Transcript Highlights:

• hearing the sunset of the cold case task force, the sunset of the cash and professional cash bail bonding
• :47.679> professional<00:24:48.240> cash<00:24:48.640> bail<00:24:48.960> bonding
• ,<00:24:50.000> and and professional cash bail bonding, and and professional cash bail bonding

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regards to the Governor, I'm hoping that at some point there's a recognition that when we do water bonds
• , the question—and I've been intimately involved in working on water bonds—is you need to know what's
• Newsom recognizes that we're going to need some new tools in the toolbox, and the public supports water bonds
• We're going to need to do another water bond in the near future, and if we have the plan, that's going

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 5671 allows the Johnson County Special Utility District to issue bonds.
• County, as a rural water corporation, became a special utility district to save money on tax-exempt bonds
• what you're talking about, removing some of that strenuous language and allowing our SUDs to issue bonds
• bill is left pending. uh, removing some of that strenuous language and allowing our suds to issue bonds

Bills: HB3115, HB5671, HB5693, SB790, SB1055, SB1302, SB1504, SB1625, SB1663, SB2692

Keywords: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater, water wells, domestic well, livestock well, exempt well, metering device, well meter, groundwater conservation district, Special District Local Laws Code, Water Code, Section 36.117, groundwater regulation, water rights, aquifer management, municipal utility, retail public utility, groundwater export, water supply contract, election

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony on a series of water, utility, and groundwater-related bills. Early items included HB 5693, which would let Drainage District 7 hold board elections in November of odd-numbered years when a countywide election is occurring, and HB 5671, which would update the Johnson County Special Utility District by clarifying board eligibility, allowing bond issuance, and removing redundant TCEQ approval language to reduce costs and delays. Both bills were left pending after brief testimony from bill sponsors and local witnesses. The committee also heard SB 1504, which would update the Gulf Coast Authority to allow video-conference participation in meetings, and SB 1302, aimed at closing a TCEQ permitting loophole that allowed dischargers with prior denials or suspensions to reapply through an automated process without meaningful review. SB 2692 drew substantial discussion: it would change the signature threshold for outside-city-limits customers appealing municipal utility rates to the PUC by customer class. Valero supported the bill as a way to avoid requiring large-volume users to gather signatures from unrelated residential customers, while the City of Corpus Christi opposed it, arguing that lowering the threshold to one customer could trigger expensive appeals costing $500,000 to $1 million. A PUC witness said such cases are increasing and that the agency would need additional staff under the fiscal note. SB 790, creating a simplified PUC complaint process for small water and wastewater billing disputes, and SB 1663, expanding TCEQ notice requirements for nearby residents when groundwater contamination is discovered, were also heard and left pending. Additional bills included HB 3115, clarifying that the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District cannot require meters on exempt domestic or livestock wells; SB 1055, raising the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District’s production fee cap from 1 cent to 7 cents per 1,000 gallons; and SB 1625, requiring private water and wastewater utilities to report cybersecurity incidents to TCEQ and DIR. The committee then took up pending business and adopted a substitute for SB 7, which made several changes to water fund use, eminent domain coordination, and EDAP-related provisions, and voted 10-0 to report it favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2347, a county water conservation program bill, and reported it favorably 9-1. HB 5675 and SB 2476 were each reported favorably 10-0. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcing the criminal laws of this state and are responsible for overseeing our county jails, bail bonds
• Bonds, um, making it so that you can pull down the bonds and cry.
• 33655 by Alcott relating to the increasing the threshold of voter approval for the school district bond

Transcript Highlights:

• or reject, even if we accept them, we have the opportunity on the backside, if we do not, through Bond
• You can hold it, and we can reappropriate it next year if it doesn't pass muster with Bond Commission
• It and we can reappropriate it next year if it doesn't pass muster with Bond Commission.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 26 and first took up Senate Bill 406, which authorizes the city of Slidell to seek voter approval for a local hotel and motel occupancy tax. The bill was described as a local measure giving the city council authority to place the tax on the ballot, with members noting that similar taxing authority exists in many other municipalities. Representative Wiley moved favorable passage, there was no objection, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then received an update from the Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control on capital outlay savings identified through cash-flow review and project “scrubbing.” Officials said they found about $50 million in savings from updated cash flows, over-appropriations, projects bid under budget, and reduced appropriations in bundled projects. They explained that bundling projects, including some LED-related projects, allows agencies to shift savings within a bundle and manage overruns or underruns more flexibly. Members praised the savings work but asked whether the process could be moved earlier so the House could benefit sooner, and whether similar reviews could be expanded to other administering agencies and non-state projects. One member raised concerns about whether some projects, including schools and certain NGO-related items, should qualify for capital outlay funding at all, and urged a review of the statutory definition and project approval criteria. Staff said they would look at the definition, review recommendations from prior discussions, and consider ways to tighten the process. The committee then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• to increasing the criminal penalty for certain violations of certain court orders or conditions of bond
• period for which a person arrested for certain crimes involving family violence may be held after bond
• We heard this bill a couple of weeks ago relating to certain procedures in connection with the bond forfeiture

Transcript Highlights:

• The criminal penalty for certain violations of court orders or conditions of bond in cases involving
• relates to the period for which a person arrested for certain crimes involving family may be held after bond
• We heard this bill... a couple of weeks ago relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond

Bills: HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• the purpose of this bill is to not increase taxes but to allow the Board of Directors to seek larger bond
• Potential larger bond issuance from the voters.
• would require voter approval to move in that direction, and it just alters the way we finance our bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• But of all things, above all things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
• Huffman, relating to the use by a poli the use by a political subdivision of public funds to pay bail bonds
• AAPI Texans to raise awareness on the issues important to their communities, while also strengthening bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• hopefully appropriated in the bonding hopefully appropriated in the bonding bill<00:41:33.920>
• <00:41:59.040> If bonding bill passes and includes it.
• If bonding bill passes and includes it.
• <00:46:21.119> So good feeling about the bonding bill.
• Uh but likewise, I think bonding bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Members met to review a budget bill agreement using a nonpartisan spreadsheet and summary materials. Chairs and members thanked fiscal, research, revisers, and agency staff for the collaborative process, noting the bill had been difficult and that the final product reflected compromise. The chair also said only minor technical changes were expected before final enactment, and the spreadsheet walkthrough was then turned over to fiscal staff. Fiscal staff explained that the agreement met the overall budget target and walked through major human services provisions. Key items included nursing facility payment changes, including a phased PDPM change, APS inflation, modified single-bed incentives, and a CPI-U capped payment cap; a nursing facility surcharge; workforce standards board rule costs; continuation of certain nursing facility property tax rates; regulation of for-profit acquisitions of nursing homes and assisted living facilities; repurposing assisted living special project funds; funding the SEIU self-directed worker agreement; CFSS reimbursement in acute care hospital settings; and multiple disability waiver rate and authorization changes, including CPI-U inflation caps, waiver authorization reforms, and a waiver reimagined advisory task force. The agreement also included family residential service rate increases, a temporary extension of customized living disproportionate share payments, tribal eligibility for targeted case management, positive supports training changes, out-of-home respite modifications, swimming lessons as an allowable service for certain children with disabilities, a provisional EID provider license, and program integrity services funded by licensing fee increases. Additional provisions covered MinnChoices studies and assumed savings, behavioral health fund changes, substance use disorder treatment billing and rate changes, supportive recovery housing, housing support supplemental rates for specific providers, disability determinations, enteral nutrition payment timing, temporary funding for Boundary Waters Care Center, several one-time human services grants, senior nutrition funding, and grant reductions and extensions. No formal vote was described in the transcript; the discussion focused on explaining the agreement and its fiscal effects.

Transcript Highlights:

• and those that are on the bonding and those that are on the bonding commune<00:12:58.320> know
• So they'll work with all entities that receive bond appropriations to project out when are you going
• to actually spend the dollars, and MMB sizes their bond sales based on that.
• Generally, MMB sells bonds based on not by project, but based on cash flow needs.
• to actually spend the dollars, and MMB sizes their bond sales based on that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to check in, your testimony for the GO bond needed is $6 million, is that correct? Thank you.
• In China, there exist about eight bonded regions, and in the end that is not subject to tariffs.
• In China, there exist about eight bonded regions, and in the end that is not subject to tariffs.
• in China exists about eight bonded in China exists about eight bonded regions<01:53:31.520> and
• we're going to notate that the Geo Bond we're going to notate that the Geo Bond investment<02:31

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , to collect on multiple SH bonds, to collect on multiple SH bonds, requires<00:41:41.680> that
• <00:41:41.920> SH<00:41:42.319> bonds<00:41:42.720> must<00:41:42.960> be
• <00:41:43.119> purchased requires that SH bonds must be purchased requires that SH bonds must
• to occur within 6 from a shity bond to occur within 6 years. years. years.
• individual or entity posts a shity bond individual or entity posts a shity bond in<00:42:08.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you have state and local tax bonds.
• So you have state and local tax exempt<00:10:29.200> bonds<00:10:30.240> um<00:10:30.320
• So that you tax status for those bonds.
• market you know uh you know in the bond market you know for<00:10:46.160> state<00:10:46.320>
• U that's it for the the slide and bonds.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In the May revision specifically, we had some updates to the climate bond proposition for proposals.
• The governor's budget proposed $2.1 billion in 2026-27 from the climate bond to continue critical projects
• Specific to the Golden Gate Fields, the May revision proposes $125 million from the climate bond, one-time
• wildlife refuges and wetland habitat areas, the May revision proposes $23.2 million from the climate bond
• Moving on from the climate bond, other significant investments...

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 135, relating to land, authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purchase of real
• Okay, HB 1156, relating to special facility revenue bonds, amends section 266-54.2, HRS, to increase
• the total principal amount of special facility revenue bonds that may be issued by the Department of
• <00:27:49.679> amend<00:27:50.039> section bonds amend section bonds amend section 26654
• principal amount of special facility principal amount of special facility revenue<00:27:56.240> bonds

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard a 10 a.m. agenda covering a range of transportation, liability, harbor, and bicycle-related bills. Testimony was mixed on several measures: HB 263, which would exempt full-time college students from vehicle weight tax, drew opposition from the Department of Transportation and others; HB 135, authorizing general obligation bonds to purchase property on the North Shore of Oʻahu, had support; HB 860, granting immunity to the state or county for repairs on roads with disputed jurisdiction, drew support from DOT, DLNR, and the City and County of Honolulu but opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice; and HB 996, which would abolish joint and several liability for government entities in highway-related civil actions, also drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice and support from the Attorney General’s office and DOT. The committee also heard HB 1167, an emergency appropriation for motor carrier enforcement, and HB 1259, which would remove the need for an engineering study before reducing speed limits within 10 mph of the current limit; both had support from DOT and related groups. HB 1156 and HB 960, both related to harbor financing and capital advancement contracts, were supported by DOT, with DOT explaining that higher bond and contract ceilings were needed because project costs have increased since the limits were set decades ago. HB 142, exempting certain nonprofit community-based transportation providers from motor carrier regulation, and HB 914, creating a water carrier inflationary cost index mechanism and allowing PUC exemptions, also received support from multiple stakeholders, with the Consumer Advocacy Division noting that the inflationary adjustment issue was already active in a rate case. The committee also took testimony on several electric bicycle and micromobility bills. HB 486 would restrict where electric bicycles may operate, prohibit unsafe operation and removal of speed-limiting devices, and fund a safety education campaign; it drew opposition from the Hawaii Bicycling League and several individuals, with one supporter. HB 435 would redefine and classify electric bicycles, raise the minimum operating age, and add registration and use rules; it was supported by DOT and the Hawaii Bicycling League, with one individual opposing. HB 958 would regulate motorized bicycles and electric micromobility devices, require helmets for minors, and fund a coordinated education campaign; it drew support from the City and County of Honolulu, Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, and the Hawaii Bicycling League, but opposition from Moped Doctors and others, who argued the bill could harm the moped industry and that more study was needed. After testimony, the committee recessed and then reconvened for decision-making. In decision-making, the committee deferred HB 263 and HB 996. It passed HB 135, HB 860, HB 1167, HB 1259, HB 1156, and HB 960 with amendments, generally adopting HD1 versions, making technical changes, and setting effective dates to July 1, 3000 for the amended measures. The chair explained that HB 263 was deferred because a blanket tax exemption for one class could create inequities and a tax credit might be a better approach. HB 996 was deferred because the chair said the state’s long-standing policy of ensuring safe roads and maintaining accountability for highway design and maintenance remained important. For HB 960, the chair said the current contract caps were too low for modern harbor projects and that higher limits would improve flexibility and efficiency. The committee also noted Representative Cochran was excused for the remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're bonding with their peers and also reducing the isolation. ...and they get to do that with
• a cohort, so they're bonding with their peers and also reducing the isolation of teaching.
• degree, but all together as a cohort, starting in Summer Institute up in Flagstaff, so they all get bonded
• education so we don't have to rob the state land trust or force districts to beg for overrides and bond
• education so we don't have to rob the state land trust or force districts to beg for overrides and bond

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've got Senate bond initiatives number three. Clerk will read the first bill.
• Uh we've<00:13:14.240> got<00:13:14.639> Senate<00:13:14.959> bond<00:13:15.200>
• initiatives<00:13:15.839> number we've got Senate bond initiatives number we've got Senate
• bond initiatives number three.<00:13:16.480> Clerk<00:13:16.720> will<00:13:16.880>
• The bond initiative is ordered to the capital budget subcommittee.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, January 22, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Abi Johni of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, followed by the roll call establishing a quorum with 44 members present. The chamber then featured numerous introductions and recognitions, including legislative interns, a shadowing student, a constituent assisting this session, visiting advocacy groups such as the Maryland Bankers Association, the Transportation Association of Maryland, and the Maryland Association of CPAs, as well as several pages and other guests. Members also announced upcoming caucus and delegation events, committee briefings, and weather-related schedule contingencies. On the legislative side, the Senate received bill introductions, including Senate Bill 314 on immunity from liability for donations of pet supplies in judicial proceedings, and a bond initiative for a neighborhood community track and field project, which was referred to the capital budget subcommittee. The main floor action was consideration of Rule 116; after brief discussion, the Senate adopted the rule by a unanimous 44-0 vote, completing adoption of the Senate rules. Committee announcements noted upcoming hearings and briefings: Finance planned briefings on health insurance subsidies and private passenger auto insurance; Education, Energy, and the Environment scheduled briefings on climate-smart agriculture and federal policy impacts; Budget and Taxation planned an interagency commission briefing; and Judicial Proceedings announced 12 bill hearings, including two lengthy bills. The Senate also journalized the invocation, recognized the new leadership of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, and adjourned until the next pro forma session, with the adjournment also honoring Edward Risinger, a former Baltimore City Council member who had recently died.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also support legislation that allows school. bond elections to be held during the general election
• be it in their SB 9 current funding that they generate through their mail levies or within their bonding
• We've been blessed because of the locale of where my district is at that our mill levy and our bonding
• years out, but you know people have heard me use the analogy, it's like we've been buying savings bonds
• , and you can't be upset that the bonds aren't full value three or four months or even one or two years

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and looking at, uh, Treasury yields on the rise and, um, the bond pricing, uh, fluctuating and how
• the future employees that we worry about because as you say, that is a uh Something that affects our bond
• Bonds that we have. Would he give us more power by having them together or investment?
• definitely on that, um, especially when we had legislation this last year regarding even like the baby bonds
• Uh, Representative Lujan brought up the baby bonds, other ways in which we introduced, um, we talked