Transcript Highlights:

• have adequate water storage to capture<02:47:38.160><c> the</c><02:47:38.399><c> water</c><02:47:38.960
• </c><02:47:40.479><c> We</c> capture the water when it comes. We capture the water when it comes.
• </c> funding for the most significant water funding for the most significant water project<02:48:07.520
• </c><02:48:23.600><c> storage</c> to provide additional water storage to provide additional water storage
• </c><03:42:23.840><c> I</c> only the adding of a little water. I only the adding of a little water.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, June 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is usually the dispute with when we break water lines and sewer lines?
• Who is usually the dispute with when we break water lines and sewer lines?
• We're still needing to fix the sidewalks and fix the water mains.
• It's actually the water purveyors that enforce it.
• It's actually the water purveyors that enforce it.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and the chair noting it was the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee first considered Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit certain excess debit card surcharges and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General. After adopting technical amendments and a committee amendment requiring written notice before a private right of action, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up Senate Bill 80 on broadband administration fees and GUMBO program closeout. Members questioned the proposed increase in administrative and contractor fees, the timing of project completion, and how withheld reimbursements would work for utility damage. After adopting several amendments, including cleanup language and a provision to restore the reimbursement process, the bill was reported favorably as amended, though the Louisiana Telecommunications Association voiced concerns about the withholding language and lack of a clearer fault-determination process. The committee next considered Senate Bill 469, updating the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. Technical amendments were adopted, along with amendments clarifying that the bill’s 30-day notice to utility owner-operators is separate from existing GUMBO notice requirements and creating a rapid dispute-resolution process involving the Office of Broadband, the utility operator, and the local governing authority. Testimony from broadband and municipal stakeholders emphasized the need for quicker responses to excavation damage and better enforcement, while some witnesses raised concerns about the late amendment and the need for clearer recourse and standards. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 468, dealing with fuel rewards programs and fuel discount limits, was also amended to allow such discounts while capping them at $1 below the advertised price; it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 131, concerning attorney’s fees and costs in professional licensing disciplinary proceedings, drew testimony from a cosmetology board representative and the Pelican Institute. Supporters argued the bill would curb incentives for boards to generate revenue through enforcement and give licensees a fairer opportunity to resolve cases; board testimony noted that some boards already have fee caps and that enforcement actions are relatively limited. After adopting an amendment clarifying when a licensee is the prevailing party, the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 251 on critical infrastructure protection also received technical amendments and several substantive changes, including adding ports and airports to the definition of critical infrastructure, clarifying “significant access,” adding a knowledge requirement, and adjusting exemptions and enforcement timing; it was reported favorably as amended after testimony from State Armor representatives about foreign adversary threats. Finally, House Resolution 253 was introduced to create a task force to study how post-2005 building code additions and inspection requirements affect residential construction costs, with the sponsor explaining the goal was to gather industry input and return recommendations next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• United for Economic Justice, Santa Barbara, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, Food and Water
• Watch, and Water.
• United for Economic Justice, Santa Barbara Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, Food and Water
• MBSA is not supplanting, but supporting efforts for wildfire recovery, water and habitat restoration,
• Kim Delphino, representing Defenders of Wildlife and the Committee for Land, Air, Water, and Species,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 887, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding water skiing.
• Senate Bill 1307, by the Resources and Environment Committee, regarding water.
• House Bill 887, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding water skiing.
• House Bill 887, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding water skiing.
• House Bill 887, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding water skiing.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll give you a second to take a breath or a drink of water.
• Salmon protections, including spilling water over dams to assist migrating fish, are essential.
• Saman protections including spilling water over dams to assist migrating fish are essential.
• So there are On actual use for power and water and effluent.
• Water and fisheries are inseparable.

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Soil and water. I tried to pass this bill six years ago.
• </c><00:35:24.400><c> Soil</c><00:35:24.720><c> and</c><00:35:24.960><c> water.
• Soil and water. I move out to find food. Soil and water.
• He trapped 6,500 in trap one water shed.
• Pour water on them. They just &gt;&gt; Yeah. Pour water on them.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh that can be your collect water, uh that can be your driveway<00:41:50.960><c> or</c><00:41:51.200
• </c><00:43:27.359><c> lines</c> floods, they've knocked out water lines floods, they've knocked out water
• plus boxes and wound up taking over 100 plus boxes myself<00:43:35.040><c> of</c><00:43:35.280><c> water
• c> to</c><00:43:35.760><c> families</c><00:43:36.160><c> and</c><00:43:37.200><c> uh</c> myself of water
• to families and uh myself of water to families and uh people<00:43:37.920><c> with</c><00:43:38.160>

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increasingly apparent that the work that needed to be done on discussing regulations regarding, um, weed water
• regarding<00:01:29.759><c> um</c><00:01:30.040><c> um</c><00:01:30.280><c> weed</c><00:01:30.720><c> water
• which is um a regarding um um weed water which is um a a<00:01:33.119><c> different</c><00:01:33.479
• They're sparkling water with the right amount of cannabinoid content and flavoring.
• </c><00:37:55.000><c> uh</c> they're they're uh sparkling water uh they're they're uh sparkling water

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up Senate Bill 202, adopting a committee substitute before hearing testimony. Senator Julie Rocky Adams explained that the substitute would require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate regulations by January 1, 2026 for intoxicating hemp-derived beverages, direct the University of Kentucky to study manufacturing, testing, distribution, sales, and consumer effects of those beverages, and impose a moratorium on their sale until July 1, 2026. Supporters, including Rep. Matt Cook, said the measure was intended as a consumer-protection step rather than a ban, citing concerns about youth access, inconsistent labeling, and the need for a clearer regulatory framework. Members asked about the legal status of the products, whether the bill could unintentionally sweep in non-intoxicating hemp beverages, and whether there was evidence of harm. Senators were told the products are legal under the federal farm bill loophole, but that testing has shown THC levels on sampled cans did not match labels and that current regulations do not specifically address intoxicating hemp-derived beverages. Senator Higdon said CHFS had already been authorized to regulate hemp products and was moving forward with regulations and enforcement, while Senator Meredith questioned whether a moratorium would unfairly punish businesses that had already invested in the market and suggested setting a THC standard instead. Public testimony then shifted to industry opposition. Jim Higdon of Cornbread Hemp said his company had invested heavily in a beverage line and argued the moratorium would function like a ban and harm small businesses. Dee Taylor of 502 Hemp and the Kentucky Hemp Association also opposed the moratorium, saying existing rules already require age limits, behind-the-counter sales, and licensed retailers, and arguing that a cap on milligrams would be preferable to a shutdown. He said retailers were seeing approved and unapproved products in the market and urged work with the Cabinet and ABC rather than a moratorium.

Transcript Highlights:

• The water comes from the neighboring town of Drake.
• The old sewer system that was created used to drain water to pass the sewer into the plant.
• is just drainage water, no sewage at all.
• This is a federal clean water thing, right? So the city is under agreement with the EPA?
• How can we bring the water quality up to the best standards that we can?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Representative David Linsky supported HB 3383, which would designate the song “Roadrunner” as the official rock song of Massachusetts, describing its Boston roots and cultural significance. Representative Sean Garberle supported HB 3335 on public access to historical records, arguing that records from state institutions should be released after 75 years and that families and researchers should be able to identify people buried in unmarked graves at former state institutions. Representative Rodney Elliott and Lowell officials supported HB 4138, authorizing easements for a Lowell sewer separation project; they said the project is needed for Clean Water Act compliance, will reduce combined sewer overflows into the Merrimack River, and must proceed quickly to meet SRF and consent-decree timelines. Committee members asked about Article 97, the location and scope of the easement, environmental justice impacts, and minority/small business participation in construction. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate 2183 and its House companion, which would elevate the Massachusetts National Guard to a cabinet-level position reporting directly to the Governor. Senators Mike Moore and John Velis, along with the National Guard Association’s Matthew McKenna, argued the change would reduce bureaucracy, improve communication and readiness, and reflect the Guard’s broad domestic and military missions. Velis cited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home tragedy as an example of a breakdown in communication, while committee members said they wanted more information, including input from the Governor’s office and Guard leadership, before acting. The committee noted the distinction between state-controlled and federalized Guard missions and said it would continue reviewing the issue. Senator Liz Miranda and a large panel of survivors, advocates, and Northeastern law students testified in support of S. 2174 and S. 2177, which would create an office and task force on unsolved homicides, allow families to petition for case review after three years, require written responses, and establish a tip line, database, and dedicated funding. Witnesses described long-standing lack of communication, low clearance rates, and the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. Senator Becca Rausch also testified on S. 2210, extending public records law to the governor and Legislature, and S. 2207, creating stronger information-governance and records-retention standards; she said both would improve transparency and reduce waste. The transcript does not reflect any votes taken during the hearing, though chairs repeatedly indicated support for moving some bills favorably and said the committee would continue reviewing the National Guard proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• Water, brine, or wastewater.
• , that water has to go somewhere.
• And that water impacts ag.
• And that water impacts ag.
• Brine water in Oklahoma. It's a blank check.

Bills: SB1627, SB227, SB366, SB1193, SB1433, SB1450, SB1481, SB1749, SB1810, SB1812, SB1921, SB1948, SB2044, SB2178, SB169, SB1877, HB1409, SB1266, SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and computing performance, project annual energy and water consumption for three years, and publish
• , and computing performance, project annual energy and water consumption for three years, and publish
• And for the annual report to ecology, they have to report on the daily water quantities and peak uses
• It provides additional specifications for the definition of a public water system.
• It allows water companies to file multi-year rate plans.

Bills: HB2675, HB2249, HB2120, HB1069, HB1983, HB2431, SB6006, SB6297, SB6351, SB6353, HB2521, HB2091, HB2104, SB6355, HB2254, HB2385, SB5808, HB1796, HB1376, SB6260, HB2353

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• Salt cedars take up a lot of water.
• to get more water out of Buckeye and what we could do.
• when it does flood, and also we think it's going to make water flow to the Gillespie Dam and on down
• The big concern was floodwaters that were going to impact the Buckeye water treatment plant.
• Senate Bill 1677 helps us conserve water, reduce flooding, lower wildfire risk, and restore the river

Bills: SB1088, SB1156, SB1157, SB1169, SB1245, SB1273, SB1330, SB1332, SB1391, SB1498, SB1531, SB1550, SB1598, SB1677, SB1707, SB1811, SB1818

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• Or clean it with soap and water and gather those larvae as best you can, and then freeze them.
• And does it affect our water supply? The macrocyclic lactones, I don't...
• I don't think they have an effect on our water supply, but I mean obviously you would inject it into
• Is it safe when it comes to our water?
• There is research about water; there is research that shows that it can leach into water.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Landfills, utility systems, water supply projects, water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants
• , water or wastewater conveyance facilities, flood control and drainage projects.
• Um, the water systems, uh, Representative Bumgardner had had discussed with me some water issues, which
• So if you go to issue, um, say revenue bonds or water bonds.
• They had to, they had to pump water uphill from a brand new lake.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we made this decision about the solution around getting around this water, we should have looked
• When we made this decision about the solution around getting around this water, we should have looked
• When we made this decision about the solution around getting around this water, we should have looked
• When we made this decision about the solution around getting around this water, we should have looked
• When we made this decision about the solution around getting around this water, we should have looked

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Waters: Thank you, Madam President.
• </c><01:45:39.560><c> yes</c> Senator mcon no Senator Waters yes Senator mcon no Senator Waters yes Senator
• </c><03:02:38.880><c> yes</c> Senator mcon no Senator Waters yes Senator mcon no Senator Waters yes Senator
• Senator Waters: Thank you, Madam President.
• Waters thank you madam president i' like Waters thank you madam president i' like to<03:24:50.520><c>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> activities that may affect water activities that may affect water quality,<00:57:18.319><c> flow
• </c> posture for over-the-water structures. posture for over-the-water structures.
• They increase over the water coverage.
• When you space over the public waters.
• How how would that use of that water?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1085 by Senator Durazo, an act relating to water. Senator Durazo, you are recognized.
• Needed to align growth with available water resources. That was not always the case.
• That legacy is with us today, where we have communities that run out of water, relying on trucked water
• SB 1085 restores the requirement for a water supply assessment for these large projects regardless of
• These groups intimately understand the value of water and its importance in the changing climate.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He leadeth me beside the quiet waters.
• come Frank down the road and his immense line of little ducklings—his grandchildren—with red wagons, water
• , and brochures. ...with red wagons, water, and brochures, and throwing candy.
• There's someone spilled some water. They put a sign up.
• Water, they put the signs up. That is the reasonable step of liability. That is really clear.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's why we made that the high water mark. In regards to the rule, so this is where my...
• Members of the committee, Lynch-Sloser, registered lobbyist from Missouri-American Water.
• And for American Water, where we've seen consistencies in one of our counties, let's say Platte, and
• lines to water their plants, if they're growing vegetables, they're growing corn.
• So I don't know if having watering systems for greenery would be any different in that regard.

Keywords: 959, house, all