Transcript Highlights:

• A majority of gas customers' bills now goes toward maintaining the gas system rather than purchasing
• Over the last decade and a half, California has purchased more than 2.5 million electric vehicles, so
• In 2019, San Francisco made an offer to PG&E of $2.5 billion to purchase its assets. PG&E said no.
• the city will have to pay billions of dollars to PG&E and its remaining ratepayers to be able to purchase
• San Francisco in 2019 offered PG&E $2.5 billion to purchase its assets. PG&E said no.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• So maverick spend is when we make purchases that are off-contract or without a PO associated with that
• purchase.
• that are off contract or without a PL so affiliated with that purchase.
• And then that will flow into purchase orders and requisitions.
• Does the committee feel like we need to make a recommendation to purchase something together, or nothing

Summary: The committee received several informational reports from NDIT and DPI. Justin Data reviewed the quarterly major IT project portfolio, noting the portfolio was slightly under budget and behind schedule overall, with three red schedule items: Bed Management System and Vital Records were essentially complete and being closed out, and the Roadway Capital Planning Project was delayed by vendor bug fixes after testing. He also summarized recent project startups and closeouts, including the Victim Notification System, Medicaid data exchange, Highway Patrol’s motor carrier permit system, and several completed HHS and RIMS projects. Members asked for follow-up on ADA compliance work, the public-facing RIO website, and the state’s mainframe retirement timeline, and staff agreed to provide updates later. Craig Falkley reported on coordination of services with political subdivisions and higher education, including StageNet, cybersecurity, radio/911 services, and PeopleSoft coordination. He also explained distributed ledger technology as a tool for transparency and fraud prevention, but said it is not widely used in state government and suggested the report be modernized to focus more broadly on emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. The committee generally agreed that the topic should be updated. Chris Gurgan presented the mandatory cybersecurity incident reporting program created by HB 1314, explaining how agencies and political subdivisions report incidents through NDIT’s website or service desk. He said 77 incidents had been reported since 2021, 47 met the statutory definition, and most were phishing-related; most reported incidents were resolved, with one recent ransomware matter still open. He also reviewed notable incidents since the last report, including the PowerSchool compromise, a SimpleHelp intrusion at a school district, a court intrusion, a WSUS vulnerability, a business email compromise, and a recent ransomware incident involving a non-state critical infrastructure entity. Members asked about recovery of stolen funds, early warning signs, smishing, training, MFA, conditional access, and cybersecurity maturity assessments; Gurgan said the state uses MFA and conditional access, provides awareness training to state employees, and would return with more information on maturity assessments. Tony Ambrose then updated the committee on the K-12 student information system bridge project. He said district implementation of Infinite Campus had begun statewide, but the data migration vendor originally selected was terminated for poor performance and replaced by Aurora Educational Technology, which had experience with similar statewide migrations. He also said DPI is migrating special education data from Tynet into Infinite Campus, and that some SLDS-based tools such as e-transcripts and Choice Ready may not function exactly as they do now at July 1, requiring interim or alternative solutions. Members raised concerns about summer school disruptions, the timing of the cutover, and whether the new system would support existing reporting and transcript functions; DPI said it was working on identity, authentication, data-sharing agreements, and post-go-live integrations, and would continue to refine the plan beyond June 30.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:31.400> of<00:14:31.520> fuel<00:14:31.839> and<00:14:32.080> purchased
• <00:14:32.440> power >> made up of fuel and purchased power >> made up of fuel
• and purchased power costs<00:14:33.120> and<00:14:33.200> not<00:14:33.400> direct<
• of a residential solar system, lease of a solar system, whether it's a lease, a sale, or a power purchase
• sale,<00:46:20.880> or<00:46:21.000> a<00:46:21.040> power<00:46:21.360> purchase

Bills: SB3326

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are purchases or expenses that are federally traditionally not immediately deductible.
• So these are purchases or expenses that are federally traditionally not immediately deductible.
• So to answer your question, these are purchases like equipment, machinery, tangible personal property
• So to answer your question, these are purchases like equipment, machinery, tangible personal property
• So to answer your question, these are purchases like equipment, machinery, tangible personal property

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:51.880> on who might be making the purchase on who might be making the purchase on
• I think this person could definitely fill a role in educating those purchasers of e-bikes and motorized
• I think this person could definitely fill a role in educating those purchasers of e-bikes and motorized
• I think this person could definitely fill a role in educating those purchasers of e-bikes and motorized
• I think this person could definitely fill a role in educating those purchasers of e-bikes and motorized

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A statewide ban on these devices results in a loss of value to their owners and the need to purchase
• <01:21:35.600> the<01:21:35.760> need<01:21:35.840> to<01:21:36.000> purchase
• to their owners and the need to purchase to their owners and the need to purchase and<01:21:36.560
• <01:22:19.040> a<01:22:19.199> binary protected right to purchase a binary protected
• right to purchase a binary trigger<01:22:20.239> which<01:22:20.400> the<01:22:20.639>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, the purchasing price of $5 million—I'm not sure where that stands at this point. >> Representative
• I mean the purchasing price of $5 gone.
• I mean the purchasing price of $5 million<00:51:33.760> I'm<00:51:34.000> not<00:51:34.079
• we do make $5 million selling the Philbrook Center, that's going to be offset by some additional purchase
• another facility will we be purchasing another facility will we be purchasing that<01:11:48.080>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the ways that we can kind of free up the opportunity for folks if they choose to be able to purchase
• , 74% of the gun and ammo purchases are not for hunting.
• purchases purchases 74%<01:11:12.480> of<01:11:12.960> the<01:11:13.480> gun<01
• :11:13.719> and<01:11:13.960> ammo<01:11:14.440> purchases<01:11:15.080> are<
• /c> 74% of the gun and ammo purchases are 74% of the gun and ammo purchases are not<01:11:15.679>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits government entities from purchasing such devices.
• It prohibits government entities from purchasing such devices.
• We're also concerned that it may not absolutely have a substantial impact since you can still purchase
• We're also concerned that it may not absolutely have a substantial impact since you can still purchase
• Still purchase a lot of the equipment online, you know, Amazon and others.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 302, which would repeal the requirement that a provider-patient relationship for medical cannabis certification be established in person first. The Department of Health said it supported the House Draft 2 version as a way to expand patient access, and several testifiers from the medical cannabis community and dispensary industry supported the bill, especially for patients on outer islands or those unable to travel. One witness asked that earlier language removed in committee be restored to further improve access. Representative Shimizu asked whether follow-up in-person visits would still occur, and DOH responded that this varies by provider, with some continuing in-person care and others moving to telehealth for chronic conditions. The committee then took up House Bill 712, relating to the federal 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacies. The Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office both said they supported the bill’s purpose but wanted it clarified and possibly moved into a standalone chapter rather than chapter 481B. Supporters, including Hawaii Pacific Health and the Queen’s Health Systems, said the bill is needed to protect safety-net funding and access to discounted drugs, citing large financial benefits from 340B and losses caused by manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies. PhRMA opposed the bill, arguing the issue is not access to discounts but accountability and transparency in how contract pharmacies distribute benefits, and said it was willing to discuss amendments. Members asked follow-up questions about whether there was data showing misuse; PhRMA said it did not have numbers, while hospital witnesses said the program is federally audited and used appropriately in Hawaii. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1482, HD1, which would tighten hemp and controlled-substance definitions to exclude Schedule I cannabinoids from manufactured hemp products and clarify the treatment of artificially derived cannabis. The Department of Health supported the measure, saying it adds clarity to existing prohibitions. Kūre Hawaii and other supporters said it would close loopholes involving Delta-8 and similar products. An individual testifier urged stronger language to also cover compounds such as HHC, THCA, THCP, and THCO. In response to questions about enforcement against mislabeled hemp products, DOH explained that THC percentages are relative to product weight, that some products can remain under the hemp threshold while still containing significant THC, and that hemp flower is already prohibited from direct retail sale, though enforcement can be complicated and involves both administrative and criminal authorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this bill, we fix the down payment assistance program that helps beginning farmers purchase land.
• In this bill, we fix the down payment assistance program that helps beginning farmers purchase land.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, on line 19 of page one, between 'subscription' and 'purchasing,' it adds 'or,' and after '
• Between 'subscription' and 'purchasing,' it adds 'or,' and after 'agreement' deletes 'or membership.'

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 750, a “click-to-cancel” consumer protection bill requiring subscription cancellations to be as easy as sign-up and to be available through the same method used to subscribe. An amendment was adopted, testimony included support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition from some business groups, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 414, which was narrowed to cap interest on medical debt at 3%. After reconsidering and replacing prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 799, concerning inspection licensing for elevators, escalators, and boilers, was presented by the State Fire Marshal and reported favorably with little discussion. The longest discussion centered on HB 953, a major plumbing workforce and licensing reform bill. The bill was amended substantially: the original proposal to move plumbing oversight to the Contractors Board was removed, the plumbing board remained in place, apprenticeship and journeyman/master plumber hour requirements were revised, penalties and reporting requirements were added, and language was included to support workforce development and reentry training. The committee heard both support and opposition, including clarification from the State Plumbing Board that it already has an appeals process through the courts, and HB 953 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 220, the “PROTECT Act,” was heard to require covered online platforms to maintain a clear and usable mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material and exploitation. An amendment was adopted to account for platforms that require registration to access content, testimony was supportive, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 952 was deferred, and HB 827, a related plumbing workforce bill, was amended to align more closely with HB 953 but then failed a motion to defer by roll call vote, allowing it to remain pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have to use OMES, that's the central purchasing body of the state. Government.
• So we began the process to locate the space, to have the construction done, to purchase the equipment

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By switching to a refund process, this means purchasers will have to apply to the Department of Revenue
• That some of your large donors, once a development plan is defeated, actually purchase and acquire the

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard three bills. First, the committee considered Senator Osgood’s home hardening products bill (CS/SB 78). The sponsor offered and the committee adopted a strike-all amendment that changed the sales tax exemption for impact-resistant doors and windows into a refund program. The refund is limited to homeowners with site-built homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, requires application to the Department of Revenue with proof of eligibility, caps the refundable tax at $500,000 per property, and runs for two years beginning July 1, 2026. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then took up Senator McLean’s land use and development regulations bill (SB 208), which would redefine compatibility, define infill residential development, allow administrative approval in certain cases, and set standards for local development-related fees. Members and stakeholders discussed concerns about the compatibility definition, the scope of administrative approval, and whether 100 acres is too large to qualify as infill. Testimony came from Audubon Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, Highland Homes, 1,000 Friends of Florida, and others, with supporters emphasizing housing supply and affordability and opponents warning about sprawl, reduced public participation, and impacts to rural lands and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The sponsor said he would continue working on the language, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard Senator Truenow’s bill on special assessments for recreational vehicle parks (SB 118). The bill clarifies that if a local government levies a special assessment on an RV park space or campsite, the assessment may not exceed the maximum square footage allowed for an RV site. An amendment clarified that maximum as 400 square feet, resolving confusion about the cross-reference in current law. After brief discussion and one appearance form in support, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• By switching to a refund process, this means purchasers will have to apply to the Department of Revenue
• That some of your large donors, actually, once a development plan is defeated, they actually purchase

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard three bills. First, the committee considered Senator Osgood’s home hardening products bill (CS/SB 78). An amendment was adopted that changed the sales tax exemption for impact-resistant doors and windows into a refund process, limited eligibility to homeowners with site-built homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, capped the refundable tax at $500,000 per property, and set the refund period for two years beginning July 1, 2026. After the amendment, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up Senator McClain’s SB 208 on land use and development regulations. The bill would define compatibility and infill residential development, allow administrative approval of certain infill projects, and set standards for local development-related fees. Several members and stakeholders discussed possible changes to the compatibility and fee provisions. Testimony included opposition from Audubon Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, and 1,000 Friends of Florida, who raised concerns about sprawl, public participation, the 100-acre infill threshold, and impacts on rural lands and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Support came from Highland Homes and several groups that waived in support, including AARP, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Associated Industries of Florida. The bill was reported favorably after debate. Finally, the committee heard Senator Trumbull’s SB 118 on special assessments for recreational vehicle parks. The bill clarifies that if a local government levies a special assessment on an RV park space or campsite, the assessed square footage cannot exceed the maximum square footage allowed for a recreational vehicle. An amendment clarified the maximum square footage as 400 square feet. After brief discussion and no opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conservation Program allows landowners to voluntarily protect their agricultural land through conservation. purchased
• House Bill 2018 clarifies that the program is intended solely for purchasing conservation easements on

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL BUSES, ONE I SPOKE TO AS MANY AS 19 AND THEN
• EXTEND THE DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL PURCHASED ONLINE FROM 3 TO 5 YEARS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill improves government software purchasing without unduly limiting the procurement options of
• and how it compares to what purchasing and how it compares to what they<03:02:09.920> are<03:
• agencies purchase and use software.<03:02:32.560> The<03:02:32.720> text<03:02:33.040>
• This bill improves government software<03:02:39.279> purchasing<03:02:39.920> without<03
• :02:40.319> unduly software purchasing without unduly software purchasing without unduly limiting

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need to stabilize the housing market and give more Granite Staters the opportunities to rent or purchase
• But in recent years, we've really seen the cost of purchasing these communities go up exponentially,
• it yourself and community to purchase it yourself and run<01:06:10.000> it<01:06:10.079> as
• these communities go up of purchasing these communities go up exponentially.<01:06:44.160> Um,
• So on the first of the month, that person will be purchasing or paying the rent for that month coming

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Housing Committee opened with a public hearing on HB 196, which would repeal the Housing Champion program. Representative Matt Drew, the prime sponsor, argued the program is an unnecessary and poorly targeted subsidy, saying it rewards municipalities after projects are completed and may not be limited to new housing production. He questioned the transparency of the program, cited difficulty finding required annual reports, and noted a fiscal note suggesting the state could recover up to $3 million if obligations are terminated. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the program’s criteria amount to political favoritism or a standard grant process; supporters said the rubric is specific and that municipalities are evaluated against objective requirements. Representative Priest, Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire, and Karen Benfield of Stay Work Play New Hampshire all opposed repeal, saying the program encourages local zoning and regulatory changes, helps smaller communities participate, and supports housing supply and young people’s ability to stay in the state. The hearing on HB 196 was then closed. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1405, a bill establishing an affordable housing guarantee program within the Housing Finance Authority. Prime sponsor Representative Chris Muns said the bill would reduce lender risk by guaranteeing up to 80% of principal on qualifying loans for affordable housing, with a cap of $30 million per lender per year and $300 million outstanding at any time. He described the measure as a low-cost public-private partnership backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and said it was identical to a prior Senate bill that had received unanimous bipartisan committee support before dying later in the process. He framed the bill as one part of a broader housing package aimed at financing, infrastructure, workforce, zoning reform, and other housing-related issues. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal actions were opening and closing the public hearing on HB 196 and opening the public hearing on HB 1405, with testimony continuing on HB 1405 at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• of purchasing power and it um<00:49:06.160> requires<00:49:06.720> a<00:49:07.119>
• So that's really important to know: those distributions must preserve purchasing power over time, and
• And then, starting on lines 2.1, it says provide annual distributions while preserving the purchasing
• And then, starting on lines 2.1, it says provide annual distributions while preserving the purchasing
• And then, starting on lines 2.1, it says provide annual distributions while preserving the purchasing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, under current law, contracts for purchase or sale at a future date of securities or other
• It looked like what you had actually placed a bet on, or what you'd actually purchased, was a prediction
• 16:36.120> what<01:16:36.240> you'd<01:16:36.360> actually<01:16:36.680> purchased
• bet on or what you'd actually purchased bet on or what you'd actually purchased was<01:16:38.000
• <01:49:10.880> healthcare that either purchases healthcare that either purchases healthcare

Keywords: 1187, senate, all