Video & Transcript : 'vendor rate' :
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MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Property Tax Reform Feb 10th, 2026
Special Committee on Property Tax Reform
Transcript Highlights:
- to allow multiple rates, and that is what's going to allow us to have the different rates to separate
- Right. the rate of taxes have not gone up with the rate of their income.
- Is that what you're referring to when you talk about repealing the single rate to allow multiple rates
- , which is at 19% tax rate, to commercial, which is at a 32% tax rate.
- , which is at 19% tax rate, to commercial, which is at a 32% tax rate.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, when we move to the side, we're not passing cars at a rapid rate of speed.
- of speed, at a deliberate rate of speed, and to not have... ...at a deliberate rate of speed, and to
- WSDOT may then take these ratings into account when awarding a contract.
- We have a lot of concerns with the contracting rating system that's proposed here.
- WSDOT already has an internal rating system and a pre-qualified contractor system.
Committee:
House Transportation
Keywords:
motorcycle safety, right shoulder, shoulder riding, limited access roadway, freeway, expressway, highway congestion, lane splitting, traffic safety, RCW, Washington traffic law, roadside assistance, emergency vehicles, tow truck, congested traffic, motorcyclist, route jurisdiction, abandonment, transportation, local governance
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Nov 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We know following the pandemic in the past three or four years, absenteeism rates, facing.
- This map kind of shows you, in darker blue colors, counties that have higher absenteeism rates.
- On the low end, a handful of counties have the lowest rates.
- Others have absenteeism rates at about 50% of their students.
- When we look at the rate and trends in absenteeism rates across different types of schools and students
Summary:
The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met to discuss chronic absenteeism, district attendance interventions, and related truancy procedures. Chair Simon reviewed Florida’s attendance laws and escalation process, including school-based interventions, child study team meetings, referrals to the Department of Juvenile Justice, truancy petitions, and possible sanctions for parents and driving privileges. The committee heard first from University of Florida professor Dr. Chris Curran, who presented state and national absenteeism data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023-24. He emphasized that absenteeism has multiple causes, including transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family barriers, and said effective responses include early warning systems, multi-tiered supports, mentoring, and community partnerships rather than relying only on punitive measures.
Members questioned Dr. Curran about whether absenteeism is a behavior or barrier issue, whether exclusionary discipline is counted, the need for a uniform definition across districts, and whether more punitive truancy enforcement is effective. He said the issue is usually a mix of barriers and choices, that excused and unexcused absences both matter for chronic absenteeism data, and that root-cause analysis and supportive interventions are generally more productive than punishment alone, though consequences can still play a role.
The committee then heard from Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli and district staff, who described a highly structured attendance system built around attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, multilingual outreach, and frequent parent notifications. They said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023-24 and credited their success to early contact, community partnerships, and a strong district culture around attendance. Volusia County Schools Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a newer districtwide attendance initiative that uses automated letters, same-day notifications, data dashboards, MTSS tiers, incentives, and community supports such as bikes, washers and dryers, and faith-based partnerships. He reported Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023-24 to a projected 29% and said the district is now seeing about 20% in the first quarter of the current year. No formal votes were taken.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on the Census Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Senate Committee on the Census
Transcript Highlights:
- That was consistent with a 10-year growth rate for the U.S. as a whole.
- So here was the rate of net international migration in 2020...
- So here was the rate of net international migration in 2024.
- This is the rate for 1,000 residents, with the darker states having higher rates.
- And then we apply headship rates to the population.
Committee:
Senate Senate Committee on the Census
Summary:
The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion.
Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations.
Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- And all of this is going on while these rate hikes keep happening.
- Another one is charging for these rates when another one isn't.
- that 11% rate increase.”
- “And Lincoln Avenue Water Company is approaching with a $15 rate increase in addition to a 10% rate increase
- California does pay some of the highest utility rates in the country, and rates are expected to climb
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Summary:
The committee heard a long agenda of energy, water, and utility bills. SB 952, SB 1417, SB 924, SB 925, SB 1011, SB 1168, SB 1196, and SB 1350 were all discussed, along with consent items SB 1008 and SB 1245. SB 952 would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility in meeting clean energy procurement goals for the State Water Project; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. SB 1417 would extend transparency and notice requirements to mutual water companies, especially in response to wildfire-related rate increases in Altadena; supporters described lack of notice, meeting access, and public accountability, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and potentially conflicting with existing law. SB 924 would modernize low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs to better measure affordability outcomes and tenant benefits, and it passed with broad support. SB 925 would direct the Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; it was supported by industry and clean energy groups and passed without opposition. SB 1011 would require CPUC standards for human review of utility AI systems and labor consultation; supporters framed it as a safety and workforce protection measure, while utilities and business groups warned about cost, duplication, and overbroad regulation. SB 1168, now a study bill, would have the CPUC examine how data centers pay for load growth and rate impacts; it drew mixed reactions, with some industry opposition and some labor support after amendments. SB 1196 would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines; housing advocates supported it and it passed. SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with strong support from hydrogen, labor, and utility interests, but TURN opposed it unless amended, arguing it lacked safeguards against greenwashing and resource shuffling. The committee also approved the consent calendar and several bills were reported out on recorded votes, with most measures advancing on strong bipartisan support and a few no votes from Senators Strickland and Dahle on selected items.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy Mar 5th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- that in their rates. ...prohibits the entity from seeking a rate of return, so they couldn't recoup
- that in their rates that the CPUC works with them to set.
- Because there are a lot of factors that are driving utility rates up in the state.
- Wildfires and other types of things can drive rates up, and so we could see rates continue to go up.
- impacts and developing very complex alternative rate design scenarios to protect ratepayers.
Summary:
The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy heard six budget-related items and took no votes, holding all items open for a future hearing. The first item concerned a climate bond expenditure plan for the California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund under SB 254. GoBiz, IBank, and the Department of Finance described a request for nearly $26 million and 10 limited-term positions to develop financing strategies and evaluate transmission projects, while the LAO said the proposal was broadly consistent with Prop. 4 but noted that the Legislature may want to provide more direction on program design. Senators questioned how the proposal would lower ratepayer costs, protect state funds, and ensure accountability for billion-dollar transmission projects.
The second item covered trailer bill language to redirect funding among demand-side reliability programs. Finance proposed moving $22 million from the DEPA program to DSGS for summer 2026 and using CalSHAPE interest funds for ELRP or an equivalent CPUC program in 2027-28, with CEC and CPUC coordinating the transition. Senators and LAO questioned why CalSHAPE funds should not continue supporting schools, and several members argued DSGS has been more successful and should continue rather than be shifted to ELRP. CEC and CPUC explained that DSGS and ELRP serve different reliability functions and do not address public safety power shutoffs. Public commenters, including school groups and clean energy advocates, split between extending CalSHAPE for school HVAC/plumbing projects and preserving or expanding DSGS.
The committee also heard on petroleum market oversight implementation under SBX1-2 and ABX2-1, with the CEC and its Division of Petroleum Market Oversight requesting additional staffing to support inventory monitoring, refinery resupply analysis, and market oversight. Senators pressed for details on investigations, refinery margins, gasoline price spikes, and the transportation fuels transition plan, while staff said the draft plan would be released soon and that DPMO’s work on branded versus unbranded gasoline remains ongoing. Finally, the CPUC presented three additional proposals: implementing AB 1207’s climate credit reforms, studying large-load/data center cost impacts under SB 57, and preparing for regional market participation under AB 825. The LAO repeatedly cautioned that some of these requests may go beyond statutory minimums and urged the Legislature to decide how much policy direction and staffing it wants to provide. Public commenters supported DPMO funding, opposed ending CalSHAPE, and strongly favored continued DSGS funding over a new ELRP structure.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 11th, 2025
Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We have one of the highest rates in the country.
- You know, those reimbursement rates are below what it costs to provide.
- How do we change the code for the reimbursement rate?
- What, how are we changing the reimbursement rate on that?
- And then second is the provider tax rate, which I mentioned is about 6%.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- And so when we look at that rate of the drowning, yes, it goes up.
- study, procure a consultant for the rate study, perform the rate study, and implement the rates, including
- As you know, the same factors probably went into that rate that would go into another additional rate
- What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.
- What that reasonable rate of return is is certainly up for debate.
Committee:
Senate Community Affairs
Summary:
The committee heard and approved several bills on water quality, public safety, utilities, and transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment and water quality enhancement areas was presented as a follow-up to prior water quality legislation and was reported favorably with no opposition. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy, drowning prevention, and autism advocates who described Florida’s high child drowning rates and supported requiring at least one pool or water-safety feature at short- and long-term rentals; the committee adopted two amendments, including one requiring license applicants to certify compliance, and the bill was reported favorably.
The committee also approved CS/SB 1724 on municipal utility services, which addresses outside-city utility service agreements, revenue use, rate limits, and customer meetings; an amendment added gas utilities back into the bill. CS/SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a section viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then reported favorably. SB 1622, creating a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, was supported by speakers and reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage at towing facilities was amended to focus on storage only and to limit the extra fee period until inspection clears fire risk; the bill drew mixed testimony from insurers, towing-related interests, and fire officials, but was reported favorably.
Later, SB 1264 on private schools was presented as easing zoning and occupancy barriers for small schools and microschools, with supporters saying it would help meet demand for school choice; members raised concerns about local implementation, but the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits was amended to apply only to residential properties and to clarify capacity and annexation-related exceptions; it was supported by local-government and environmental testimony and reported favorably. CS/SB 1102, expanding the local government infrastructure surtax to include body camera costs, was amended so any use would require a new referendum and was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related information, drew testimony from counties, cities, and transparency advocates about costs and uniform templates, and was reported favorably after amendment, with several senators noting concerns for smaller local governments while supporting the transparency goal.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Local Government Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- It’s just not causing delays for market-rate housing.
- In either case, currently, even if it doesn't have the $3.60 rate, its levy rate would also have to be
- have to be eliminated or reduced until the levy rate is back at or under the maximum allowed rate.
- have to be eliminated or reduced until the levy rate is back at or under the maximum allowed rate.
- by the rate imposed by the fire protection district.
Committee:
House Local Government
Keywords:
renewable energy, nonemitting generation, public entities, contracting, electric generation, distributed energy, agricultural land, energy generation, renewable resources, siting regulations, land use, urban development, vegetation management, shrubsteppe, environmental regulation, economic development, sales tax, rural counties, industrial land banks, growth management
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance Oct 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We have built in another rate reduction later this year.
- Retail sales tax, when we talk about it, is a rate that is made up of two rates.
- It is a 6.5% state sales tax rate and then the applicable local sales tax rate, and that combined makes
- the sales tax rate that we pay on goods and services.
- The sales tax rate, again, for the state is 6.5%, 3.3% for Olympia.
Summary:
The committee first received a presentation from Dr. Reich on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC), including how the council’s joint executive-legislative forecasting process works, the main state revenue sources, and recent economic conditions. He said Washington’s economy is slowing, with weak employment growth, softer taxable sales, and uncertainty from tariffs, federal spending, and the federal shutdown. He also noted that the September forecast was reduced, mainly because of lower sales tax and real estate excise tax collections, and that the state still expects modest growth rather than a recession. Members asked about whether Washington tends to lag national downturns and how forecast information should affect budgeting; Dr. Reich said the forecast is a revenue tool, not a budgeting decision, and that spending choices remain with elected officials.
The Department of Revenue then presented on Washington’s sales and use tax structure and the implementation of Senate Bill 5814, which expands retail sales tax to several services effective October 1, 2025. Steve Ewing explained how sales and use tax are sourced, how reseller permits and the multiple points of use exemption work, and how the new law applies to live presentations, temporary staffing, investigations and security services, IT services, custom website development, advertising services, and custom software. He said DOR held listening sessions, issued interim guidance, and set up a centralized landing page and outreach efforts to help taxpayers understand the changes. He also described a six-month grace period for certain pre-existing contracts through March 31, 2026, but said penalties and interest still apply under the statute.
Committee members raised concerns about how businesses and individuals will know when a service is taxable, who is responsible for collecting and remitting tax, and how sourcing will work for services delivered across multiple locations or online. DOR staff walked through examples involving accounting services, live lectures, virtual events, advertising campaigns, and search engine marketing, including the use of reasonable allocation and pool codes when exact sourcing data is unavailable. Members also questioned the administrative burden on small businesses and professionals newly subject to tax, and whether additional legislative fixes or relief from penalties and interest may be needed. No votes or formal actions were taken in the work session.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jul 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- California IOU, investor-owned utility electricity rates, are more than 50% higher than rates charged
- On electric rates, we already have a rate structure called B-20 for customers using more than one megawatt
- asking the PUC to consider whether a new rate specifically for large customers is needed.
- That includes a discussion of what rate design measures would be implemented similar to this bill.
- increases. ...on the folks that result in, you know, rate increases, frankly.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on utility rates, wildfire safety, carbon capture, methane reduction, large energy users, low-income energy programs, and clean energy supply chains. Early items included SB 613, which would direct state agencies to prioritize reducing methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, and SB 614, which would allow California to move forward with carbon dioxide pipeline safety rules and potentially lift the state’s moratorium on new CO2 pipelines. Both bills drew support from advocates and industry-related witnesses, with no opposition registered at the time they were presented, and the committee indicated it would vote once quorum was established.
After quorum was called, the committee took up SB 57, which would require the Public Utilities Commission to establish tariffs for large energy users such as data centers to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers and address stranded infrastructure costs. Supporters argued the bill would protect affordability and encourage clean energy use, while opponents, including utilities and business groups, warned it could create uncertainty and interfere with existing regulatory processes. The committee also heard SB 256 on wildfire mitigation and emergency response, including undergrounding, PSPS communication, and removal of abandoned lines; supporters emphasized the need for stronger action after recent fires, while utilities raised concerns about duplicative requirements and public disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information. Both SB 57 and SB 256 were approved on roll calls.
The committee then heard SB 647, which would expand and standardize oversight of low-income energy savings programs and performance metrics, with strong support from community advocates and some neutral or “tweener” positions from utilities that sought further work on data collection and implementation. SB 787 followed, proposing a state strategy to coordinate supply chains and workforce development for clean energy industries including EVs, building decarbonization, and offshore wind; it received broad support and no opposition. The committee also considered SB 332, a study bill on utility ownership models and affordability reforms, which drew strong support from consumer and climate advocates but opposition from utilities and business groups concerned about bias, investor signals, and executive compensation provisions. The consent calendar was later approved, and several bills were reported out with votes or held open for absent members to add on.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Funding Review Committee Mar 25th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Higher Education Funding Review Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- undergraduate rate is.
- We did what Carla was talking about, take a look at the rates, you know, on our existing rates.
- But under this, using those rates, those completion rates, the base is about 86 and a half.
- There's not different rates between completion rates between the campuses because the differences in
- We have different completion rates.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- continuation of the progress that we've already made in relation to lowering our state's income tax rate
- Our willingness to save, we've been able to dramatically increase our income tax rate since 2013.
- That same person today making $65,000, tax rate would be just above $2,000. Thank you.
- We shouldn't be competing with neighboring states for the lowest tax rate.
- That was a 45% decrease in the effective tax rate for someone making $65,000.
Committee:
All REVENUE & TAX - SENATE
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Aggressive action when infection rates are low slows the spread of CWD.
- Aggressive action when infection rates are low slows the spread of CWD.
- had a 40% rate for...
- In fact, they were having increases with 40% rates, which technically, if you have a 40% rate, you ought
- So what's the current Wisconsin rate? So what's the current Wisconsin rate?
Committee:
House Agriculture
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2022, the coinsurance rate was reduced down to 60% for budgetary reasons.
- They're more at the market rate of reimbursement, is that correct? Chair, yes.
- It is at a commercial reimbursement rate, so they pay more than a state-funded program.
- They're more at the market rate of reimbursement, is that correct? Chair, yes.
- They're more at the market rate of reimbursement, is that correct? Chair, yes.
Committee:
House Commerce Finance and Policy
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And personally, I've seen my rates increase doubled.
- My rates went from $6,500 three weeks ago to $11,000.
- The reason this issue came up was because we talked about rate making.
- That's not going to reduce rates for policyholders.
- They decreased their rates in their filings.
Committee:
House Insurance
Summary:
The House Committee on Insurance met on March 25 and took up House Bill 577 by Representative Glorioso, which would change Louisiana’s bad-faith insurance penalty language from a flat 50% to “up to 50%,” giving judges discretion to award a lower penalty in cases involving minor or technical delays. Glorioso argued the bill would correct an omission from the 2024 consolidation of the bad-faith statutes, reduce unnecessary litigation over nominal delays, and potentially help lower reinsurance and homeowners’ insurance costs. Committee members questioned whether the change would weaken consumer protections or reward insurer misconduct, especially in catastrophe claims after storms, and whether any real rate relief would follow.
Opposition testimony came from the Louisiana Association of Justice and Real Reform Louisiana. They argued the current penalty provisions are important guardrails that help force timely payment and fair handling of claims, especially after hurricanes, and that the bill would reduce deterrence without producing meaningful premium reductions. They also said insurers already have substantial time and procedural protections under the law, and that penalties are rarely awarded but serve as leverage in settlement negotiations. Supporters and the Department of Insurance said Louisiana’s penalty structure is an outlier compared with other states and that the bill could make the market more competitive, though the department said it did not have court data on bad-faith judgments and could not quantify the bill’s effect on rates.
After debate, Representative Glorioso closed by saying he was open to further language changes but asked the committee to advance the bill. The committee then voted 10 yeas and 6 nays to report House Bill 577 favorably. Afterward, the committee moved on to the next item, House Bill 955.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- And personally, I've seen my rates increase doubled.
- My rates went from $6,500 three weeks ago to $11,000.
- The reason this issue came up was because we talked about rate making.
- That's not going to reduce rates for policyholders.
- They decreased their rates in their filings.
Committee:
House Insurance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Typically we intervene in base rate proceedings.
- So if they feel they have to have a rate increase, they'll file for that, go ahead and use the rate.
- So if they feel they have to have a rate increase, they'll file for that, go ahead and use the rate increase
- there could be an interim rate while that case is being resolved.
- Do we think that that is a just and reasonable rate to set?
Committee:
Senate Nominations
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Nominations met with a quorum and first took up pending nominations from an earlier agenda. Members severed Douglas McReecken, nominated to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, from the rest of the list and then voted to report the remaining nominees to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote. The committee then voted on the severed nomination itself and reported Douglas McReecken to the full Senate as well, by a 5-2 vote.
The committee heard testimony from Brooke Pop, reappointed as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and later from Commissioner Katarina Gonzalez, also of TCEQ. Questions focused on whether TCEQ rules comply with state law, ex parte restrictions, public transparency, concrete batch plant permitting, MUD approvals, water availability, illegal dams, enforcement, and the agency’s role in local environmental disputes. Both nominees said they follow the law as written, described internal legal review of rules, and emphasized transparency, public outreach, and enforcement; Gonzalez said she had already sent back two rules she believed did not comply with legislation. Members also discussed TCEQ’s authority limits and the need for clearer public communication about what the agency can and cannot regulate.
The committee also considered Alethea Sullivan, nominated to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Questions centered on TSU’s status as an independent institution, the role of HBCUs amid DEI-related legal changes, and student outcomes. Sullivan said she would focus on ensuring taxpayer and student resources produce valuable credentials and noted concerns from her review of graduation and bar passage rates. The committee then heard from Benjamin Barkley, appointed chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Barkley said OPUC’s main need is additional funding to recruit and retain attorneys and expert witnesses, reduce turnover, and continue representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate cases; he said the office was involved in 73 contested cases and saved Texans $2.2 billion in FY 2024. No final action was taken on the later nominees, and the committee recessed with nominations left pending.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- The first is our retention rate, or success rate.
- And so we look at the retention rate, the success rate, the completion rate.
- or success rate metric, and about 98.97% meeting the continuing education or employment rate metric
- at an 85% passage rate.
- placement rate of 91%, and a licensure pass rate of 98%.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received an overview of Florida’s career and technical education (CTE) system from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, who described the state’s CTE pathways, program types, enrollment and completion growth, quality audit metrics, and the Master Credentials List used to identify credentials of value. He highlighted record postsecondary CTE enrollment and completions, strong statewide performance in talent attraction, and several funding tools supporting expansion, including Open Door, the Florida First Responder Scholarship, Workforce Development Capitalization grants, Perkins funding, CAPE performance incentives, and apprenticeship grants. Senators asked about eligibility for Open Door and first responder aid, top industry certifications, and the teacher apprenticeship initiative.
A panel of college and technical school leaders then described how state and federal funding has supported local program growth and facility expansion. Santa Fe College, Palm Beach State College, North Florida Technical College, Lake Technical College, Florida Gateway College, and Manatee Technical College each cited increases in enrollment, high placement or licensure pass rates, and new or expanded programs in nursing, welding, CDL, automotive, manufacturing, public safety, and apprenticeship. Several speakers emphasized partnerships with hospitals, employers, school districts, and local governments, and noted that grants helped fund equipment, renovations, and new training hubs. Palm Beach State also raised a request to broaden line funding beyond nursing to other health science fields, and multiple presenters asked for more flexibility, multi-year support, and continued or increased funding to sustain growth.
Members discussed broader challenges, including the difficulty of sustaining grant-funded growth after initial awards, the lag between enrollment growth and funding formulas, and alignment problems for dual enrollment and technical programs with high school schedules. Senators also noted the need to balance support for high-demand core programs like nursing and welding with the ability to respond quickly to emerging industries such as AI and space. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 9th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- in your district be able to lower and keep stable a lot of their water rate bills, then I have a bill
- And despite this diligence, high water users have regularly challenged these rates in court.
- Prop. 218 was a taxpayer rebellion in this state that said enough with the overcharging of rate payers
- But this bill, AB 2180, allows government officials to cook the books and overcharge rate payers.
- decrease. ...of those homes who are the high water users who would actually see their rates decrease