Transcript Highlights:

• response program.
• ERCOT puts out a demand response report each year that looks at different capabilities in the market.
• Their most recent estimate for 4CP demand response total across the entire market is 3,000 megawatts.
• What I would Demand, peak demand allocation. So those types of methodologies do exist.
• And how the response, what's the appropriate response to these fires is an evolving field.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members take that responsibility seriously.
• They've been very responsible in terms of water usage, power usage, you know, they're taking a very responsible
• this demand.
• We have also been a committed partner during weather-related emergencies through demand response, voluntarily
• Demand has outstripped that delivery capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• All in all, the demand response tools alongside the fossil resources total roughly 4.5 gigawatts.
• So that's the net demand that's growing.
• , which entails constantly balancing supply and demand.
• We have a responsibility to respond to that within 30 days.
• I think one of the things we have heard is that demand response support programs are critical.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:50.399> response plants to provide uh demand response plants to provide uh demand response
• Demand response programs benefit more than just the customers enlisted in demand response programs.
• <00:27:34.960> response So, we oversee several demand response programs for our residential
• have demand response. Is that correct? have demand response. Is that correct?
• stabilizing programs including demand stabilizing programs including demand response.<04:12:06.080

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SDSU clearly has incredible demand and could grow to enroll 1,000 SDSU clearly has incredible demand
• Demand is strong, and our system strategies are delivering results.
• Demand for an SDSU education has never been higher.
• It's very, very small, and the demand is overwhelming.
• It's very, very small, and the demand is overwhelming.

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• largely due to the increased demand. largely due to the increased demand.
• We have not electricity demand is up.
• , >> You talked about an increased demand, >> You talked about an increased demand, Senator
• Uh, we try to promote energy conservation and demand response, which is a little geeky, but essentially
• promote energy conservation and demand promote energy conservation and demand response,<00:14:08.320

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota’s clean energy policy, energy affordability, and the state’s path toward its 100% clean electricity goal. The senator said Minnesota’s clean energy reputation comes from environmental concern, job creation, and lower long-term costs, noting that wind is now the lowest-cost generation source and that solar costs have fallen sharply. He said rising electricity demand has led to some increased coal use, but argued the state can still meet its 2040 clean energy target through continued renewable buildout, permitting reform, conservation, and demand response. A major topic was data centers. The senator emphasized both concerns and benefits, saying hyperscale data centers can bring substantial construction jobs, property tax revenue, and, under the 2025 law, payments to low-income energy assistance. He cited the Pine Island Google data center as air-cooled, with no water concerns, and said it will pay $5 million annually while funding 1,600 MW of wind, solar, and battery resources at its own expense. He also said Xcel’s filing projected a $1.1 billion ratepayer savings over 10 years, while urging the public to weigh both pros and cons, especially around water use and local tax impacts. The discussion also covered nuclear power and climate costs. The senator said the Senate has passed a nuclear study three years in a row and expects it to advance, while the moratorium on new nuclear plants remains tied to the Prairie Island Indian Community and unresolved nuclear waste storage. He argued Minnesota likely cannot reach its emissions goals without nuclear in the mix, though he acknowledged current nuclear is not cost-competitive and said future advanced or small modular nuclear could change that. On affordability, he pointed to climate-driven costs such as higher homeowners insurance and storm damage, and described Senate energy omnibus provisions including conservation, plug-in solar, and renewable development account projects such as a Como Zoo clean energy project. No votes were taken in the interview itself, but the senator referenced the recently announced budget deal and said he still needed to negotiate a renewable development account agreement between the House and Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have no issue with responsible gun owners having short barrel firearms.
• Repealing these measures is not an act of responsible governance.
• We appreciate every responsible gun owner and the Second Amendment.
• They demonstrate proficiency and responsibility.
• I'm speaking today on behalf of Moms Demand Action and myself.

Bills: HB259

Keywords: redistricting, Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission, Texas Legislature, elections, district boundaries, voter representation

Transcript Highlights:

• Together with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense and Students Demand Action, we're the nation's largest
• Linda Gale, volunteer with Moms Demand Action, in support. Thank you.
• Amy McRae, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, in support.
• Jara Gidal, volunteer with Moms Demand Action, in support. Thank you.
• response plans, as well as criminal incidents.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, with the chair outlining hearing procedures and several bills on consent. The committee heard and advanced AB 1581, which would improve collection of tribal affiliation data for California students so Native students are more accurately counted and better served; supporters said current systems undercount Native students and erase their needs. AB 1586 also passed, requiring school resource officers who volunteer to carry naloxone to receive opioid overdose response training every two years; supporters emphasized student safety and the need for rapid response to overdoses on campus, while one school employees’ group raised concerns about retaliation protections for non-volunteers. Both bills were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations, with roll calls held open for absent votes. The committee then approved AB 1943, which updates school notices about secure firearm storage by making the information clearer, more visible, and more likely to reach families at key moments such as counseling or discipline interventions. Supporters from gun violence prevention groups, educators, and parents argued that many school shooters obtain guns from home and that plain-language, digital, and timely notices could help prevent child deaths and suicides; the author shared a personal story about a child accessing a gun at home. AB 1792 also advanced, directing the Instructional Quality Commission to consider updating health education to address digital safety issues such as deepfakes, extortion, grooming, and AI-generated exploitation; supporters said students need instruction that reflects modern online risks, while an opponent objected to language referencing LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse students. AB 1653 passed as well, adding heat-illness guidance to the health framework after a young Girl Scout described students suffering during extreme heat and not recognizing symptoms. Later, the committee approved AB 1861, which would require the California Department of Education to create a public database of special education investigation reports with personal information redacted; supporters said families need better access to complaint outcomes and accountability, while an opposition witness warned of unintended consequences, misuse of incomplete information, and added burdens on districts. AB 1721 also moved forward, creating a stakeholder work group to review and streamline school safety plan requirements so plans remain practical and focused on emergency preparedness. AB 1631, which would make kindergarten mandatory, received mixed testimony: supporters argued it would help close achievement gaps and improve readiness, while opponents framed it as an intrusion on parental choice; the bill was held on call after a split vote. Finally, AB 1809, extending job order contracting authority for school and community college districts, was also held on call after opposition from contractors who argued project labor agreement requirements raise costs and reduce competition. The committee then began hearing AB 1659, aimed at improving transitions for court school students back to their home districts, with testimony describing re-enrollment barriers and the need for a designated district contact.

Transcript Highlights:

• PNM has been delaying the... ...growing demand.
• So folks with smart thermostats, folks with storage, and also traditional demand response is also part
• So commercial demand response, which utilities in New Mexico already operate, similar concept, but you
• So the 15% of peak demand. Why is it 15%? I'm just curious about that. Mr.
• So the 15% of peak demand. Why is it 15%? I'm just curious about that. Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So last summer, during the hottest point in the summer, we hit 8.7 gigawatts of peak demand.
• So last summer, during the hottest point in the summer, we hit 8.7 gigawatts of peak demand.
• So last summer, during the hottest point in the summer, we hit 8.7 gigawatts of peak demand.
• So they demand energy around the clock, which is a little bit different than some of the load growth
• And so this is a unique instance where demand response or other measures that might shift portions of

Bills: HB2133, HB2592

Keywords: sexual material, consent, synthetic depiction, privacy, internet regulation, rights protection, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens, 1182, all

Summary: The House AI and Innovation Committee first heard an informational presentation from Arizona Public Service (APS) on the rapid growth of data centers and AI-related electricity demand in Arizona. APS said Phoenix now ranks near the top in North America for data center development and projected its peak load could rise from 8.7 gigawatts to 12 gigawatts by 2035, with about 19 gigawatts of potential data center demand in its queue. APS emphasized three principles for serving this growth: maintaining reliability for existing customers, preventing data center costs from being shifted to residential and small business customers, and preserving capacity for other growth. APS described its proposed approach as a combination of a pending Corporation Commission rate case and bilateral contracts, including minimum bill requirements, queue management, long-term financial commitments, and direct cost assignment to data center customers. Committee members asked about rate impacts, self-generation, behind-the-meter power, seasonal load, and possible future nuclear or other generation options; APS said it is pursuing an all-of-the-above resource strategy and that the proposed data center rate increase is 45 percent, though not yet approved. The committee then considered House Bill 2133, which would require commercial entities that knowingly distribute or publish sexual material online to obtain reasonable consent and age verification, including for synthetic or AI-generated altered images, and would impose civil penalties for violations. A five-page amendment narrowed the bill by excluding internet service providers, affiliates, search engines, and cloud providers from liability for content they do not create or directly host. The sponsor said the bill is intended to protect people in adult content from exploitation and non-consensual use, including revenge porn and trafficking-related material, and to extend protections to synthetic media. Members discussed the penalty structure, with the sponsor explaining it was modeled on similar penalties in related laws and set at $10,000 per day of violation. After no public opposition was presented, the committee adopted the amendment and voted 5-0, with 2 members present, to return HB 2133 as amended with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody walks away, and there's nobody who was responsible for that.
• I'm almost out of time and I'm sure they'll give you just a quick response.
• Sure, I'd just add that where you can delegate or assign responsibility to the states.
• It's called the Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement Act, the FREE Act.
• Senator Lummis, in the response from Mr.

Keywords: environmental review, permitting process, infrastructure, bipartisan legislation, economic growth, Nucor, West Virginia

Summary: The meeting focused on critical discussions surrounding the need for modernizing the federal environmental review and permitting processes. Witnesses from various sectors, including Nucor, provided testimony on the delays and costs associated with current regulations, emphasizing the impact on infrastructure and economic growth. Major projects in West Virginia, such as the Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, were highlighted as examples of initiatives stalled by excessive permitting hurdles, prompting calls for bipartisan legislation to streamline these processes while maintaining environmental protections. The committee expressed a commitment to address these issues immediately, highlighting the urgency to enhance efficiency in permitting to facilitate economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with this demand, for instance, at the end of the biennium, if there's more demand than you have funds
• It's on demand.
• supply and demand and then GME.
• The supply of nurse practitioners is projected to outpace demand from 2022 through 2036, and demand for
• Representative Schaffner, on the supply and demand, birth rates are going down, so where's the demand

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any response to that? Yeah, I have a couple of responses.
• I'm just going to say you mentioned demand.
• I'm just going to say, you mentioned demand.
• We do that safely and responsibly.
• We do that safely and responsibly.

Summary: The meeting began with a budget subcommittee hearing on a proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit trailer bill. Assembly Members Ávila Farías and another member spoke in support, emphasizing union jobs, refinery investments, and the need to decarbonize aviation. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s proposal would provide a $1 to $2 per gallon credit against the diesel excise tax for SAF sold in California from 2026 to 2036. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing it is a relatively expensive way to reduce emissions, has uncertain environmental benefits, could significantly reduce transportation revenues, and conflicts with the spirit of voter restrictions on transportation taxes. Committee members questioned whether the credit would mainly benefit out-of-state producers, whether firms would have diesel tax liability to use the credit, and whether the proposal would shift production away from renewable diesel and raise fuel prices. Administration and CARB staff said the credit is intended to support aviation decarbonization, preserve jobs, and help keep California on track toward its 2045 climate goals. LAO and UC Berkeley testimony countered that the policy could mostly subsidize existing technologies, that feedstock supply is limited, and that the net emissions benefit may be small relative to the cost. Members also asked about the effect on local streets and roads, SHOP, and trade corridor funding; Finance estimated a $165 million annual revenue impact would reduce those programs, while LAO said the reductions would mean fewer projects over time. No vote was taken, and the chair said the issue would remain open for further discussion. The committee then moved to a zero-emission vehicle incentive trailer bill proposing a one-time $200 million appropriation to CARB for a new point-of-sale incentive program focused on first-time buyers and leases of new and used light-duty ZEVs. Supporters said the program would help offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit, maintain momentum in California’s ZEV transition, and use a one-to-one match with participating automakers to double the state’s investment. LAO recommended rejection, saying the proposal does not meet the high budget bar this year, lacks enough program detail to evaluate, is unlikely to move sales significantly given the size of the appropriation, and could duplicate existing state and utility programs. Members asked about current incentives across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty sectors, the recent decline in ZEV sales, and whether the program would help lower-income buyers rather than subsidize purchases that would have happened anyway. CARB said the proposal is meant to fill a gap in the light-duty market, where sales fell sharply after the federal credit expired, and noted existing programs for other vehicle classes. The Department of Finance also addressed a separate question about the Motor Vehicle Account, saying a previously planned GGRF transfer was no longer needed because updated forecasts showed the fund had sufficient balances, though LAO said the account still has a structural long-term imbalance. The discussion ended before any vote or action on the ZEV proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some retail electric providers already offer demand response programs that allow residential consumers
• Voluntary, never mandatory demand response programs are something we should consider expanding, ensuring
• Benjamin Farkley: ...Voluntary, never mandatory, demand response programs would benefit residential and
• Some RAPs already offer demand-response programs that allow residential consumers to adjust energy usage
• Voluntary, never mandatory, demand response.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• up the peak demand. up the peak demand.
• Demand response, demand management is really quick.
• Demand<00:35:34.240> response,<00:35:34.880> demand<00:35:35.280> management<00:
• 35:36.320> is Demand response, demand management is Demand response, demand management is really
• of our projected uh, demand growth. of our projected uh, demand growth.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it was brought up here of the word demand.
• But the word demand is literally in every report we've done. Demand for sex and violence.
• up here of the word demand. up here of the word demand.
• Demand for sex every report we've done. Demand for sex and<00:41:06.960> violence.
• There is a demand for sex and violence.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 4738 was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Keeler presented the bill as a funding source for Minnesota’s Safe Harbor program, arguing that trafficking and sexual exploitation are statewide problems and that current shelter and housing resources are insufficient. She and several supporters emphasized that the program serves youth across greater Minnesota, not just the metro, and that state and federal funding pressures make additional support necessary. Testifiers from Place Called Home/Life House, The Link, the City of Minneapolis, and a survivor all described the impact of Safe Harbor and related shelter programs. They cited data on youth served, bed nights, mental health services, and high unmet need, including waitlists and youth turned away because programs are full. Testimony stressed that stable housing and trauma-informed services help survivors recover and move toward education, employment, and family stability. One committee member, Representative Davis, objected to the proposed funding source, saying he would not support taking money from women’s sports scholarships and urging a different source. The bill’s tax mechanism was described as ending the sales tax exemption for preferred seating, suite licenses, and related amenities at athletic and entertainment events. Alec Williams of We Make Minnesota supported the proposal as a fair way to raise revenue from high-end discretionary purchases for a public purpose. Committee discussion also focused on the size of the revenue estimate and the breakdown of the impact, with nonpartisan staff saying roughly 85% would come from suite licenses, 10% from collegiate seating, and 5% from amenities. Representative Smith and others framed the issue as both a tax and moral question, and the chair moved the bill to be laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• , responsible governance, transparency, responsible governance, and<00:06:40.400> fair<00:06:40.720
• <00:51:28.480> Um, utilities total uh total demand. Um, utilities total uh total demand.
• Again, it's just an demand growth.
• had increases in electricity demand. had increases in electricity demand.
• environment of increasing demand. environment of increasing demand.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're paying higher demand charges than other customers during certain seasons.
• , trying to look at what resources we need to serve that demand.
• We'd ask you to reduce your demand for a certain period of time.
• But there is a lot of demand that's out there.
• demand is making these power plants even more expensive.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• None of the GOP demands are necessary to pass a state budget bill.
• None of the GOP demands are necessary to pass a state budget bill.
• None of the GOP demands are necessary to pass a state budget bill.
• And to be clear, the GOP demand for this is not about the budget, right?
• We're seeing that with their demands in the budget negotiations.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we can only do that if we have accurate information about the demand that is being put on our grid
• When demand for energy increases and energy supply does not increase, energy rates go up.
• There is also only one large end user driving increased demand.
• It's simple supply-and-demand economics.
• rate. 35,000% increase from the normal rate to the demand rates.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on grid reliability, affordability, clean energy infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization. AB 222, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require more data reporting on data centers and aim to prevent ratepayers from bearing related grid costs; supporters said better information is needed to plan for rapidly growing electricity demand from AI and data centers, while opponents warned about privacy, security, trade-secret, and cost-shifting concerns. The bill passed the committee on a 13-4 vote, with the roll left open for absent members. AB 941, by Assemblymember Bonta, would impose a 270-day timeline for CPUC review of priority transmission projects to speed clean-energy infrastructure buildout. Supporters argued that transmission delays are slowing California’s climate goals and raising costs, while opponents raised concerns about CEQA process, staffing, and prioritization. The bill passed 15-0. AB 1191, by Assemblymember Tangipa, would make existing large hydroelectric facilities eligible for the Renewable Portfolio Standard; supporters framed it as a way to lower rates and ease affordability pressures, while opponents said it would undermine the purpose of the RPS by substituting existing resources for new renewable development. That bill failed on a 4-11 vote. AB 1280, by Assemblymember Garcia, would expand state grant programs to support thermal energy storage projects for industrial decarbonization. Supporters said it would help modernize manufacturing, cut pollution in disadvantaged communities, and preserve jobs, with broad support from environmental and clean manufacturing groups and no opposition testimony. The bill passed 17-0. AB 1117, by Assemblymember Schultz, would require the CPUC to offer optional dynamic electricity rate tariffs for customers to shift usage away from peak periods; supporters said it could lower bills and improve grid efficiency, while utilities said they were not opposed to the concept but wanted more flexibility and time in the regulatory process. That bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved its consent calendar and other noncontroversial items, with several measures moving forward unanimously.