Transcript Highlights:

• a member of the public to understand the economic statistics, linear programming, power system engineering
• In addition to testimony in opposition from Energy Advisors, PBTech, Fort Town Works Engineering, Alternate
• In addition to testimony in opposition from Energy Advisors, PBTech, Fort Town Works Engineering, Alternate
• Just as a case in point, we have one location that paid about $8 in fees that would be subject to a $20,000

Bills: SB3326

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's pay that is on par with professions like engineers, law, and business.
• Speaker, AB 573 makes a modest increase in the tobacco retail license fee.
• These products are often filled with harmful additives and specifically engineered to interfere with
• A proven engine of jobs and economic growth.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think, and I'm not an engineer, but we need more standby generation to be able to do that.
• And so I think, and I'm not an engineer, but we need more standby generation to be able to do that.
• I mean, we're running on all these old dinosaurs, and lucky so far that your engineers have been able
• I I'm not an engineer. I'll have to get back to you. your grid.
• I I'm not an engineer. Um, I'm not sure. I I'm not an engineer.

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• MOU, there was a charge per search; for any record that we ran through SAVE, we would have to pay a fee
• Good data empowers the engines of elections. And address libraries.
• Good data empowers the engines of elections accounting.
• A fee of $14,544 is not a fee. It's a closed door with a price tag on it.
• Sections 1.012 and 18.66 need a $50 fee cap, a prohibition on passing redaction costs to citizens, and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• machine cut, and they damage cores, ignition lock pins, and rotor mechanisms because they are not engineered
• That includes civil penalties, attorneys' fees, and money designated generally as that to be paid to
• > a151 that includes civil penalties a151 that includes civil penalties attorneys<01:11:03.440> fees
• <01:11:03.840> and<01:11:04.040> money<01:11:04.840> designated attorneys fees
• and money designated attorneys fees and money designated generally<01:11:06.280> as<01:11:06.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Weeks ago, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering launched the state's first Bachelor of
• It's the engine that fuels what is now a nearly nine billion dollar enterprise that creates jobs, powers
• It's the<00:42:39.040> engine<00:42:39.359> that<00:42:39.599> fuels<00:42:40.000
• > what<00:42:40.240> is<00:42:40.400> now<00:42:40.640> a the engine that
• fuels what is now a the engine that fuels what is now a nearly<00:42:41.359> nine<00:42:41.680

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met without a quorum and postponed approval of the minutes. The committee first heard from Northern Kentucky University President Katie Short Thompson, who highlighted NKU’s enrollment growth, student success metrics, national recognition for value, lower student debt, and new programs tied to regional workforce needs, including AI, cybersecurity, supply chain analytics, cardiovascular perfusion, and the Norse Network Hub for employer access. She asked for a $5 million recurring base funding adjustment to align NKU’s general fund support with peer institutions, along with support for tuition waivers with FAFSA requirements, continued debt collection authority through the Department of Revenue, inclusion of fire and tornado insurance premiums in base funding, inflation and performance-funding support, and increased asset preservation funding. She also outlined capital priorities for the Hail College of Business building, Nunn Hall, and the MEP building, and requested $5.4 million to match private support for the Young Scholars Academy, a dual-credit program serving first-generation and low-income students. Representative Tipton questioned NKU about the number of older students using tuition waivers and whether the university could continue the program without a statutory age-based mandate. Thompson said the number of students over 65 using the waiver was small, that some students pursue degrees while others audit classes, and that external fundraising could potentially support the program if state funding changed. Tipton also confirmed NKU’s requested priorities and the $5.4 million match for the Young Scholars Academy. The committee then heard from University of Kentucky representative Dr. Cavallo, who framed UK’s request around accountability, workforce development, research, and health care impact. He described a patient story to illustrate UK’s medical mission, cited growth in enrollment, degrees awarded, hospital patients treated, and research grant revenue, and emphasized UK’s role in extension services and disaster response. He said UK is consolidating services for efficiency and is focusing on future workforce needs, especially artificial intelligence, noting the launch of the state’s first AI bachelor’s degree and a partnership with Microsoft to expand AI tools and training across campus and the Advancing Kentucky Together network. He also discussed demographic challenges, the need to retain graduates in Kentucky, and the importance of aligning programs and funding with long-term state needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said New Hampshire's lakes, rivers, and watersheds are powerful economic engines, driving tourism,
• The speaker continued that New Hampshire's lakes, rivers, and watersheds are powerful economic engines
• If you do not meet these standards, you're subject to a 5% annual fee of your net revenue in the EU,
• c> your<03:48:23.960> net<03:48:24.239> revenue<03:48:24.720> in annual um fee
• of of your net revenue in annual um fee of of your net revenue in the<03:48:25.000> EU<03:48:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He understands that the most powerful engines are built, not bought.
• studies with dedication and perseverance, graduating cum laude and earning degrees in electrical engineering
• That journey brought him to the United States, where he earned his master's degree in electrical engineering
• Educational Foundation, he offered annual scholarships to Filipino students who showed promise in engineering
• Filipino American Fund, he supported high school students in their journey to pursue degrees in engineering

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and proceeded through a lengthy floor file with many ceremonial guest introductions before taking up legislation. Members welcomed student groups, interns, sorority and civic organization members, and other visitors, including groups focused on coastal protection, youth tobacco prevention, and disability advocacy. The chamber also observed a birthday acknowledgment and later held an adjournment in memory for Dado Banatao, honoring his life, engineering achievements, philanthropy, and support for Filipino American students. On the floor file, the Assembly considered several measures. AB 2323 by McKinnor, on modernizing public notice, passed 57-0. ACR 149 by Hart, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and Coastal Conservancy, drew extensive debate over coastal protection, housing, access, and the role of the Coastal Commission; it was adopted by voice vote after 46 co-authors were added. AB 2011 by Hart, codifying federal mental health parity standards in state law, passed 46-5. AB 2691 by Addis, expanding disqualifying felony convictions for elected office to include sexual assault and human trafficking, passed 53-0. The Assembly also adopted HR 31 on Denim Day and sexual assault awareness after emotional testimony from multiple members about personal experiences, survivor support, victim-blaming, and the need for accountability and prevention; 68 co-authors were added before the resolution passed by voice vote. Additional bills passed included AB 1621 by Wilson on housing approval timelines (64-0), AB 1704 by Mark Gonzalez on studying low-embodied-carbon building material costs (58-0), AB 1916 by Lee on including ASL interpreters in the certified interpreter definition (59-2), AB 2559 by Ward on refundable construction and demolition deposits (61-0), AB 2663 by Rogers as an urgency alcoholic beverage sunset extension (64-0), and AB 2731 by Addis expanding on-sale alcohol licenses in Santa Cruz County (63-0). The consent calendar was also adopted 64-0, and the House adjourned until April 30 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a special contract with DFA, and they let us amend it because we felt we could do a few engineering
• Over 75 projects have to have engineering designs, so we now have four engineering firms that we're working
• signed up for everything, and we're still worried we won't be able to get the 50 even with our own engineer
• We hit the state engineers.
• Working with the Army Corps of Engineers on that La Madana Arroyo to, you know, repair it.

Transcript Highlights:

• I come from a military background, and actually as an engineer in the Navy, and had been working in the
• We are not a database or a search engine.
• That’s that defensive engineering answer that you hear about.
• That's that defensive engineering answer that. represent Bonco is it depends, right?
• That's that defensive engineering answer that you hear about.

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear a panel discussion on artificial intelligence and automation in Florida government. Panelists from Worldwide Technology, OpenAI, the James Madison Institute, and the Florida Digital Service described AI as a tool to improve efficiency, constituent services, fraud detection, translation, HR workflows, public safety, and regulatory review, while emphasizing that AI should supplement rather than replace workers. They also stressed the importance of data readiness, workforce training, governance, and having existing technology systems and policies in place before broader deployment. Members asked about public records concerns, vendor vetting, model integrity, and how to balance innovation with privacy and security. Chief Schoonover said agencies are already using or exploring AI in areas such as Medicaid analysis, environmental data, emergency management, tax forms, and child support, and noted that the Digital Service publishes prohibited vendor and application lists. OpenAI discussed its red teaming, safety evaluations, privacy controls, and government products such as ChatGPT Gov, and said it does not train on personal data or target users with ads. The committee also discussed concrete examples of efficiency gains, including reduced call times, faster translation turnaround, and streamlined HR classification work, as well as concerns about job disruption and constituent access. In closing, members raised data center infrastructure and energy needs, with panelists noting that AI depends on substantial compute, power, cooling, and utility capacity. The chair concluded by encouraging continued dialogue and noting that future AI legislation should be targeted to specific problems rather than overly broad.

Transcript Highlights:

• premier places in the nation to come get immunotherapy, where we take your own immune cells, we either engineer
• We either engineer them or we take them out of the tumor.
• we're all growing across the state, I foresee, within 10, 15 years, this is a $10 billion economic engine
• all types of research within all types of cancers, and really being the economic and clinical care engines
• So these CAR-T patients, where you engineer T-cells and can rescue patients that otherwise are at end

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee held a panel discussion on Florida’s cancer research and funding programs, including the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, the Bankhead-Coley Research Program, and Live Like Bella. Dr. Ladapo and leaders from Moffitt, Sylvester/University of Miami, UF Health, and Mayo Clinic described how state funding has helped Florida’s four NCI-designated cancer centers expand research, recruit faculty, increase clinical trials, and build collaborations. They emphasized that the programs are intended to improve cancer care statewide, support innovation, and encourage more institutions to pursue NCI designation. The Governor’s budget recommendation was noted as including additional funding, and members asked about the cost and requirements of becoming NCI-designated and eventually comprehensive. Panelists said NCI designation requires major infrastructure, compliance, research, and training investments, with de novo development estimated at about $1 billion. They described Florida’s collaborative model as unusual nationally, with annual symposia, shared pilot funding, and joint projects across the four centers. Members also asked about rural access, home-based care, and recruitment/retention. Mayo described its “Cancer Care Beyond Walls” home-treatment model and said it could expand to rural counties within months; Moffitt and UF discussed mobile screening, satellite sites, and affiliations with local hospitals and practices. Several members raised concerns about workforce shortages, licensure delays, and the need to reach underserved areas. The discussion also covered outcomes, data reporting, and the broader economic impact of the cancer centers. Panelists cited growth in jobs, federal research funding, and clinical trial enrollment, and highlighted advances in immunotherapy, CAR-T, TIL therapy, carbon ion therapy, AI-driven screening, and the firefighter cancer initiative. They said the Florida Cancer Data System is being expanded to track recurrence and quality-of-life measures. Members also asked about philanthropy, medical tourism, and federal funding risks, including possible indirect cost reductions that could affect research budgets. The meeting ended with general support for continued investment, while some members noted an ongoing policy debate over whether future cancer research dollars should be concentrated in the four NCI centers or spread more broadly across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also have the Engineering Rainbow Warrior racing team and Engineering College Dean Brennan
• 12.839> technology Productions and science technology Productions and science technology engineering
• c> math<00:09:14.600> stem<00:09:15.880> Capstone<00:09:16.880> Leah's engineering
• math stem Capstone Leah's engineering math stem Capstone Leah's ability<00:09:17.920> to<00:09

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Here again, we’re just going to balance this on fees, and we go back to a fee that was pre-TABOR like
• I mean, fees are a legitimate idea. A fee for service is a legitimate idea.
• create a fee to fund who knows what grift.
• And what is this fee going to be? Because it’s for printing documents. It’s for a document fee.
• It’s for a document fee.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a color guard presentation by Colorado Military Academy cadets and the pledge led by Olivia and Owen Curry. After roll call established a quorum, members approved the journal of Friday, March 6, 2026, as corrected. Several committees then announced upcoming hearings, including Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources; State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs; and Finance. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1020, designating March 8, 2026, as International Women’s Day in Colorado. The resolution praised women’s contributions across history and society, highlighted Colorado’s early adoption of women’s suffrage, and recognized trailblazing women in the General Assembly. Sponsors and supporters spoke at length about women’s leadership, economic and civic contributions, and the need to continue advancing equality. The resolution also drew recognition of women and advocacy organizations present in the chamber. Representative Bradley and other Republican members criticized the resolution as partisan and said Republican women were not included in drafting or sponsoring it. They argued the measure should have been more inclusive and should have better reflected women’s roles in the home and the broader bipartisan history of women’s history observances. Bradley announced she would vote no. In response, Representative Ricks said an amendment would be accepted from the minority caucus to address concerns about traditional roles of women, and he moved Amendment L002 for consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• 03:34.599> final<00:03:35.159> action<00:03:35.599> which Section four, as on fees
• It would also allow the MPCA to retain the fees it charged even if it gets the permits done ahead of
• four<00:05:09.759> uh<00:05:09.919> as<00:05:10.080> on<00:05:10.280> fees
• <00:05:10.720> this frozen section four uh as on fees this frozen section four uh as on fees
• it charged even if it gets the fees it charged even if it gets the permits<00:05:30.440> done

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , suppliers, and others working engineers, suppliers, and others working to<00:51:18.520> address<
• Just this past summer, our operating engineers worked on storm, drinking, and wastewater projects in
• The cost of engineers and inspections and permits, those are going up.
• The<01:07:55.920> cost<01:07:56.240> of<01:07:56.359> engineers<01:07:57.200>
• and<01:07:57.320> inspections The cost of engineers and inspections The cost of engineers

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Army Reserves and served with an engineering battalion in Washington, Iowa.
• with diverse companies and international markets every Day and are a dynamic part of the economic engine
• Veteran entrepreneurs are powerful economic engines and job creators.
• The industry has created high-paying jobs in engineering and infrastructure.
• UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH AND UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY ARE PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF Engineers

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, looking at laborers and operating engineers, plumbers and pipe fitters, sheet metal workers,
• :07:56.880> operating looking at laborers and operating looking at laborers and operating engineers
• c> plumbers<00:07:58.120> and<00:07:58.240> pipe<00:07:58.520> fitters, engineers
• , plumbers and pipe fitters, engineers, plumbers and pipe fitters, sheet<00:07:59.440> metal<00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4122, and Representative Halons moved that the bill be laid over for possible inclusion. The committee first adopted the DE3 author’s amendment without objection. Halons explained that the bill, developed through the Thermal Energy Network Deployment Work Group and extensive stakeholder negotiations, would allow public utilities to build thermal energy networks and recover costs, while keeping the projects under Public Utility Commission oversight similar to electric and natural gas services. He noted a small technical correction may still be needed in the cost recovery language. Testimony was uniformly supportive. Aurora Vautrin of 100% Campaign said the bill advances Minnesota’s leadership on thermal energy networks and thanked the authors, work group, labor, and utility partners. Jamie Fitzke of CenterPoint Energy described the company’s planned thermal energy network pilot as part of the 2021 Natural Gas Innovation Act framework, emphasizing that the technology is promising but still new, especially in Minnesota’s extreme cold climate, and that the amended bill reflects substantial compromise and preserves PUC oversight and customer protections. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA supported the bill as a way to create jobs and use existing labor skills from gas, water, and related infrastructure work, while also noting that geothermal cost and drilling challenges remain. Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the proposal and its potential to make Minnesota a leader in thermal energy networks. In closing, Halons said the bill had gone through many iterations and acknowledged the compromise language, but stressed that it is a major step because it explicitly authorizes utilities to build TENS and rate recover, creating a foundation for future utility planning. The bill was then laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're over the Division of Engineering, which is where all the projects originate or run from, so by
• 00:02:06.759> the<00:02:06.880> division<00:02:07.159> of<00:02:07.240> engineering
• <00:02:07.719> which over the division of engineering which over the division of engineering

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Status of Hiring Four Project Managers within Facilities & Support Services in HB6 from the 24RS 00:02:01 Attendance Roll Call 00:09:32, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance, and Administrative Cabinet met for an informational update, with the new chair noting the committee does not vote on issues and is mainly reviewing implementation of budgeted items. The main presentation came from Scott Baker of the Finance Cabinet’s Office of Facility Development and Efficiency, who explained how the office has shifted experienced staff to lead Department of Parks projects and hired new staff to be trained into project management roles. He said the office is managing 146 ongoing parks projects and has moved from weekly to biweekly meetings as work has progressed. Baker said the budgeted staffing changes were intended to speed project delivery while maintaining expertise, since state project management also requires knowledge of procurement law and other Commonwealth-specific rules. He described the workload as heavy, with 15 project managers handling 1,149 active projects, including one western Kentucky manager overseeing 127 projects, and said the office is trying to add more staff and create new positions to improve recruiting. Members asked about staffing levels and workload, and Baker said the office is not overstaffed but is competing with a strong construction industry for talent. Committee members praised the office’s work on parks projects, noting campground and infrastructure needs at places like Lake Barkley and emphasizing prudent use of the large capital budgets approved in recent years. No votes were taken because the subcommittee lacked a quorum, as some members were in other committee meetings. The chair said the committee would continue to meet during session and interim periods and adjourned the meeting after the update.

Transcript Highlights:

• IMPROVING K-12 LITERACY, SCIENCE, MATH, COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
• CAN PROVIDE CREDIT FOR BASED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT AND WORK COURSE CERTIFICATION UPON THE ENGINES
• MANY PARTICIPATE INTERNATIONAL AND ENGINEERING.
• BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD, REGENERON SCIENCE SEARCH, NATIONAL SCIENCE, INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is DMWNH, which is a design-build install contract to provide detailed engineering services
• They are all engineering contracts, two-year contracts.
• We have one contract on the agenda with Morris Davis Engineering.

Keywords: 924, joint, all