Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:29.680> and program is truly a national model and program is truly a national model
• >> uh what we modeled. >> uh what we modeled.
• I appreciate done a lot of modeling.
• With the growth in industrial predictions, predictions, predictions, we<01:26:45.920> are<01:26
• use a very long-developed model called the GCAM model, but it has a lot of different inputs, so that

Bills: HF3556

Keywords: community solar, energy, solar power, renewable energy, Melissa Hortman, 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the February 26, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3556, which would rename Minnesota’s community solar garden program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. The bill’s author described the measure as a tribute to Hortman’s leadership and her role in creating the program, noting its importance to Minnesota’s solar industry and the broader clean energy transition. The author moved HF 3556 to the general register, and the committee proceeded to testimony. Testifiers from the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, solar industry groups, clean energy organizations, and community solar advocates all supported the bill. They credited Hortman with authoring and advancing the 2013 legislation that created Minnesota’s community solar program and said it became a national model that expanded access to solar for renters, lower-income households, and others who could not install rooftop systems. Several witnesses highlighted the program’s growth, including more than 1 gigawatt of approved projects, strong participation by low- and moderate-income subscribers, and job creation and private investment in Minnesota. Witnesses also emphasized Hortman’s personal leadership style, describing her as prepared, persuasive, collaborative, and deeply committed to clean energy and public service. Some recounted personal interactions with her and said the name change would preserve her legacy and ensure future Minnesotans remember her impact. No vote on the bill itself was taken during the testimony shown, beyond the motion to send HF 3556 to the general register.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will allow companies to bring these care models to Massachusetts, and public safety entities
• Predicting death in six months is about as accurate as flipping a coin.
• After my mother suffered a massive stroke, the doctors failed to accurately predict how long she had
• Last year, California's End-of-Life Options Act author noted the Oregon model.
• I had to resort to euthanasia because the process took longer and was not as smooth as had been predicted

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on bills in three areas: emergency medical services/AED access, athletic training and student safety, and end-of-life options. Committee chairs outlined testimony rules and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Some bills had no live witnesses, while others drew extensive testimony from advocates, professionals, and legislators. On AED-related bills, the American Heart Association supported requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events and athletic fields, citing sudden cardiac arrest survival rates and urging cardiac emergency response plans as an added safeguard. A parks and recreation professional supported AED access but raised concerns about the cost, staffing, maintenance, and feasibility for municipalities with limited resources. Athletic trainers supported expanding their scope of practice and removing workplace restrictions, arguing it would improve injury prevention, reduce costs, and help retain professionals in Massachusetts. The committee also took extensive testimony on end-of-life options legislation. Supporters included legislators, physicians, hospice volunteers, clergy, patients’ family members, and advocacy groups, who described the bills as allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults to choose a peaceful death with strict safeguards and self-administration requirements. They emphasized personal stories of suffering, public support, and the claim that other states have not seen abuse. Opponents, including faith-based, disability-rights, and family policy representatives, argued the bills amount to physician-assisted suicide, could pressure vulnerable people, and may be influenced by prognosis errors, coercion, or financial incentives. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the federal government, and new large load interconnections will stress both our utility regulatory model
• stress both our utility regulatory model stress both our utility regulatory model and<00:04:19.959
• So, is part of your responsibility to help us predict what's going to happen in the future?
• So, is part of your responsibility to help us predict what's going to happen in the future?
• what's going to happen help us predict what's going to happen in<00:07:15.440> the<00:07:15.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill brings clarity, predictability, and fairness without limiting local government ability to regulate
• working with cities to try to create a partnership so our restaurant operators can actually have a predictable
• Cisco's delivery model is built on flexibility that Texas food service establishments rely on, and in
• The solution also provides predictability for restaurant owners with locations in several different areas
• traffic congestion, ensuring food safety and quality of our refrigerated products, and providing predictability

Bills: HB 246, HB 796, HB 1056, HB 1544, HB 1846, HB 2001, HB 2618, HB 2625, HB 2869, HB 2898, HB 3069, HB 3114, HB 3157, HB 3228, HJR 98

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• process that's deliberate, transparent, and clear. or approving impact fees will help create predictability
• HB 2225 central focus, as he mentioned, is transparency, accountability. and predictability on how local
• and engineers to update it does. make sense for city budgets and it doesn't make sense for the predictability
• Tyler was the actual model. city that does not have it and it shows that the additional taxes sales tax
• We need more time, we need more transparency, more predictability to allow more Texans to own homes.

Bills: HB602, HB1322, HB1930, HB2225, HB2304, HB2494, HB3275, HB3810, HB3919

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• side and as we know we can't predict side and as we know we can't predict what<00:52:03.040>
• Chair, Representative Kegel, I, you know, I would struggle to predict that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I was in 4-H, so I didn't have the Be Prepared model.
• I was in 4, so I didn't have the be<01:23:58.880> prepared<01:23:59.800> model.
• But if we want to be be prepared model.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The next recommendation that the team made was related to the modeling that we do for the plume.
• The other thing that they recommended was... ...that we improve the model.
• Improving the model is something that we are going to continue to do with the expert technical review
• I think that information will be very helpful in helping to inform our conceptual site model and what
• transition our modeling software to that Vonslo software that they recommended.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't predict two people be allocating our resources though to those districts which have a higher
• I can't predict two people be allocating our resources though to those districts which have a higher
• <01:23:29.120> that<01:23:29.320> I<01:23:29.440> can't<01:23:29.679> predict
• that I can't predict I I I can't predict that I can't predict I I I can't predict<01:23:31.239> that
• that two people be allocating predict that two people be allocating our<01:23:33.199> resources

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It attempts to claim jurisdiction and issue sanctions against Israel, as we could have predicted, and
• and trillions of dollars um our model and trillions of dollars um our model basically<04:35:20.680
• My other prediction is before this spring is over, the United States will cross over to 5% interest,
• how many folks do we meet from models how many folks do we meet from the<04:39:50.600> agencies
• but a number like this business models but a number like this should<05:03:38.440> make<05:03

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, I think many of you are familiar with what prediction markets are.
• This bill would take any of those prediction markets—any person who's creating a prediction market or
• would take any of those prediction would take any of those prediction markets markets markets that
• any person who's creating a prediction any person who's creating a prediction market<01:24:24.440
• where it says, "Hey, if these prediction where it says, "Hey, if these prediction if<01:35:54.120

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's their most predictable population, and it's the population that's most likely to enroll full-time
• It's their most predictable population, and it's the population that's most likely to enroll full-time
• It's their most predictable population, and it's the population that's most likely to enroll full-time
• We had the very hard duty of coming to Hawaii and spending a week there in April of 2024. predictable
• population. and it's the predictable population. and it's the population<00:20:50.240> that's

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can do a lot of really complex grid analytics and modeling and identify these needs.
• But West Tech is working on Analytics and modeling and identify these needs.
• And that's kind of where we've lived is in that risk-reduction model since we started this project.
• And that's kind of where we've lived is in that risk-reduction model since we started this project.
• And that's kind of where we've lived is in that risk-reduction model since we started this project.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Energy Supply, Energy Conservation, and Energy Resilience opened by electing Senator Shoemake as chair and Representative Alex Ibarra as vice chair. Members then moved into a series of work sessions focused on data centers, transmission, and workforce needs tied to Washington’s clean energy and grid planning challenges. Kate Bruns and Glenn Blackman presented preliminary findings from the governor’s Data Center work group, created under Executive Order 25-05. They said the group met for six months, received more than 1,000 public comments, and included representatives from agencies, industry, tribes, labor, utilities, environmental groups, and research institutions. The presenters emphasized that data centers are expected to be the largest source of load growth over the next five to ten years, creating concerns about grid capacity, ratepayer impacts, forecasting, water use, backup generation, and compatibility with Washington’s energy and climate laws. They described nine recommendations, including protecting existing energy and climate policy, improving forecasting, seeking more clean power and transmission, and encouraging flexible data center operations. A proposed tax incentive change that would have expanded eligibility while tying the exemption to new clean electricity sources narrowly failed in the work group. Members asked about tribal consultation, cooling technologies, and local benefits from data centers; the presenters said tribal consultation was ongoing and a final report would follow. Keegan Moyer of West Tech then outlined a regional transmission study showing major strain on the Western grid from load growth, electrification, resiliency needs, and limited transmission capacity. He said the 10-year study identified about 12,000 line miles of needed projects across the West, with roughly $56 billion in estimated costs, including planned projects, reliability upgrades, and new interregional transfer projects. He stressed that many projects are upgrades within existing rights-of-way, but new corridors are still needed, and he previewed recommendations on permitting, equipment procurement, cost allocation, and project sponsorship. In response to questions, he discussed the difficulty of crossing jurisdictional “seams,” the role of federal coordination, landowner compensation, eminent domain as a last resort, and the limited role of public financing beyond a federal GRIP grant. Stephanie Scott of Commerce presented the transmission workforce study, which focuses on substation technicians, line workers, and line clearance tree trimmers. She said current workforce levels are far below what will be needed under a clean energy expansion scenario, and that active projects are essential because apprenticeship training depends on thousands of hours of hands-on work. She highlighted barriers such as high upfront CDL and pre-apprenticeship costs, the need for wraparound supports, and the importance of expanding access for women, people of color, and tribal communities. Members asked about tribal utility apprenticeship programs, utility-run training pipelines, and whether the study included funding sources; Scott said the report would include an inventory of apprenticeship programs and tribal considerations, but revenue ideas were outside the study scope. Finally, Brant Johnson of Grid United described the North Plains Connector as a case study in large transmission development. He said the project, a 420-mile, 3,000-megawatt HVDC line connecting Montana and North Dakota, has relied on early stakeholder engagement, route changes, tribal consultation, and coordinated federal and state permitting to reduce risk and shorten timelines. He said the project aims for permits by the end of 2026 and construction beginning in 2028, with an earliest commercial operation date of 2032. In response to questions, he discussed the challenges of crossing regional seams, interconnection queues, land acquisition and compensation, eminent domain, and financing, noting that the project is primarily privately financed with a $700 million federal grant covering a portion of costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know that the task force model works.
• Willow's death was not only preventable; it was predictable.
• Absolutely in favor of the Taser Model 10.
• Cole will instead advise OCA on the model citation.
• And we tout it as a model nationwide.

Bills: HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it's more pay, predictable work hours, and not having to go in the field.
• It's a case management model designed so that a case manager goes into the jail and conducts screenings
• Since that time, we have looked at the financial model.
• This is both a clinical and an organizational model that we would like to shift to.
• I think it serves as a role model that we can use going forward nationwide so that... ...going forward

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the predictability is vital for businesses.
• And I want to note, too, that states across the country look to Connected Solutions as a model for their
• It’s a pay-for-performance model, like I said, and it doesn’t penalize residential customers if they
• And then, by having this pay-for-performance model through Connected Solutions, they’re compensated just
• Part of our business model allows them to leverage bulk purchasing, for example, to bring that cost down

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we do here sets a new model for global energy production, and the impact of this bill and other
• One thing I will point out is that the Environment Department has set a model for how we engage with
• Shut down industry, shut down agriculture, looking to California as an unspoken but apparent model for
• There are many other models that use different technologies.
• And one of the great obstacles, I think, to New Mexico is a lack of predictability.

Transcript Highlights:

• The DOER proposed model bylaw for energy storage suggests that, with an exception for facilities abutting
• Most of my climate science colleagues predicted, and because the political will needed to change course
• And I think that model is really inspiring to us because it shows that popular sentiment isn't falling
• for indifordable... ...that model is really inspiring to us because it shows that popular sentiment
• EIA predicts that gas prices will increase 33% or more in 2026.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reservoir model is broken.
• We have a model on such as this, and these frightening models are in California.
• It's not something that's easy to predict.
• It's not something you can predict easily.
• example, with farmers having to scale back the number of acres they cultivate and more than 8,000 jobs predicted

Bills: HB1523, HB2109, HB2694, HB3525, HB3898, HB4646, HB5188, HB5219, HB5320, HB5651, HB5655, HB5659, HB5662, HB5672

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, yeah, I can walk us through this model.
• What is the modeled LGA for 2026? Madam Chair, yeah, I can walk us through this model.
• What is the modeled LGA for 2026?
• Madam Chair, yeah, I can walk us through this model.
• What is the modeled LGA for 2026?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This appropriation seeks to expand the literacy improvement model to both middle school and high school
• Additionally, because the... ...models have different levels of evidence, it's unknown necessarily how
• So if the school is having multiple programs, we can put that into our model.
• So we hope that this becomes a model that we can then share: the good effectiveness across the board.
• If you gave PSAT 8-9, how are they doing and how would that predict how they might do at SAT?