Video & Transcript : 'budget requests' :
Page 180 of 500
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- President, I request a roll call. Roll call request granted.
- President, I request a roll call. Mr. President, I request a roll call.
- budgets first and not the budget of the state government.
- </c><02:05:17.679><c> of</c><02:05:17.840><c> the</c> budgets first and not the budget of the budgets
- </c> requested. Roll call granted. requested. Roll call granted.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance (1-28-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance.
- What portion of this request is truly capitalized versus operating or maintenance expenses?
- But then when we look at, like, individual budget units, there's a lot of requests for, like, upgrades
- </c> called the strategic purchase request called the strategic purchase request process<00:18:48.880
- </c><00:19:04.320><c> for</c> advisory capacity for the request for advisory capacity for the request
Keywords:
0:20 Rollcall
2:28 Definition of Legacy system and demands of modern workplaces
10:48 Discussion of funding and planned expenditures
22:26 Contingency funding
23:16 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance heard a presentation from the Commonwealth Office of Technology on legacy IT modernization funds and how they are used to address outdated, unsupported, or unsustainable systems. David Carter and Carrie Welch explained the state’s definition of a legacy system under KRS 7A.180, emphasizing not only vendor support issues but also changing business needs, regulatory compliance, and the loss of institutional knowledge for older systems. They described the office’s review process for determining whether a project qualifies, including assessing business risk, comparing options such as upgrades, replacements, shared solutions across agencies, or commercial products, and then matching the project to available funding.
The presenters said COT reports twice a year to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue on progress with legacy modernization projects. They reported 30 projects funded to date, with 18 completed, and said remaining projects are still moving forward while agencies continue to identify modernization needs. They highlighted examples of completed work, including modernized security cameras, replacement of unsupported systems, migration of documents to the Commonwealth Enterprise Content Management Platform, restoration of vendor support, a digital policy acknowledgement portal, replacement of the State Police dispatch system, and digitization of paper records for faster retrieval and better disaster resilience.
Members asked for more detail on how the $10 million request would be allocated, including system-by-system spending, the split between software, hardware, vendor contracts, and staff time, and how the office determines when a system needs replacement. COT said it did not have a system-by-system or cost-category breakdown at the hearing but could provide one later, and explained that the funds are intended for development and first-time acquisition costs rather than ongoing maintenance. They also said the $5 million annual request was based on prior years’ experience and that agencies often contribute some funding themselves, so the program could still operate if appropriated less than the full amount. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I've been trolling for this bill since I heard about the agency request.
- I heard about the agency request. First of all, it just makes a lot of sense.
- I would respectfully request your support as we continue to push this through.
- Our county continues to see restrictions on budget.
- Because this request... ...existing essential life-saving services.
Summary:
The committee heard six bills on January 27, 2026. Senate Bill 6084 would clarify the prohibition on voting more than once in an election, in response to a court ruling that interpreted “election” narrowly; the sponsor and Secretary of State’s office said the bill is meant to ensure a person votes only once in Washington or in one state and another on the same election date. Testimony was brief and supportive, and the hearing was closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying.
Senate Bill 6044 would recognize Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as a legislatively recognized day, and Senate Bill 5950 would add several non-legal holidays, including Sikh, Baha’i, Jewish, and Buddhist observances. Sponsors and supporters described the bills as a way to acknowledge minority faith traditions, promote inclusion, and help communities feel seen; testimony came from Jewish, Sikh, multi-faith, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist representatives. The committee recorded substantial support for both measures, with no opposition testimony, and closed both hearings.
Senate Bill 6046 would establish the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department to better coordinate volunteer aviation support for disasters, search and rescue, cybersecurity, and other missions. The sponsor, Military Department, Civil Air Patrol, and veterans’ representatives said it would improve command and control and help the state use Civil Air Patrol more efficiently at no added cost. Senate Bill 5763 would create a grant program for local law enforcement aviation support units and expand wildfire-related aviation support to sheriff’s offices; sheriffs and police chiefs strongly supported it as a way to sustain helicopter-based search and rescue and disaster response, while DNR raised concerns about wildfire aviation standards, liability, and possible bill drafting issues. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5784, which would require agencies to collect and report more detailed demographic data under updated federal standards; the sponsor said better disaggregation is needed for accountability and to identify disparities, and the Office of Equity supported the policy while noting fiscal and privacy concerns and the need for possible amendments. The meeting ended after the final hearing, with no votes taken.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- , as we've been hearing lately, school budgets are stretched as well.
- And then, but if it fails, then yes, I would request reconsideration. Mr.
- As a member of Budget Sub 3, I'm looking forward to hearing more about the budget conversation for this
- As a member of Budget Sub 3, I'm looking forward to hearing more about the budget conversation for this
- letter and request to make sure we can get through this.
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee met for its first hearing of the session, adopted its committee rules on a 6-0 vote, and then heard several bills. AB 347, which would require written notice to students about the right to opt out of animal dissection and receive a comparable assignment, drew strong support from the author, a student, and multiple advocacy and education groups, while opponents argued it would burden teachers and duplicate existing law. The committee approved AB 347 on a 7-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations.
AB 281, which would expand parent access to sex education materials and require disclosure of outside consultants’ credentials, drew mixed testimony. Supporters framed it as a transparency and parent-rights measure, while school administrators and county education officials said current law already allows inspection and that the bill would create an unfunded administrative burden. After extended member discussion, the bill failed on a 4-3 vote with one abstention, though reconsideration was granted. AB 65, which would provide paid pregnancy leave for educators without requiring them to exhaust sick leave first, was supported by teachers, CTA, and the State Treasurer, but opposed by school administrators and business officials over cost concerns; it passed 6-0 to Higher Education.
The committee also approved AB 361, which would extend and expand LAUSD’s best-value procurement authority for school construction to all school districts for five years, on a 5-0 vote with one abstention. AB 86, which would require the State Board of Education to adopt standardized K-8 health education instructional materials, passed 5-0. Finally, AB 228, the Zaki Fast Act, was introduced to clarify that schools may stock any federally approved epinephrine delivery system, including newer devices beyond auto-injectors, and was presented with testimony from the bill’s young namesake and his family; the transcript cuts off before the committee vote on that measure.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee Mar 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Our budget director is going to be working with President Molander on the annual budget and biennial
- budget process.
- And we're over, we're under budget right now.
- DPI budget.
- It was on the budget side.
Summary:
The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts.
The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects.
Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a budget math principle. This is a budget process.
- </c> governor's budget. Correct. Yes. Okay. governor's budget. Correct. Yes. Okay.
- </c> does this change any of the budget does this change any of the budget assumptions?
- budget cycle.
- </c> your current budget. Yes, it would. your current budget. Yes, it would.
Summary:
The Division 3 work session focused largely on amendment 1176 to HB 2, which would have incorporated the substance of HB 548FN, a House-passed bill creating a direct-pay or membership-based model for health care facilities. Representative Mlan described the proposal as a way to increase competition in health care by extending the direct-care model used in primary care to facilities, arguing it could encourage innovation and that concerns about widespread harm to critical access hospitals were overstated. He pointed to Oklahoma’s long-standing Surgical Center model as evidence that the approach had not spread broadly or displaced hospitals there.
Several members and witnesses raised concerns. Representative Stringham questioned whether the model would shift profitable services and patients away from existing hospitals, potentially worsening their finances and affecting Medicaid-related funding. David Ross, speaking for county nursing homes, opposed the language because it also removed moratoriums on nursing home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and self-pay beds, warning that it could increase pressure on Medicaid rates and undermine community-based care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association said the proposal appeared to create a separate regulatory framework for direct-pay facilities and raised concerns about patient safety, CMS participation rules, and a separate patient bill of rights.
The chair concluded that, because HB 548 was already moving through the Senate, the HB 2 process was not the best vehicle for the policy and that the issue should be left to the Senate’s more deliberative committee process. Representative Ferski moved to not accept or remove amendment 1176 from the agenda, and the committee approved the motion by roll call, 9-0, withdrawing the item from HB 2.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe that comes from the Hawaii Budget and Policy Center report.
- Budget and Policy Center um report. Uh Budget and Policy Center um report.
- And that way it does not affect the state's debt ceiling or the CIP budget.
- So that's just part of our request, and I'm available for any questions. Thank you.
- Uh, first we have Department of Budget and Finance with comments. Thank you.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> area. uh because the state had requested area. uh because the state had requested that<00:04:09.120
- One is whenever we have Medicaid waiver request or Medicaid state plan request or Medicaid state plan
- As we deliberate on budget issues, what happens to that fiscal note that was associated with that budget
- Of course we also had budget items.
- Requesting us to do it.
Bills:
HF3379
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Mar 24th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Garcia,
- Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer AB 341.
- I respectfully request on the first roll for co-authors. Thank you, Assembly Member Papin.
- And I want to thank you and respectfully request your vote on H.R. 21.
- I'll request to adjourn in memory will be deemed read or printed in the journal.
Summary:
The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, after a quorum call and prayer, then proceeded through routine floor business and several ceremonial resolutions. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules to withdraw AB 844 from committee and bring it directly to the floor; that motion received 16 ayes and 45 noes. The body also unanimously approved a request to re-refer AB 341.
Members then adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding coauthors: ACR 35 recognizing Greek Independence Day, ACR 17 honoring women in carpentry and the BOOTS apprenticeship program, ACR 50 designating March 24, 2025 as Special Olympics Day, and H.R. 21 proclaiming Transgender Week of Visibility and March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility. Each resolution drew supportive remarks from multiple members, while H.R. 21 also prompted extended debate, including opposition centered on girls’ sports, locker rooms, and claims about state policy affecting transgender Californians. In each case, the resolutions were adopted after the coauthor roll and voice vote.
The session concluded with adjournment in memory of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr., who died in the line of duty on March 17. Several members spoke in tribute to his service, his work with youth football, and his family. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Friday, March 28, 2025 at 9 a.m.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Feb 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- , excuse me, reimbursement. and right now our average reimbursement Request, excuse me, reimbursement
- However, those homeowners are afforded the opportunity to request what we call reconsideration.
- Those homeowners are afforded the opportunity to request what we call reconsideration, in which case
- So you all gave us positions, three positions in the current year budget. So it's that number.
- Our building construction team oversees design and construction, construction management, and budget.
Summary:
The committee heard three informational presentations. First, Lieutenant Rob Rowe of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discussed derelict vessel removal, explaining the legal definition of derelict and at-risk vessels, the causes of vessel abandonment, and the impact of recent hurricanes on the number of cases. He said FWC has nearly 1,000 active derelict vessel cases, with 576 ready for removal, and described the agency’s use of ARPA funds, grants to local governments, contractor lists, and the V-TIP vessel turn-in program to speed removals and prevent vessels from becoming derelict. Senators asked about how to expedite removals, insurance coverage, due process timelines, and storage challenges; Rowe said the 21-day process is constrained by constitutional due process and that more staffing and prevention funding would help.
Next, Stephen Fielder of the Department of Financial Services presented on the My Safe Florida Home program, which provides grants for homeowners to harden homes before storms. He reviewed program eligibility, grant types, reimbursement averages, and performance data, and said the program has received $633 million in appropriations overall. He noted that the program is outsourced to private vendors, has low administrative overhead, and has processed large numbers of inspections and reimbursements. Senators questioned contractor requirements, permits, overhead costs, and whether the program should be brought in-house; Fielder said permits are required before reimbursement, contractor licensing is verified, and the department is considering several administrative clarifications, including townhome roof work, inspection expiration, and whether grants should be limited per person or per home. A retired educator also testified in support of more assistance for homeowners facing insurance problems.
Finally, Tom Berger of the Department of Management Services outlined the Florida Facilities Pool and the state’s real estate development and management work. He described the bonded facility program, the state’s 112 managed facilities, lease administration, parking contracts, maintenance operations, and more than $1 billion in active construction projects. He highlighted major projects such as the Emergency Operations Center, Capitol complex upgrades, a new visitor screening center, and facilities for other agencies including veterans’ services, juvenile justice, and the courts. Senators asked about lease terms, appropriation language, vacancy in leased space, and whether the state uses a uniform lease form; Berger said the lease document is standardized and that agencies determine their space needs. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment by motion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- That request for proposal announced that we had $103,388,000 available for funding.
- Conditions related to budget amendments.
- that are reviewed against the approved work plan and budget.
- that are reviewed against the approved work plan and budget.
- So if somebody submits a request for reimbursement for something that has not been approved in the budget
Keywords:
natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, land acquisition, real property, trust fund, commissioner approval, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, conservation easement, land purchase, state land, public lands, property acquisition, value assessment, tax assessed value, Metropolitan Council, Board of Water and Soil Resources
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- So it makes it a little easier on the state's budget.
- So it makes it a little easier on the state's budget.
- For budgeting purposes, we need a number. I have looked at Montana.
- A request of the sponsor for the full hearing? Yes, go ahead. Mr.
- co-chairs to look at the bigger budget picture.
Summary:
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on January 29, 2026, to consider RS 33142, Representative Ehlers’ proposal on Internal Revenue Code conformity. Ehlers explained that the revised RS would continue Idaho tax relief for individuals retroactive to 2025, conform to federal changes on research and experimental expenditures by phasing in the corporate impact over time rather than taking a full lump-sum hit in one year, and maintain Idaho’s nonconformity to bonus depreciation while updating references to new federal provisions. He also said the measure was designed to avoid double-dipping by preventing the same expenses from being used for both deductions and credits.
Much of the discussion focused on the fiscal note and the size of the revenue impact. Representative Gannon questioned whether the estimate should better reflect outside analyses from groups such as ATI, the Tax Foundation, and the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, which suggested higher costs than the sponsor’s estimate. Ehlers defended the committee’s chosen figure as a defensible midpoint and said differences largely stemmed from how various analysts treated the R&E provisions and timing effects. Members also discussed the effect of nonconformity on seniors, workers, and businesses, and Ehlers argued that Idaho taxpayers would lose significant benefits if the state did not conform.
Representative Shepard moved to introduce RS 33142, and the motion was debated further. Representative Berch supported introduction but said the fiscal note would be central to the later bill debate, while Representative Gannon said the fiscal note needed significant adjustment before he could support introduction. Representative Monks argued that fiscal notes are attachments prepared by the bill sponsor and should not determine whether a bill is introduced. The committee voted to introduce RS 33142, and the chair announced that the motion carried. The committee then adjourned and said it would not meet the following day.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- But on this budget, on this committee, I want you to stick to the budget. Ms.
- There's a $20.3 million reduction in the budget authority to realign actual expenditures with the budget
- budget.
- 27% of the budget.
- I'm trying to find out if they got a budget for it. Let's stick with the budget.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee Aug 1st, 2025
Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a huge chunk of the state's budget; it's about $10 billion.
- When it comes to the federal budgets, budget deficits, and debt, you can see that we've been spending
- There's not a ton of room for cutting within that budget.
- You're out of your budget.
- This is more for the statewide budget.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Feb 10th, 2026
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- In order to serve everyone, we've requested people share any accommodations they may need.
- , This request is about preserving choice, real meaningful choice for families, and about protecting
- Phillips, is there—is that the initial request was that Hancock file a home rule petition by ourselves
- Preservation of local control: Small districts work carefully to balance our budgets each year.
- This bill is not just about budgets.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Apr 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- PED agency budget lives in House Bill 2.
- How does that compare with the 2026 budget? Mr.
- So, I'd just be respectful request for that, Mr. Chairman.
- School for the blind in the budget, but it's not in statute.
- And we're always going into our operational budget.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> the</c> Senate file 2754 requests the Senate file 2754 requests the flexibility<00:09:13.440><c>
- ,</c> delivered on everything requested, delivered on everything requested, including<00:45:12.880><c
- /c> annual budget is around annual budget is around 325,000.<00:58:40.240><c> Um</c><00:58:40.960><c>
- </c> annual budget. annual budget.
- Every dollar to balance our budget.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (03/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:49:59.079><c> for</c> the applicant has had a request for the applicant has had a request for
- So, yeah, I guess my concern is that the amount of fines budgeted don't come close, I guess, to the budget
- Capital budget. Okay. All right.
- on uh so cap capital budget yeah capital budget<02:47:35.600><c> okay</c><02:47:36.600><c> all</c><02
- </c> if we made it connected to the budget if we made it connected to the budget that<03:15:20.520><c
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place.
Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation.
The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, this aligns with the budget request from last session, which we did not receive the full amount to
- </c><01:34:51.920><c> for</c> recommended a supplemental budget for recommended a supplemental budget
- </c><01:34:56.880><c> request</c> Uh this aligns with the budget request Uh this aligns with the budget
- underfunded,</c><01:35:08.560><c> and</c> Our current budget is underfunded, and Our current budget
- DNR has two supplemental budget requests or proposals in the governor's supplemental budget.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EEP-TOU Joint Public Hearing - Thu Feb 12, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> as the correct budget recommendations. as the correct budget recommendations.
- And this requires the governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget
- And this requires the governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget
- So I mean given budget.
- So again the the PUC utilities request.
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.