Video & Transcript Research : 'generators'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- a payment is made to the general a payment is made to the general contractor<00:24:19.400>
and - We refrain from getting involved generally between the general contractor and the subcontractor.
- Partnerships with the general Partnerships with the general contractors<00:35:17.119>
and - contractor generally between the general contractor generally between the general contractor and<
- <00:38:01.599>
and ensure our workers both General and ensure our workers both General and
Keywords:
payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, municipal finance, liquor store, audit requirements, state auditor, local government, historic flag, state flag, display standards, ceremonial, Minnesota Statutes, Ursa Minor, state symbol, Minnesota state laws, constellation, official state designation
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 24th, 2026 at 09:09 am
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- So they can't magically get five additional percent of general fund or expand their general fund budget
- We pay the bills out of the general fund.
- And that's going to be to the General Services Department.
- If it was the general fund, it generally reverts to the general fund.
- If it was the general fund, it generally reverts to the general fund. Thank you.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-09-17
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- There are indications of fraudulent AI-generated healthcare records.
- Thank you, Inspector General Clark. Thank you, Madam Chair.
- Inspector General Clark calls community tips.
- General Clark. Thank you, Rep. Greenman.
- Thank you, General Clark.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V
Transcript Highlights:
- million in general revenue dedicated.
- Recommendations continue general revenue funding amounts of $96,000 for associated costs.
- million in general revenue dedicated, and $15.1 million in other funds.
- So starting on page one, recommendations provide 3.6 million in general revenue.
- The total for these six items, is 3.6 million in general revenue.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Concurrent Resolution honoring General Concurrent Resolution honoring General Assembly<00:05:35.240><
- Assembly honors the that the General Assembly honors the General<00:08:00.080>
Assembly <00:08 - superb dedication to serving the General superb dedication to serving the General Assembly<00:08
- General Assembly honors General Assembly General Assembly honors General Assembly doorkeeper<00:
- dedication to serving the General dedication to serving the General Assembly<00:10:33.160>
and
Summary:
The House opened with a devotional performance by the State House singers, then moved to routine chamber business. The Speaker announced that the Committee on Ways and Means had reported favorably on Senate Bill 214, which concerns pre-kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts and includes an appropriation; it was referred to Appropriations under House Rule 35A. House Resolution 17, affirming that all Vermonters are presumed competent to communicate and must be provided effective communication resources of their choice, was read by title only and placed on the calendar for action on the next legislative day.
The chamber also took up two adopted House Concurrent Resolutions honoring long-serving State House staff. HCR 279 honored Head Doorkeeper Michael C. Waite and his wife, Sergeant-at-Arms Administrative Assistant Donna Waite, for their public service, and HCR 282 honored Doorkeeper Dennis Miles for his dedication to the General Assembly and Vermonters. Both resolutions recounted the honorees’ military, law enforcement, educational, and State House service and directed the Secretary of State to send copies to the honorees.
Several members then offered remarks recognizing the Waite and Miles families, praising their mentorship, service, and support for the page program and chamber operations. Additional announcements included a diaper and wipes drive in the State House lobby to support Vermont military families through the National Guard Family Readiness Program, a welcome for Vermont nurses participating in a national rally, and recognition of guests from Champlain Community Services. The House then recessed until approximately 2:00 p.m.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- But how long do you expect these new generators to last? Thank you, Mr.
- In this area, it's generally a pretty Heavy focus for the federal government.
- , and generations beyond.
- The goalposts essentially on generation.
- taxed when they are actively generating power and revenue.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Finding the funding somewhere else besides general revenue.
- Assembly and ask him for more general revenue.
- We are not voting on general revenue. We're not voting on special revenue.
- Evans has been elected Speaker-designate of the 96th General Assembly. Mr.
- We must build upon the foundation of generations before.
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests in the galleries, including state officers, medical personnel, student groups, and former first ladies. Members adopted consent-calendar resolutions, and House Resolution 1052 concerning Arkansas Girl State was withdrawn after Rep. DeAnn Vaught explained that 150 girls had missed a registration deadline and that the House would instead host an alternative Girls State experience this summer.
The chamber then took up several fiscal-session appropriation bills. Senate Bills 3, 4, 7, 15, 21, and 31, covering appropriations for Shared Services, Health licensing and regulation, Commerce/Insurance, Parks and Tourism, Human Services adult-aging-behavioral health, and administrative courts, all passed with large bipartisan margins. Senate Bill 75, an economic development appropriation for West Memphis, also passed after brief discussion. Senate Bill 77, an unfunded appropriation related to Arkansas Television Network/PBS matching funds, drew extended debate over whether it should support PBS programming, infrastructure, or private-donation matching; it failed on the first vote, was brought back for reconsideration because some members had not voted, and then failed again 73-24.
After the fiscal work concluded, Rep. Meeks moved to adjourn sine die, ending the House’s fiscal session. The House then convened as a caucus to elect the Speaker-designate for the 96th General Assembly. The body suspended the formal election process and unanimously elected Speaker Brian S. Evans as Speaker-designate. Evans thanked members, reflected on the prior session, and pledged continued leadership and accountability before the House adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Feb 13th, 2026 at 11:03 am
New Mexico House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, generally.
- Speaker, General Lady.
- Speaker, General Lady.
- Speaker, generally.
- Speaker, gentlemen, so the general authority given by HB 212 is to give general authority. to give general
Bills:
HB145, HB164, HJR6, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB166, HB295, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, HJR5, SB104, SB193, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50
Keywords:
high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:52:02.599>
education they're going to be general education they're going to be general - that 44% on the right called general that 44% on the right called general education<00:53:22.880
- <00:53:38.359>
education out on the uh on on general education out on the uh on on general - it says November 2024 on the top general it says November 2024 on the top general education<00:54
- there was a line item in the general there was a line item in the general education<01:26:21.480
Summary:
The committee first approved the January 21st minutes by voice vote. Members then resumed a school finance overview focused on how Minnesota’s “base” budgeting system works and how future committee targets are set above or below that base by the Ways and Means chair, in consultation with fiscal staff. Staff emphasized that school funding decisions are tied to the state budget base and that changes made by the tax committee can affect school levies and school finance more broadly.
The presentation then turned to property tax fundamentals. Staff explained that roughly 65% of school district revenue comes from state aid and about 20% from property taxes, with property tax revenue applying to school districts rather than charter schools. They reviewed the two main school tax bases—referendum market value and adjusted net tax capacity—along with class rates, sales ratios, and equalization. They also described tax credits, especially the school building bond agricultural credit, which helps reduce the property tax burden on agricultural land in Greater Minnesota.
Members discussed student choice programs and how funding follows students. In response to questions from Representative Quam, staff explained postsecondary enrollment options (including direct enrollment and College in the Schools) and online learning, noting that funding generally follows the student to the serving institution or district. Staff also reviewed Minnesota’s pupil-counting system, including average daily membership and pupil weighting, and explained that students attending charter schools, other districts through open enrollment, or online programs are counted where they are served.
The presentation concluded with broader school finance context: funding sources, equity and adequacy goals, constitutional and statutory authority, and the state’s school data systems (EUP/FARS, MARS, and STARS). Staff also began reviewing long-term enrollment trends, noting the impact of the baby boom, later growth from the mid-1980s through about 2000, and projected modest declines in public school enrollment through 2029.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Committee Budget Briefing (04/08/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- That's 12% of the general fund. Then category two is general government.
- That's 12% of the<00:11:35.519>
general the general the general fund.<00:11:37.839>Then general fund, I I mean a not a general general fund, I I mean a not a general fund,<00:17:42.640 - Thank you. general fund. Their fees go into the general fund.
- me say something general general, let me say something general about<01:41:31.280>
the <01:41:
Summary:
The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments.
Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses.
The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
The Debate Around Expanding Nuclear Energy in MN / Supporting Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Mar 9th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- technology advancements uh even with our current<00:02:09.479>
nuclear <00:02:10.080>generators - We're retiring a bunch of our larger generating units.
- >
larger <00:04:10.280>uh <00:04:10.400>generating <00:04:11.079>units <00 - :04:11.840>
uh of our larger uh generating units uh of our larger uh generating units uh most< - So we need these types of strong baseload generation to underpin our grid, and I just want to have all
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services May 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We can't just talk about revenue generation or cuts.
- It's just based on the availability of General Fund.
- We think it's a realistic contribution to the General Fund solution.
- So generally speaking, everybody... Yeah, sure.
- There would be no General Fund impact under this proposal.
Summary:
The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored.
Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants.
The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services.
Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Fri Jan 31, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:32:49.080>
welcome <00:32:49.639>please general welcome please general welcome please - Craig Ihha, Deputy Attorney General, Department of the Attorney General, respectfully opposes this bill
- Craig Ihha, Deputy Attorney General, Department of the Attorney General, respectfully opposes this bill
- department of the Attorney General department of the Attorney General respectfully<00:52:09.000>
- I'm Deputy Attorney General Rodney Charo of the Department of the Attorney General.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 410, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ biennium operating budget. OHA asked for a modest increase over its base budget, including $1.2 million to fund 13 new full-time positions for a strategy and implementation team tied to its long-term plan, with emphasis on housing, education, health, and economic resilience. OHA also described a broader effort to work directly with executive branch departments to improve outcomes for Native Hawaiians. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals speaking in favor and one testifier expressing strong frustration about Native Hawaiian rights and access to resources. The chair noted there were 38 additional written/supporting testimonies and three in opposition. Members asked about OHA’s funding sources and public land trust revenues; OHA said it is not receiving the full 20 percent share, described a public land trust working group and system issues, and said a related bill would seek funding to begin an inventory. No vote was taken in the portion provided.
The committee then considered House Bill 304, which would make the Hawaiian version of a law binding when the law was originally drafted in Hawaiian and later translated into English. The Judiciary supported the bill, saying it reinforces Hawaiian as an official language and looks to the original language for legislative intent. The Attorney General supported the intent but recommended narrowing the bill with a proviso to avoid ambiguities, limiting it to laws originally drafted in Hawaiian that were not later amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English. Public testimony was generally supportive, though one speaker raised broader sovereignty concerns. Members questioned how many laws would be affected and whether the proposed amendment would undercut the bill; the Attorney General said the amendment was meant to address uncertainty in interpretation. No final action was reported.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 603, which would direct OHA to administer a Native Hawaiian business marketing program to promote Native Hawaiian-owned businesses through marketing and technical assistance. OHA supported the concept, saying a label or branding program could help consumers identify and support Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, but requested that funding be redirected to a working group to study program design, implementation, enforcement, and long-term viability. The chair noted four supportive testimonies had been received, and a member asked OHA to confirm that its programs serve all Hawaiians, not only those eligible for homelands; OHA said it serves all Hawaiians in the state. The transcript ends before any vote or further action on HB 603.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- without drawing on the General Fund or burdening existing taxpayers.
- There's no risk to our General Fund.
- They generate millions of dollars in economic activity.
- It helps our general fund, and so it's worth the squeeze.
- That takes one second: AI-generated.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard several bills focused on California’s creative economy, sports development, and cultural preservation. SB 226 by Senator Cabaldon would clarify that infrastructure revitalization financing districts may be used for entertainment and sports facilities, with testimony from West Sacramento officials emphasizing that the tool would rely only on project-generated city tax increment and would not affect school districts, counties, or the General Fund. Members discussed the relationship between IRFDs and EIFDs and the distinction between infrastructure financing and direct subsidy of private sports teams or stadiums.
SB 865 by Senator Ashby proposed support for destination music festivals, citing the economic impact of events such as Aftershock and Golden Sky in Sacramento and similar festivals elsewhere in the state. Supporters from Visit Sacramento and Danny Wimmer Presents said festivals generate substantial jobs, tax revenue, and tourism spending while promoters bear the financial risk. Several committee members and public witnesses supported the bill as a way to sustain the creative economy, local businesses, and opportunities for artists. The bill passed the committee on a unanimous vote and was sent to Appropriations.
SB 1050 by Senator Ashby would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements, including audio ads, to inform consumers and protect human performers from displacement. SAG-AFTRA and voice actor advocates argued that consumers deserve to know when an ad uses AI-generated likenesses or voices, while TechNet, the Motion Picture Association, broadcasters, and other industry groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about overbreadth, audio-only implementation, private enforcement, and the need for clearer exemptions and definitions. Members generally supported the bill’s goal but noted technical issues to refine; it passed unanimously to Judiciary. SB 1073 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would create a voluntary tax checkoff to support the South Los Angeles Black Cultural District. Supporters described the district’s historic and cultural significance and framed the measure as a way to help preserve Black cultural assets amid limited public funding. Members discussed how the checkoff would appear on tax forms statewide, its voluntary nature, and whether it could serve as a model for other districts. The bill also passed unanimously to Appropriations, and the committee later adopted the consent calendar unanimously as well.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, Deputy Attorney General Jonathan Tungfalan for the Department of the Attorney General.
- but portable generators but portable generators um<00:11:04.320>
were <00:11:04.560>to - um for the for the portable generators. um for the for the portable generators.
- 04.160>
hook portable uh solar generator and uh hook portable uh solar generator and uh hook it - <00:14:47.199>
for, people do have backup generators for, people do have backup generators
Keywords:
permit processing, permitting reform, county permits, development permits, building permits, land use, construction delays, housing development, infrastructure development, county workforce, differential pay, salary incentive, performance bonus, recruitment and retention, expedited hiring, vacancy rates, permit backlog, government modernization, county mayor, county council
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs heard two measures. SB 2671, relating to essential permitting positions, drew no oral testimony beyond written comments from the Department of the Attorney General and the Office of Planning. The chair said the bill was intended to make government more efficient and reduce red tape in the permitting process.
SB 2902, relating to renewable energy, received testimony from the Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, Kauai Island Cooperative, Bright Saver, and 350 Hawaii. Supporters described the bill as a way to expand access to plug-in or balcony solar, lower electricity bills, improve resilience, and broaden access for renters and apartment residents. Several testifiers urged amendments to avoid limiting the measure to condominiums, to remove condominium board approval language, and to eliminate utility or PUC registration requirements. The PUC said registration could help with safety, linemen protection, and circuit hosting-capacity concerns, and noted that improper installation or oversizing could create problems.
After a brief recess, the committee voted to recommend both bills for passage with amendments and deferred each to April 19, 2042. The recommendations were adopted without objection.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- That debt is in our budget, in the state general fund payments.
- the higher tuition revenue generating function of our non-resident students.
- To utilize the ongoing $6.2 million in savings of the general fund debt service item.
- My final question is more of a broad, general, overarching question.
- I don't believe UC in general has seen that trend.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In general revenue, which would set their biennial budget at $43.9 million.
- purposes and $12.8 million in general revenue-related funds for 42 additional FTEs.
- The state's general revenue fund remains, for the most part, untouched by our agency.
- Additionally, this program generates $800,000 in fees each biennium to the credit of the General Revenue
- I'm General Counsel for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (01/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- some context on that so for the general some context on that so for the general fund<00:12:48.240
costs ourselves for our general funding costs ourselves for our general funding costs um<00:18- Services uh the bulk of it is General Services uh the bulk of it is General funds<00:19:10.039><
- funded through General funded through General funds<00:20:13.840>
so <00:20:14.000>those - They now get general funds instead, and we deposit this to the general fund.
Summary:
The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules.
Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs.
Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/10/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- system on their property and generate system on their property and generate the<00:05:15.919>
- Chair... people to generate solar power to power people to generate solar power to power their<00:48:
- customer uh with a small generation customer uh with a small generation facility<01:13:20.440>
- just under 200 distributed generation just under 200 distributed generation systems<01:18:47.719
- <01:29:04.560>
Revenue fact the goal was to generate Revenue fact the goal was to generate
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Thu Feb 13, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- Deputy Attorney General Kevin Tong.
- Thank you. support of this um the general idea for support of this um the general idea for this<00:14
- I mean, but essentially it's, you know, two non-general funds versus one big general fund.
- I mean, but essentially it's, you know, two non-general funds versus one big general fund.
- I mean, but essentially it's, you know, two non-general funds versus one big general fund.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 818 HD1, which would establish the Waiawa Community Development District. The Attorney General’s office said the bill may not comply with requirements for a special fund, and DLNR asked for further amendments so lease revenues would remain with DLNR while it continues managing the lands. DLNR cited ongoing costs, including the Uncle Billy’s demolition debt and management needs at Banyan Drive/Banyan Country Club. HCDA/Waiawa representatives supported the bill, agreed that DLNR should keep lease revenues while it remains the land manager, and said a future transfer of land management would change where revenues should go. Members focused on whether removing lease revenue would undercut the bill and on how existing and future revenues should be allocated.
The committee then took up HB 338 HD1 and HB 339 HD1 on renewable energy-related utility transactions and procurement. Testimony came from the Consumer Advocate, the State Energy Office, the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric, IBEW Local 1260, Ulupono Initiative, and Life of the Land. Supporters generally backed the measures, while some asked for labor-related strengthening language. Discussion centered on how the PUC should handle competing bids or offers in utility merger or acquisition situations, with concerns raised about NDAs, timing, and whether the original version or amended language better allowed public and intervenor participation. A witness from Life of the Land argued that utilities should not negotiate under NDA in a way that blocks later public competition, and a PUC-related witness said the current language was changed from the original to address PUC testimony.
Finally, the committee heard HB 1467 HD1 on housing resiliency. OIP was not present, while B&F raised concerns about placing federal funds into a special fund, saying federal grant money should remain in a separate P fund for transparency, accountability, and single-audit compliance. State agencies and groups including OPSD, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported the measure. Testimony emphasized that many older roofs lack hurricane clips and that strengthening homes could reduce disaster sheltering and temporary housing costs. IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill but argued that building to current standards upfront is preferable to retrofitting later. Members questioned funding structure, eligibility, and whether the program should be needs-based; the bill was described as limited to households under 140% AMI. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.