02:45:32.479> data Minnesota's existing consumer data Minnesota's existing consumer data
• promotions or discounts to consumers. promotions or discounts to consumers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to pass this bill just knowing the increase of fraud that is happening on our public programs and consumers
• to pass this bill just knowing the increase of fraud that is happening on our public programs and consumers
• to pass this bill just knowing the increase of fraud that is happening on our public programs and consumers
• to pass this bill just knowing the increase of fraud that is happening on our public programs and consumers
• Uh, Sarah" "Being, um, that is happening on our public programs and consumers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• database, looking for cases where consumers reported that they were unable to open accounts or that
• We know from the consumer complaint hotline that millions of Americans of all political stripes have
• Popular among consumers and are considered a best practice by the American Bankers Association.
• I've got a stack of stories sent in by consumers and organizations that were debanked.
• The CFPB is really on the forefront of looking for consumers, making sure consumers have access to high-quality

Transcript Highlights:

• It has simply abandoned the entire field of consumer protection.
• But these consumer protection cases are only expanding. Thank you.
• maybe in some other instances, too, outside of your district, where we can sometimes be helpful on a consumer-by-consumer
• But I'm also just talking about consumer protection as well.
• But I'm also just talking about consumer protection as well.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 31, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 38, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 39, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 50, having been amended twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Consumer
• House Bill 60, having been read twice by title, is referred to the House Consumer and Public Affairs