Transcript Highlights:

• away</c><04:50:59.320><c> a</c><04:50:59.878><c> gas</c><04:51:00.080><c> or</c><04:51:00.240><c> diesel
• </c><04:51:00.600><c> power</c> do you take away a gas or diesel power do you take away a gas or diesel
• and have great success like or diesel and have great success like we've<04:51:39.480><c> had</c><04:
• engines are running these days as diesel engines are running these days as uh<04:54:38.200><c> you</
• engine run pretty darn make a diesel engine run pretty darn clean<04:54:44.440><c> so</c><04:54:44.680

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he has two ranches 54 miles apart, buys fuel in Utah, and fills 500-gallon diesel tanks.
• I fill 500gallon<01:43:59.199><c> diesel</c><01:43:59.600><c> tanks</c><01:43:59.920><c> full.
• </c><01:44:00.800><c> Uh</c><01:44:01.199><c> good</c> 500gallon diesel tanks full.
• Uh good 500gallon diesel tanks full.
• He said it is very important to businesses there that have storage tanks for their fuel, diesel, and

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> diesel technology program has for us. diesel technology program has for us.
• All this to be said, this is made possible because of the diesel technicians that work for us.
• Diesel technicians in today's world, I like to describe are a little bit more like part electrician and
• We're really fortunate because Minnesota does have some strong diesel programs across the state.
• They consistently have a waiting list for students to join the diesel programs.

Bills: HF2418 , HF1666 , HF232 , HF344 , HF402 , HF431 , HF468 , HF547 , HF583 , HF1476 , HF1711 , HF2787 , HF2788 , HF3207

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The blended wing body BWB aircraft is a promising solution offering 90% more range, upwards of 50% more
• Beyond these critical benefits, the blended wing body design would save.
• A next generation tanker, and I mentioned this in my opening statement, in the form of a blended wing
• various types of transport aircraft, how important is it for the Air Force to continue investing in the blended
• But would the blended wing body development be one of those important?

Committee: Senate Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee

Keywords: Transcom, logistics, military readiness, air refueling, KC-135, KC-46, strategic infrastructure, geopolitical threats, Alaska

Summary: During this meeting, the committee hosted an extensive discussion on the operations and logistical challenges facing the U.S. Transportation Command (Transcom). General Reid provided testimony on key areas including the importance of maintaining robust logistical capabilities in contested environments, particularly in relation to geopolitical threats posed by adversarial nations. Various members emphasized the necessity for modernization of the air refueling fleet, addressing issues such as the readiness of the KC-135 and the procurement of the next-generation KC-46 aircraft, which has experienced delays and technical challenges. The dialogue further extended to the strategic importance of U.S. ports and transportation infrastructure, especially in regions like Alaska which play a crucial role in military logistics and power projection.

Transcript Highlights:

• left fender is damaged, a body shop, and the carriers are going to pay for this, they're going to blend
• So they're going to blend into the hood. They're going to blend into the door.
• I agree they're not going to paint the whole car, but it is going to blend so it all looks.

Committee: House Insurance and Banking

Summary: The Insurance Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2250, sponsored by Rep. Jacqueline Zimmerman, which would require insurers to cover full siding replacement when storm damage affects only part of a home and matching siding is not reasonably available. Zimmerman said the bill would codify existing Missouri case law, address homeowner complaints after hailstorms, and make clear that insurers must restore a reasonably uniform appearance. Committee members generally expressed support for the goal, while also discussing possible scope changes, such as limiting coverage to street-facing elevations, and possible disclosure requirements to better explain policy coverage to consumers. The Missouri Insurance Coalition testified in opposition, saying the bill could increase premiums for all homeowners and that consumers should be able to choose more affordable policies with less coverage. Coalition witnesses said matching siding issues are often cosmetic, that carriers already offer different policy options and riders, and that requiring full wrap coverage could create upward pressure on rates. They also noted that severe weather has made these disputes more common and said the Department of Commerce and Insurance and brokers can help consumers understand their policies. Committee members debated whether partial repairs truly make homeowners whole, and several compared the issue to blending paint on cars or matching repairs after hail damage. After the HB 2250 hearing ended, the committee established a quorum and moved into executive session on House Bill 3328. The committee adopted a House committee substitute that renamed the program the Stronger Home program, removed IBHS certification in favor of a non-biased third-party testing lab, and removed an adjuster cap. The committee then voted 9-0 to report the House committee substitute for HB 3328 do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The time series components of my blending is going to be the major difference for why the forecast is
• Of course, each of those is a blended model. I have two structural models.
• So each of those are blends of two structural models.
• because I didn't do any uh you blending because I didn't do any uh you know<01:14:48.960><c> like</c
• </c><02:02:35.599><c> if</c> you know uh playing with some blends if you know uh playing with some blends

Summary: The meeting focused on reaching consensus on official Kentucky revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, using updated S&P Global economic forecasts compared with the September presentation. Staff explained that the updated forecast relied partly on alternative data because of the federal government shutdown, and they walked through changes in national and Kentucky economic assumptions across control, optimistic, and pessimistic scenarios. The control forecast was described as slightly more optimistic in the near term but more cautious in fiscal 2027 and 2028, with GDP growth revised up for the current year and down somewhat in the outer years. The pessimistic scenario now assumed a two-quarter recession beginning in the current quarter, while the optimistic scenario was given a higher probability weight than before. The presenters highlighted several Kentucky-relevant variables that changed since September, including weaker manufacturing employment, weaker housing starts, weaker consumer sentiment, and lower expected non-farm employment in fiscal 2026. At the same time, wage and salary disbursements were revised upward in fiscal 2027, reflecting higher disposable income from tax changes, and real consumer spending was expected to be stronger in the near term. They also discussed assumptions about tariffs, business profits, the Federal Reserve, unemployment, oil prices, retail sales, vehicle sales, exports, and consumer sentiment, noting that some indicators were little changed while others shifted materially. Consumer sentiment was attributed to affordability concerns, tariff impacts, and a general sense of malaise, but was expected to improve in later years from a low base. Members asked follow-up questions about why the forecast worsened in later years and about the consumer sentiment assumptions. Staff responded that the forecast assumed larger take-home pay and refunds from tax withholding changes, along with some easing of tariff effects, which they believed would help offset a negative wealth effect from stock market declines. They also noted that S&P Global’s December forecast, which had already been published, was essentially consistent with the presentation and that the firm believed its earlier assumptions had tracked recent data well. No vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided, but the discussion was aimed at settling the revenue estimates that will underpin the upcoming branch budget bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so essentially you take a fuel, you compare it to diesel and say, okay, this is what we're going
• And so right now, if you're a light-duty diesel vehicle—so under three axles, under 26,000 pounds—you
• So that is, we have a bifurcated diesel system, and so this—the goal is to charge what your comparable
• At present, those revenues largely come from the state's vehicle license tax, gas tax, diesel or use
• At present, those revenues largely come from the state's vehicle license tax, gas tax, diesel, or use

Bills: SB1072 , SB1111 , SB1114 , SB1116 , SB1122 , SB1179 , SB1250 , SB1308 , SB1455 , SB1456 , SB1457 , SB1487 , SB1547 , SB1549 , SB1551 , SB1552

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure to start the production of renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel
• infrastructure to start the production of renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on April 1 and first took up HR 63 HD1 and HCR 70 HD1, which urge the Department of Transportation to facilitate and accelerate adoption of sustainable aviation fuels to help decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation sector and meet climate goals. Testimony was mixed: supporters included representatives of Island Energy Services, Par Hawaii, Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines, Life of the Land, and the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, who said aviation emissions are a major challenge for Hawaii and that further research and development of renewable fuels is needed. Opponents, including the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and Energy Justice Network, argued the resolutions would undermine the state’s greenhouse-gas reduction commitments, rely on non-carbon-free fuels, and could create land, water, and biosecurity concerns. One member, Rep. Moroka, said his concern was the word “accelerate” because of potential damage from improperly stored biofuels. The committee voted to pass HR 63 HD1 and HCR 70 HD1, with Rep. Moroka voting no and the remaining voting members in favor. The committee then heard HR 136 and HCR 142, which urge the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Department of Transportation to expand the airport greetings program to display kākau art in all neighbor island airports. The only noted testimony was written comments from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and there was no additional oral testimony or discussion. The committee voted to move the measures out as is, and the recommendation was adopted without opposition. The meeting adjourned after both sets of measures were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We saw that the big contaminant was diesel due to the buses, as we need to... ...the big contaminant
• was diesel due to the buses, as we need to make sure we do have a certification with some of the buses
• These are the times when it peaks during that time of day. the big contaminant was diesel due to the
• Our neighborhoods are overburdened by diesel truck traffic, marine terminals, and other pollution sources
• Nearby high-pollution transportation corridors, including the diesel-fueled Fairmount Line, contribute

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a lengthy hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills related to environmental health, PFAS, medical device chemicals, food access, lead poisoning, air quality, oral health, and school food additives. Chair Driscoll and Chair Decker emphasized that the hearing was for testimony only, no decisions would be made that day, and that written testimony could still be submitted. They also noted the high volume of speakers and asked witnesses to keep remarks brief. A major portion of the hearing focused on PFAS-related legislation, including bills to restrict PFAS in products and food packaging and to create a PFAS remediation trust fund. Municipal officials and advocates described the high costs of PFAS cleanup, especially for drinking water systems, citing Easton’s multimillion-dollar treatment investments and rate increases. Testimony from legislators and advocates argued that Massachusetts should act despite federal uncertainty, and that the state should stop PFAS at the source rather than leaving municipalities and residents to pay for remediation. The committee also heard strong support for a bill banning DEHP in medical devices, with physicians, nurses, and a bill sponsor saying the chemical can leach from IV bags and tubing and that safer alternatives already exist. The committee also heard testimony on bills to establish statewide food truck permitting, with food truck owners and a senator describing the current system as costly, duplicative, and inconsistent across municipalities. Another set of witnesses supported the “Bean New Deal,” which would expand plant-based food options in public institutions, senior nutrition programs, and WIC, citing health, equity, and cost savings. On lead poisoning, housing advocates and a representative backed bills to expand lead-safe housing requirements to all rental units, arguing the current law contributes to discrimination against families with children and leaves too much pre-1978 housing uncertified. The committee also heard support for an outdoor air pollution bill that would create an advisory committee, identify pollution hotspots, expand monitoring, and set reduction targets, with testimony from environmental justice groups, pediatricians, and legislators describing disproportionate asthma and other health harms in overburdened communities. Later testimony addressed oral health bills to create dental therapists and allow dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide, with supporters saying the measures would expand access, reduce costs, and help underserved patients. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to prohibit harmful food dyes in competitive school foods, with parents describing behavioral and health concerns tied to synthetic dyes. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• heavyweights of funds that support the State Road Fund, calling your attention in particular to gas and diesel
• combining all four of those major revenues into one, showing that those two large revenues, gasoline and diesel
• On slide 14, we're showing where our gasoline and diesel tax rates fall compared to the rest of the nation
• For diesel tax, we received 90 percent, or about $136 million. Okay, Mr.
• Chairman, that's because it's diesel engines. So, of the 75, where does the other 25 go, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're wanting to do now is actually just to blend this board with an existing board for private
• But like I say, if we move on to executive session, I think we can just blend this into that other existing
• I'm assuming I like the idea of blending the board... Thank you, Representative.
• I'm assuming I like the idea of blending the boards to save money.
• We want to blend this new board into an existing board.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for the series F bonds for a blended for the series F bonds for a blended rate<00:46:19.839><c>
• The true interest cost was 5.023% for the Series C bonds and 4.928% for the Series D bonds for a blended
• The true interest cost was 5.023% for the Series C bonds and 4.928% for the Series D bonds for a blended
• The true interest cost was 5.023% for the Series C bonds and 4.928% for the Series D bonds for a blended
• </c> for the series D bonds for a blended for the series D bonds for a blended rate<00:51:37.520><c>

Summary: The Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee met on July 16 and approved the June meeting minutes. Members received six information items, including quarterly capital project status reports, notice that the committee did not approve a Kentucky Community and Technical College System fire academy maintenance building project, reports of upcoming school district debt issues, leasehold improvements, a Northern Kentucky University asset preservation revision, and prior debt issues from the School Facilities Construction Commission. The committee then heard five project reports from the Finance and Administration Cabinet. Three new projects were presented for action and approved: a $1.3 million White Haven rest area renovation in Paducah, a $6.5 million Boone County north- and southbound rest area remodel and expansion to add truck parking, and a $4.5 million Bluegrass Station Building 14 modernization project funded by a Department of the Army grant. Members asked several questions about the Boone County rest area project, including truck congestion, restroom capacity, staffing, and the need to keep the facility open during construction; Transportation staff explained the project is meant to expand parking and improve facilities. Two emergency projects were reported with no action required: an amended Fort Boonboro flood remediation project in Madison County and a Kentucky Horse Park emergency flood repair project. The committee also approved three new leases after hearing from the Division of Real Properties. The leases included Department of Corrections parking spaces in Louisville, a Kentucky State Police office and lab lease in Hopkins County, and an Education and Labor Cabinet lease in Kenton County that was negotiated at a lower rate. Members asked about lease terms and how local match or negotiated rates were set, and staff explained that lease lengths are generally set by lessors and that the Kenton County lease was reduced through direct negotiation to stay within budget. A separate lease modification for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, involving reception-area renovations, was reported with no action required. Finally, the committee considered seven grant reallocations from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, including six Clean Water Program grants and one EKSF-related reallocation. Members questioned whether some flood-related water infrastructure work, especially an Olive Branch subdivision storage tank project, fit the intended purpose of the funding; staff explained the reallocations were needed to keep federal dollars from being returned and to move funds to eligible projects. The committee initially failed to approve the package on a 4-4 vote, but after a member noted a missed vote and changed to yes, the grants passed with favorable expression. The committee then began hearing three Kentucky Product Development Initiative grants for industrial site development in Russell County, Cumberland County, and Berea/Madison County, with members asking about match requirements, funding sources, and the scope of the projects; the transcript ends during the roll call on those grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• These fuel depots emerged, and what they became is resources for blending fuels.
• I would like to compare the blending of fuels to how a Narcotics dealers would cut pure cocaine.
• They blend it, and they'll sell it at the original price, and that's where the true source of all of
• deliver it onto these Mexican vehicles, and it will go to Mexico. to these fuel depots, and they'll blend
• Right now, Mexico is testing all fuels going into Mexico because of blending and tax evasion, import

Bills: SB290 , SB2949

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a blended per-child, per-month payment. I'll get into that more later as well.
• What we did is we took all those in the census data and blended them together to come up with a blended
• The blended per-child, per-month payment is there to incentivize CBCs to place kids in the least restrictive
• Direct prevention services are going to be blended into Tier 2.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up a presentation from the Department of Children and Families on HB 7089, which revises how Florida’s community-based care (CBC) lead agencies for child welfare are funded. Representative McFarland described the bill’s background, arguing that the prior formula relied too heavily on outdated, static factors and produced inequities among CBCs. She emphasized that the new approach is intended to provide a more stable, transparent, and statute-based funding method that better supports prevention, case management, and family services while reducing year-to-year political uncertainty. DCF Chief of Staff Casey Penn explained that HB 7089 required an actuarially sound, reimbursement-based formula developed with CBC and provider input. The new model uses a cost-based structure with three tiers: Tier 1 for operational and administrative costs, Tier 2 for per-child/per-month service costs, and a possible Tier 3 incentive component for performance measures if the Legislature chooses to fund it. The model includes regional growth factors, inflation adjustments, a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, a hold-harmless provision for agencies that would otherwise receive less than prior funding, and the ability for CBCs to retain some state general revenue savings. DCF said the model produced a total budget need of about $1.392 billion, roughly $28.6 million above the prior year after offsets, and that the department is also updating its child welfare case management system to improve data quality and future modeling. Members asked about whether prevention spending is captured, how Tier 3 incentives would work and how much they might cost, how the formula accounts for insurance, hurricanes, child acuity, and staffing costs, and whether CBC executives’ compensation is capped. DCF said prevention is included in the model but is not yet separately broken out due to data limitations, Tier 3 is optional and not yet costed, and the formula can incorporate additional growth factors if needed. On executive pay, DCF explained that compensation is limited by statute for CBC contracts, but multiple contracts and non-state funding sources can affect total compensation; staff later clarified that CBC CEOs with multiple contracts had been reviewed for compliance. The meeting ended after questions, and Representative Miller moved to adjourn; the subcommittee adjourned without any vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is blended. And if we did—Which blended is exempt from M-COOL. Okay. Okay, I didn't know that.
• And I'm just afraid if we didn't blend that with it, then the price would be high.
• And it's not anything from Brazil or Argentina, and I didn't have to blend it with anything.
• What do we do on mixed blends? You label it. You don't have to, I mean.
• What do we do on mix-blend? You're saying we need to go and put anything from some other country.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• You can create SAF, you can create clean diesel, you can create light fuel.
• Those are the people that want to take their waste and turn it into SAF, turn it into clean Diesel, turn
• where the sludge originated from, but across the board: clean electricity, clean fuel, that's clean diesel
• So... fuel, that's clean diesel, light gasoline, RFO, and SA, Biochar and hydrochar, which are, which

Committee: House Agriculture

Summary: The committee hearing focused on biosolids, sewage sludge, and PFAS contamination, with the opening remarks and first three presenters arguing that land application of municipal sludge poses serious risks to soil, water, livestock, and human health. Representative Shaw cited EPA and state data on detected pollutants and PFAS in biosolids, while Denise Travick Poyer described her background in chemical engineering and PFAS work and said the EPA’s draft sewage sludge risk assessment shows unacceptable risk at very low PFOS/PFOA levels. She urged source reduction, more testing, and consideration of total organic fluorine, and noted examples from Michigan where industrial pretreatment and source reduction reduced PFAS in biosolids. Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Larry Woolley and Investigator Dana Ames presented a case study of alleged runoff from land-applied biosolids affecting a ranch, with high PFAS readings in soil, water, fish, cattle tissue, and a stillborn calf, and said the county and state had pursued investigations, lawsuits, and legislative responses. Sandra Trawick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches argued that Oklahoma’s biosolids program relies heavily on Class B sludge, that current rules are outdated, and that land application exposes farms and rural communities to pathogens, chemicals, odors, flies, and runoff; she cited examples from Maine, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma to support calls for stronger regulation or a ban. After the testimony, members asked about sampling methods, lab testing, EPA limits, and whether the cited PFAS blood levels were comparable to the soil and sludge measurements. Witnesses said the Johnson County samples were collected by a Texas A&M PhD contractor and tested at a single lab, and they explained that the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion figure applied to municipal drinking water standards. Questions also addressed whether sludge is incorporated into soil; Trawick said it had often been left on the surface, though she had seen better disking after public scrutiny. Members asked how biosolids compare with manure and feedlot waste, and witnesses responded that municipal sludge is more contaminated because it includes industrial, hospital, and household waste streams, unlike animal manure. The committee then moved to alternative solutions, hearing from Doug McKinney of Advanced Microbial Solutions, who promoted biological sludge removal using bacteria to reduce sludge volumes and avoid land application, citing cost savings for wastewater plants and correctional facilities. Jason Jepsen of Eden Energy followed with a pitch for an eight-stage waste-to-energy system that converts mixed waste into clean energy, biochar, and reusable products, framing waste as an asset and presenting his company’s technology as a no-land-application alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• tube of artist paint is clearly labeled with its contents because the properties of each pigment or blend
• the 91 blend.
• high of higher non- popular blend high of higher non- oxygenated<01:09:43.239><c> gasoline</c><01:09
• </c> additional types of Blends additional types of Blends representative<01:12:29.520><c> her</c><01
• fuels changes to these tables Blended fuels changes to these tables have<01:33:03.199><c> not</c><01

Bills: HF737 , HF247 , HF325 , HF1330

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of alternative fuel, which includes a list of fuels other than conventional gasoline and diesel
• wanted to offer that biodiesel, hydrogen, and other alternative fuels, as well as conventional gas and diesel

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act to broaden the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity and remove the separate alternative fuel definition. Staff and the Department of Agriculture said the change would let WSDA inspect and test hydrogen and other newer fuels; Commerce and Douglas County PUD supported the bill as needed for hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The bill drew no opposition testimony, and the hearing closed with the chair noting broad support. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. Supporters from community action, Spark Northwest, Commerce, and Washington Conservation Action said the bill would let the state weatherize multiple homes at once, improve health and safety, reduce energy burdens, and help meet climate and grid goals more quickly. Staff said the bill has a fiscal note for rulemaking and administration. The hearing ended with strong support and no opposition testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and passed SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652 to the Rules Committee or Ways and Means, depending on the bill. Amendments were adopted on SB 5965 to adjust carryout bag provisions, while amendments on SB 6010 were not adopted. SB 5982 would update CETA-related utility definitions and reporting, SB 6050 addresses distributed energy resources and utility rules, SB 5965 revises carryout bag requirements, SB 6010 concerns EFSEC tribal consultation, SB 5984 regulates AI companion chatbots, SB 6076 streamlines procurement for certain clean energy projects, and SB 5652 concerns environmental and health mitigation in large port districts. The committee also noted it would not take action that day on SB 5975 and SB 5466.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, what do you think emits more emissions, a diesel generator or a scraper or a D9?
• emissions from... ...in the past year, it's just really taken off, that, you know, emissions from the diesel
• generators, that they don't run—we're not running the data center on diesel generator.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• What do you think emits more emissions, a diesel generator or a scraper or a D9?
• In the past year, it's just really taken off, that, you know, emissions from the diesel generators, that
• they don't run—we're not running the data center on diesel generator.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Missouri House Committee on Utilities held an informational hearing on data centers, with the chair saying the goal was to hear different perspectives and better understand the issue before future legislation. No public testimony was taken, but three invited speakers presented: a labor representative, an Ameren Missouri executive, and a consumer advocate. The discussion focused on the economic benefits of data centers, including construction jobs, local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities, tax revenue for schools and local governments, and related spending by Missouri businesses. The labor witness described current Montgomery County projects, said hundreds of Missourians were already working there, and argued that closed-loop cooling and generator noise were manageable. Committee members also raised questions about water use, noise, cybersecurity, local hiring, and how much tax revenue a project could generate annually. Ameren’s Rob Dixon said Senate Bill 4 and the PSC’s large-load tariff provide key protections for ratepayers by requiring large customers to pay their own interconnection costs, sign long-term contracts, post collateral, and pay for most of their requested load even if they use less. He said those rules help prevent costs from shifting to other customers and that large loads can put downward pressure on rates by contributing to fixed system costs. Dixon also said Ameren is planning for significant new generation, including gas, nuclear, hydro, coal, and renewables, and that data centers are subject to the same load-shedding and emergency restoration rules as other customers. He noted that the protections apply to investor-owned utilities, not co-ops or municipal utilities. John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri argued the PSC protections are still too weak and warned that data centers could raise rates through construction work in progress, stranded generation costs, and other risks if projects are delayed, shrink, or fail. He urged stronger consumer protections, more upfront financial commitments from data centers, and greater transparency for ratepayers, while also suggesting community benefit agreements and cautioning against over-reliance on utility projections. Several members pushed back on his characterization of Senate Bill 4 and QIP/CWIP provisions, and the hearing ended with the chair thanking the witnesses and adjourned the committee.