Transcript Highlights:

• I understand the mandatory fees are surcharges, but I don't know, this can get very tricky and complicated
• But I wanted to ask you, we had a bill on debit card surcharges. Yes, ma'am.
• Surcharges. Yes, ma'am. And since then, I've also heard restaurants charging a surcharge on cash.
• And if somebody goes to a restaurant and they get surcharged because they're paying cash and it makes

Bills: HCR66 , HB387 , HB617 , HB797 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1186 , HB1222 , HB1223 , HB1228 , HB1256

Committee: Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: economic development, rural communities, infrastructure, workforce training, Louisiana Economic Development, engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, hidden fees, junk fees, drip pricing, price transparency, mandatory fees, surcharges, consumer protection, unfair trade practices, advertising disclosures, total price

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on April 20, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a series of bills and resolutions. It first advanced H. CR 66, which directs Louisiana Economic Development, working with the Governor’s Office of Rural Development, to study rural parish economic assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities. The committee also moved HB 387, a clarification allowing the fire marshal to review architectural and engineering plans equally, and HB 1223, which seeks to promote clinical trials in Louisiana by having LED market the state’s research capacity and by adjusting internal review board procedures. HB 1228, a cleanup bill for hearing aid dealers that updates definitions, contracts, testing periods, licensing, and related requirements, was also reported favorably, as was HB 950, which would create an elderly consumer perception program through the Office of Elderly Affairs to help seniors recognize scams and fraud. The committee spent the most time on HB 617, a broad “hidden fees” consumer transparency bill. The author and supporters said it would require mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing so consumers can make informed choices, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups argued the bill was vague, overly broad, and likely to create compliance burdens and litigation risk. Housing advocates objected to the bill’s housing exemption, warning it could weaken renters’ ability to bring claims over undisclosed fees. After extensive debate over variable pricing, sales taxes, enforcement, and the scope of the bill, Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard HB 797, which would create a “Bayou Gold” certification program for certain gold vendors and transactional gold products. The sponsor said the program would encourage vendors to keep gold insured, segregated, and closer to Louisiana consumers, with the Treasury administering the certification through participant fees. Several senators and an outside witness raised concerns that the state seal could be mistaken for an endorsement, could create liability or consumer confusion, and would favor a narrow set of vendors. Despite opposition, the committee reported HB 797 favorably, with members noting it still had to go to Finance. Later, the committee advanced HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, add disciplinary authority, and impose a small permit fee to support the program, and HB 1222, which would let LED develop a grocery initiative to address food deserts and food insecurity. The meeting concluded with the committee hearing HB 1256 on abandoned digital assets, which would require dormant digital assets to be held in original form for three years so owners can reclaim them.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've just had this issue recently: even unintended delay subjects a fiduciary to surcharge and interest
• So you have someone who's just innocently confused and well-intended, they will be subject to surcharge

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The committee met for its final meeting of the year and considered a series of Judiciary-related bills. The first measure, S.48 (Walsh), proposed a constitutional amendment to bar the governor from using messages of necessity for budget-related bills. Supporters argued that budget bills should receive the normal three-day review period and that the public and legislature need more time to examine major spending and policy changes. Despite that support, the motion to advance the bill failed, and it was not reported. Several other bills were advanced with little or no opposition. S.951 (Kavanaugh), requiring disclosure of certain demographic information by real estate brokers and salespersons, was reported to Finance. S.7279 (Scarcella Spanton), allowing certified school psychologists to participate in certifications related to intellectual or developmental disability, was reported to the floor. S.9582 (Gonzalez), concerning persons ineligible to act as fiduciaries, drew concerns that judges should retain discretion and that the bill could create problems for well-intended fiduciaries, but it was still reported to the floor. S.9765 (Sunshine and Litigation Act on protective orders), S.9788 (arbitration), S.9788/9789 (jurisdiction over certain defendants in city and justice courts), S.9848 (contents of claims in the Court of Claims), and S.9894 (rape shield/evidence of a victim’s sexual conduct or dress) were also reported to the floor. The committee also discussed S.9790 (audio-visual coverage of judicial proceedings), with supporters saying cameras would increase transparency and public trust while preserving safeguards for sensitive proceedings; it was reported to the floor. Another bill, S.9798, would prohibit the use of reproductive or sexual health devices as evidence of prostitution in certain criminal or civil proceedings; it was reported to Codes. The meeting concluded after all listed bills were acted on, with the chair thanking members and guests and noting the committee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Registering a vehicle or potentially getting a ticket, even though with a ticket I could be from out
• Tickets, I'm not so sure.
• Registering a vehicle or potentially getting a ticket, even though with a ticket I could be from out
• Tickets, I'm not so sure.
• Tickets, I'm not so sure.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. Department of Education testimony said the bill’s definition would conflict with the federal definition and be unusually restrictive, potentially affecting curriculum, educator training, and many existing state requirements. The department said it could force a broad overhaul of school programs and create a need for at least one new state position, with local districts likely facing significant unbudgeted costs. Members raised concerns about impacts on federal pass-through funding, curriculum materials, and whether the bill was workable at all. Several members said the proposal would be too costly and difficult to implement, especially during a tight budget cycle. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. Members who supported retention said they wanted to set the bill aside because of the scale of the concerns, while also stating they did not support the bill as written. The committee then opened HB 133, dealing with DMV follow-up on residency and licensing issues tied to voting and other interactions. Department of Safety/DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology update plus a full-time position to handle manual correspondence and review of possible matches, and that postage was not included in the fiscal note. They said the bill’s 60-day residency trigger is vague, that the DMV would be acting outside its normal role by investigating status after the fact, and that the measure could create privacy and operational problems. Members questioned whether the bill would effectively force people to buy a driver’s license to vote, whether non-driver and voter ID options would avoid that concern, and whether the Secretary of State rather than DMV would be the more appropriate agency to handle any follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Go Green currently relies on IOU ratepayer funds and public purchase program surcharges, while helpful
• The way that it's paid is through a surcharge.
• On mine, it's about two cents as a surcharge. However, the fund itself has not really grown.
• Actually, I don't know; I don't believe so, no, because it is the surcharge on your telephone bill.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard several energy, telecommunications, and regulatory bills. SB 929 by Senator Jones would require the California Energy Commission chair to appear annually and report to the Legislature on the commission’s activities, plans, and outreach; it was presented as a low-cost oversight measure and drew no opposition. SB 1138 by Senator Padilla would let load-serving entities trade hourly resource adequacy obligations under the CPUC’s slice-of-day framework to reduce overprocurement and lower ratepayer costs; supporters said it could save tens of millions of dollars, while questions focused on reliability and whether savings would reach customers. SB 913 by Senator Becker would create a clearer pathway for customer-sited distributed energy resources, such as home batteries and smart thermostats, to participate in resource adequacy markets; supporters said it would unlock existing clean capacity and reduce costs, and members asked about reliability, opt-in participation, and compensation for homeowners. The committee also heard SB 1197 by Senator Niello, which would move California to permanent standard time if federal law allows, with testimony from a sleep medicine physician supporting the health and safety benefits of ending the time switch and opposition from golf industry representatives who urged a broader analysis of economic, recreational, and public safety impacts. Members debated whether the 2018 voter approval required another vote and whether Congress would need to act. SB 1265 by Senator Richardson would codify and expand the Go Green financing program by creating a new fund and allowing broader partnerships beyond current IOU service areas; supporters said it would expand access to clean energy financing statewide. SB 1337 by Senator Richardson would create a working group to coordinate fuel transition policy and refinery-related issues following SB 237, with supporters emphasizing the need for better interagency coordination and some members asking how it would avoid duplicative work. The committee also considered SB 1191 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, which would extend the California High-Cost Fund A and B programs for rural telephone service through 2033; supporters said the surcharge-funded program is essential for affordable service and emergency connectivity in remote areas. After discussion, the committee adopted amendments where offered and voted all of the bills out of committee, generally on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, with SB 1265 receiving one no vote. Several bills were held on call briefly and then later passed when the committee reconvened, and the hearing adjourned after all listed measures were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Go Green currently relies on IOU ratepayer funds and public purpose program surcharges.
• The way that it's paid is through a surcharge.
• On mine, it's about two cents as a surcharge.
• I don't believe so, no, because it is the surcharge on your telephone bill.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SETNA is a surcharge on telephone lines in California that funds the legacy 911 system and transition
• With a surcharge that's being charged to constituents of all of our, in the Assembly, 80 members, do
• So while it may not be a Tax that funds this, it's a surcharge on their service lines for communications
• Would you also believe that half a billion dollars, whether it's General Fund or surcharge, is a large
• that an independent audit of what transpired would be reasonable as far as being paid through this surcharge

Summary: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 heard the Governor’s May Revision proposals for the judicial branch, the Board of State and Community Corrections, the Department of Justice, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget remains structurally imbalanced and urged the Legislature to avoid new ongoing spending unless offset by reductions elsewhere. In the judicial branch discussion, the Judicial Council highlighted language access funding, appellate court security, a backfill for the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation room mandate; Finance supported most items but suggested reporting language on interpreter costs and reducing the General Fund backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial vacancies, long-term salary freezes, remote hearings, and the lack of progress on court staffing in some counties. For the Board of State and Community Corrections, the administration proposed $10 million one-time each for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People grant program and a human trafficking vertical prosecution grant program. The LAO said both should be weighed against other priorities and suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and asked whether ongoing support would be considered. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said BSC was a good fit because of its grant administration experience and prior vertical prosecution work, while legislators asked why the program was not placed with the Office of Emergency Services as originally contemplated in prior legislation. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse staffing, completion of organized retail criminal enterprise cases, and trailer bill language for a continuous appropriation from the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO supported the antitrust account use but questioned the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s ability to cover the full request without General Fund repayment, and recommended against a continuous appropriation for the restitution fund in favor of a more limited mechanism with legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. In the CDCR portion, the largest discussion centered on the Boston Consulting Group efficiency review and sharply reduced savings estimates; LAO said the department had not fully explained the proposed position eliminations or future $100 million savings target, while Finance said the work reflected deeper analysis and ongoing efforts to find savings. Members repeatedly pressed CDCR and Finance on the gap between earlier promised savings and the revised figures. CDCR also outlined population projections showing continued declines in prison and parole populations, while LAO again urged the state to close an additional prison to save ongoing costs. The department then walked through several May Revision items, including workers’ compensation funding, a Corcoran honor housing dorm, incarcerated firefighter pay implementation, an incarcerated menopause program, mental health receiver staffing, mental health resource teams and crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing changes, and AI note-taking for the electronic health record. LAO generally recommended limiting-term funding and more reporting for many of these proposals, while Finance defended them as necessary ongoing investments or court-ordered obligations. Members questioned the cost of workers’ compensation, the need for more prison closures, the lack of funding for women’s facility violence prevention, and the timing and transparency of the BCG savings process. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> potentially you know getting a ticket potentially you know getting a ticket even<00:29:07.480><c
• Well, if I could on that ticket, yeah.
• Well, if I could on that ticket, yeah.
• Well, if I could on that ticket, yeah.
• And that comes from the E-911 surcharge.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. The Department of Education testified that the bill’s definition would conflict with federal definitions and be very restrictive, potentially affecting a wide range of instructional methods, curriculum materials, teacher training, civics requirements, suicide prevention training, and other programs. The department said the bill could force a broad overhaul of school practices, create local implementation burdens, and require at least one new state position, with a fiscal note estimating roughly $118,000 in FY 2026 rising in later years. Members also raised concerns about possible impacts on federal pass-through funding and whether the bill was workable. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. The committee then heard HB 133, a Department of Safety/DMV bill involving follow-up when a person votes using an out-of-state license or non-driver ID and then does not obtain a New Hampshire credential within the statutory timeframe. DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology upgrade plus a new full-time position, and that the fiscal note did not include postage or fully account for the manual work needed to match records, send notices, and review responses. They said the proposal also raised broader tracking issues because it would apply not only to voters but to anyone who had not obtained a New Hampshire license within 60 days, and they questioned whether DMV was the proper agency to make those inquiries. Committee members pressed the department on how the 60-day clock would be determined, whether the bill could amount to a kind of poll tax or raise privacy concerns, and whether voter ID cards or other exceptions would avoid that problem. The department explained that New Hampshire offers a free voter identification card through town clerks for people without a license or state ID, but said the bill did not exempt those cards and that the DMV would still be asked to investigate status after voting. Officials also said the bill would be difficult to enforce, that some cases would be ambiguous, and that any response from the DMV would likely amount to a request for information rather than an enforceable consequence. No vote on HB 133 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are benefits to the bicycle fund, as well as brownfields, because of the 2% surcharge; they will
• We also wanted to highlight the Brownfield surcharge provision.
• I also wanted to highlight the Brownfield surcharge provision.

Bills: HB373

Committee: Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology

Keywords: infused beverages, THC, alcohol control, regulation, non-intoxicating cannabinoids, marijuana, legalization, taxation

Summary: The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee met in hybrid format and heard testimony on several bills. HB 373, as amended, would regulate hemp-derived THC-infused beverages by defining the products, limiting them to 10 mg of Delta-9 THC per container, restricting sales to package stores and licensed marijuana retail stores, requiring testing and labeling, and imposing a 50-cent per container tax; the sponsor said the bill is intended to create guardrails and protect youth, and a wholesaler representative testified in support. HB 398 would allow racinos to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and remove local authority to require earlier closing times; the sponsor and Bally’s representative said it would help Delaware remain competitive and increase revenue, and no opposition was heard. HB 433 would let municipalities and counties extend last call for bars, restaurants, and clubs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.; a witness from Connect Delaware supported it as a competitiveness and retention measure, emphasizing that it is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 441, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks/crypto ATMs in Delaware and require existing machines to be removed within 90 days. The sponsor and supporters, including AARP, the Delaware Department of Justice, and the League of Women Voters, argued the machines are heavily used in scams, especially against older adults, and that regulation has not been effective. CoinFlip opposed the bill, saying it is a regulated operator, that the fraud statistics are overstated or incomplete, and that Delaware should instead adopt a regulatory framework and amendment. HB 465 would update the criminal code to formally define virtual currency and incorporate it into theft, money laundering, racketeering, and search-and-seizure provisions; the sponsor said it would align Delaware law with modern crypto-related crimes, and no opposition was presented. The committee then heard HB 467, which would prevent landlords from requiring renters to buy insurance from a specific company while still allowing them to require coverage meeting lease terms; the sponsor described it as a consumer-choice bill and there was no public opposition. HB 435 would require payment parity for certified registered nurse anesthetists and physicians when the same services are provided; the sponsor, nurse anesthetists, the Delaware Health Care Association, the Department of Insurance, and ChristianaCare supported it as a workforce and access-to-care measure, with no opposition. Finally, HS 1 for HB 450, the Road DE Act, would overhaul permitting and traffic-impact review, emphasize peak-hour traffic, set density standards in growth areas, create a transportation impact fee, and direct some revenue to open space, farmland, and coastal restoration; realtors, builders, environmental groups, engineers, and GEAR supported it as a way to speed permitting, reduce sprawl, and improve infrastructure planning. The committee adjourned after public comment; no votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee is paid for by surcharges assessed on all telephone and wireless customers right now.
• I will note that adding an additional advisory board may increase those surcharges, since there will
• I will note that by adding additional advisory board may increase those surcharges since there will be

Summary: The Communications and Conveyance Committee heard several bills focused on telecommunications, emergency response, and digital access. AB 1540 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez would restore the 988 “press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth crisis support, with strong support from suicide prevention advocates, mental health organizations, local governments, and family groups, and opposition from groups arguing it politicizes crisis services and raises safety concerns. Members emphasized the bill’s life-saving purpose and noted it would depend on federal approval. The committee voted AB 1540 out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, including AB 2093 and AB 2193, both sent to Appropriations. AB 1832 by Assemblymember Ransom, as amended, would expand and stabilize statewide 211 services through a state fund, a community needs dashboard, and integration into emergency planning; supporters described 211’s role during disasters and service gaps in many counties, and the bill passed unanimously as amended to Appropriations. AB 2289, the chair’s bill, would create an Office of Broadband and Digital Equity, consolidate broadband programs, and narrow CPUC jurisdiction to voice communications; TURN and CWA District 9 opposed the regulatory changes but acknowledged shared goals, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2424 by Assemblymember Carrillo would create a new low-income telecommunications advisory board to oversee California Lifeline and address fraud and oversight concerns. Supporters said the board would add needed telecommunications expertise and improve access for low-income and immigrant communities, while opponents argued an existing advisory structure already serves that role and warned of added costs and surcharges. After discussion, the committee voted AB 2424 out on a 7-2 vote to Appropriations. The meeting concluded after all listed bills were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, state and local affordable housing and homeless programs receive funding from a surcharge
• that is collected by county auditors when certain documents are recorded. 13.1% of this surcharge is
• distributed to the Affordable Housing for All account. 13.1% of this surcharge is distributed to the

Bills: SB6114 , SB6244

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: excise tax, definitions, tax law, taxation, fixtures, affixed, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is House Bill 511 to raise the maximum structure surcharge on improved private forest land parcels
• And the surcharge helps fund Idaho's wildland fire preparedness and suppression efforts.
• And then if there is an improvement on that particular timber parcel, there is that $40 surcharge.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator: Well, they are if they're a ticket. Another Senator: Yes, I know. I was like, well, OK.
• diagram which shows the four historical fees, which is prepaid, wireless, landline, and equalization surcharge
• diagram which shows the four historical fees, which are prepaid, wireless, landline, and equalization surcharge
• This exceptional item would be fully funded through actual revenue collected by the equalization surcharge
• highlights the efficiency of our network and the value we provide to the community. equalization surcharge

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've heard earlier, and many of you know, about Professor Bornstein's, Severin Borenstein's mystery surcharge
• this jump in prices, and that was the beginning of the appearance of the so-called mystery gasoline surcharge
• So you'll see a bar on that chart that shows, of the so-called mystery gasoline surcharge.
• This coincides with when the mystery gasoline surcharge first appeared.
• significant clue that branded gasoline price increases are contributing to the mystery gasoline surcharge

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing on managing the transportation fuels transition, fuel pricing, and supply reliability. Chair Allen opened by discussing prior legislation, including SB 1322 and special session measures, that expanded reporting to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and gave the state tools to study gasoline costs, refinery margins, inventories, and potential supply disruptions. He framed the hearing around refinery closures, rising imports, global conflict affecting crude markets, and the need to balance affordability, reliability, and the state’s long-term clean-fuels transition. CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, CDTFA Chief Deputy Director Gentian Droboniku, and DPMO Director Ty Miller presented data showing California’s growing dependence on imported crude and refined products, declining in-state refining capacity, and stable-to-tight inventories that are being supported by higher imports. They said the new transparency laws have improved understanding of the market and pointed to the proposed Gateway Pipeline, marine imports, and distribution constraints as important supply issues. CDTFA and DPMO emphasized that retail margins, especially for branded gasoline, have widened significantly, with large price gaps between branded stations and hypermarts/unbranded stations, and that some of the recent price increases were tied to the Iran conflict while earlier spikes were more consistent with localized market behavior and possible price gouging. DPMO also said it is investigating high-priced branded stations, monitoring algorithmic pricing under AB 325, and continuing to analyze diesel spot-market transparency. The CEC and CARB also discussed the Transportation Fuels Transition Plan and the SB 237 assessment, describing them as efforts to plan for a managed decline in fossil fuel demand while protecting workers, communities, and consumers. They said California’s climate goals remain centered on an 85% greenhouse gas reduction by 2045, with continued use of liquid fuels expected but with lower-carbon alternatives, more efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels playing a larger role. Committee members focused heavily on workforce impacts, the need for concrete transition planning, and whether the agencies could provide a clearer picture of what California’s fuel system will look like under the state’s long-term goals. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public higher ed, education reimbursement accounts—those are kind of some of the bigger-ticket areas
• I'm not mistaken, that means that some of the things that we have funded more recently from the surcharge
• ... ...from the surcharge could not be that we could not take money from that and put it to something

Bills: H5006 , H5007

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: tax revenue, state surplus, taxpayer refunds, budget growth, Massachusetts General Laws, income tax, tax reduction, state law, personal income tax, tax rates, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a diagram which shows the four historical fees: prepaid wireless, landline, and equalization surcharge
• exceptional item request would be fully funded through actual revenue collected by the Equalization Surcharge
• That is a very big item, a very big ticket item. Thank you very much.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• handout is a diagram which shows the. for historical fees, prepaid wireless landline and equalization surcharge
• exceptional item request would be fully funded through actual revenue collected by the equalization surcharge
• That is a very big item, very big ticket item. Thank you. very much.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would know. ...and other government surcharges, placing it second only to the state of Illinois.
• Grants are funded through the local journalism investment surcharge on covered platforms.
• The maximum of the combined surcharge paid by a covered platform is capped at $6 million annually.
• The Department of Revenue indicates that they cannot implement the surcharge until January 1, 2028.
• All costs will be covered by the revenue generated, as Alan explained, the surcharges on big tech.

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where hospitals pay a surcharge tax. It gets sent to Medicaid.
• It's an intergovernmental transfer, so it's just a transfer to the—they don't pay the surcharge because
• In particular, the healthcare quality surcharge payment—those are above Medicare because they're outside
• Surcharge.
• Healthcare Delivery and Access Act, when we passed it, like we were saying earlier, it brought in a surcharge

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• modest adjustment to the meals and lodging local options and an optional 5% motor vehicle excise surcharge
• that could be dedicated to a stabilization fund. ...optional 5% motor vehicle excise surcharge that
• lodging rentals from 6% to 7%; increase the local meals tax ceiling from 0.75% to 1%; and add a new surcharge
• Finally, the new motor vehicle excise surcharge addresses one of the most pressing needs facing all 351
• The proposed 5% surcharge would generate probably $700,000 annually for Plymouth. Thank you, Mr.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on Governor Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s Municipal Empowerment Act, with administration officials and municipal leaders broadly supporting the bill as a package of tools to help cities and towns manage rising costs, staffing shortages, and service demands. The administration highlighted procurement reforms, including raising Chapter 30B advertising thresholds, clarifying cooperative purchasing, and removing the Commbuys notice requirement; permanent authority to amortize emergency-related deficits over three years; expanded authority and enforcement for removing double poles; continued flexibility for hybrid and remote public meetings; regionalization options such as regional boards of assessors and intermunicipal agreements; cybersecurity reporting to EOTSS; and several local revenue options and other municipal finance changes. They said the bill was shaped by listening sessions with municipal officials and was intended to increase flexibility, efficiency, and stability without imposing broad mandates. Committee members asked about regionalization, cybersecurity costs, Commbuys, hybrid meetings, and double poles. Administration witnesses said cybersecurity reporting would help the state target resources and that existing Community Compact and capital grant programs, including IT and municipal fiber funding, could support local needs; they said EOTSS would absorb reporting within existing resources. On procurement, they said the Commbuys notice change would be optional and that other public notice methods would remain available. On hybrid meetings, they emphasized flexibility for different types of boards and the burdens a one-size-fits-all mandate could create for small towns and volunteer boards. On double poles, they said the bill’s main change from last session was to give utilities more time and improve the removal process while keeping enforcement mechanisms aimed at speeding removal rather than raising revenue. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and multiple mayors and town managers testified in support. They described the bill as a practical modernization measure that would help local governments operate more efficiently and respond to fiscal pressure. Witnesses from Northampton, Lynn, Gardner, Cambridge, Franklin, North Andover, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Ashland praised the hybrid meeting provisions, procurement changes, regional service-sharing, and emergency deficit amortization. Several also urged adoption of local revenue tools, including meals and lodging tax options and other local fees, as ways to preserve services and staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill extends the funding and surcharge authority for two existing programs: the Deaf and Disabled
• The DDTP program is funded through a flat-rate surcharge on telephone bills.
• Okay, so even the... can set the amount of the surcharge to raise up to $100 million per year?
• It's only extending the existing authority, and they're actually reducing the surcharge for the Deaf
• It's only extending the existing authority, and they're actually reducing the surcharge for the Deaf

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open. The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0. Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.