Transcript Highlights:

• One of them, we are doing a lot of research in microgrid and grid-related work.
• state of Texas, the ETS program, and that allow us to really do a lot of research on microgrids and grids
• looking at developing EMP test facilities. for testing of critical infrastructure, controllers for grid
• The fund is managed to preserve purchasing power and generate a reliable stream of distributions similar
• The TAF and the PAF provide stable, reliable funding to elevate our research institutions and Texas needs

Bills: HB 1105, HB1527, HB1787, HB1972, HB2081, HB3296, HB3976, HB4071, HB4234, HB4438, HB4701, HB5092, HB5150, HB5180, HB5265, HB5333, HJR203

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, laboratory fees, emergency medical services, peace officers, criminal justice, law enforcement, degree programs, public institutions, HB 1787, HPV, human papillomavirus, college health, university health, student health, public health education, prevention program, screening, early detection

Transcript Highlights:

• Data centers threaten our shared grid's reliability and create more risks for widespread blackouts in
• Data centers threaten our shared grid's reliability and create more risks for widespread blackouts in
• One solution to addressing grid reliability, especially under a just energy transition framework, is
• This has potential to add significant capacity to our shared grid by reducing the energy needs of the
• It increases our shared grid's capacity and reliability.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee met for a series of information sessions focused on housing stabilization, rental assistance, senior housing, and heat resilience. In the first panel, OHCS and NOAA described the state’s affordable housing preservation work, including the $35 million in 2025 stabilization funding used to reduce debt and keep distressed affordable rental projects operating, plus manufactured home park preservation efforts. OHCS said the portfolio remains under strain, with about a third of projects at debt coverage ratios of 1.0 or less and rising insurance and operating costs. NOAA urged faster closings on the stabilization awards, more funding in 2027, and broader rent assistance and process reforms. Committee members asked about the gap between current appropriations and need, and OHCS explained that the new Article 11-Q bond preservation program is structured differently and requires full refinancing rather than simple cash infusions. The committee then heard a detailed discussion of the state’s eviction prevention and rental assistance program, ORDAP. OHCS said the program is administered through community action agencies, prioritizes households at imminent risk of eviction, and is now funded at a much lower level than in the prior biennium, reducing expected service to about 8,200 households this biennium. The Oregon Law Center, a county community action agency, and Multifamily Northwest all agreed the program prevents homelessness and is effective, but they differed on whether assistance should be tied so closely to eviction court. Legal aid and community action witnesses said the current system is underfunded and that eviction filings are the clearest indicator of need, while Multifamily Northwest argued the process can push people into court unnecessarily and should be moved earlier when possible. Legislators raised questions about whether a pre-eviction model could be developed and about the costs of court involvement; one member shared a personal story about how rental assistance helped keep their family housed. Next, the governor’s office, OHCS, and OHA presented on the new senior housing initiative and healthy homes work. The governor’s housing director said Oregon is making progress on homelessness and housing production, with reductions in homelessness outside Multnomah County and an estimated 50,000 future units added to the pipeline through recent state actions. OHCS outlined the senior housing programs launched in May: a debt-financing program using elderly and disabled bond authority, an older adult housing development program funded through the senior property tax deferral revolving account, and a rehousing program for older adults that will use bridge funding and services to move at least 400 unsheltered older Oregonians into housing. OHA also described its Healthy Homes Grant Program, including $24.6 million already awarded, a new $5 million grant round for seniors and people with disabilities, and examples of home repairs and weatherization that help people remain safely housed. The final information session focused on home cooling and heat resilience. OHA presented data showing rising extreme heat days, more heat-related emergency visits, and likely undercounted heat deaths, especially among older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities, and people without access to healthy homes. ODOE reviewed implementation of Senate Bill 1536, including a cooling needs study that found 58% of surveyed households in the studied housing types needed permanent cooling, with estimated statewide costs of $582 million to $1 billion. ODOE said its rental home heat pump and community heat pump programs have supported 4,638 installations so far, with a temporary reopening planned using remaining funds. The session ended with a remote presentation from a Community Action Partnership of Oregon representative, continuing the discussion of how community action agencies help deliver energy and anti-poverty services.

Transcript Highlights:

• CSGs are also a proven mechanism for building medium-sized solar installations, which have additional grid
• solar installations which<00:09:45.519> have<00:09:45.680> additional<00:09:46.080> grid
• <00:09:46.399> value<00:09:46.880> because which have additional grid value because
• which have additional grid value because they<00:09:47.360> are<00:09:47.440> often<00
• , system to one that is more reliable, system to one that is more reliable, more<00:10:42.720>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3556 was presented as a bill to rename Minnesota’s community solar garden program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. The author described the measure as a tribute to Hortman’s leadership and her role in creating the program, which was said to have helped launch Minnesota’s solar industry and expand access to clean energy. The bill was moved to the general register before testimony began. Testifiers from the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, solar industry groups, clean energy organizations, and community solar developers all supported the bill. They described Hortman as the original legislative champion of the 2013 community solar law and a driving force behind the 2023 revisions that increased access for low- and moderate-income households. Several witnesses said the program has become a national model, has generated jobs and investment, and has enabled renters, small businesses, schools, nonprofits, and households without suitable rooftops to participate in solar. Witnesses also shared personal reflections about Hortman’s accessibility, preparation, and willingness to listen, saying she treated people with respect and helped shape a durable clean energy policy framework. No opposition testimony or votes on final passage were recorded in the excerpt, but the committee did act to advance the bill to the general register.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those two entities are devoted to ensuring reliability and stability of the electric grid, and they have
• Uh, specific focus on reliability and then capacity constraints for large loads.
• Those two entities are devoted to ensuring reliability and stability of the electric grid, and they have
• Those two entities are devoted to ensuring reliability and stability of the electric grid, and they have
• > both the electric grid, and they have both the electric grid, and they have both recently<00

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The chairman opened by explaining that the committee would hear proposed interim topics and then rank them by written submissions rather than debating them one by one. The Public Service Commission presented two topics: an educational session on small water utilities, citing maintenance needs, water-quality compliance, and difficulty accessing capital, and a review of civil penalties for pipeline safety violations because Wyoming’s statutory penalties are far below federal levels and could affect compliance and funding. Members and outside presenters then outlined a range of additional topics. Representative Campbell proposed work on fire protection districts and EMS districts, focusing on financial stability, mill levies, and possible county authority to combine districts and levies. He also raised public records at meetings, corporate filing fees, and fraudulent corporate filings. The Community College Commission proposed updating annexation statutes so communities can join community college districts more easily, especially where current mill-levy rules create funding issues. Senator Crago supported the fraudulent corporate filings topic and noted related technology-based solutions and overlap with blockchain issues. Other proposals included CPA “Pathways” licensing changes to address a shortage of accountants, a review of public meetings and public records laws, continuation of the electricity study with emphasis on grid reliability and large-load capacity constraints, and a broader review of the public meetings and records act. Ashley Harpstreith of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities supported extending municipal audit deadlines and described a statewide shortage of auditors and CPAs. Healthy Wyoming proposed studying health coverage options for low-income working adults, including state-sponsored or cooperative models. Representative Chestek proposed making most nonpartisan county offices elected on a nonpartisan basis. No votes or final selections were taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and discussed whether topics should be assigned to this committee or another one.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:31:41.680> and and we provide safe, reliable, and and we provide safe, reliable, and
• reliable<00:36:09.840> energy.
• owned and sourced reliable energy. owned and sourced reliable energy.
• today they sport an electricity grid today they sport an electricity grid that's<00:53:54.080>
• clean power to fill the same reliable clean power to fill the gap<00:54:07.840> here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aligns with the regulatory framework of other states that also operate in the MISO grid.
• sovereign debt cases by amending the Business and Commerce Code to make the state an acceptable and reliable
• Utility customers require a safe and reliable utility. service, which is not possible without investment
• that new construction will be more efficient, safe, save consumers money, and put less strain on our grid
• That's going to help with our water grid and our energy grid.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• Historically, this is typically included solar... ...not for selling power back to the grid.
• difficult for the utilities to approve than solar; and also systems that don't export energy to the grid
• And I think the state auditor can help. ...to the grid. They're just for on-site consumption.
• safety and reliability.
• Nearly a decade later, the family still has no contract, no reliable price, and now faces major repair

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee for much of the hearing because it initially lacked a quorum, then later established one and began taking votes. The state auditor gave a status update on ongoing audits, including several JALAC-requested audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth in his office, and the number of new JALAC audits his office could start in the coming months. The committee also heard that one audit request on Prop. 28 was held, and another PUC-related request was moved off consent and heard on the regular calendar. Members then heard and discussed several audit requests. Senator Cervantes presented a request to audit California fusion centers, with witnesses from the FBI and ACLU supporting the need for transparency and oversight; opponents argued the request was politically motivated and could interfere with counterterrorism work. Senator Allen presented a request on CPUC enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for solar and storage projects, supported by industry and school representatives who described long delays and financial harm, while CPUC staff said the issue was being addressed through workshops and a formal proceeding. Senator Perez presented a request to audit Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 extension properties and affordable sales program, citing tenant complaints about maintenance, pricing, and transparency; Caltrans said it was working to complete sales and improve administration. Senator Umberg presented a request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that existing legal remedies had not been invoked. After quorum was established, the committee approved the consent-calendar DMV license revocation audit and then approved the PUC utility timeliness audit and the Caltrans SR 710 audit. The fusion center audit was left on call after a split vote, and the Orange County Board of Education audit continued with testimony from the board’s representatives after the committee had already moved on to other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• the transmission and delivery aspects of our grid.
• So if you think about the grid.
• <01:26:15.199> It<01:26:15.440> gets the grid as an appliance.
• It gets the grid as an appliance.
• Uh, the more reliable Yes. Uh, source.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mission of the commission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, reliable
• This is a future with energy that is more affordable and cleaner, more reliable and safe.
• affordable and cleaner, more reliable affordable and cleaner, more reliable and<00:23:08.880>
• <00:40:16.320> for<00:40:16.520> all increase reliability for all increase reliability
• they are supporting energy on the grid they are supporting energy on the grid is<00:51:02.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, our border crossing times are long; they're not very reliable, and that is not a good thing for
• It is an amazing machine; it is affordable, it is reliable, it consists of thousands of devices, and
• But those are your baseload reliable energy sources that we have available.
• That will give you a more robust, reliable energy system in total.
• That being said, having a reliable water supply is going to be an important policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• A meaningful drop in production would directly threaten grid reliability and drive up energy prices for
• And the reliability of our grid is something that has not been touched on.
• production would directly threaten grid production would directly threaten grid reliability<03:08
• And the reliability<03:08:34.160> of<03:08:34.319> our<03:08:34.560> grid<03:08:
• 34.880> is<03:08:35.200> something reliability of our grid is something reliability of

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate came to order, established a quorum, and approved the journal. It then took up several introductions and resolutions, including House Bill 1139 on artificial intelligence in healthcare and House Bill 1263 on requirements for conversational AI services, both referred to the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The chamber also moved out of order to consider resolutions and adopted Senate Joint Resolution 25, recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Colorado Mining Association and its role in Colorado’s history and economy. The resolution passed 34-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1030, designating a portion of Colorado Highway 14 in Weld County as Mono and Matt Road in memory of Eduardo Mono Hernandez and Matthew Garcia. Supporters described the resolution as a tribute to the two Greeley Central High School student-athletes and to the community’s response after their 2014 deaths. The resolution passed 34-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. Later, the Senate considered a gubernatorial appointment to the Transportation Commission: Juan Marano of Aurora, to represent the Third Transportation District. The appointment was confirmed on a 19-16 vote. The chamber then took up the third-reading consent calendar and passed House Bill 1235 on medical assistance updates, House Bill 1299 on reducing regulatory burdens on local education providers, and Senate Bill 175 on workers’ compensation experience modification factors. House Bill 1235 passed 31-4, House Bill 1299 passed 35-0, and Senate Bill 175 passed without recorded opposition. On final passage, the Senate adopted a technical third-reading amendment to House Bill 113 on election law changes, then passed the bill 23-12 after debate over election-related vulnerabilities. It also passed House Bill 1346, allowing the Department of the Treasury to sell unsold insurance premium tax credits to non-insurance entities, by 23-12; House Bill 1252, updating state entities responsible for emergency response, by 33-2; House Bill 1010, increasing support for older adults in the workforce, by 23-12; and Senate Bill 177, concerning limited access to adjoining property for repairs, after extended debate in which Senator Kirkmeyer argued the measure infringed on private property rights and should be rejected.

Transcript Highlights:

• He thinks we need to harden our grid.
• He thinks we need to harden our grid. Well, they hadn't hardened the grid in Texas, I guess.
• He thinks we need to harden our grid. Well, they hadn't hardened the grid in Texas, I guess.
• he thinks we need to harden our grid he thinks we need to harden our grid well<00:12:08.240>
• <00:12:09.480> in well they hadn't hardened the Grid in well they hadn't hardened the Grid

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state legislative sessions have highlighted infrastructure gaps, whether it's energy in the power grids
• with an expansion and influx of businesses across our state, our infrastructure is being asked to reliably
• The interconnection queues for new generation sources are waiting to connect to the grid, are growing
• Second, we must drive sound policy and regulations to ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability for

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a smart policy, reduces energy demand on the grid, and provides direct savings to ratepayers.
• storage technology we have, with a 75- to 100-year asset life and the ability to provide critical grid
• It helps keep costs down for ratepayers while giving California additional tools to maintain grid reliability

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications met to hear several bills; ACA 9 was announced as postponed to a later hearing. The committee first approved the consent calendar, then heard AB 2458 by Assemblymember Bennett, which would extend California Energy Commission appliance efficiency standards to appliances that are rented or leased rather than only sold. Supporters from Ceres and Southern California Edison testified in favor, and Senator Caballero asked whether the bill would affect commercial food processors; the author said the CEC indicated it would not. The bill passed on a unanimous roll call and was sent to Senate Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 2476 by Assemblymember Ellis, which would remove an outdated pre-2020 state-funding requirement for pumped storage hydro projects to qualify for the state’s central procurement program, while keeping the 500-megawatt cap. The author and supporters from Rye Development, GreenGen Storage, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers argued the bill would expand competition for long-duration storage, support grid reliability, and help lower costs for ratepayers. Senator Rubio and others asked how the bill would produce savings, and the author explained that more eligible projects would increase competition in procurement. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard AB 2518 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins, a San Diego County pilot program to speed utility connection timelines for affordable housing, hospitals, municipal projects, EV infrastructure, and other projects. The San Diego Housing Commission and SDG&E supported the measure, saying it would reduce costly energization delays; members asked about possible impacts on other customers and whether the bill conflicted with existing SB 410 work, and the author said it was intended to complement current utility timelines. AB 2518 also passed on a unanimous vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee later reopened the roll to record an additional vote on AB 2518, confirming its passage before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• control that with the available grid control that with the available grid capacity<00:41:30.160>
• and efficiency and encourage grid and efficiency and encourage grid modernization<00:42:33.119><
• And once we do get on the grid, that battery system can help modernize that grid and help make it more
• And once we do get on the grid, that battery system can help modernize that grid and help make it more
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. deliver reliable affordable and safe deliver reliable

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Implemented some of this AI software and input this information to see if it can more reliably predict
• We get it from ourselves, and our most reliable single-country supplier is Canada.
• I would recommend that the PUC and ERC continue to push for electric grid accessibility and resiliency
• resiliency, as the fundamental solutions in resiliency will be with the grid infrastructure and power
• Thank you. providing the reliability required for continuous industrial operations.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, nuclear energy, obviously more energy, but critical infrastructure and grid security, streamlining
• And they would be adding capacity to the U.S. grid. And that's in the dark gray color.
• And they would be adding capacity to the US grid. And that's in the dark gray color.
• Now we have talked about advanced reactors. our heat on the grid.
• As the name suggests, it's a reactor not put electricity on the grid.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the years ahead, the program has already delivered new solar to the grid.
• and for all of our customers on the grid.
• We already have private investment into the grid. You know, some of the things that we do.
• You need to be putting it onto the grid; they do that upgrade, and the ratepayers are not paying for
• We are just simply allowing the most affordable, the most consistent, the most reliable, and the most

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• Thriving communities depend on safe, reliable, and resilient transportation networks.
• Modernizing our transportation infrastructure, from smoother roads to frequent and reliable transit,
• Speed safety cameras are an effective and reliable technology to supplement more traditional methods
• We need to, of course, make sure that we have a safe and reliable electric grid.
• You can encourage more optimization and better use of the existing electric grid today.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization. MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades. Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are not having transmission that is connected to the grid servicing the entire grid at large.
• They are not having transmission that is connected to the grid servicing the entire grid at large.
• <00:18:59.280> at<00:18:59.559> large grid servicing the entire Grid at large grid
• <00:25:58.320> and resources including the grid and resources including the grid and intermittent
• essentially doubling Demand on our grid essentially doubling Demand on our grid these<00:53:41.799

Keywords: 1187, senate, all