Transcript Highlights:

• This means less energy-efficient dwellings that create an overburdening of costs for heating and cooling
• This means less energy-efficient dwellings that create an overburdening of costs for heating and cooling
• This means less energy-efficient dwellings that create an overburdening of costs for heating and cooling
• This means less energy-efficient dwellings that create an overburdening of costs for heating and cooling
• Representative Craft said that the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy researched energy

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 771, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. The bill would create a state supplemental grant program to build on LIHEAP, with the goal of expanding energy assistance beyond the winter season to cover summer cooling needs and reduce utility shutoffs. Representative Craft said the proposal would use existing LIHEAP systems, help more eligible households, and support related services like weatherization. The committee adopted the author’s amendment, DE2, without objection. Supporters testified that energy costs remain unaffordable for many Minnesotans, especially in rural areas and among low-income households, seniors, and people using delivered fuels. Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board said only about a quarter of eligible households receive assistance, summer shutoffs are common, and cooling needs have grown significantly. Trisha Leite of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Macky of Minnesota Valley Action Council, and Ken Schum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association all supported the bill, saying year-round assistance would help households, reduce disconnects, stabilize demand for aid, and ease pressure on utility rates. Michael Schmitz of the Department of Commerce said Minnesota has received about $112 million in LIHEAP funds so far this year and is awaiting additional federal money; he also noted recent funding has been lower than in prior years and inflation has reduced its value. Members discussed the scale of utility shutoffs, the increase in cooling demand, and whether the bill addresses root causes or serves as a temporary fix. Representative Weiner argued that the state should focus on keeping more money in taxpayers’ pockets and reducing the need for subsidies, while Representative Craft responded that the underlying issue is low incomes and widening wealth inequality, and that policies like the child tax credit are better ways to address poverty. The chair also asked how LIHEAP dollars flow, and Commerce said most benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of households rather than as direct cash payments to recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you just say you're doing things more efficiently as government? Let's go. Okay. Thank you.
• efficiently as government? efficiently as government? Let's<00:10:18.320> go.
• So, Senator Duckworth, to your earlier comment about creating some efficiencies here, the second item
• So, Senator Duckworth, to your earlier comment about creating some efficiencies here, the second item
• So, Senator Duckworth, to your earlier comment about creating some efficiencies here, the second item

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
• committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
• committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of
• and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to study and establish a homeowner protection and efficiency
• committee or advisory group to study methods to improve the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of

Bills: SCR12, HB1259, HB221, HB509, HCR117, HCR58, SCR29, SCR33, SB295, SB312, SB326, SB348, SB485, SCR9, SCR58, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR32, HCR5, HCR95, HB75, HB198, HB244, HB302, HB325, HB623, HB719, HB749, HB755, HB761, HB797, HB823, HB1028, HB1049, HB1194, HB1199, HB1201, HB1222, HB17, HB27, HB36, HB41, HB73, HB140, HB166, HB181, HB211, HB223, HB226, HB271, HB308, HB337, HB399, HB410, HB487, HB690, HB712, HB730, HB750, HB759, HB762, HB775, HB906, HB966, HB968, HB1006, HB1009, HB1018, HB1036, HB1062, HB1081, HB1086, HB1098, HB1107, HB1112, HB1203, HB1215, HB1220, HB1242, HB1252, HB1256, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB283, SB300, SB341, SB382, SB387, SB389, SB401, SB408, SB449, SB469, HB74, HB119, HB134, HB368, HB414, HB552, HB732, HB776, HB848, HB870, HB953, HB956, HB1117, HB1236, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB78, SB149, SB441, HB210, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB784

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, HB1259, mask penalty, masked felony, face covering, conceal identity, evade identification, sentencing enhancement, enhanced penalty, felony sentencing, crime deterrence, public safety, Louisiana criminal law, R.S. 14:313.2, R.S. 14:313, R.S. 14:329.7

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:08:35.400> reduce<00:08:35.840> annual to improve efficiency, reduce annual to
• It improves energy efficiency and resilience by reducing long-term operating risks, and it shifts the
• So, you kept speaking of being more efficient.
• Is this plan to replace any of the units that are there today so that they are more efficient?
• I know if you build them today, they should be more efficient than they are. All right.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April 27 minutes, and a report of informational items. Those informational items included University of Kentucky medical equipment purchases, UK’s planned use of restricted funds for a public-private partnership, school district debt notices, UK’s use of construction management at risk for five projects, Kentucky Communications Network Authority capital project reporting, and UK lease improvements. The main action item was University of Kentucky’s request for approval of a $600 million central plants and utility infrastructure P3 tied to the Chandler expansion and other campus facilities. UK said the project would modernize and expand utility capacity, improve redundancy and efficiency, and support 24/7 hospital operations. UK explained that the financing would combine private equity and nonprofit debt, with no UK or Commonwealth debt or upfront payment, and that future availability payments would come from UK Healthcare funds. Members asked about the financing stack, the source of the restricted funds, and whether existing units would be replaced or modernized. The committee then approved the P3 agreement by roll call vote. The committee also considered and approved a lease renewal for a 20,000-square-foot College of Medicine facility near the Bowling Green Medical Center. UK said the lease would cost $38 per square foot, or $912,000 annually, and supports its long-running partnership with Bowling Green Hospital and planned medical student growth in the region. Members spoke favorably about the local impact of the program, and the lease renewal passed by roll call vote. Finally, the Finance and Administrative Cabinet reported three items requiring no action, including a $2.103 million Transportation Cabinet Department of Aviation project for two medium box hangars at Capital City Airport. Cabinet staff said the project would be funded by federal aviation money and restricted aviation funds, and later explained that the restricted funds come from a jet fuel tax deposited into the Aviation Economic Development Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• If confirmed, I'll work every day to advance the department's mission efficiently and effectively, and
• with the secretary and this committee and you and this committee to make sure that we deliver the efficient
• It doesn't rest with the executive, the department. or the department of government efficiency, whatever
• and dispersing government funds, making decisions around funding or disbursement and I'm the most efficient
• You know, the president ran on being an efficient, running government more efficiently, and being a good

Keywords: nominations, Undersecretary of Energy, Undersecretary of Science, Preston Griffith, Dario Gil, energy policy, scientific innovation

Summary: The meeting was convened to discuss several significant nominations, particularly focusing on Preston Wills Griffith III for Undersecretary of Energy and Dr. Dario Gil for Undersecretary of Science. The committee underscored the importance of these roles in shaping American energy policy and scientific innovation. The discussion highlighted the nominees' backgrounds, with Griffith having extensive experience at the Department of Energy and the White House, and Gil bringing expertise in quantum technology and energy research. Members expressed a strong desire to understand the nominees' perspectives on current challenges facing the energy sector, including regulatory mandates and national security concerns. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations of the candidates and their proposed approaches to pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got some real concerns about our efficiency here.
• One of the things that we had requested was an efficiency study.
• This will ensure more efficient utilization of resources.
• It's an important aspect of maintaining safety and efficiency.
• It also aligns with government efficiency.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• May decisions be shaped by conscience as much as calculation, by compassion as much as efficiency.
• May leadership here be measured... ...by compassion as much as efficiency.
• A bill to be entitled, an act relating to administrative efficiency in public schools.
• Senate Bill 320, a bill to be entitled and act relating to administrative efficiency in public schools
• A bill to be entitled and act relating to administrative efficiency in public schools.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, pledge, and recognitions of guests, including YMCA youth and government participants and the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Thomas Clem. Senators also made introductory remarks honoring the YMCA’s 175th anniversary and its community service, and the chamber noted the president’s birthday. The body then took up several bills on the special order calendar. Senate Bill 100 adopted the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 regular session laws; Senate Bill 102 and Senate Bill 104 were reviser bills updating and cleaning up the Florida Statutes. Senate Bill 320, on administrative efficiency in public schools, would reduce district reporting and procedural requirements, expand teacher apprenticeship and certification options, adjust assessment and accountability rules, increase district flexibility in funding and facility planning, and shift some VPK oversight to school districts. Senate Bill 7010 would allow Roth post-tax contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Sponsors described each bill as improving efficiency, flexibility, or statutory clarity. All four bills passed unanimously, 36-0, after brief debate or no debate. The Senate also withdrew Senate Bill 1720 from further consideration. At the end of the session, the chamber adopted a motion to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:53.520> and improvements and in efficiencies and improvements and in efficiencies and
• <00:41:11.040> flexibility<00:41:11.960> and efficiency flexibility and efficiency flexibility
• If your campuses are running as efficiently as you present, we're doing great.
• If your campuses are running as efficiently as you present, we're doing great.
• Chair, we will be efficient. Greetings to Mr. Chair and the committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• practitioner that could assist in non-attorney case processing, and the intent is to become more efficient
• The proposed trailer bill language will create efficiencies for DIR related to payment processing through
• Because that'll be more efficient, I would imagine, and save time and also some money.
• If things can help us to operate at a greater efficiency, I'm always.
• Things can help us to operate at a greater efficiency. I'm all in.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes. Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing. Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Being energy efficient with our energy helps us to save money and avoid pollution.
• > our<00:29:41.200> energy Being energy efficient with our energy Being energy efficient
• result in more energy-efficient result in more energy-efficient buildings.<00:31:06.320> But,
• Um, this is a huge step forward to make buildings more efficient and cost-effective and low carbon.
• So, newer technology examples include ultra-efficient heat pumps, building-specific geothermal wells,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency is called to order.
• So the fact that the industry got together with the regulators and worked out a good, efficient system
• working with them on those amendments, to get it in a place where we can agree that this is more efficient
• This has been a wonderfully efficient committee moving things along this morning.
• We were so efficient. I know. But you're asked more questions. It's not a question. It's a comment.

Bills: SB1128, SB1137, SB1144, SB1145, SB1186, SB1235, SB1238

Keywords: scrap metal theft, study committee, Arizona, regulated industries, public safety, underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency heard several bills and took action on three of them. Senate Bill 1137 would update underground facility excavation rules by requiring white lining before notice, creating coordination meeting requirements for large projects, adding an interactive response system, and directing the Arizona Corporation Commission to adopt rules. Supporters from SSC Underground, Arizona 811, and the Associated General Contractors said the bill would improve communication, reduce delays, and modernize the 811 system; the League of Arizona Cities and Towns raised concerns about staffing, project scope, meeting requirements, and liability, but said it was working on amendments. The committee passed SB 1137 on a 7-0 vote. Senate Bill 1145 would shift licensing and regulation of behavior analysts to the Committee of Behavior Analysts under the Psychology Board, reduce the board from 10 to 8 members, and remove the requirement for two behavior analysts on the board. Supporters said the current structure creates delays and that the change would let the board focus on psychology issues while the committee handles behavior analyst matters. A self-advocate also supported the bill, citing long waitlists and the importance of behavior analysts for people on the autism spectrum. The committee passed SB 1145 on a 7-0 vote. Senate Bill 1128 would create a study committee on scrap metal theft to review current laws, industry compliance costs, and penalties, and report recommendations by December 1, 2026. The Arizona Scrap Recyclers Association supported the bill as a way to evaluate whether current reforms remain effective, while members discussed the difficulty of tracing stolen metal and the need to keep the process bipartisan. The committee passed SB 1128 on a 7-0 vote. Senate Bill 1238, which adopts the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to allow multistate licensure privileges, also received support from the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants, who said it would improve workforce mobility, help military families, and expand access to care; the committee passed it on a 7-0 vote. The committee then held SB 1235 at the sponsor’s request and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioning its own peace officers is more cost-efficient and ensures consistency.
• This bill helps our emergency service districts respond in a more efficient and effective way.
• As you may not know, ESDs are far more efficient than some others.
• ESDs, in my opinion, are doing it far more efficiently.
• But on a monthly basis, if we want to, that's not really efficient.

Bills: HB334, HB583, HB605, HB1327, HB1646, HB2115, HB2379

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties

Transcript Highlights:

• been on energy efficiency? been on energy efficiency?
• difference in energy efficiency? difference in energy efficiency?
• improved with the energy efficiency. improved with the energy efficiency.
• efficiency measures for 2018 to 2024. efficiency measures for 2018 to 2024.
• c> energy<01:13:24.800> efficient efficient homes and energy efficient efficient homes and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also working to improve the efficiency and customer service across state agencies.
• It's more efficient for you. And it's government meeting people where they're at.
• :19:20.559> service<00:19:20.960> across efficiency and customer service across efficiency
• It's more efficient<00:19:43.520> for<00:19:43.679> you.
• And it's government efficient for you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bill develops a community benefit program to help achieve that efficiency.
• Efficiency benefits households with lower bills and reduces peaks that benefit the grid.
• Businesses seeking data center partners are looking for these efficiencies and best practices.
• The building will be roughly 40% more efficient than code requires.
• We believe that that is with the solar, the extremely efficient building, and the...

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• So we thought it was very efficient to bring it all under one.
• So really, it's just a model of efficiency, sir.
• So really, it's just a model of efficiency, sir.
• So again, it is a model of efficiency. We’re going to use the closest inspector.
• So again, it is a model of efficiency. We’re going to use the closest inspector to that site.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you think that, hey, I've got a great idea, let's be really efficient with taxpayers' dollars.
• This system we're creating right now is not terribly efficient about where should the money go.
• So I think it'll be a more efficient use.
• So I think it'll be an more efficient use. I think the one thing you will see is...
• So I think it'll be an efficient, more efficient use.

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2174, HB2256, HB2289, HB2477, HB2903, HB2939, HB2979, HB2996, HB4103

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and held House Bills 29 and 2939 at the sponsor’s request. It then took up House Bill 2016, which would eliminate the late-filing penalty for taxpayers with zero income tax liability; after discussion about whether taxpayers still need to file to establish that they owe nothing, the committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to income tax filers and passed the bill 4-3. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral on the bill but supported the amendment. The committee next heard House Bill 2289, which updates the property-value examples used in bond/override election pamphlets and truth-in-taxation notices from older low values to $300,000. Supporters said the figures are outdated and should better reflect current home values; opponents questioned whether $300,000 was the best benchmark and whether adding another example would confuse voters. The bill passed 4-3. The committee also approved House Bill 4103, which bars school districts from calling bond elections if enrollment is below 50% of capacity. Supporters argued districts should use or monetize excess space before asking taxpayers for more debt, while school administrators and others said the measure would block needed maintenance, safety upgrades, and local decision-making. It passed 4-3. Two related agricultural property bills, House Bills 2104 and 2105, were both amended and passed 4-3. HB 2104 creates a four-year period after a successful agricultural property tax appeal during which assessors generally may not reclassify or reinspect the property absent changes in use, ownership, splits, or improvements. HB 2105 requires advance notice of inspections and inspection reports and provides a three-year inspection exemption after the most recent inspection, with similar exceptions. Farm and ranch groups said the bills provide fairness and certainty after successful appeals; county assessors opposed them as limiting oversight and creating unequal treatment. The committee also passed House Bill 2256 unanimously, which sets notice and title procedures for salvage auction dealers when insurance claims are denied or unpaid, and House Bill 2979 unanimously, which updates credit union regulatory timelines and procedures. Later, the committee passed House Bill 2996 unanimously, clarifying that certificates of insurance are informational only and cannot expand coverage or rights, with penalties for misrepresentations. It also heard House Bill 2174, which renames and updates regulation of insurance modeling and data organizations, requires model filings, and revises related reinsurance provisions; the discussion focused on how DIFI would regulate models versus the companies that create them, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. Finally, House Bill 2477 was introduced to conform Arizona’s 529 plan to federal law by increasing the K-12 withdrawal limit to $20,000, adding post-secondary credentialing expenses, and allowing rollovers to ABLE accounts and Roth IRAs if requirements are met; the sponsor and Treasurer’s Office supported it as a cleanup/conformity measure, and discussion began on how the new rollover options would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill again just helps law enforcement work more efficiently and most importantly gives
• audit records of certain governmental entities refer to the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency
• Delivery of government efficiency HB 4937 by Harless relating to the frequency with which the Board of
• Public information laws referred to the Committee of Delivery of Government Efficiency.
• cost in connection with certain contested cases or for the Committee of delivery of government efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• National Center for missing and exploited children. again just helps law enforcement work more efficiently
• law enforcement and health agencies of the state or for the community of delivery of government Efficiency
• increasing procurement acquisition. and thresholds for the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency
• and administration of the Texas Quantum Initiative for the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency
• These meetings are for the community of delivery of government efficiency. ご視聴ありがとうございました。

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, heat pumps are efficient, but as far as I know, they are about maybe two to three times as efficient
• We would love to see heat pumps that are that efficient, but I would say that if we were mandating efficient
• Now, heat pumps are efficient, but as far as I know, they are about maybe two to three times as efficient
• Now, heat pumps are efficient, but as far as I know, they are about maybe two to three times as efficient
• process and evaluating the efficiencies process and evaluating the efficiencies of<00:48:38.000>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress. On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns. The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.