Transcript Highlights:

• So the bonding framework is as follows.
• I'm dealing with the bonding area. Through 43 of page 18 in the back.
• I'm dealing with the bonding area.
• they wouldn't use the bonding process as a way to sabotage the project.
• They can't use the bonding process in any other way besides that.

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and then appropriate money to pay the debt service on those bonds.
• </c><00:24:56.960><c> and</c> both general obligation bonds and both general obligation bonds and additional
• Given the uncertainty in state bonds.
• Thanks. bonds and challenge program. Habitat bonds and challenge program.
• </c><00:46:23.920><c> As</c><00:46:24.079><c> HUD</c> State general obligation bonds.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:08:40.279><c> crisis</c> long-standing environmental crisis long-standing environmental crisis
• chemistry, soil science, conservation biology, environmental engineering, geochemistry, environmental
• chemistry, soil science, conservation biology, environmental engineering, geochemistry, environmental
• chemistry, soil science, conservation biology, environmental engineering, geochemistry, environmental
• environmental engineering geochemistry Environmental<01:31:03.960><c> Services</c><01:31:04.480><c>

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 114, concerning employment in the State Historic Preservation Program, drew support from DLNR, which said the measure would help retain qualified archaeologists, architects, and other professionals by preserving current pay levels for a limited number of positions. Members raised concerns about expanding exempt positions and the effect on union coverage, and DLNR said it was also working with DEHRD on longer-term reclassification issues. No vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. HB 12, relating to tort liability, drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, which argued the bill would create overly broad immunity for landowners, conflict with Hawaii’s comparative fault framework, and undermine existing recreational liability law. Supporters said it would reduce liability concerns and encourage landowners to allow hiking, hunting, search-and-rescue training, and firearms-related uses on private land. The committee then moved on without any recorded vote in the excerpt. The committee also discussed HB 29 on counties, but no county representative was present, and members questioned whether the proposal should instead proceed through condemnation if it involved a forced sale. HB 175 on property maintenance received DLNR comments that the bill should be narrowed to noxious weeds and that fire-related provisions were more properly handled by county fire departments and the State Fire Marshal. HB 331 on permits drew support from several state agencies, but the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed it unless “repetitive construction” was defined more clearly; members and agencies discussed narrowing the bill to avoid unintended impacts on water and utility infrastructure. The committee also heard strong support for HB 3 on North Shore beach management, HB 309 on fish ponds, and HB 306 on water code penalties, though the Board of Water Supply raised concerns about increased fines and suggested an alternative governor’s bill and clearer administrative rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recall-Mason with the California Environmental Justice Alliance, SEIA Action, also asked to register
• Dan Seaman, on behalf of California Environmental Voters, in support.
• Is there an off-ramp for environmental causes?
• And again, many of the utility spending programs that deal with environmental policies are outside of
• And I think that we obviously need to figure out the environmental impacts.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we integrate ADA standards, we integrate all sorts of environmental protection measures into those
• When we integrate ADA standards, we integrate all sorts of environmental protection measures into those
• I do have some testifiers, but I want to go off script again just to say last year during the bonding
• again just to say last year<01:26:10.320><c> during</c><01:26:10.560><c> the</c><01:26:10.800><c> bonding
• tour, we visited year during the bonding tour, we visited several<01:26:13.120><c> places</c><01:26:

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• All right, the bond initiatives are ordered to the capital budget subcommittee.
• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• We've got Senate bond initiatives.
• Take care. right, the bond initiatives are uh right, the bond initiatives are uh ordered<00:02:44.480

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and energy impacts both environmental and energy impacts that<00:16:10.639><c> are</c><00:16:10.920>
• and environmental impacts from increased<00:32:01.279><c> water</c><00:32:01.919><c> consumption</c>
• He said peoplenotpools.com is a project of 19 environmental organizations documenting 12 examples of
• He said peoplenotpools.com is a project of 19 environmental organizations documenting 12 examples of
• </c> because we're so good at Environmental because we're so good at Environmental Protections<01:16:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As an environmental scientist, she championed environmental and public health initiatives.
• As an environmental scientist, she championed environmental and public health initiatives.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've never been a barrier to bonding bill.
• Are you expecting any strings attached to passing a bonding bill?
• And we need to do a bonding bill this And we need to do a bonding bill this year.<00:02:42.800><c> So
• Um, Senate Democrats have announced their bonding target of 1.35.
• </c> October. any of these bonding October. any of these bonding discussions,<00:09:27.920><c> has</c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Bonds.
• There is an increase to the SR 520 bond authorization of $500 million, and it repeals some older bond
• Authorization of $500 million, and it repeals some older bond authorizations.
• We will now move on to Senate Bill 6225, authorizing bonds for transportation funding.
• I just wanted to recognize our staff as we passed this budget and the bond bill.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in executive session to brief and act on three measures: proposed substitute Senate Bill 6005, the 2006 supplemental transportation budget; proposed substitute Senate Bill 6225, authorizing transportation bonds; and engrossed substitute House Bill 2508, relating to the Office of Independent Investigations. Staff first reviewed eight amendments to SB 6005, including technical corrections and several funding changes for ferry service, rail projects, transit electrification, and other transportation programs. The committee then adopted all eight amendments, rolled them into the bill, and advanced SB 6005 with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. For SB 6225, staff explained that the bill would authorize additional transportation bonds, including $1.1 billion in general bonds backed by gas tax and vehicle-related revenues, $400 million for potential cost increases on Move Ahead Washington projects, and a $500 million increase in SR 520 bond authorization, while repealing some older bond authority. With no amendments offered, the committee advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee also considered engrossed substitute House Bill 2508, which would clarify the scope of authority of the Office of Independent Investigations and add public disclosure and privacy provisions. The committee moved the bill without recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Members concluded by thanking staff for their work on the budget and bond package before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Division of Bond Finance to secure a bond to finance the building of the 550-bed inpatient mental health
• But it came in above the bond, and so immediately It came in, but it came in above the bond.
• Currently, the balance of the bond is $145 million.
• The other thing is that the bond money was already issued.
• What was it that caused the initial design to go above the bond?

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• surety bond to occur within six years.
• Uh, we talked about that, uh, shy bonds 332 30, shy bonds for all durable providers, really.
• </c> about that uh shy bonds 332 30 shy bonds about that uh shy bonds 332 30 shy bonds for<01:13:39.040
• bonds are required.
• we gonna not allow them to a shy bond?

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with chairs explaining that the program integrity omnibus bill is a combined draft assembled from individual member bills and governor proposals, many of which had already been heard in committee. Members emphasized the compressed end-of-session timeline, said the language was not yet ready for enactment, and invited continued revisions as the bill moves next to judiciary and finance. Several speakers stressed the need for bipartisan collaboration, while also warning that the Legislature must act this session on program integrity rather than defer reforms. The fiscal staff then walked through a spreadsheet showing the bill’s overall budget effects and major provisions. The package includes DHS proposals on transforming human services, market- and receipt-based rate reform, enhanced program and payment integrity, uniform service standards, nursing facility rate changes, ICS reforms, and a repeal/redesign of housing stabilization, along with child care assistance integrity and human services redesign items in DCYF. Staff highlighted that the bill combines multiple sources, including governor proposals and member bills, and noted several items that are also in the supplemental human services budget. Committee discussion focused heavily on prepayment review, remote supports, ICS, and provider accountability. Chairs said the bill would codify prepayment review with a 60-day notice requirement after providers were caught off guard by prior rollout, and that remote supports and ICS language were placeholders or under active debate. One member argued the system needs stronger standards but cautioned against harming compliant providers, while another urged the committee to learn from good providers and warned against repeating failed implementations. Staff also reviewed thematic indexes covering billing and service delivery oversight, EVV, administrative reform, licensing and background studies, provider enrollment, sanctions, and child care provider compliance training. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided. The hearing ended with staff beginning the index walkthrough and members indicating that posted amendments would be considered as the bill advances through the remaining committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• these bonds, to review how good of these bonds, to review how good of stewards<00:00:53.840><c> we</c
• <c> sold</c><00:33:07.279><c> on</c><00:33:07.519><c> a</c> bond issue is being sold on a bond issue
• </c> asked for your approval of this bond asked for your approval of this bond issuance. weather.<00:
• And we did ask bond council on this one.
• </c> facility construction commission bonds. facility construction commission bonds.

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:49 Approval of Minutes 02:06 Information Items 03:48 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 14:38 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 18:50 OFM – Ky Infrastructure Authority 26:40 OFM – Cabinet for Economic Development 31:50 Office of Financial Management 40:40 Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates 41:25 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and a quorum call, then the committee approved the prior meeting minutes. Staff reported several informational items, including University of Kentucky medical and research equipment purchases, school district debt issues, leasehold improvements, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System bond allocations. The committee then approved a line-item appropriation increase of $350,000 in federal funds for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Cumberland Forest Conservation Program, along with two Department of Military Affairs projects: the Ashland Readiness Center window replacement and the MATES HVAC replacement at Fort Knox. It also approved four larger maintenance-pool projects without further action: HVAC and smoke evacuation work at the Kentucky State Penitentiary, HVAC and hot water tank replacements at Oakwood, a Green Bank energy-savings performance project across state facilities, and roof replacement at Lake Barkley Lodge. Members asked about the prison project, the roof procurement process, and whether minority-owned firms receive special bidding preference; staff said capital projects are awarded through open low-bid procurement with qualification and warranty requirements, and that minority participation is preferred but not a bidding criterion. Two lease modifications were approved for Franklin County agencies: an expansion and renovation for the Auditor of Public Accounts and a downsizing and renovation for the Kentucky Workers Compensation Funding Commission. The committee also approved Kentucky Infrastructure Authority items, including a Monticello sewer loan, several Cleaner Water Program grants and reallocations, and a House Bill 1 water grant that required no action. Members questioned engineering costs and were told the KIA board reviews technical details and anomalies before approval. Finally, the committee approved six economic development grants: one EDF grant for V Simple in Jefferson County and five KPDI EDF grants for projects in Breckinridge, Erlanger, Todd, and Washington counties. The last action item was approval of Western Kentucky University’s up-to-$10 million general receipts revenue bond issue for athletic facilities. An informational Kentucky Housing Corporation multifamily bond item prompted concern from members about rising per-unit costs for affordable housing, and they requested further explanation from the housing corporation at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> level is that using the State's bond level is that using the State's bond rating<00:28:44.880><c
• or authorizing this bond?
• Bond no I think Bond or authorizing this Bond no I think for<00:59:40.839><c> us</c><00:59:41.119><c
• So it would eat up the whole bond cap we have, so we would have no money under the bond cap for low-cost
• </c> would have no money under in the bond would have no money under in the bond cap<01:01:46.039><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended. A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is cruel. >> Expired. >> I yield back. port an environmental leader. 20 years port an environmental
• policy acts and would have environmental policy acts and would have adverse<00:36:00.640><c> environmental
• This isn't radical environmentalism.
• > Environmental Protection Agency has Environmental Protection Agency has approved<01:31:26.239><c> 47
• </c> program through the Environmental program through the Environmental Protection<02:10:14.960><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing that I hope we do is a bonding bill.
• </c> thing that I hope we do is a bonding thing that I hope we do is a bonding bill.<00:13:21.600><c>
• We we can bond for about a billion bill.
• </c> people in order to get get a bonding people in order to get get a bonding bill<00:13:49.120><c>
• 53.440><c> no</c><00:13:53.600><c> more</c> policy bonding and hopefully no more policy bonding and hopefully

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bonding framework is as follows.
• I'm dealing with the bonding area.
• I'm dealing with the bonding area.
• They can't use the bonding process in any other way besides that.
• They can't use the bonding process in any other way besides that.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Committee on Utilities first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402, a solar-energy measure. The committee substitute combined the bills’ titles and focused on three main areas: a taxation framework for solar projects, setback requirements from occupied dwellings and property lines, and a decommissioning/bonding framework for project cleanup. Supporters said the bill would create baseline rules for a growing industry, protect neighboring landowners, and ensure land is restored after projects end. Members asked about Chapter 100 agreements, the setback distances, county rulemaking authority, and how reclamation and bonding would work. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a new substitute, and then voted the substitute do pass by 18 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 2248, which would change Missouri’s economic development electric rate structure and close a loophole that could allow data centers under 75 megawatts to receive reduced rates. The sponsor and utility witnesses said the bill would make incentives more predictable by replacing a variable formula with a fixed discount for qualifying new industrial projects, while still requiring customers to pay full cost to serve and meet load-factor and other requirements. Witnesses from Evergy, Ameren Missouri, the Missouri Chamber, and Ford discussed the value of incentives for manufacturing, the difference between new load and retention of existing large users, and whether the bill should also address retention discounts. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, which would expand critical infrastructure protections. The bill adds wireline and broadband facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure, increases penalties for damaging or tampering with such facilities, and creates an offense for unauthorized possession of certain stolen materials such as copper and related telecom materials. The sponsor and witnesses from AT&T, Verizon, cable, railroad, electric cooperative, recycling, municipal utility, and chamber groups said the measure responds to rising theft and vandalism, including copper theft and fiber cuts that disrupt 911 and other services. Members asked about scrap dealers, fiber versus copper, trespassing concerns, and whether harsher penalties would deter theft. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply wouldn't work with all the bond issues that are out there.
• So the issue that you passed with 85% was that a bond issue? That was a general obligation bond.
• And what is the amount of the bond indebtedness levy that you have now?
• We've gotten a general obligation bond passed. Yeah. Oh, you mean?
• They said, but we want the bond pass.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The committee met in executive session and first took up House Bill 2709, including a substitute that combined language from HB 2709 and HB 2671. Members debated an amendment that would have separated the Hancock-by-subclass portion from a personal property tax provision; supporters said it would make the bill cleaner and preserve a separate property tax issue already addressed elsewhere, while opponents argued it would create inconsistency. The amendment failed, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 2709 and HB 2671 was voted do pass by a roll call of 14 yes and 5 no. The committee then passed HB 1759 do pass by a vote of 12 yes and 7 no, with one member noting that additional tweaks were expected on the floor. Next, the committee considered HB 2925, where Representative Fowler offered Amendment 04H to remove the requirement that property tax elections be held in November and replace it with an affirmative-consent standard requiring both a majority of votes cast and at least 25% of registered voters voting yes. Supporters said the change would avoid forcing local tax elections into a narrow election window and would require broader voter buy-in for long-term tax obligations; opponents argued it would be a major change that should receive more public review and could distort local election participation. The amendment failed 5 yes to 14 no, and HB 2925 was then voted do pass 11 yes to 8 no. In public testimony, Representative Van Schoiack presented HB 2415, which would require assessors to use a cost approach rather than a market approach for valuing buildings, while still valuing land through the market approach. He said the bill was intended to address over-assessment in larger counties and under-assessment in rural counties, and to make valuations more objective. Testimony was mixed: a public advocate supported the idea as a way to address rising taxes and tax sales, while county assessors and other witnesses said assessors already use multiple approaches, that cost approach works best for new or rural properties but can be subjective for older buildings, and that forcing one method statewide could create inaccuracies and large valuation swings. No action was taken on HB 2415 during the hearing. The committee also heard HJR 148 and HJR 111, presented by Representatives Coleman and Taylor, to bring Kansas City Public Schools under Hancock limits like other districts. Sponsors said KCPS is the only district still operating under a special court-imposed arrangement from desegregation-era orders and that the proposal would keep the district at its current levy while requiring voter approval for future increases. KCPS Superintendent Jennifer Collier opposed the measure as written, saying the district does want to come under Hancock but needs to do so on its own timeline and with a planned April 2027 levy proposal that would maintain the current rate; she said the district is now fiscally stronger and has community support, including passage of an 85% bond issue. Committee members questioned the legal basis, the effect on KCPS and charter schools, and whether the proposal would interfere with the district’s planned ballot strategy.

Transcript Highlights:

• bond are when you issue bonds through a state agency.
• </c> definition of bond. Mhm. definition of bond. Mhm.
• This definition of bond is only specific to the bonds issued by the New Hampshire BFA and combined with
• It's called a conduit bond. May I follow up?
• Um, since we passed that definition of bond, uh, we actually passed that exact definition.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because it would harm our State's bond because it would harm our State's bond rating<00:15:14.440
• When it comes to our ability to bond, our bond rating is important because that tells us what our capacity
• to our ability to bond uh our bond<00:53:16.799><c> rating</c><00:53:17.520><c> is</c><00:53:17.720>
• </c><00:53:38.920><c> which</c> would impact our ability to bond which would impact our ability to bond
• bonding bonding perspective<00:53:52.720><c> thank</c><00:53:52.839><c> you</c><00:53:52.960><c> representative

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house