Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE A LARGE SURFACE AREA AS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS MOVING WATER 20 MILES TO GET TO THE CUSTOMERS
• WE HAVE 600,000 CUSTOMERS.
• WE HAVE TWO LARGE SYSTEM SEPARATED BY THE CITY OF TAMPA UNTIL WE OPERATE TWO VERY LARGE SEPARATE SYSTEMS
• THAT IS HOW LONG THESE LARGE PROJECTS TAKE.
• DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE PANEL FOR THE SMALLER SYSTEMS QUITE LARGE STREAM OF CUSTOMERS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And an indication of how accurately states determine benefit amounts for customers.
• Staff and training costs, customer...
• How are they communicating that with customers?
• Two of them are very large: Blue Cross and Presbyterian, large market share.
• We will be very focused on our customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh but by and large members, were there.
• , without any al alternative base loads, without any al alternative base loads, you<00:29:46.159>
• > energies, sense base load energies, sense base load energies, folks.<00:49:12.160> To<00
• And you might think I've been load.
• providing inexpensive base load providing inexpensive base load electricity<00:55:43.200> so<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• my question is persons that own large my question is persons that own large tracks<00:23:45.679>
• trigger a change in the customer class. trigger a change in the customer class.
• And then six at-large seats that would be citizens at large seats that would be citizens that could be
• And then six at-large seats that would be citizens at large seats that would be citizens that could be
• And then six at-large seats that would be citizens at large seats that would be citizens that could be

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to say that we had a large stakeholder meeting last Thursday with many of the folks in this
• Is there a weight load factor?
• They're in the South Plains and in the Permian Basin with all those loads.
• We provide about 100,000 electric service to about 100,000 customers and 27,000 broadband customers in
• One is We need to look at, we need to look at this from the customer perspective.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a weight load factor?
• So implicitly, costs of loading and weight bearing.
• They've worked hard to keep their customers. We live in a...
• We provide electric service to about 100,000 customers and broadband service to 27,000 customers in South
• Then we're pushing those costs onto our electric customers.

Bills: HB3445, HB3448

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very large amount of work to get through today, with a lot of bills to be voted on.
• As we know, there’s a large amount of transmission hypothesized to be built out there.
• assurance that this longer-term look will be beneficial for customers.
• By 2031, our load in Texas is going to nearly double.
• I work on a small, specialized, non-customer-facing team.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up a long list of pending House bills, most of them on motions by Senator King or Senator Campbell. The committee adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported numerous bills, including HB 252, HB 700, HB 1500, HB 1545, HB 1562, HB 1732, HB 267, HB 2213, HB 2221, HB 2520, HB 2818, HB 3016, HB 3214, HB 3250, HB 3512, HB 3623, HB 3689, HB 3833, HB 4063, HB 4395, HB 4690, HB 4751, HB 5331, HB 3824, HB 4464, HB 4468, and HB 5247. Most of these were sent to the local and uncontested calendar, while some, including sunset and other significant measures, were reported to the full Senate. HB 146 was the only bill reported out on a divided vote, passing 6 ayes to 4 nays. Several bills received brief explanation of committee substitute changes. HB 3016, dealing with rental car collision damage waivers and stolen vehicles, was amended to change a cooperation standard from “fully cooperate” to simply “cooperate.” HB 3689, a major ESF/TWA financing bill, was described as making technical changes to align terminology with the Comptroller’s authority and to avoid creating state debt or new liability. HB 5247, a capital cost recovery bill for transmission in the Permian Basin, was revised to clarify how the new mechanism fits with existing Utilities Code provisions and to add a 2035 expiration date. HB 3824, the battery fire safety bill, also received technical changes to align terminology with industry usage. The committee heard public testimony on several pending measures. HB 3069, which would direct the PUC to develop supplemental multi-decade planning criteria for transmission certificates in ERCOT, drew support from industry, environmental, and manufacturing witnesses who said it would help address congestion costs while balancing consumer protections; the bill was left pending. HB 5196, requiring state agencies to adopt and post telework policies and use written telework agreements, received both support and concern: supporters said it would preserve productivity and retention, while a senator raised concerns about notice and family logistics; it was left pending after testimony. HB 3112, allowing closed deliberations on cybersecurity policy details, was laid out and left pending after brief discussion. HCR 102, supporting federal nuclear tax credits, drew testimony from nuclear industry and energy advocates, who argued the credits are essential for existing plants, new nuclear development, grid reliability, and U.S. competitiveness; the resolution was left pending, with discussion about whether the language should focus more exclusively on nuclear. HB 705, creating a cosmetology licensure compact, was supported by industry, employers, and compact experts as a mobility tool that preserves state authority; HB 3516, expanding a public information exemption for Railroad Commission administrative law judges and technical examiners, and HB 3388, authorizing group property and casualty coverage for personal lines, were also heard and left pending. At the end of the meeting, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• and pop Main Street and also large and pop Main Street and also large businesses<00:01:40.000>
• It runs largely in data centers.
• data centers, large load, so mega-scale, um, absorb a bunch of the fixed cost.
• having these large uh companies there. having these large uh companies there.
• large these large large data centers, large these large large data centers, large load,<00:42

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Intelligence Task Force met with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the August 14 meeting. The first presentation was from the National Retail Federation on artificial intelligence in the retail sector. NRF described AI use cases in three areas: consumer-facing tools such as chatbots, product descriptions, and marketing; employee-facing tools such as company-specific apps trained on employee manuals; and internal uses such as supply chain forecasting, inventory planning, fraud detection, cybersecurity, and coding support. The presenters said retail has been among the top deployers of AI and emphasized that the goal is to improve both customer and employee experience. NRF also outlined its principles for responsible AI use, organized around governance and risk management, customer engagement and trust, workforce applications, and business partner accountability. The group said retailers should maintain strong internal oversight, be transparent with customers, ensure compliance with existing laws, closely review workforce-related uses because they can be high-risk, and clearly define responsibilities between retailers and third-party developers. In policy discussion, NRF urged a tiered approach focused first on high-risk uses such as hiring, health care, financial, mortgage, and rental decisions, warned against fragmented rules that could favor only the largest firms, and encouraged voluntary standards and worker upskilling incentives. In response to a question about dynamic pricing, NRF said its members do not target consumers based on pricing and offered to follow up with more information. The committee then moved to a follow-up discussion on energy policy and data centers, hearing from Bartley Cleland of NetChoice. He explained that AI runs largely in data centers and that cloud computing shifts processing and storage away from individual devices, which he argued improves efficiency and can reduce costs. He said electricity demand has been rising over time and that AI will increase compute-related electricity use, but framed electricity as a normal input to economic growth. No votes or formal actions were taken after these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• partners, our customers and excavators. partners, our customers and excavators.
• And that includes landowners large and small, small woodlots, small tree farms to large institutional
• The other beauty of biomass is it's base loaded, and biomass is base loaded as a renewable resource.
• So I can't—I typically can see what It cuts our customers off at the knees, It cuts our customers off
• know meet that load that we expect.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bills from the cost of RNG production and lower the bills for the regulated utility customers.
• In the analysis of this bill, it shows that there was a 27-cent reduction actually to the customers..
• It shows that there was a 27-cent reduction actually to the customers after this was enacted because
• The dollar amounts can be very large, and the time impacts can be very large.
• I agree with your premise that we need to do whatever we can to lighten the load for our moms.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee heard several transportation and infrastructure bills. HB 1239, Energy Infrastructure Investment, would let the Public Service Commission create a mechanism for utilities to recover costs for renewable natural gas infrastructure; supporters said it could diversify energy supply and help agriculture, while members raised concerns about consumer rates and asked whether savings from RIN credits should be passed to customers. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably after debate, with members noting the PSC would set costs and that the sponsor was open to further discussion on consumer protections. The committee then took up HB 313, which exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying Florida tolls. With no questions or opposition, it passed unanimously. The committee also considered HB 567, a broad transportation omnibus/strike-all bill covering EV tax revenue for roads, airport and MPO changes, workforce funding, traffic signal modernization, speed limits, and a pilot to streamline airport permitting. A major amendment added utility right-of-way notice, response, and incentive/penalty provisions, and another amendment authorized local governments to set age and ID rules for e-bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices after testimony about a fatal crash. The bill was reported favorably after extensive debate and public testimony from transportation and utility stakeholders. HB 112, dealing with municipal sewer collection systems, would allow cities to use sewer revenues to expand wastewater infrastructure. Sponsors said it was aimed at helping cities like Hollywood reduce septic use and improve water quality; testimony supported the measure as a way to unlock funding for sewer expansion, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also approved HB 7009, preserving public records and meeting exemptions for 911 and public safety radio communications systems and expanding them to next-generation 911. Finally, PCS for HB 1397, a large transportation package addressing airport, seaport, spaceport, and workforce issues, was amended and passed 14-1 after questions about federal testing notifications, removal of certain business preference language, and a provision redirecting some transit funds to highway projects if not timely used.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're doing the best we can with large gas generations where we can.
• We're doing the best we can with large gas generations where we can.
• or safety of customers."
• I've owned large salons and small salons.
• Spread across all their customers. Thank you. Sure. Thank you.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills, a resolution, and one House bill. The committee reported favorably Senate Bill 79 to recreate Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 to establish the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, Senate Bill 375 on firefighting foam with amendments clarifying use in declared emergencies, Senate Bill 398 moving manufactured and modular housing oversight under the Contractors Licensing Board with technical and substantive amendments, Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing with an amendment providing for federal preemption if Congress enacts a national licensing regime, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks with consumer-protection provisions and technical amendments. The committee also reported favorably House Resolution 197, as amended, urging the Public Service Commission to study distributed energy generation and storage resources with LSU involvement, and Senate Bill 54, which would allow estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services; that bill drew extensive testimony from supporters and opponents in the cosmetology and aesthetics industries before being reported favorably. Several bills prompted detailed discussion and testimony. On Senate Bill 398, the sponsor and Contractors Licensing Board representatives said the change would improve enforcement and consumer safety for manufactured-home installation, especially tie-downs, leveling, and foundation blocking, while not affecting HUD-regulated construction. On the virtual currency bills, OFI said it currently licenses 37 virtual currency businesses with 33 pending applications, and supporters described the kiosk bill as a response to fraud complaints by requiring clearer disclosures, refund procedures, live customer support, and reporting to OFI. For House Resolution 197, the sponsor, PSC officials, and energy stakeholders said the study would examine the value of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar and battery storage, in light of rising demand and grid reliability concerns; PSC staff and LSU energy experts described the study as focused on market value and avoided-cost benefits. House Bill 744, which would have shifted regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the PSC, generated discussion about constitutional history, rate impacts, and utility consolidation. PSC officials and the sponsor said the current city-council regulation is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921, and they argued that PSC regulation could reduce costs and simplify oversight, but the sponsor ultimately moved to defer the bill rather than force a floor fight, and the committee agreed. The committee then began consideration of Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, adopting technical amendments and then a larger amendment package that revised definitions and compliance provisions; the transcript ends while that bill’s amendment process is still underway, with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is particularly true now, following sort of large run-ups in home equity.
• And the reason is because we know the customer demand is there.
• And then finally is the customer terminals, or the CTs. Next slide, please.
• From small to large, we have our Nano, our Pro, and our Ultra.
• Every rocket launched was expendable, and so costs remained largely fixed.

Summary: The committee first heard a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks from the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon. DFI described crypto kiosks as licensed money transmission terminals that allow cash purchases of virtual currency, and said the main concern is fraud: scammers often pressure victims, especially older adults, to deposit cash into kiosks and send it to wallets controlled by organized crime. DFI cited a sharp increase in kiosk volume, nationwide fraud complaints and losses, and said Washington currently has licensing and disclosure rules but lacks transaction and fee limits. The department said it is seeking stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and removing existing ones after local scam reports, and members asked about how the machines work, whether the fraud is in the hardware or the transaction, and whether stronger warnings or screening could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs, based on a report by Mariana Amaram and testimony from DFI and industry representatives. The report found that CHISAs provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but that consumers often struggle to understand the products and settlement calculations. The report said the market has grown quickly in Washington, that costs can be hard to predict, and that early uncapped contracts could produce very high settlement amounts, especially during periods of rising home prices. DFI said it views these products as mortgage loans and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures, while industry witnesses said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based and asked for tailored regulation. Members discussed the need for better consumer education, clearer payoff schedules, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages or a separate category. The final panel focused on Washington’s space economy, with presentations from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major in-state investments in satellite manufacturing, launch systems, and workforce training, including Amazon Leo’s Redmond and Kirkland facilities, Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters, and Stoke Space’s Kent manufacturing and Moses Lake test site. Space Northwest presented data showing the sector’s growing economic footprint, high-wage jobs, and regional clusters in Kent and Redmond, and urged more workforce programs, incentives, infrastructure support, and a state space commission. The companies emphasized local hiring, apprenticeship and certification programs, and the role of Washington’s aerospace supply chain in supporting the broader space industry. No votes were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate discount um it delinks uh customers rate discount um it delinks uh customers who<00:04:47.199
• of the further building of large hydro? of the further building of large hydro?
• It removes the large hydro language.
• <00:37:25.599> We what's the load of that facility. We what's the load of that facility.
• <01:19:54.880> are different utility customers are different utility customers are compensated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:00.280> customer that particularly large customer that particularly large customer
• generators and large customer generators.
• generators and large customer generators.
• generators and large customer generators.
• That would be consistent with the decade-plus practice of small customer generators and large customer

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a large number. But they all voted to go under it by a vote of the local citizens.
• Additionally, we require the use of blockchain analytics tools and live customer service.
• A new customer and an existing customer.
• to the tune of 80% of those customers.
• Three main things: we got rid of the load management I mentioned, and we established...

Bills: SB383, SB1012, SB1181, SB1705, SB2075, SB2221, SB2586, SB2864, SB2994

Keywords: SB 383, ERCOT, Texas Utilities Code, interconnection, wind power facility, offshore wind, coastal wind, nearshore wind, Gulf of America, Texas coast, three marine leagues, electric grid, transmission line, distribution facility, renewable energy, battery storage, energy storage, grid access, power grid, electric service

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the that you can build large plants.
• Um, and then think of a large load user: you might want 10 of these reactors, and we would rotate through
• > want think of a large load user u might want think of a large load user u might want 10<00:20
• If any customer were to purchase that.
• <00:49:03.920> Um, which customer is talking to. Okay. Um, which customer is talking to.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:43.960> Utility<00:07:44.440> Systems of large-scale Utility Systems of large-scale
• <00:52:24.960> regulated customer regulated customer regulated energy<00:52:28.599> and
• <01:17:01.560> and 18% of New Hampshire's load and 18% of New Hampshire's load and uh<01:17
• million megawatt hour or 20% load million megawatt hour or 20% load restriction<01:18:24.600>
• <03:48:20.319> representative customers representative customers representative Swanson<03:48:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• load load there and needed to meet the load load there and like<00:30:06.320> that<00:30:06.480
• to minimize the cost but meet the load to minimize the cost but meet the load uh<00:30:13.360>
• <00:35:40.079> those down to distribution and customers those down to distribution and customers
• Load is added incrementally, and it's added in the places where you already have load and generation,
• going to lower customers going to lower customers bills<01:01:06.680> if<01:01:06.839>

Bills: HF75

Keywords: HF75, earned incentive release credit, earned incentive credits, revocation, revocable credits, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, prison discipline, incarcerated persons, inmate misconduct, facility rules, sentence reduction, supervised release, Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act, public safety, rehabilitation, prison credits, executed sentence, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then that middle bar on public transportation that's quite large, that's sort of medium shaded.
• Those are the areas where there is a large amount where there is other significant money.
• Another key point here that I want to make is just how focused we are on the customer experience in our
• Yes, we did hear from a few customers that there was real surprise on this, and that will be one of the
• There's a lot of information to convey to customers in order to participate in the program, and just

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee held a work session focused heavily on Climate Commitment Act transportation spending and electrification programs. Staff first reviewed roughly $2.2 billion in CCA transportation allocations over three biennia, noting that the largest shares went to public transportation, active transportation, ferry electrification, ZEV programs, rail freight/ports, and planning, with about half of the electrification and fuel-conversion spending tied to state ferries. Members asked for more detail comparing CCA dollars with the broader transportation budget and for total project costs, not just CCA contributions. The Department of Ecology presented on the zero-emission school bus program. Ecology said the legislature codified the program in 2024 and requires electric buses once diesel and electric costs are equivalent, with exemptions available when electric buses cannot meet district needs. Ecology reported $38.3 million in CCA funding for 2025-27, with $21.4 million already obligated or spent to replace 91 diesel buses in 28 districts, plus additional federal EPA funding leveraged for 13 more buses. Members asked about health impacts, parity timing, rural route exemptions, charging and training costs, and whether the program includes infrastructure; Ecology said the grants cover buses, charging, and sometimes training, and that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is developing the cost-equivalency formula. The Department of Commerce described its clean transportation role, including EV rebates, charging infrastructure, tribal electric boats, and the EV Coordinating Council. Commerce said its rebate program was designed to lower monthly payments for low-income households, that 89% of recipients said the rebate was essential to their purchase, and that lease incentives helped draw additional federal dollars. Members asked about tribal boat details, utility interconnection and curtailment, range anxiety, and vandalism at charging stations; Commerce said battery storage and managed charging are being used in some projects, some utilities are more responsive than others, and vandalism remains a challenge. The Department of Enterprise Services reported 567 Level 2 and 46 Level 3 charging ports installed at 82 state sites, with 19 more sites in progress and over $100 million in additional candidate projects. DES said most funding is for new infrastructure, though some VW settlement money is used for replacements, and members asked about charger replacement needs, mobile charging, and EV fleet purchasing data. WSDOT then outlined its EV infrastructure and transit programs. It said the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership program has funded 23 new charging sites this biennium, including overburdened communities and tribal locations, and has supported 264 DC fast-charging ports statewide. WSDOT also described the new Washington Zero Emission Incentive Program, a point-of-sale voucher program for zero-emission commercial vehicles and equipment with $112 million available this biennium; it reported strong early demand, especially for off-road equipment and heavy trucks, and said technical assistance is being provided to help businesses participate. In public transportation, WSDOT said CCA funds support bus and bus facility grants, commute trip reduction, green transportation capital projects, paratransit, tribal transit, zero-emissions access car share, and other mobility projects, with most awards benefiting overburdened communities. Finally, WSDOT’s rail freight and ports division said port electrification projects are underway but spending is still low because of long design, permitting, utility, and supply-chain timelines; it estimated the $89.8 million program could reduce more than 140,000 metric tons of emissions over 10 years. Members questioned the pace of spending, the Northwest Seaport drayage project, and how state funds can leverage additional federal or port resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• HELPING THE CUSTOMER STRENGTHEN THE DEFENSES.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN CUSTOMER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS WITH AI.
• AND RISK, THE LARGE WAY TO APPROPRIATELY USE LARGE DATA SETS IS NOT A NOVEL ISSUE, SOMETHING MANY INDUSTRIES
• TO ANALYZE THE FIRE LOAD.
• I DID NOT HEAR MUCH ABOUT REALLY THE PRIVACY AND CUSTOMER ETHICAL USE OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION.