Video & Transcript Research : 'heating'
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KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government (3-4-26)
State & Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- We're having some pretty heated energy discussion over there, and I wanted to stay even though this is
- We're having some pretty pretty pretty heated<00:10:55.440>
energy <00:10:55.800>discussion - <00:10:56.960>
And heated energy discussion over there. - And heated energy discussion over there.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:10
Attendance Roll Call: 00:15
SB 133 Discussion: 00:52
SB 133 Vote: 05:01
SB 226 Discussion: 06:10
SB 226 Vote: 09:36
SJR 62 Discussion: 10:22
SJR 62 Vote: 12:55
SB 261 Discussion: 13:42
SB 261 Vote: 18:19
SB 262 Discussion: 19:10
SB 262 Vote: 26:36
Adjournment: 28:02, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 133, which would raise audit and reporting thresholds for certain special purpose governmental entities and allow entities with two consecutive clean audits to move to a less frequent audit cycle. Sponsor Matt Nunn said the bill was intended to reduce audit burdens and costs without reducing transparency, and the committee substitute was adopted. The bill passed the committee 8-0 with favorable expression.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 226, sponsored by Senator Greg Elkins, which would allow funeral directors to take up to a 15% administrative fee once a pre-need funeral contract is fully funded. Elkins and a representative of the Funeral Directors Association explained that the bill applies to trust-funded pre-need burial contracts and does not affect insurance-funded arrangements. The bill passed 8-0 with favorable expression.
Senate Joint Resolution 62 was next, a resolution by Senator Mayden asking the Division of Water to provide clearer guidance to local governments on cleaning out creeks and waterways, especially in light of flooding and debris concerns in Eastern Kentucky. The resolution passed with favorable expression, 8-0. The committee also approved Senate Bill 261, sponsored by President Stivers, which addresses ownership, responsibility, and maintenance authority for swinging bridges in Eastern Kentucky and would allow cities and counties to spend money on their upkeep; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 9-0.
Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 262, also sponsored by President Stivers, which would allow constitutional amendments to be presented on the ballot by question rather than full text. Stivers argued this would make amendments more understandable and noted prior Kentucky constitutional changes had been made by ballot question. One senator explained a no vote, saying the bill did not clearly define who would determine a fair and accurate summary. The bill passed 7-1 with favorable expression and the committee adjourned.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. (1-29-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- 8 degrees when I came to work this morning, and our power plants are running wide open to keep the heat
- plants are running wide open uh to keep plants are running wide open uh to keep the<00:02:21.920>
heat - Additionally,<00:02:23.920>
we've <00:02:24.160>seen <00:02:24.480>a the heat - Additionally, we've seen a the heat on.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:02
HB 398 Discussion 01:01
HB 398 Roll Call Vote 16:09
Chair Comments 18:05, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 398, sponsored by Rep. Wade Williams, with testimony from David Samford of East Kentucky Power Cooperative. The bill would amend KRS 278.264, the Senate Bill 4 statute, to clarify that it governs retirement of fossil fuel plants and not the recovery of associated decommissioning costs. Supporters said the measure would restore the Public Service Commission’s discretion to spread decommissioning costs over the life of a plant, consistent with traditional ratemaking, and avoid large rate spikes when plants are retired.
Testimony focused on ratemaking principles such as cost causation and matching, with the witnesses arguing that customers should pay costs as they are incurred rather than face a large “sticker shock” charge at the end of a plant’s life. Members asked about possible double charges, environmental surcharges, fuel adjustment clauses, and what happens if a planned retirement is delayed or canceled. The witnesses said the bill is intended to prevent double exposure and that rates would be revisited in future base rate cases as assumptions change.
During roll call, most members voted yes, while Rep. Fugate passed and explained concern about high electric bills and prior lump-sum charges in his area, and Rep. Watkins voted no, saying he needed more information on long-term affordability. The committee reported the bill out favorably, with the chair stating it should pass on the floor.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 10 (1-20-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- belief in change through nonviolence and his unwavering desire to see a world sweltering with the heat
- 00:22:55.760>
sweltering <00:22:56.640>with <00:22:56.880>the <00:22:57.039>heat - <00:22:57.200>
of see a world sweltering with the heat of see a world sweltering with the - heat of oppression<00:22:57.840>
transformed <00:22:58.400>into <00:22:58.640>an
Keywords:
Convene 00:00
Senate Message 04:27
Report of Committees 05:14
Orders of the Day 06:02
HB 184 06:16
HB 265 09:38
HJR 24 13:00
Motions, Petitions, and Communications 19:39
Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 26:58
Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 28:48
ConC and Rules Report 37:47
Impeachment Committee Announcement 40:50
Adjournment 41:13, 958, all
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call showing 95 members present. Members approved the prior journal, suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications, and received committee reports advancing House Bill 96 on the Postsecondary Education Working Group and House Bills 34 and 214 on veterans-related benefits. The chamber then considered and passed House Bill 184, which concerns health savings account qualified insurance plans and would delay certain state cost-sharing limits until the federal IRS minimum deductible is met. The bill passed 94-0, and the motion to reconsider was tabled.
The House also passed House Bill 265, dealing with regulatory authorizations by the Commissioner of Insurance. The sponsor explained that the bill creates a statutory dissolution process for self-insured workers’ compensation pools and removes the Department of Insurance’s approval role for new pools in response to past insolvency problems. That bill passed 95-0, and the clincher was applied. The chamber then adopted House Joint Resolution 24, as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 and a title amendment, by an 87-1 vote. The resolution directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to withdraw a Medicaid 1115A waiver application related to mandatory community engagement requirements, with supporters saying the request is no longer needed under current federal law.
Later, the House honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through House Resolution 5, which recounted his civil rights legacy and Kentucky’s civil rights history; the resolution was adopted without objection. Members also announced upcoming committee meetings, withdrew House Bill 292, and received a long list of new bill introductions covering topics including nicotine products, elections, opioid antagonists, local purchasing, vital records, inheritance tax, state parks, unemployment benefits, civic education, psychologists, the Court of Justice, citizenship requirements for elected officials, attorney privacy in criminal cases, sex crimes, and audiology. The Committee on Committees then referred and reassigned numerous bills to standing committees, named new ranking minority members, and appointed an impeachment committee. The House recessed briefly for committee meetings and then adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on SB 221, SB 213, SB 218 (06/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- expertise and participate in decisions that affect them like you know should their classrooms be heated
- should their them like you know should their classrooms<00:07:46.000>
be <00:07:46.160>heated - > and<00:07:46.800>
how <00:07:46.960>is <00:07:47.120>the classrooms be heated - and how is the classrooms be heated and how is the school<00:07:47.680>
being <00:07:47.919>
Summary:
The committee worked through several election-related bills and conference committee compromises. On SB 221, members discussed a streamlined re-registration form for voters removed from the checklist, with the Secretary of State to develop the necessary form; one member opposed the bill as unnecessary and warned that more frequent purges can disenfranchise voters, but the committee ultimately accepted the compromise and prepared it for signatures.
On SB 213, the committee reviewed technical language changes to the HB 340-related provisions, including changing “legislative body” to “governing body” and replacing “measure” with “warrant article.” Despite those edits, one member argued the bill could chill public employees’ participation in official duties and should be held to the Senate position; another said the bill was unnecessary in light of other voting restrictions already enacted. No position change was made, and the bill remained opposed by at least some members.
On SB 218, the committee agreed to add the word “applicable” in two places, and to remove sections 5 and 6 from the Senate version so pre-processing language would be restored. The House also asked to strike a sentence giving the Secretary of State broad authority over errors identified in the process, preferring that such matters remain in statute. Members generally described these edits as improvements, though some still opposed the bill overall. The meeting ended after a final comment on SB 213 seeking to remove language requiring public employees’ factual information to be provided only in response to public requests, followed by adjournment.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Health Policy Jan 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And then the agency, in addition to the heat is measures mentioned before will write his own age and
- So for heat as measures we currently have time and it's a prenatal care is why draw your attention to
- And again, as you can see, that this heat is measures as supplemental funding programs as performance
- Again, heat U.S. measures and the other funding programs as well.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/23/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- served by federal funds, uh heating served by federal funds, uh heating system<00:44:48.840>
- She's gone the entire winter without heat and relies on a generator to keep herself and her dog warm.
- 48:36.520>
without She's gone the entire winter without She's gone the entire winter without heat - :38.080>
a <00:48:38.120>generator <00:48:38.640>to <00:48:38.720>keep heat - and relies on a generator to keep heat and relies on a generator to keep herself<00:48:39.280>
and
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (8-28-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a heat map of all incentivized job creation in Kentucky since the COVID pandemic, or since the
- so<00:54:13.599>
I've <00:54:13.920>created <00:54:14.160>a <00:54:14.319>heat - map to kind of so I've created a heat map to kind of track<00:54:16.000>
where <00:54:16.319>< - This<00:54:21.599>
is <00:54:21.680>a <00:54:21.839>heat <00:54:22.079>map - But when you look at this as kind of a heat map with density of job creation that's been incentivized
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:22
Forging the Future: Kentucky's National Leadership in Metals Manufacturing 00:01:33
Improvements to Kentucky’s Incentive Programs 00:52:05, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met for its third interim meeting, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) on Kentucky’s metals industry. Speakers described metals manufacturing and recycling as a major economic backbone for the Commonwealth, including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper operations, with broad impacts across production, fabrication, supply chains, and related businesses. They emphasized that the industry supports high-paying jobs, significant capital investment in Kentucky, and is aligned with broader efforts to expand U.S. manufacturing.
A central theme was workforce development. MI2 leaders said the industry faces a persistent talent gap and that current education programs do not always produce the skills needed for modern metals jobs. They argued for stronger exposure and awareness, more direct industry involvement, and a dedicated metals career pathway through high schools, area technology centers, career and technical centers, and KCTCS. They also described pilot efforts in Logan, Warren, and Carroll counties that would introduce students to metals careers in middle school, move them into credits and pathways in high school, and connect them to internships, apprenticeships, and postsecondary training.
Recycling and supply-chain security were the other major topics. Testimony stressed that recycled inputs are far cheaper than raw ore extraction and that recycling is increasingly important to competitiveness, environmental performance, and keeping materials from leaving the U.S. Speakers also raised concerns about China’s large steel and aluminum capacity and said unfair trade and global market manipulation make it harder for Kentucky producers to compete. Committee members and presenters framed MI2 as a collaborative effort among industry, state government, and academia to strengthen workforce pipelines, recycling, and long-term industry growth. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- and cooling sources like ground-source heat pumps.
- and cooling sources like ground-source heat pumps.
- rising health care costs tied to air pollution, increased frequency of flooding, or longer-lasting heat
- <00:20:04.960>
waves flooding or longer lasting heat waves flooding or longer lasting heat - As I stated, we are embracing greener technology and ground-source heat pumps, as well as geothermal
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 106 Apr 30th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. The Senate will come to Mr.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received committee and House messages before moving into third reading and final passage on several bills. Early action included passage of House Bill 1318, which concerns traffic safety near schools; Senator Cutter offered and the chamber adopted a third-reading amendment naming it the Liam Stewart School Zone Act in honor of a child killed in a traffic accident near a school. The bill then passed 33-1. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 134 on payment card network fees, and laid over Senate Bill 17 until April 30.
The Senate then considered Senate Bill 45 on workforce development opportunities in Colorado’s nuclear sector, Senate Bill 91 on excluding certain printed news deliverers from employee definitions under labor law, Senate Bill 114 on spirituous liquor manufacturer sales rooms, Senate Bill 162 on releasing healthcare test results to patients, Senate Bill 23 on school finance, Senate Bill 93 on workers’ compensation coverage compliance, Senate Bill 155 on homeowners insurance availability, Senate Bill 146 on restricting single-use food service ware, and Senate Bill 156 on State Workforce Development Council practices. Most of these bills passed, with recorded opposition on several measures: SB 91 passed 26-8, SB 114 passed 31-3, SB 162 passed 29-5, SB 93 passed 19-15, SB 155 passed 22-12, SB 146 passed 20-14, and SB 156 passed 32-2. SB 23, the school finance act, drew broad support and passed 34-0 after multiple senators emphasized education funding priorities and constitutional obligations.
During debate, senators highlighted policy rationales and personal stories. On SB 162, Senator Weissman explained his no vote as a patient-autonomy concern despite acknowledging the bill’s earnest intent. On SB 23, supporters said the bill preserved and strengthened K-12 funding, while one senator argued schools should do better on safety and teacher pay. On SB 155, supporters said the homeowners insurance bill could help change market direction and improve affordability. On SB 156, Senator Marchman described the bill’s focus on out-of-school youth and the need to connect young people who are not in education, employment, or training with workforce supports. The Senate also began special-order second reading of consent-calendar bills, adopted the committee reports, and advanced House Bill 1313 on affordable housing fund requirements with amendments related to Prop 123 implementation and stakeholder processes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- on some assistance from other departments within the physical plant staff: our electricians, our heating
- windows, replaces<00:46:59.839>
plumbing, <00:47:00.319>electrical, <00:47:00.800>heating - , replaces plumbing, electrical, heating, replaces plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling,<00:47:
- Some of them have already kind of turned down the heat and stopped services, so they... over that much
- > them have already kind of turned down them have already kind of turned down the<01:06:58.960>
heat
Summary:
The committee opened with quorum and decorum reminders, then approved the minutes from February 26, 2026. Members briefly set aside a planned follow-up on GO students from Minnesota State after being told the questions had been fully answered, and moved on to Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College’s storm damage presentation.
Bemidji State President John Hoffman and facilities staff described the June 21 derecho that hit Bemidji, causing widespread roof, window, tree, and infrastructure damage across both campuses and the surrounding community. Hoffman said the institutions were already recovering from pandemic-era enrollment and budget losses, but had improved new student enrollment, retention, fundraising, and deficits before the storm. He emphasized that the campuses were well insured, but that restoring the tree canopy and campus character would take far longer than repairing buildings. Facilities worker Brent Steinmets gave a personal account of the storm response and cleanup, describing days of chainsaw work, debris removal, window repairs, and stump grinding, and noting that many employees were also dealing with damage at their own homes.
Members asked what kind of funding request was being made, and Hoffman said Chair Duran was preparing a bill tied to the storm damage and reforestation needs, while alumni had already raised more than $80,000 through a “Replanting Our Roots” campaign. He said the institutions had spent about $50,000 in deductible costs and another $25,000 in unreimbursable overtime, and had hired a landscape architect to plan reforestation. Members also asked about enrollment growth and staffing reductions; Hoffman said overall enrollment was up a little more than 2% since fall 2022, new student enrollment had risen 17%, NTC headcount was up 75%, and the campuses had reduced about 30% of instructional faculty and close to 30% of overall employees while reorganizing programs and administration. Discussion also focused on preserving liberal arts and applied liberal arts offerings, with Hoffman saying the institutions were emphasizing critical thinking, communication, citizenship, interdisciplinarity, and human intelligence alongside workforce training. No vote was taken on the storm-related funding proposal during the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 4/11/25
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- .<01:29:46.239>
Heat. <01:29:46.239>Heat. <01:29:46.239>N. - [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat.<01:33:55.199>
Hey, <01:33:55.199>Heat. - Heat. Heat.
- Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat.
- Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Thank you. All right. So, we are moving to amendments now.
Bills:
HF2438
Keywords:
transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school
MN
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We can deploy storage so reliability is stronger in heat and cold and storms.
- We can deploy storage so reliability is stronger in heat and cold and storms.
- hoping the next heat wave doesn't last hoping the next heat wave doesn't last too<03:32:52.880>
long - We can deploy storage so reliability is stronger in heat and cold and storms.
- <03:34:18.160>
and so reliability is stronger in heat and so reliability is stronger in heat
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, May 21, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- to support student-athlete physical health, including education on concussions, cardiac arrest, and heat
- I'm here today with AB 2503, which builds on the critical youth sports heat guidelines we established
- As climate conditions continue to intensify across California, a regional one-size-fits-all heat threshold
- Every practice and competition, we have procedures put in place to prevent heat illness from occurring
- In your district, you have some of those areas that have such extreme heat, and sometimes it's bringing
Summary:
The committee heard several education-related bills, with most of the discussion centered on student privacy, faculty health coverage, Native student data collection, mental health training for coaches, and human trafficking prevention education. AB 1159, the California Learner Personal Information Protection Act, would expand student data privacy protections to higher education, clarify existing ed-tech rules, and add limited enforcement. The author and supporters said current law is outdated and does not adequately protect sensitive student information, while some college-related stakeholders raised definitional concerns about preserving routine student communications and access to course materials. The bill was approved on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee and placed on call.
AB 1171 would keep unspent funds in the part-time community college faculty health insurance program from being swept for other uses and would require all community college districts to begin negotiating participation by 2030. The author and supporters argued that part-time faculty often lack employer-sponsored coverage despite teaching most community college courses, while opponents said the bill was premature because participation is still growing and the program’s full-year spending data is not yet known. Members debated whether the Legislature should preserve the funding in statute or continue handling it through the budget process. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call.
AB 1581 would require collection of tribal affiliation data for Native American and Alaska Native students in CalPADS to address severe undercounting and improve resource allocation. The author and tribal and education supporters said Native students are often misclassified, making it harder to provide culturally responsive programs and measure outcomes; committee members discussed how the reporting would work for multitribal and multiracial students and emphasized the need for tribal consultation and workable data definitions. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1665, requiring mental health training for school coaches, was supported as a way to help trusted adults recognize warning signs and connect student athletes to services; it also passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1766, which would expand human trafficking prevention education from kindergarten through 12th grade and address online grooming and exploitation, received strong support from the author, survivors, and advocacy groups, with testimony emphasizing earlier prevention and digital safety; the transcript ended during support testimony and did not include final action on that bill.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 05/07/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- networks, which is what we're talking about in this bill, are systems that use the ground to efficiently heat
- 24:38.920>
ground <00:24:39.400>to <00:24:39.720>efficiently <00:24:40.560>heat - <00:24:41.040>
and use the ground to efficiently heat and use the ground to efficiently heat - It's where, you know, we drive a pipe into the ground and we're able to get our heating and cooling because
- Um, but anyway, it's just it is a very reliable means for heating and cooling buildings.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Apr 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The state is moving to encourage the adoption of zero-emission electric space and water heating appliances
- , such as heat pumps, including through establishing programs like the Equitable Building Decarbonization
- Esperanza Villama, Chief Heat Policy Advisor, representing the City of Stockton, the mayor's office,
- Esperanza, Vialma, Chief Heat Policy Advisor, representing the City of Stockton.
- Esperanza Villama, Chief Heat Policy Advisor, representing the City of Stockton, the mayor's office,
Summary:
The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open.
The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0.
Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm hoping I can make an allegory here that will maybe lower the heat a little bit.
- I'm hoping I can make an allegory here that will maybe lower the heat a little bit.
- You said, let's lower the heat here. I think this isn't very much heat, quite frankly.
- Dawn Kepke, on behalf of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, in opposition to
- Chair, Dawn Kepke, on behalf of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute in opposition
Summary:
The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees.
The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved.
Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- So much damage seems to be done both by, I know, heating, cool... Representative? I think so.
- So much damage seems to be done both by, I know, heating, cool, ...shape.
- So much damage seems to be done both by, I know, heating and cooling, but also, it seems to me at least
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a public hearing on H. 5279, a bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. MassDOT and A&F testified in support, describing the bill as a more than $5 billion transportation bond package centered on a four-year, $1.2 billion Chapter 90 authorization, plus funding for MBTA rail reliability and modernization, housing-related transportation improvements, a new DCR/MassDOT PRISM program for parkways and other DCR assets, and reauthorizations of the Municipal Pavement Program, Shared Streets and Spaces, and highway programs. They said the bill would support safety, resilience, housing production, and multimodal transportation, and noted that some bonds could be issued as special obligation bonds backed by the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues.
Committee members asked about the size and structure of the authorizations, the federal match for highway projects, the source of MBTA vehicle procurement, bridge repair needs, and whether the housing-related funds could be used flexibly for items like sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, and other local transportation improvements. Administration witnesses said the bill is intended as a temporary refill of existing programs until a larger transportation bond bill is filed next session, that the federal-aid line includes the full spending authority while the state only borrows the 20% match, and that the housing-related program is deliberately broad and not limited to MBTA communities. They also said Chapter 90 includes a road-mile component that especially helps rural communities and that preservation and safety are built into the programs.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association also testified in strong support, emphasizing that Chapter 90 is the most important tool municipalities have to maintain the roughly 30,000 miles of local roads and bridges they are responsible for. MMA urged timely passage before construction season and praised the continued $300 million Chapter 90 level, especially the $100 million road-mile distribution that helps communities with large road networks and smaller populations. No votes were taken on the bill, and the hearing concluded with adjournment after testimony ended.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- But under this lab kit, it had this heat, this big old some kind of heat thing.
- We going to put this meat on the table and the heat lamp. We took a piece of chalk. You know what?
- , this big old some kind of this heat, this big old some kind of heat<04:42:51.840>
thing. - So, this is what the teacher heat thing.
- We took He got a piece of the heat lamp.
Summary:
The Senate first recognized the Montgomery Academy boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Class 3A state championship, their second straight title. Senator Barfoot introduced the team and read a resolution commending the players, coaches, and school community for the 66-39 win over Southside Selma, noting standout performances by Braden Gordon, Mason Ellis, and Jarrett Friendley. Coach Jeremy Aant and school head John Williams thanked the Senate and emphasized the team’s selflessness, teamwork, academic standards, service, and leadership development. The Senate applauded the team, added all senators to the resolution, and arranged for a picture and challenge coins for the players.
After the recognition, the Senate came to order, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Committee reports followed. The Committee on State Government Affairs reported House Bill 541 favorably with one amendment; the bill would create the Safeguard Alabama Voter Engagement Act, requiring party registration for primary voting, restricting crossover voting, retaining voter history as a public record, revising voter registration forms, and requiring parties to publish candidate qualifications. The bill was ordered to a second reading and placed on the calendar.
The Committee on Local Legislation reported House Bills 630, 631, and 632 favorably, all relating to Etowah County, including changes to tax exemptions and personnel board membership. These bills were also sent to second reading and the calendar. The Senate then took up Senate Joint Resolution 117, commending Dylan Nut for winning the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, and added all members as co-sponsors. During discussion, one senator used the opportunity to speak at length about a separate concern involving alleged unlicensed real estate solicitation and the need for legislation to protect citizens from property-related scams; he also discussed the calendar process and other bills. The floor later included extended informal remarks about fishing and a separate discussion of a proposal to designate Miss America as an official state ambassador, with support expressed for a possible stipend amendment.