Transcript Highlights:

• I will say one of the things that we included as a potential alternative...
• For solar farms, one of the things that we included as a potential alternative is the use of agrovoltaics
• You know, we're looking at: are there alternative fuel peakers?
• When you look at some of the alternatives that are out there for plastic bags, such as the non-woven
• I already mentioned the severe recycling issues with the non-woven propylene alternatives, and we would

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've looked at multiple alternatives, and, um, I can't agree with myself on what the right, uh, path
• for restraint and temp ment alternatives for restraint and [Music] seclusion e e e [Unintelligible].
• or alternative methods would be much appreciated.
• Correct, yes, and this is again just a pilot program to explore those alternatives.
• Yeah, great. to explore those Alternatives to explore those Alternatives so<04:35:30.439> any<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 749, which would require high schools to provide at least one hour of instruction on the nature and history of communism. The prime sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns that students lack basic historical knowledge about communism and its effects, and argued that a short, flexible requirement could be embedded in an existing course without creating a new full class. He described communism as a totalitarian ideology and cited historical examples including the Soviet Union, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Cold War, and current events involving Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan as reasons students should understand the topic. Members asked whether the subject is already covered in current social studies standards, whether one hour is enough, and whether the bill would apply to public, private, parochial, and charter schools. The sponsor said he did not believe communism is specifically required in current standards, that he would prefer a full course but was proposing a minimal requirement, and that he intended the bill to apply broadly to schools under the Department of Education’s umbrella, though he acknowledged the wording may need clarification for charter schools. He also said the proposal was both reactive and proactive, based on anecdotal concerns and his teaching experience. A second supporter testified that he was born in the Soviet Union and favored the bill, but suggested the instruction should emphasize critical thinking and explain both why communism can appeal to some people and why it can have harmful consequences. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:02:11.880> you<01:02:12.039> had<01:02:12.400> written<01:02:12.720> test
• <01:02:13.279> did<01:02:13.400> you want um you had written test did you want um you
• Um, in terms of meals and rooms, I think that is an alternate path.
• Um, in terms of meals and rooms, I think that is an alternate path.
• It's really an alternative tax to address the same issue if you choose not to harvest timber.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• concentrating on modernizing the experience for our constituents to enhance their ability to have alternative
• Chairman, I think you mentioned it's an alternative method.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if we're taking something away, that we're making sure we always include a, you know, accessible alternative
• from... ...making sure we always include a, you know, accessible alternative from a price standpoint

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources first took up House Bill 3193. Members adopted a committee amendment adding an exception for health, safety, and compelling human need, then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and adopted the substitute as amended. The committee then voted the House Committee substitute for HB 3193 do pass by a vote of 8 ayes and 3 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 3366, sponsored by Representative Michael Burton, which would establish Missouri Black Bear Awareness Day on April 22. Burton described the growth of Missouri’s black bear population, the history of black bears in the region, and the need to educate the public on avoiding conflicts with bears, including using bear bells, bear spray, proper food storage, and not feeding bears. He also noted the bill’s connection to a separate effort to make the black bear the official state mammal. Members asked questions about public safety, bear behavior, picnic basket theft, bear bells, and other bear-related topics, with the sponsor emphasizing that the goal was awareness and coexistence rather than fear. No one testified in favor, opposition, or for informational purposes during public testimony, and the hearing on HB 3366 was concluded. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards and Education to prescribe qualifications for the licensing of administrators through the alternate
• discussion this session about changing the word scholarship to stipend, which changes some of our alternative

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• shared, and I think it, you know, it's particularly relevant, particularly since they've found an alternate
• They've found an alternate revenue source with the charitable gaming.

Bills: SB2014

Keywords: industrial commission, economic development, housing finance, oil and gas, rail infrastructure, financial assistance, emergency funding, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on the remaining bill and related amendments. Joe Morse asked the committee to include a $219,000 general fund replacement for rent that would no longer be collected from Career and Technical Education after the 15th floor of the tower becomes legislative space under the Legislative Council’s jurisdiction. Members discussed that state law currently requires rent only from executive branch office space, not legislative or judicial space, and there was no objection to adding the request to the amendment package. The committee then revisited a set of amendments it had previously discussed, including whether to include funding for Prairie Public. Senator Dwyer argued against any Prairie Public funding, citing its reserves, endowment, and charitable gaming revenue, and said the state should prioritize other needs. Senator Irby supported a one-time infrastructure contribution as the state shares in related infrastructure costs. Senator Sickler said Prairie Public still provides unique local programming, but that a one-time infrastructure item would be a reasonable compromise rather than ongoing operating support. A motion was made and seconded to provide Prairie Public $850,000 from the Strategic Investment and Improvement Fund for infrastructure needs. The roll call vote failed 3-2, with Senators Sickler and Irby voting aye, Senators Dwyer and Burkhard voting no, and Chairman Wanzek voting yes. After that vote, the committee indicated the amendment package was otherwise complete, though leadership had asked that final action on the bill be held for a little longer. The meeting adjourned with the understanding that more amendments could still be brought forward before the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• and unambiguous trajectory for us that really represents for us a need to make decisions or find alternative
• She'd be here today, but she had a math test.
• 17.920> math She'd be here today, but she had a math She'd be here today, but she had a math test
• . test. test.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 28, sponsored by Corporations, Elections, Voting Machine and Voting System Tests, an act
• elections voting machine and<00:56:43.680> voting<00:56:44.000> system<00:56:44.400> tests
• ><00:56:45.040> an<00:56:45.280> act<00:56:45.440> relating and voting system tests
• an act relating and voting system tests an act relating to<00:56:46.000> elections<00:56:46.559
• So if it's alternating, it'll be a whole year, or if it's intense block, it'll be about 90 days.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties
• But despite scoring well on the aptitude test, he, like many other qualified Black men, was forced to
• aptitude But despite scoring well on the aptitude But despite scoring well on the aptitude test
• 24.879> like<00:08:25.039> many<00:08:25.360> other<00:08:25.599> qualified test
• , he, like many other qualified test, he, like many other qualified black<00:08:26.479> men,<00

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our actuaries explored various alternatives to mitigate this challenge, including a late enrollment penalty
• Commissioners, or NAIC, with model laws governing group capital calculation and liquidity stress testing
• 49:27.599> and<00:49:27.760> liquidity<00:49:28.280> stress<00:49:28.599> testing
• calculation and liquidity stress testing calculation and liquidity stress testing requirements<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lining is an alternative to basically digging up and replacing pipes.
• We have hired a brand new engineering firm, Bolton and Mink, and we have started our smoke testing of
• firm bolt and we have started<01:35:14.280> our<01:35:14.440> smoke<01:35:14.719> testing
• <01:35:15.040> of<01:35:15.159> our started our smoke testing of our started our smoke
• testing of our sanitary<01:35:15.760> sewer<01:35:16.119> lines<01:35:16.840> we

Bills: HF458, HF459, HF461, HF449, HF450, HF965, HF1280, HF612, HF615, HF616, HF622, HF650, HF651, HF1045, HF972, HF851, HF644, HF1050

Keywords: HF458, Henderson, water treatment facility, drinking water, municipal water, public infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, bonding bill, Public Facilities Authority, water distribution system, well connection, local government grant, Minnesota capital budget, HF459, Carver levee, City of Carver, levee restoration, flood control, flood mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• So I guess my question is: what is the alternative here?
• I had just been at the Ramsey County public accuracy test, and, you know, for his question about the
• Ramsey County the publicly public the Ramsey County the publicly public accuracy<01:00:02.200> test
• 03.480> know<01:00:03.640> for<01:00:03.880> his<01:00:04.480> uh accuracy test
• and you know for his uh accuracy test and you know for his uh question<01:00:05.039> about<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll be tested after. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we are moving on to GM752, and this is submitting for
• You'll<01:03:07.200> be<01:03:07.280> tested<01:03:07.680> after.
• <01:03:08.400> No You'll be tested after. No You'll be tested after.
• c><01:48:42.480> other you don't want because the other you don't want because the other alternative
• is that well maybe we should alternative is that well maybe we should um<01:48:46.400> do<01:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think having alternates is important. Uh, alternate having alternates is important.
• Having alternates, though, requires a commitment from that alternate that they are going to be there.
• Having alternates though heard it.
• <02:31:04.640> And<02:31:05.520> uh alternates on a budget committee.
• And uh alternates on a budget committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• permanency goal and then alternative permanency goal and then work<00:41:58.839> toward<00:41
• We want our system of care outside of our system to be working for families, to have alternatives to
• We want our system of care outside of our system to be working for families, to have alternatives to
• We want our system of care outside of our system to be working for families, to have alternatives to
• We want our system of care outside of our system to be working for families, to have alternatives to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 House Finance Committee opened a work session and announced scheduling updates, including a second Medicaid work session on March 5 at 9:00 a.m. and a reminder that recommendations or budget amendments must be moved to the full finance committee by the end of March. Members were told no motions, roll calls, or votes would be taken, and the chair also reviewed upcoming meeting dates and weather-related cancellation procedures. The day’s presentation was a budget work session on the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), with officials Marie Nunan and Nathan White introducing the agency’s budget materials and mission. DCYF’s presentation focused on its core mandates and recent operational changes. Officials described child protective services, juvenile justice services, and the Sununu Youth Services Center, then highlighted workforce improvements, including reduced vacancy rates for assessment caseworkers, juvenile justice officers, and youth counselors. They attributed the staffing gains to legislative pay raises, mass recruitment posting changes, a more stable and trauma-informed model at SYC, and broader flexibility after prior budget cuts and hiring freezes. Members asked about full-time versus part-time staffing, and DCYF said most positions discussed were full-time, with some harder-to-fill part-time youth counselor roles at SYC. The committee also discussed DCYF’s emphasis on serving families earlier through its Community Navigator hotline referrals and community-based voluntary services, which are intended to connect families to supports before abuse or neglect escalates. Officials said the Community Navigator program had received 807 referrals since August 2023. On juvenile justice, DCYF described its assessment and diversion process and said it had reduced juvenile probation involvement by 30% from 2019 to 2023; members were directed to slide 17 for 2024 data, and officials said the trend continued toward fewer in-home juvenile justice cases. The agency also reported progress in kinship care, saying initial out-of-home placements with kin now occur 74% of the time and that kinship placements are associated with more reunification. Officials said kinship caregivers are being licensed and paid similarly to foster parents, and that the legislature’s kinship law has helped. Finally, DCYF outlined transition-age youth supports, including the HOPE program, Youth Villages LifeSet, and housing vouchers. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But in the meantime, since then, this alternative method of getting this feature, but only getting it
• Is it a better alternative? Is it not?
• alternative to the superior court<04:12:17.680> is<04:12:17.800> it<04:12:17.920> a
• > it court is it a better alternative is it court is it a better alternative is it not<04:12:20.520
• The Ombudsman's office provides a much-needed alternative for course correction.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting of the new session with opening remarks, member introductions, and a discussion of committee logistics. Members described their backgrounds and priorities, including criminal justice, right-to-know and privacy issues, domestic violence, death-with-dignity legislation, abortion, firearms, landlord-tenant policy, housing, and technology/privacy concerns. The chair noted there were already 34 bills assigned to the committee and expected more, and said the committee would likely continue to have a heavy workload this session. The chair also outlined how the committee would operate: meetings would generally be on Wednesdays, with possible Mondays as needed; hearings would not require a quorum, but executive sessions would; and members were asked to provide updated phone numbers and email addresses, especially cell numbers. He explained that the committee would continue its practice of seating members in a mixed partisan arrangement to encourage communication, and that the new clerk had joined the committee. A significant portion of the meeting focused on procedures for executive sessions and meeting times. The chair said the committee would follow the traditional rule allowing executive sessions on bills heard that day if proper notice was given, but he would avoid taking up controversial matters without full attendance. Members then discussed whether meetings should start at 9, 9:30, or 10 a.m., with concerns raised about long commutes, evening obligations, and winter driving after dark. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the chair indicated he would try to accommodate the committee’s preference while balancing the workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• We really do have to look at a— Alternative modes. Rapid rail makes sense to me.
• it's important for you to know According to a recent signal polling, 63% of Republicans support alternative
• And so, we debated here nuclear energy as another alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeff Schwartz continued: “We cannot allow the creation of enclaves where alternative legal systems are
• We cannot allow creation of enclaves where alternative legal systems are encouraged, tolerator, or quietly
• To your point of an alternative legal system, the FBI has made a number of arrests with the Chinese Communist

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills and a memorial focused on foreign law, land ownership, presidential electors, and campaign finance/federalism. SB 1018 would amend Arizona’s foreign-law statute to explicitly include Sharia law; the sponsor and supporters said it was needed to prevent foreign legal systems from influencing Arizona courts, while opponents from the ACLU and others argued it singled out Islam, was unnecessary because foreign law is already prohibited, and would be unconstitutional. After debate, the committee recommended SB 1018 do pass by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1075, which restricts conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities deemed hostile to the United States and adds disclosure, penalty, and enforcement provisions through a five-page amendment. The sponsor said it was modeled on other states’ efforts to keep adversarial nations from acquiring land near sensitive sites; the committee adopted the amendment and recommended the bill as amended do pass by a 3-3 vote. SB 1141, dealing with presidential electors, would require electors to vote for a properly nominated successor if a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before the Electoral College meets, and would deem an elector’s office vacant if the elector fails to vote. Supporters said it closes a gap in Arizona law and improves election continuity; it received a unanimous do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SCM 1003, a memorial urging Congress to support federalism and a constitutional amendment affirming state authority over election processes and campaign finance. Supporters argued that money in politics and out-of-state or international influence have grown too large and that states should regain more control; some members noted concerns about the rhetoric around ActBlue and other groups but still supported the memorial’s general purpose. SCM 1003 received a unanimous do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's my practice to alternate testimony.
• I doubt there'll be a lot of opposition, but we'll alternate anyway to start off with.
• First— ...a position, but we'll alternate anyway to start off with.

Keywords: 959, house, all