Video & Transcript Research : 'Texas Utilities Code'

Page 240 of 500
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Some of these could also include coverages around building code upgrades.
  • Current standards to code with earthquake seismic retrofitting.
  • How it's being defined here is using a set of ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
  • But this is being defined by diagnostic codes. So we look at hospitalizations.
  • Some communities utilize cannabis for a variety of reasons.
Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (02/19/2025)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • didn't fit quite as nicely into our code didn't fit quite as nicely into our code chapters<00:14
  • and the building code sides, and especially on the fire code because it speaks to Chapter 153, which
  • is a state fire code.
  • and the building sides on the fire code and the building code<00:18:52.600> sides<00:18:53.159
  • sides and especially on the fire code sides and especially on the fire code<00:18:54.320> because
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Established in the California Unemployment Insurance Code, the California Workforce Development Board
  • The department is also proposing to amend the Labor Code via the trailer bill process.
  • To correct this issue, we are proposing to remove this from Government Code Section 11553 and instead
  • It assumes CalHR's projected utilization rate of 15%.
  • The actual service cost could actually be lower if utilization is below 15%.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session 2/27/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The amendment is coded A2.
  • The amendment is coded A2.
  • The amendment is coded A25 008.
  • coded coded a25 a25 a25 008<00:19:55.240> I<00:19:55.400> recognize<00:19:56.000> the
  • The amendment is coded DE1.
Keywords: 1183, house
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • > ASBO<00:15:37.680> who's<00:15:37.839> a we partnered with Texas ASBO who's a
  • It's just for New Hampshire. >> No, but if you look at it, uh, where it was based upon what Texas had
  • > Hampshire,<00:17:02.880> not<00:17:03.199> Texas.
  • them New Hampshire, not Texas. them New Hampshire, not Texas.
  • There's various accounting software packages that are utilized by SAUs across the state.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first approved corrected minutes from October 6 after members noted and fixed several transcription and spelling errors, including a clarification that a comment about SAU numbers came from former Senator Jim Rubin. The vote to approve the corrected minutes was moved, seconded, and adopted with one abstention. The main presentation came from Chuck Bates of the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), who described the organization, its certification program, and the role of school business administrators. He explained that ASBO members handle accounting and financial management, facilities, food service, HR, information systems, transportation, and risk management. He also outlined the certification program, which includes 21 courses, most online, plus four in-person workshops unique to New Hampshire, and noted that many members are not certified because the state licensure requirement was removed. Bates then addressed the committee’s interest in SAU consolidation and county-wide restructuring. He said business administrators often manage multiple budgets, attend school board meetings, and serve as a visible point of contact for the community. He argued that consolidation would create operational and financial challenges, including staff and facility relocation, differing accounting systems, lack of a standardized chart of accounts, and uncertain return on investment. He said the biggest obstacle would be local control, especially in small towns that do not want outside decisions affecting school closures, class sizes, or student transportation. Committee members questioned him about the distinction between administrative and academic control, the size of district offices in larger cities, and what might reduce administrative costs; Bates responded that many administrative costs stem from legislation and that consolidation would be difficult to implement without local support.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/20/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • or municipal utilities.
  • of a free-for-all for the utility of a free-for-all for the utility companies.<01:02:26.799>
  • natural gas utilities and our customers. natural gas utilities and our customers.
  • Thank you. incurred, then the utility is still incurred, then the utility is still going<01:06:51.200
  • Thank you, Chair Swedzinski. the utility a blank check. The public the utility a blank check.
Keywords: 1183, house
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Failures have occurred in Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, and even in New Hampshire itself.
  • This includes California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
  • This includes California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
  • This includes California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
  • This includes California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Judiciary Committee Jun 17th, 2026 at 10:00 am

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • and Administrative Code.
  • The probation officer utilizes DOC Stars.
  • The rules in the code are the rules we enforce.
  • Contracts, the Model Penal Code, and the model codes that states should follow, they say here's...
  • The Restatement of Contracts, the Model Penal Code, the model codes that states should follow.
Keywords: 908, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jul 7th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • hearing the news over the weekend of the catastrophic flooding that swept through the great state of Texas
  • And Utilities and Energy Committee. to notice SB 445 Wiener for their hearing on Wednesday, July 16,
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We utilize bucket trucks and other trucks to restore that communication.
  • And it applies to all utilities, so electric utilities.
  • They don't have the capacity to do this kind of code enforcement.
  • This is not code enforcement. Okay, sorry, not code enforcement — certification.
  • That's very, very different than mandatory code enforcement.
Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick. The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support. AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 13th, 2026 at 01:31 pm

West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think there's an argument that right now the code, other code sections, don't allow for this type of
  • The new crime fills a hole in our criminal code that currently exists.
  • Further, it ensures that the individual does not criminal code that currently exists.
  • After House Bill 4606, with the amendment that was adopted related to bail provisions, that same code
  • So all this amendment does is make those codes consistent, so there is no conflict with each of these
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Senate May 12th, 2026

Louisiana Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 769 by Representative Boyd is an act in the Code of Criminal Procedure relative to arrests
  • Relative the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission to provide for legislative purpose, it lies
  • House Bill 1224 by Representative McMakin is an act to amend the Children's Code relative to a child
  • House Bill 87 by Representative Mack is an act in Title 33, relative to Livingston Parish Gas Utility
  • Members, House Bill 464 provides relative to mandatory reporting of damage to utilities.
Keywords: 974, senate, all
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Apr 2nd, 2025 at 12:30 pm

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • 17-07.1, which is the stalking section of Century Code.
  • Our public utilities and co-ops use multiple sources of power for their generation.
  • You'll note, in the code, it does suggest the State Investment Board has that authority.
  • They regulate the investor-owned utilities, so if MDU or Otter Tail or one of the investor-owned utilities
  • Apparently, we have not been selling many of those. ...been removed from the Century Code.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Deputy Director of HCD's Division of Codes and Standards.
  • Codes and Standards acts as a statewide enforcement agency, title and registration agency, code enforcement
  • HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
  • As I mentioned, the code enforcement unit...
  • I mentioned the code enforcement unit to help mitigate that.
Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 12th, 2025

Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members of the North Miami Beach Utility Company.
  • But I would say that if we want to go utility, utility, like AT&T has a plant and our plaza facility
  • in our... ...utility, utility, like AT&T has a plant in our, has a facility in our city.
  • With respect to those nonprofit utilities, it creates a process for that utility itself to resolve complaints
  • The utilities are experts in this area.
Summary: The committee took up several bills and reported each favorably after brief debate and roll call votes. SB 578 would allow wine to be sold in recyclable containers, aligning wine with beer container rules; it had support from Americans for Prosperity. SB 606 clarified when nonpaying guests may be removed from public lodging establishments, updated notice and checkout provisions, and removed a mandatory arrest requirement, with support from Florida Realtors, the Asian American Hotel Association, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. SB 202 addressed a long-running dispute between Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach over a water utility surcharge, requiring the utility to charge residents in the city where the plant sits the same rate as its own residents; supporters argued it was a fairness issue, while North Miami Beach opposed it as a burden on its residents. All three bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 570, which updates and clarifies the scope of work for swimming pool and spa contractors, and CS/SB 928, which targets non-approved disposable nicotine devices by restricting advertising and display visible to minors, increasing inspections and penalties, and adopting an amendment to clarify the bill does not cover fully unlawful products and to add a 500-foot school buffer for smoke shops. SB 346, dealing with state preemption of local regulation of hoisting equipment, was reported favorably after testimony about the St. Petersburg crane collapse during Hurricane Milton; supporters said local governments need authority to address hurricane-related crane safety, while builders and contractors warned against patchwork regulation and urged a more targeted approach. The committee then considered SB 652, creating Veterinary Professional Associates to perform certain tasks under veterinarian supervision, including limited surgical procedures after an amendment clarified those procedures are limited to spay/neuter and non-cavity surgeries. Supporters said the bill would expand access to veterinary care and help shelters, while some veterinarians expressed concern about training and safety; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up SB 354 on the Public Service Commission, adopting a substitute amendment that would expand the commission, require stronger financial expertise and more detailed rate justifications, set rate-filing schedules, tighten storm-hardening review, and add transparency rules for nonprofit water and wastewater utilities; the bill drew support from consumer advocates and AARP, while Florida Rural Water warned of unintended consequences for nonprofit systems. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 354 is still underway, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • code.
  • , can code.
  • Um, AI can definitely code, can code.
  • Um, and the other parts of code.
  • It goes beyond just basic coding because we know computer science goes beyond basic coding.
Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call, introductions, and approval of the previous meeting minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation on SB 253, focused on expanding support for teacher apprenticeship and teaching-and-learning pathways. Senator Hickman and staff from the Kentucky Department of Education and Nelson County Schools described how the program uses dual credit, work-based learning, and registered apprenticeship to help students earn an associate degree in high school and continue toward a teaching degree. They said the goal is to address the teacher shortage by creating a sustainable pipeline into the profession. Witnesses emphasized that the main barrier is cost. Mary Taylor said Kentucky’s youth apprenticeship model has been successful in other fields and that education should be added as an in-demand sector, but an associate degree alone will not solve the teacher shortage because teachers still need a bachelor’s degree and certification. Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools described the district’s Lead Nelson program, saying the district has invested more than $800,000 since 2021, currently has 37 students in the pathway and seven committed apprentices, and spends about $85,000 per apprentice from freshman year through certification. She said district staffing, planning, and university partnerships are also significant hurdles. Members asked about job guarantees, tenure, and retirement; Arnold said employment is performance-based and retirement issues are being considered. Senator Hickman said the bill would use lottery funds to help cover tuition and dual credit costs so more districts can participate, noting that a prior version died because of a high fiscal note. Representative Payne and Representative Tipton praised the program but stressed the need for funding and noted inconsistencies between statute and budget language on Work Ready Kentucky and dual credit support. Representative Tipton also cautioned that lottery revenue may not keep pace with demand and said the General Assembly may need to make broader funding decisions. After the apprenticeship discussion, the chair moved the committee to the next agenda item on computer science and AI literacy, where Code.org began a presentation on the importance of computer science for all students.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Mar 17th, 2026

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • organized under title 27 of the code. organized under title 27 of the code.
  • <01:39:35.199> would anything in the Alabama code would anything in the Alabama code would
  • that our our utilities stay affordable. that our our utilities stay affordable.
  • be connected to to all the utilities be connected to to all the utilities because<02:00:19.920><
  • <02:12:24.000> So and a utility pro. All right. Right. So and a utility pro. All right.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Commerce Committee Meeting - 2026-04-07

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act to establish a data broker registry like those that already exist in Texas
  • basically willing to share their software, either they've talked about making their software their code
  • /c><00:15:58.640> open<00:15:58.959> source<00:15:59.400> that software their code
  • open source that software their code open source that other<00:15:59.880> states<00:16:00.240
  • For those who are watching today and for those on the committee who may not be utilizing the amazing
Bills: HF4456, HF4544, HF3698
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 22nd, 2026 at 02:01 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • So starting off with E-code P001 administration.
  • And back to Emily for the next P code. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Sky.
  • In your books, it's agency code 370, Secretary of State.
  • It's public utility accountants. It's not just engineers. It's public utility engineers.
  • But also, ...to a regulated utility must be accounted for.
Bills: HB1
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Local Government Jan 14th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, they have a statewide code.
  • You're going to follow the International Building Code, which is a standard among... Codes.
  • Some are up to date, and I believe the International Building Code is sought out, and there's a new code
  • Obviously, we have a very diverse state—some that have codes, some that don't want codes, and some that
  • Obviously, we have a very diverse state—some that have codes, some that don't want codes, and some that
Keywords: 959, house, all