Transcript Highlights:

• We have electric grids where capacity planning is happening at the regional level.
• We have electric grids where capacity planning is happening at the regional level.
• He also asked how the system is enforced to keep battery-sourced electricity off the grid.
• charging my battery with grid charging my battery with grid electricity<02:18:09.519> because
• Certainly, modern data centers can be extremely large.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the federal level, there's already an act called the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization
• Grid stability is affected by directing the PUC to prioritize Texas energy fund grants and loans for
• places first priority on larger-scale baseload projects that add meaningful capacity to our electric grid
• So it's important that we actually have meaningful capacity added to our grid. Any questions?
• This bill enhances the integrity and transparency of our electoral process by modernizing the reporting

Bills: HB256, HCR19, HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19

Keywords: severe weather, adaptation plan, vulnerability assessment, environmental protection, state agencies, federal agents, transparency, law enforcement, identification, public trust, immigration enforcement, HCR 19, Texas concurrent resolution, federal immigration enforcement, masked agents, facial coverings, visible identification, uniforms, badges, name tags

Transcript Highlights:

• Ben has been a trusted modernization.
• driving instability in our power grid. driving instability in our power grid.
• Speaker, I yield back. grid operators are asking for grid operators are asking for dispatchable<08:28
• This should be a wake-up their grid.
• <08:30:01.760> actually inigned with what our grid actually inigned with what our grid actually

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the worst modern pandemic in COVID-19, and we had endless votes.
• We had the worst modern pandemic in COVID-19, and we had endless votes.
• We had the worst modern pandemic in COVID-19, and we had endless votes.
• We had the worst modern pandemic in COVID-19, and we had endless votes.
• We had the worst modern pandemic in COVID-19, and we had endless votes.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the statue to reflect the will modernize the statue to reflect the changing<00:26:51.279> nature<
• They talk about things like land price, grid reliability, water resources, workforce, and taxes, and
• They talk about things like land price, grid reliability, water resources, workforce, and taxes, and
• We have a solid and reliable electrical grid.
• electrical we have a solid and reliable electrical we have a solid and reliable electrical grid

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Won't give you all the history, but we did a lot of work in 2017 to modernize our Telecommunications
• sunset that would have occurred at the end of this year on a couple of the uses of the fund and modernize
• sunset that would have occurred at the end of this year on a couple of the uses of the fund and modernize
• that is the only utility-scale geothermal electricity plant in the state, generating power for the grid
• So unlike intermittent generation, geothermal provides constant power, supports grid reliability, and

Bills: SB190, SB152, SB77, SB150, SB151, SB156, SB172, SB182, SB185, SB212, SB170, SB133, SB174, SB163

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• what that would look like, but our assumption all along is that this project would restore the street grid
• what that would look like, but our assumption all along is that this project would restore the street grid
• 00:15:23.880> restore<00:15:24.360> the<00:15:24.480> street<00:15:24.800> grid
• , project would restore the street grid, project would restore the street grid, which<00:15:25.839
• We're requesting $3.5 million to rehabilitate and modernize this essential facility, one of the most

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:32.080> thermal<00:35:32.320> energy and maintain modern thermal energy and
• maintain modern thermal energy networks.<00:35:33.720> TENS<00:35:34.000> deployment<00
• When building the infrastructure needed to modernize our energy grid, it's imperative the DNR takes this
• :53:52.080> sport<00:53:52.680> an<00:53:52.960> electricity<00:53:53.520> grid
• today they sport an electricity grid today they sport an electricity grid that's<00:53:54.080>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of that, North Dakota has the most stable electricity grid.
• They oversee a lot of what happens within the grids. And then there are regional grids as well.
• It's an interconnected grid.
• It's an interconnected grid.
• To maintain grid reliability.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine as the largest lignite mine in the United States, supplying coal to Dakota Gasification, Antelope Valley Station, and Leland Olds Station. He emphasized the mine’s scale, safety record, reclamation work, workforce needs, community involvement, and economic impact, including payroll, taxes, royalties, scholarships, and local hiring. Members asked about how long land stays in production, how quickly it returns to agriculture after reclamation, labor shortages, and how mining affects groundwater and water wells. Hawbaker said most tracts are mined for about three to five years, reclamation is coordinated with landowners, and the company continues to struggle to find electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, and engineers. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation and permitting. He reviewed North Dakota’s coal mining history, the state’s reclamation laws, federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act primacy, bonding, permit renewals and revisions, prohibited mining areas, inspection and enforcement, and contemporaneous reclamation requirements. Christman stressed that North Dakota’s program is professional and thorough, with frequent inspections, financial assurance, and a 10-year revegetation monitoring period before bond release. He also discussed federal coal ownership issues that can delay mine plans, the treatment of prime farmland, and how reclamation differs for wind and pipelines. In response to questions, he said one challenge is sometimes releasing land too soon before long-term compaction issues are fully understood, and he noted that data centers do not currently have a comparable reclamation model because they typically own the land. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council president Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He said North Dakota’s lignite sector supports five commercial power plants, four mines, about 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, and more than $5.5 billion in economic activity, while helping keep the state’s electricity rates among the lowest in the nation. Fortner reviewed coal severance and conversion tax revenues, the lignite research fund, federal regulatory rollbacks, carbon capture policy, and the industry’s legal costs fighting federal rules. He also highlighted a study on large-load development, saying new data centers and critical mineral processing facilities could create major local tax revenue and help justify new baseload generation. Members asked whether new gas pipelines would crowd out coal plant development and whether the economic study included jobs and broader local impacts; Fortner said the industry sees room for both and that the study did include construction, operations, jobs, and tax effects.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so USMCA was meant to modernize, ...had changed.
• And so USMCA was meant to modernize and really update this framework.
• And so USMCA was meant to modernize, had changed.
• And so USMCA was meant to modernize and really update this framework.
• One is around modernizing border and civil infrastructure, as we know that's important.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2653, Lee, Modern Foundation models report, held in committee.
• AB 1616, Petrie-Norris, Grid Manufacturing Initiative, do pass. That's out on a B roll call.
• AB 1975, Schultz, distribution grid utilization metric, held in committee.
• AB 1975, Schultz, distribution grid utilization metric, held in committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• take great pride in their city's diverse heritage while continuing to build on its beauty. of the modern
• HB 838 by Reynolds, relating to the interconnection of the air-caught power grid to grid systems.
• Grids outside the air-caught power region refer to the Committee on State Affairs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was last modernized in the early 1990s. It sits in the heart of downtown Nogales.
• It was last modernized in the early 1990s. It sits in the heart of downtown Nogales.
• With that, that's the direction I'm going to go with the modernization of the port of entry.
• This is our only 24-hour port that really needs modernization to help our revenue in our city.
• , and on-site infrastructure modernization to activate.

Bills: HB2113, HB2237, HB2824, HB2926, HB2939, HB2950

Keywords: utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation

Summary: The committee began with a presentation on the modernization of the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Testimony from the port authority chair, a county supervisor, and the Nogales mayor emphasized that the port is outdated, flood-prone, congested, and a safety concern because CBP facilities and traffic lanes sit on or near the international boundary and stormwater infrastructure. Speakers said the port is critical to local and state commerce, tourism, and tax revenue, and requested state support and letters backing federal funding efforts. Members discussed the sewer/stormwater flooding issue, the estimated $1.5 billion to $2 billion cost, and the need for federal action; the chair said a letter of support would be prepared for committee members to sign. The committee then heard and passed HB 2237, which appropriates $4.5 million for Apache Junction’s Superstition Trails and visitor gateway project, and HB 2926, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act. HB 2926 would create expedited permitting for workforce housing, provide a single point of contact, reduce the state portion of prime contracting tax for qualifying projects, and lower the population threshold for certain industrial development authority bond actions. After an amendment, the bill passed 6-1. Testimony in support came from the sponsor and housing advocates, who said the bill would help address Arizona’s missing-middle housing shortage and reduce regulatory delays. The committee also passed HB 2113, which would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when proposed residential rate increases are 100% or more. The sponsor argued RUCO should focus more on rural customers facing large percentage increases, while RUCO’s director said the office has only nine staff, a $1.9 million budget, and limited capacity, warning the bill could increase costs and delay cases. Members discussed rural ratepayer impacts, and the bill passed 5-1-1. HB 2824, authorizing local C-PACE programs for voluntary financing of commercial property improvements, also passed unanimously after testimony that it would support energy, water, and infrastructure upgrades without state general fund exposure. Finally, HB 2939, a rural investment tax credit bill tied to large qualifying investments and net new jobs, passed unanimously after Lucid Motors testified in support. The committee held HB 2950 due to time and adjourned, noting it would be heard first next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2653, Lee, Modern Foundation models report, held in committee.
• AB 16, Petrinoris, grid manufacturing initiative, do pass. That's out on a B roll call.
• Maybe AB 1975, Schultz, distribution grid utilization metric, held in committee.
• AB 1975, Schultz, distribution grid utilization metric, held in committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 14, 2026 suspense-file hearing and considered 637 Assembly bills, plus several committee bills and one Senate bill. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors guiding decisions: fiscal impact, return on investment, avoiding added costs to constituents, and protecting the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then took action on a very large number of measures, with many bills receiving do pass or do pass as amended recommendations and many others held in committee. Topics covered a wide range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, public safety, labor, environmental regulation, wildfire mitigation, water, transportation, cannabis, AI, and state governance. Several bills were amended to reduce costs, narrow scope, remove provisions, or make them contingent on appropriations or existing resources; some were advanced on A or B roll calls, while others were held. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, child care, school and higher education programs, wildfire and fire safety, housing financing, and various criminal justice and public safety measures. It also moved forward a number of bills related to tribal issues, consumer protections, energy and utility policy, and environmental programs. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also, the commission is undertaking a real deep dive into grid modernization and distribution planning
• Utility regulation might not be the most exciting of areas, but we're very excited to have a grid modernization
• And then we wanted to continue to modernize the agency. IT increased capacity.
• Chief of Staff, I really like the modernization that you mentioned.
• This is a modernization.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a trillion-dollar disaster, driving up energy costs, undermining grid reliability, and forcing
• reliability, and forcing out grid reliability, and forcing out dependable<00:18:06.960> power
• Reconciliation is the path grid.
• Reducing an appliance's energy use also helps decrease stress on the electric grid.
• of the issue that needs to be modernized of the issue that needs to be modernized as<03:28:04.399

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of these large energy facilities, and they pose an existential threat to our energy grid, which
• A lot of these large energy facilities, and they pose an existential threat to our energy grid, which
• Before we hand over permits, infrastructure, tax incentives, and access to our power grid, we have an
• And before we hand over permits, infrastructure, tax incentives, and access to our power grid, we have
• PLACING AN ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE GRID, WHICH CAN DRIVE UP COSTS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, BEFORE

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games. The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually. The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 325 updates California antitrust laws to address the use of modern tools for illegal price fixing.
• It modernizes our antitrust laws.
• Members, AB 443 requires the California Energy Commission to assess our grid and where curtailment is
• Today, I present AB 561, a bill that modernizes the process for obtaining.
• Unlocking their ability to reduce energy costs and enhance grid reliability.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Capitol Mall design framework included balancing a regard for the iconic historic landscape with modern
• for the iconic historic<00:03:55.519> landscape<00:03:56.159> with<00:03:56.360> modern
• landscape with modern needs for security<00:03:57.920> for<00:03:58.200> events<00:03:
• c><00:10:40.480> the<00:10:40.639> city<00:10:40.920> street<00:10:41.320> Grid
• ideas is relinking the city street Grid ideas is relinking the city street Grid in<00:10:42.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all