Transcript Highlights:

• I'VE ASKED OUR STAFF INTERNALLY TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONERS THROUGHOUT SO THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
• I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOUR ROLE IS AS THE PSC IN ADDRESSING THEM AND WHAT THE RULES
• AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE IT'S RULINGS ARE BACKED UP BY EVIDENCE AS OPPOSED TO WHATEVER THE UTILITY SAID
• YOU INDICATED THAT YOU FELT AS THOUGH THE RULINGS OF THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST WHILE YOU WERE COMMISSIONER

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder to the committee and our visitors and witnesses today under House Rule 4, Section 13.
• House committees are subject to the same rules. of decorum that govern house proceedings under those
• rules the chair is responsible for preserving order and decorum during committee meetings and the chair
• and forestry, flood control dam maintenance. and repair, or control of Carrizo Cane along the international

Bills: HB294, HB405, HB519, HB294

Keywords: food production, property owners' association, home gardening, cottage food, urban agriculture, livestock, community standards, renewable energy, ethanol, biodiesel, incentives, agriculture, grants, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties

Transcript Highlights:

• decide that this property isn't worth as much anymore because of something external or something internal
• to encourage any political subdivision that is over 130,000 In population to say, 'Hey, follow the rules
• Oklahoma City case that went all the Way to the enth circuit that was Mcraw the OKC, where the courts ruled
• So the Oklahoma constitution allows municipalities to effectively do their own home rule.
• They have broad authority, those that Choose home rule to determine how they run things within their

Bills: HB3057, HB3130, HB3310, HB3314, HB3985, HB4113, HB4486

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, marijuana tax, public service impact tax, county funding, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• always someone in any Representative Shoaf: organization that size who's going to move around the rules
• We have large international companies as members as well as small mom and pops.
• impose additional regulation in an already heavily regulated area is, in our view, in conflict with Rule
• And lastly, the strike-all amendment ratifies rules relating to the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers
• And given all of the new rules and regulations as it relates to Basin Management Action Plans as it relates

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have a rules-based order. If we don't have a rules-based order, everything is allowed.
• Either we are going to follow the rules and the rules apply to everybody or they don't.
• Both as an intern for the Public Defender's Office in Miami during the crack cocaine epidemic where a

Transcript Highlights:

• SOMETHING TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT INTERNALLY.
• RULE AND FAMILY LAND. WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH. TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD 56,000 ACRES IN THAT PROGRAM.
• WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO MANY SMALL FARMS UNDER THOSE RULES.
• WHAT THE RULE OF FAMILY LAND DOES IS BUYING THOSE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN PERPETUITY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
• THINK OF A RULE OF FAMILY LAND, THEY GENEROUSLY GAVE US $100 MILLION OF THE REVENUE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at the McCollum daughter is an intern at the McCollum Group<00:32:32.040> because<00:32:32.720
• He added that the traffic fines task force was actually based on international models.
• I know that Finland is not the only international model, but that is, you know, my understanding for
• > model, international model, international model, but<01:23:19.520> that<01:23:19.720>
• <01:33:17.840> of in compliance with the Hawaii Rules of in compliance with the Hawaii Rules

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 83, which would require hotel keepers to give adequate notice of service disruptions to guests and third-party vendors. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but asked for amendments to restore remedies and add a nonwaiver provision, arguing that without penalties the measure would lack consequences and that consumers should not be able to waive the notice rights. Supporters, including Unite Here Local 5 and individual testifiers, said guests deserve transparency and meaningful recourse when disruptions occur, especially for labor disputes, construction, or other service interruptions that affect the experience they paid for. Hotel industry representatives, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, and hotel workers/testifiers, opposed the bill in its current form while offering amendments. They said the measure was too broad, difficult to implement, and could interfere with collective bargaining, third-party booking systems, and existing contracts. They also argued that some disruptions are not easily known in advance and that the bill unfairly singles out hotels compared with other industries. One testifier emphasized that notice should be required only for actual, known disruptions rather than potential events, and another raised concerns about applying the bill to properties not directly involved in a labor dispute. After the SB 83 testimony, the committee moved on to SB 2798, which would make permanent and expand statewide the agricultural enforcement pilot program created in 2025 and rename it the agricultural enforcement program. The chair introduced the measure and called on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity as the first testifier, but the transcript excerpt ends before testimony or any vote on SB 2798.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so over the years, we've been talking internally about the need for LURE, and certainly this study
• <00:24:08.159> to<00:24:08.360> go are doing what we can internally to go are doing
• what we can internally to go and<00:24:08.640> do<00:24:08.799> on-site and do on-site
• in the agency given the growth in this sector and, you know, if we are to embark on a provisional rule
• We have had discussions internally at DHS about, you know, EIDBI is really a service that we believe

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• copper and other types of projectiles, and then also just making sure that people understand what the rules
• copper and other types of projectiles, and then also just making sure that people understand what the rules
• uh information and is one<00:53:55.680> National<00:53:56.040> and<00:53:56.160> intern
• <00:53:56.440> International one National and intern International one National and intern
• International Awards<00:53:58.000> uh<00:53:58.119> regarding<00:53:58.520> their

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the Joint Committee on Rules.
• Suppose this rule had been put in place in 2001, the same time we cut our income tax rate.
• Suppose this rule had been put in place in 2001, the same time we cut our income tax rate.
• In particular, highly educated international people are coming, okay?
• International migration is, and once again, this is legal international migration, is a primary reason

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on two proposed ballot initiatives: one to reduce the state personal income tax rate from 5% to 4% over three years, and another to revise the state’s tax collection cap/62F process so it would be based on prior-year collections plus wage growth and include surtax revenue. The committee chair and House co-chair outlined the hearing process, and the first witness was Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, who testified as the committee’s subject-matter expert on both measures. He said the income tax proposal would lower taxes broadly but would reduce state revenue by about $5.4 billion when fully implemented, with an estimated $800 million hit in FY27, and he discussed possible effects on competitiveness, taxpayer savings, and public finances. On the 62F proposal, he said the revised cap would make refunds more likely, could have produced several large refunds in recent years, and would reduce stabilization fund deposits and constrain recovery after recessions. Committee members questioned Howgate about competitiveness, outmigration, prior tax ballot measures, spending growth, MassHealth, and the interaction between the income tax and surtax. He emphasized that taxes are only one part of the state’s overall competitiveness and that housing, public services, and other factors also matter. He also noted that the surtax is constitutionally restricted but can still support ongoing spending choices. After his testimony, the committee moved to the proponents’ panel. Proponents of both initiatives, including representatives from Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts, the National Federation of Independent Business, Pioneer Institute, and the Mass Opportunity Alliance, argued that the measures would improve affordability, help retain residents and businesses, and support job growth. They cited polling support, outmigration, small-business reinvestment, and comparisons to lower-tax states such as North Carolina. Their economist, Rebecca Paxton, said her model showed smaller revenue losses than critics claim and projected that the revised revenue cap would not create additional annual revenue losses while producing more regular taxpayer refunds. Committee members pressed the panel on competitiveness, prior ballot initiative implementation, and whether the measures would actually address broader affordability pressures; the hearing ended with the committee continuing to take questions from the proponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• laws, and we are seeing that in the opinion of not just me and my colleagues, the courts are now ruling
• They're here illegally, and you want to talk about Rule of law.
• Well, the rule of law in this country 8 U.S.C. 1365, 8 U.S.C. 1227, 8 U.S.C. 1325 talks about people
• I hope that I would have stood up. and fought against the largest internment camp in New Mexico, which
• Where the rule of law, as a lawyer to me, meant something.

Transcript Highlights:

• I recently, um, three teachers won a labor board ruling about paying, being left out of the repricing
• <01:27:33.719> about<01:27:34.000> the<01:27:34.159> department internally about
• We have partnered in the past and had social work students come in as interns in the libraries.
• destinations in order for us to rebuild our international markets.
• for us to rebuild our um International for us to rebuild our um International markets<05:59:10.200

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as productive land, we do not, as a rule, buy land that's in production.
• Are you guys doing that internally, or are you guys hiring that externally to be able to produce the
• <00:32:20.120> or are you guys doing that internally or are you guys doing that internally
• pull that together, look to make sure that it meets the eligibility requirements in statute and in rule
• Yep, Madam Chair and Representative, the scoring and ranking criteria is actually defined in rule, so

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When that rule was developed, we did work with districts and we went to small, medium, large rule, urban
• Yes, sir, it's a proposed rule now.
• proposed rule for these kinds of reasons and can reflect on that accordingly before final rule adoption
• Regarding the leadership pipeline, I want to mention the rule of 80 and the transition to the rule of
• I know in my own personal district, we've got interns in. We're hiring certified interns.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill codifies many of the provisions and the current rules of the TCEQ and the PUC to make clear
• This just puts PUC and TCEQ rules expressly into statute, so they stand with clear legal authority to
• And the only new things that this adds beyond current rules at the two agencies is that the PUC will
• Groundwater conservation district rules or actions. With that, I'll take any questions. Thank you.
• What are your members doing to conserve water and make sure they're staying within the rules?

Bills: HB4530, HB4931, HB5559, HB5560

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum present and first took up several pending bills for reconsideration and committee substitute adoption. House Bill 2692, relating to codification and clarification of local laws concerning the San Antonio River Authority, was reported favorably to the full House and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by an 11-0 vote. House Bills 1407, 1520, 1535, 2970, 4153, 291, 3663, and 3915 were also reconsidered or laid out as pending business, with committee substitutes adopted where needed and each bill reported favorably, generally by unanimous vote, to the full House and then to Calendars or Calendars/Calendars-related referral as applicable. The committee then heard House Bill 4530, which would expand the Texas Water Trust framework to include groundwater rights, require Texas Water Development Board review and approval of groundwater dedications, and notify local groundwater districts when groundwater rights are placed in the trust. The bill’s author and witnesses from the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Chispa Texas supported the measure as a conservation tool and a way to create a clear process for voluntary donations; a Texas Water Development Board witness testified neutrally. The bill was left pending. House Bill 4931, relating to an aquifer storage and recovery project in Medina County, drew support from the author, the Medina County judge, and a regional water alliance witness, who described severe stress on the Edwards Aquifer, low levels at Medina Lake, and the need for a local water-supply tool. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5559, which would clarify enforcement of drought contingency plans for investor-owned water utilities and involve the PUC in model plan development, received support from groundwater district representatives but also concerns from water company and utility witnesses about enforcement authority, approval procedures, and potential conflicts with existing obligations to provide continuous service; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5560, which would raise the maximum civil penalty for certain groundwater conservation district enforcement actions from $10,000 to $25,000 per violation, prompted debate over whether current law is already sufficient; supporters said the higher cap would better deter overpumping, while opponents argued existing penalties are already severe. That bill was also left pending, and the committee adjourned subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
• rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
• rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
• rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
• rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 297 with a non-germane amendment proposed by the Insurance Department to create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Commissioner DJ Beton explained that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce rising insurance premiums and avoid surplus lines coverage by funding proactive home and property improvements such as roof fortification, exterior and foundation work, flood protection, and tree removal. He said the proposal was developed after leadership asked for more statutory detail and for the idea to be vetted through policy committees rather than handled only in the budget process. Beton said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. He described the program as modeled on similar efforts in other states, with means testing tied to the Department of Energy’s weatherization/home heating assistance criteria. He also said the department would administer the program using one existing staff position, with coordination through Treasury, and that unspent funds would roll over for several years before reverting to the general fund. Members asked about the unusual use of a non-germane amendment and how the bill would be handled procedurally, since the underlying bill and the new insurance proposal were unrelated. The chair explained that the amendment was being used as a vehicle to move the department’s proposal through the committee process and that the committee could later accept one part, both parts, or neither. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting shown; the discussion ended with questions about administration, staffing, and the relationship between the underlying bill and the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just doing a study on this rule.
• They should not have to worry about surprise fees, unclear rules, or arbitrary enforcement.
• No dark internal corridors. It's the kind of housing more Californians want to live in.
• So a lot of times—because those are city rules, though. Those are city rules.
• So a lot of times—because those are city rules, though. Those are city rules.

Summary: The committee heard a long housing agenda with several bills presented before quorum was established. AB 1725, as amended, would require disclosure of nearby oil wells and methane monitoring issues in a specific district; the author and community witnesses described serious health and safety risks in Vista Hermosa Heights, while the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, and California Chamber of Commerce opposed, arguing the bill targeted the wrong industry and that the state should instead fix abandoned wells directly. AB 2110, a local finance tool to create tax increment districts for workforce housing for education, health care, manufacturing, and public safety workers, drew no witnesses in support or opposition and was presented as a way to help workers live closer to jobs. AB 1732 would expand CEQA streamlining for public university and college housing projects; UC and several housing and labor groups supported it, while housing advocates raised concerns about amendments affecting existing 100% affordable housing exemptions. AB 1771, amended into a study bill, would direct HCD to report on the long-standing resident manager requirement for apartment buildings with 16 or more units; the rental housing industry supported studying the issue, while the chair emphasized the need to consider tenant protections and the impact on current resident managers before changing the law. The committee also heard AB 2185, which would direct state affordable housing programs to update guidelines to better support factory-built housing; it drew broad support from housing, labor, technology, and local government groups, with no opposition. AB 2748 would delay new EV-readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing developments, keeping the prior 40% standard through 2035; supporters said the higher standard would add significant costs and threaten project feasibility, while clean air and transportation advocates argued the code changes are modest, important for equity, and should not be rolled back. Members split along those lines, with some emphasizing housing production and others urging more public subsidy for EV infrastructure rather than delaying the code. SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the November ballot, received extensive support from housing organizations, local governments, labor, and business groups, but Habitat for Humanity and the Los Angeles mayor’s office asked for specific allocations for CalHome and interim housing; the bill was ultimately moved to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, with members noting ongoing negotiations over funding priorities. Finally, AB 1740 would create an urban multimodal community designation for Santa Monica, allowing local approval of certain low-impact coastal-zone activities—such as some housing, bike and bus lanes, outdoor dining, and building changes—without Coastal Commission review. The author and Santa Monica officials said the bill would reduce delays and uncertainty for infill housing and local economic recovery while preserving protections for sensitive coastal resources; supporters included housing, business, and city groups. The Coastal Commission and environmental organizations opposed, saying the bill would carve out broad exemptions, weaken public access and appeal rights, and bypass the local coastal program process that Santa Monica has not completed. Committee members debated the Commission’s role, with some criticizing it for opposing legislation and others arguing the bill was a common-sense way to modernize coastal permitting. A motion and second were made on AB 1740, and the bill was left pending with the committee’s action to be taken when appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Cooper here from our DAS team, who started off as an intern for me at the Statehouse many years ago
• as a sort of convener of sorts, if you will, to help us, if there are ways—we're talking about internally—what
• Rules with the kind of supports that help make it more attractive to develop and retain, because obviously

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the January minutes. Members then heard from Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler, who gave an update on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s apprenticeship efforts and emphasized apprenticeship as an earn-while-you-learn model that can help address workforce shortages while including people with disabilities. He described growth in apprenticeships across sectors such as banking, bio, early education, health care, and human services, and noted recent milestones including the state’s 10,000th registered apprenticeship, expanded tax credits, reduced program fees, added apprenticeship liaisons, and Grow grants to support program development. Committee members focused on how apprenticeship could be adapted for human services and disability-related jobs, including early education, direct care, PCA work, sterile processing, and related health occupations. They asked about funding structures, employer participation, community college involvement, and how to make programs accessible to people with disabilities. Cutler explained that apprenticeship programs are employer-designed but must meet core requirements such as paid employment, at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, and progressive wages. He said the state can support programs through the registered apprenticeship tax credit, which he said is $4,800 per apprentice and can be stacked with the disability employment tax credit, and through Grow grants, which were most recently awarded at about $2.1 million statewide. Members and Cutler discussed using intermediaries such as trade associations, nonprofits, and disability organizations to help employers set up programs and navigate incentives. He said the commission could be useful as a convener and suggested a targeted panel or information session with apprenticeship liaisons, employers, and existing sponsors to identify a few specific occupations and build a proof of concept. The meeting ended with agreement to follow up offline on potential partner employers, including Eastern Bank, and on possible next steps for a focused panel or pilot opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• small district waiting a month versus a big district is a big difference, and we wanted to help the rule
• For the tax year 2025 that just ended, it conforms Arizona state statute to the Internal Revenue Code
• Madam Whip, Representative, I don't know the internals of how ADOT manages that program, so I could check

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do have a couple of follow-ups to that, but I don't want to break my own rules.
• of Nevada's Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors, and I currently serve as Deputy Chair of the International
• to support the boards or recover costs based on board needs, but to serve Business and Industry's internal

Bills: SB507

Keywords: SB507, Nevada, governmental administration, Office of Nevada Boards Commissions and Councils Standards, Department of Business and Industry, professional licensing boards, occupational licensing, regulatory fees, state account, nonreverting fund, Commission on Postsecondary Education, taxicab, taxi technology fee, Nevada Transportation Authority, Taxicab Authority, transportation network company, TNC, rideshare, Uber, Lyft