Transcript Highlights:

• There is currently, under PSC regulations, shutoff protections for 95-degree weather. Right.
• Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Public Service Law in relation to enacting the Home Utility Weatherization
• owner, no matter how affluent or rich they are, would be eligible at no cost to them for these weatherization

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1154 by Hughes, relating to a prohibition on weather and climate modification activities
• entities providing electric service in the ERCOT power region of a communication plan for use during a weather
• by Cook, relating to the disconnection of electric service by certain entities during an extreme weather

Summary: The Senate met briefly to receive first-reading referrals of a large number of bills, resolutions, and joint resolutions. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public education, health care, criminal justice, business regulation, transportation, water and natural resources, local government, taxation, elections, and public information. Many of the filings were by Senators Hughes, Perry, Alvarado, Creighton, Hancock, Parker, Zaffirini, Blanco, and others, and included proposals on school safety, health records and billing, election procedures, water planning, housing and rent issues, energy and environmental regulation, and criminal penalties. The chamber also read several concurrent and joint resolutions, including measures designating state symbols and local honors, a proposed constitutional amendment related to gaming by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, a proposal concerning special-session subjects, and resolutions on fiscal restraints and retirement obligations. No debate, testimony, or substantive action on the merits of the measures occurred in this portion of the transcript; the items were simply read and referred to committees. At the close of the proceedings, the Senate adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion and announced it would reconvene at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• The weather impacts our income for fuel tax.
• The weather impacts our income for fuel tax.
• He said factors such as fuel prices, economic conditions, and weather patterns will continue to play
• snowstorm and when the when the weather snowstorm and when the when the weather conditions<01:27
• <03:55:33.840> gets follow up so when the weather gets follow up so when the weather gets

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Safety presented an overview of highway fund and unrestricted revenue collections, focusing on the Division of Administration, the Road Toll Bureau, and the Division of Motor Vehicles. Amy Newbery explained that the main unrestricted funding sources are highway funds and general funds, with highway fund revenue of about $263 million in FY 2024 and a FY 2025 projection of $261.2 million. She said revenue growth has been modest and has not kept pace with costs, creating structural deficits that required general fund transfers of $50 million in FY 2022-23 and another $10 million in FY 2024-25 to balance the fund. Jennifer Hall described Road Toll operations, including motor fuel tax collection at the distributor level, compliance enforcement, and licensing for fuel distributors, transporters, IFTA carriers, and oil discharge/pollution control. Members asked about IFTA, dyed-fuel enforcement, the possibility of using the state forensic lab for dyed-fuel testing, and whether audit positions had been filled; the department said it recently hired a part-time fuel enforcement officer, still uses IRS testing, could explore lab testing, and had no audit vacancies. Hall also discussed factors affecting fuel-tax revenue, including gas prices, crude oil forecasts, weather, tourism, GDP, and inflation, and said FY 2024 road toll revenue was $127.5 million, above plan, with FY 2025 projected at $127.71 million. The committee then turned to DMV-related revenues. Newbery said motor vehicle registration revenue was $93.1 million in FY 2024 and is projected at $90.4 million in FY 2025, with the state share going directly to the highway fund. Members asked about the state/town fee split, the five-year registration cycle dip, the distribution of registration revenue by vehicle weight category, and the impact of electric-vehicle surcharges; the department said the five-year dip is still occurring and will fade over time, and it would follow up on the weight-category breakdown. The presentation also noted that driver-license revenues have stabilized, inspection revenues remain steady, plea-by-mail revenue was added to the highway fund in FY 2024, and general fund revenues tied to the department are relatively small and have declined as some functions moved to OPLC. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• it’s, uh, the new name for Tennessee and Kentucky and kind of the, um, you know, where the severe weather
• is is focusing and and severe weather is is focusing and and these<00:10:31.120> extreme<00:10
• We're kind of weather focused here, but on the disease side, and as you work with your stakeholders on
• , uh tornado, uh either ice, cold weather, uh tornado, or<01:02:39.359> flood<01:02:39.680>
• event and uh extension extreme weather event and uh extension offices<01:04:40.319> were<01:04

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Commissioner Polish, Chair, Senator, um, this is used within the weatherization assistance program
• <00:54:35.520> One Commissioner Polish: The weatherization assistance program.
• within a home, and it needs to have that removed before we can move forward with the weatherization
• <00:55:53.440> staff one of our our weatherization staff one of our our weatherization staff
• They do have to remove weatherization.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The art of gardening will be on full display when the weather is a little bit better.
• The art of gardening will be on full display when the weather is a little bit better.
• The art of gardening will be on full display when the weather is a little bit better.
• The art of gardening will be on full display when the weather is a little bit better.
• The art of gardening will be on full display when the weather is a little bit better.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the hospital has to come in through this space, up and over this loading dock, regardless of the weather
• It's not a great work environment, and then you're also working out there in the weather conditions.
• <00:13:00.920> regardless<00:13:01.360> of regardless of the weather regardless of
• <00:13:12.639> conditions out there in the weather conditions out there in the weather conditions
• Wastewater system so large weather Wastewater system so large weather events<00:47:10.400> don't

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They observe and adapt to changing weather conditions in milliseconds.
• It's constantly changing and it's taking in traffic conditions, weather conditions, obstacles on the
• They know the weather. They know all of these things.
• Who is in control as the weather changes? If you're in a tractor trailer and you leave St.
• That's my 100%... ...with the weather and the technology they've brought up. I don't believe that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reynolds relating to weatherization Reynolds relating to weatherization assistance. assistance.
• This is the weatherization assistance program.
• Helping Neighbors Fund is established in the state treasury to provide eligible recipients of weatherization
• and spend the monies<01:19:04.560> through<01:19:04.800> this<01:19:04.960> weatherization
• monies through this weatherization monies through this weatherization program.<01:19:06.400>

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Weather forecasting models, you can say that it's going to rain with 70, 80% chance of rain tomorrow,
• Weather forecasting models, you can say that it's going to rain with 70, 80% chance of rain tomorrow,
• Weather forecasting models, you can say that it's going to rain with 70, 80% chance of rain tomorrow,
• Weather forecasting models, you can say that it's going to rain with 70, 80% chance of rain tomorrow,
• <00:47:01.920> Weather would think of it this way. Weather would think of it this way.

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:05 HB 227 discussion: 01:10 HB 227 voting: 49:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider House Bill 227, a time-sensitive measure focused on social media use by minors. The bill sponsor, Rep. Matt Lockett, and supporters including counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, the Attorney General’s office, and the Family Foundation argued that social media is addictive and harmful to children, contributes to mental health problems and exploitation, and that the bill would give parents more control while regulating addictive features rather than banning speech. Supporters said the bill is narrowly tailored, content-neutral, and designed to withstand constitutional scrutiny; the Attorney General’s office said it would defend the bill if challenged and described ongoing multi-state litigation against major platforms. One committee member also described seeing inappropriate AI-generated content on a 16-year-old’s phone as an example of the problem the bill seeks to address. Opposition testimony came from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, NetChoice, and the Computer and Communications Industry Association. They argued the bill raises First Amendment concerns because it conditions minors’ access on parental consent, regulates how private platforms communicate with users, and could function as a de facto speech ban. They also warned that the age-estimation requirement could force platforms to collect more sensitive data, creating privacy and security risks, and that the ban on “addictive features” was overly broad and could sweep in personalized feeds, notifications, autoplay, and other common tools. Opponents said the bill could especially harm vulnerable youth who rely on online access for community or safety information and urged the committee to craft a constitutional alternative. During questions, members asked how the state could enforce the law against national companies and were told enforcement would come through the Attorney General within Kentucky and potentially through multi-state litigation. Members also discussed the bill’s practical effects, including advertising revenue from youth users and the need for guardrails to protect children. The discussion continued with questions about the bill’s scope, parental consent, age estimation, and liability provisions, but no final vote or other committee action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can't discern weather, economics, or conservation.
• It can't not discern weather, economics, conservation.
• conservation that was being done because it was unable to discern conservation from foreclosure, weather
• It's never exactly spot on, because we can't predict the weather three years out. Yeah, I think...
• just, if it's all right, Madam Chair, point to that section. spot on because we can't predict the weather

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:20:56.720> the optimization act, as well as the optimization act, as well as the weatherization
• <00:20:57.679> assistance weatherization assistance weatherization assistance program.<00:20:59.600
• The answer is extreme weather caused by climate change.
• 00:37:23.240> answer<00:37:24.240> is<00:37:24.800> extreme<00:37:25.280> weather
• The answer is extreme weather Ask why.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Even more concerning is that this resolution contradicts RSA 12-F, which allows weather modification
• , the physics of weather and forecasting, and<07:58:56.718> the<07:58:56.958> governance
• Plus posting this resolution on weather.
• Weather Modification Reporting Act passed by Congress accommodates weather modification rather than
• over geoengineering and weather over geoengineering and weather modification<08:02:54.240> ultimately

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but the weather is having a huge impact on our constituents in a number of different ways.
• control the weather but the weather<01:48:13.239> is<01:48:13.400> having<01:48:13.719
• DES asserts that weather and climate may not be the primary instigator of these failures.
• DES asserts that weather and climate may not be the primary instigator of these failures.
• DES asserts that weather and climate may not be the primary instigator of these failures.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What thoughts do you have as we go forward with the requirement of extreme weather, and how that may
• I mean, it's getting to a point where this extreme weather is causing massive insurance costs and property
• I mean, it's getting to a point where this extreme weather is causing massive insurance costs and property
• It would also mandate weather alert radios in each overnight facility and a camp-wide warning system
• that reaches all campers, integrates with the National Weather Service and local river alerts, works

Bills: HB48, HB66, HB68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB3, SB18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Summary: The committee met in special session to hear a series of flood, preparedness, and youth-camp safety bills, with members repeatedly noting that many of the measures were intended as planning, warning, or authority-clarifying bills rather than direct spending bills. House Bill 254 would expand eligibility for the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program to include Kerr County and 18 other flood-affected counties by raising the GDP cap and lowering the poverty threshold; it drew no opposition and was left pending. House Bill 68 would direct a study of flood mitigation in flatland areas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, to develop cost-effective drainage and infrastructure recommendations; local officials and advocates supported it, and it was also left pending. The committee then heard several youth camp bills tied to the recent Hill Country flooding. House Bill 75 would impose flood-aware building and site standards for youth camps near floodplains, and House Bill 71 would require camps and youth activity entities to submit emergency preparedness plans to TDEM, coordinate with local responders, and maintain readiness protocols; both bills were supported by safety advocates and camp representatives, and both were left pending. House Bill 171 would require campgrounds near flood-prone waters to give written flood-risk notice to campers and obtain signed acknowledgment; it was presented as informed consent and left pending. Testimony on these bills emphasized Camp Mystic and other recent flood tragedies, with some witnesses urging broader building-code and floodplain reforms. The committee also heard House Bill 117, which would let counties regulate impervious cover for flood mitigation in unincorporated areas. Supporters, including county officials, environmental groups, and residents, argued that rapid development in the Hill Country and other growing areas is worsening runoff and downstream flooding; opponents from the builders’ association said counties already have substantial authority and warned about overreach into rural property use. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 18 would streamline permitting for certain flood control districts to repair dams and reservoirs and build small holding areas, and it was left pending after supportive testimony from Plum Creek Conservation District. Senate Bill 3 would create a state-backed outdoor flood warning siren program for identified flood-prone areas, funded through a grant program; witnesses generally supported it, though some cautioned that sirens are not sufficient by themselves and may not be heard indoors or in overnight storms. It too was left pending. The committee also began hearing House Bill 149 on public-safety radio interoperability, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s full testimony or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This weather whiplash is getting more intense.
• This weather whiplash, we have to adapt to. So what does that look like?
• I talk about weather whiplash on water.
• What the weather changes are doing with the introduction of invasive species coming into hemispheres
• Second, as Secretary Crowfoot noted in terms of the weather whiplash.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the federally funded weatherization the federally funded weatherization assistance<00:23:33.159>
• <00:30:20.720> So weatherization assistance program?
• So weatherization assistance program?
• <00:31:22.320> assistance,<00:31:22.960> fuel weatherization assistance, fuel weatherization
• to the weatherization assistance program and<00:31:31.520> the<00:31:31.679> ability<00

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Officer Avery from the state police in Farmington kept us safe Saturday night with all the bad weather
• So I can get Moriarty weather or I can get Santa Fe weather.
• Similar to Senator Stefanics, the chapters from my district, the weather is still a little bit rough
• from around the world to the state of New Mexico to experience our food, our culture, our incredible weather

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think all of us have to recognize that the weather patterns have changed over the last decade, and
• 00:04:57.040> recognize<00:04:57.760> that<00:04:58.120> the<00:04:58.200> weather
• of us have to recognize that the weather of us have to recognize that the weather patterns<00:04
• creates a pilot program to help Kentuckians build residential safe rooms that can be used in any severe weather

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met for its first meeting of the 2026 session, took roll, established a quorum, and heard three bills. The chair reviewed committee procedures, including deadlines for amendments, cell phone etiquette, and sign-in rules for testimony. Senator Clemons was welcomed as a new member, and the committee later noted that Senator Berg had arrived late and wanted his vote recorded on Senate Bills 11 and 13. Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Senator Meredith, would create a pilot rebate program for residential safe rooms in response to increased tornado activity. The bill would reimburse homeowners for 50% of construction and installation costs up to $5,000, require FEMA and code compliance, and allow safe rooms to be used by neighbors during emergencies. Members asked about cost, oversight, and capacity; the sponsor said the bill was not seeking an appropriation this session and would be administered by Kentucky Emergency Management. The committee voted unanimously to pass the bill favorably. Senate Bill 13, sponsored by Senator Deneen, would allow military installations to have an ex-officio, nonvoting representative on local planning and zoning bodies to raise national security concerns before zoning decisions are made near bases. Members spoke in support, emphasizing protection of military installations and surrounding land. The committee voted unanimously to pass the bill favorably. Senator Deneen also presented Senate Bill 42, which would require law enforcement to submit missing-person cases to Kentucky State Police for entry into the national database within 30 days for minors and 60 days for adults. Supporters said it could help in cases where children are missing but do not trigger an Amber Alert. After discussion about timing and law enforcement workload, the committee again voted unanimously to pass the bill favorably. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced a later Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee presentation on Kentucky’s veteran centers, to be held in the same room after adjournment of both chambers, and then the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• bills by increasing funding for those low-income energy assistance participants, insulating and weatherizing
• bills by increasing funding for those low-income energy assistance participants, insulating and weatherizing
• bills by increasing funding for those low-income energy assistance participants, insulating and weatherizing
• bills by increasing funding for those low-income energy assistance participants, insulating and weatherizing

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press event outlining an affordability agenda focused on housing, child care, health care, groceries, energy, and taxes. Speakers argued that Minnesota families are being squeezed by rising costs and income inequality, and said the caucus would pursue policies aimed at lowering everyday expenses and shifting more costs onto corporations and wealthy residents. Representative Bierman said health care costs are pushing people to skip care and called for system reforms, including moving toward a more universal model and reducing the role of insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. Representative Kotiza-Wazhushk said the caucus is pushing for universal or low-cost child care, expanded pre-K and community-based care, and a bill to stop grocery surveillance price gouging. Representative Acomb and other energy leaders said the House DFL wants to lower utility bills through more energy assistance, weatherization, renewable energy support, limits on utility cost recovery for lobbying and executive pay, and stronger PUC authority to prevent shutoffs and limit rate increases. Representative Agbaje described housing as unaffordable for many renters and homeowners, cited a shortage of housing units, and said the caucus supports restricting private equity and corporate purchases of single-family homes. Leader Stevenson framed the agenda as a response to a budget picture that he said reflects gains for corporations and wealthy Minnesotans, and he criticized federal tax policy and Medicaid cuts. In response to questions about cost, he said several proposals would not require state spending, while others could be funded by looking at new revenue and at those who benefited most from recent tax changes. The event also included a detailed explanation of the grocery surveillance pricing proposal, which would restrict the use of personal data and AI to set individualized prices and limit rapid electronic shelf price changes. No votes were taken.