Transcript Highlights:

• You'll have the high level for the difference between the LFC HAFC adopted budget recommendation and
• I just really hope that you keep it as a priority for your existing employees before reaching out to
• And so, you know, we hope to have a replacement cycle for these vehicles, replacing the vehicles at 100,000
• And so we would advocate for That yet again, and hope that we can see some of that funding.
• Just to kind of really high level it for me: would each of you say one... or two big ideas that you think

Bills: SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• I know they use them for a lot of alternatives, especially if it's for a pediatric person.
• I have been here for the votes for Carly's Law, which is a consumable way for cannabinoids.
• If you go to a gas station, for sure. Again, heavy penalties for it.
• for the same contaminants.
• Okay, thank you for... ...to explain it, please. Okay, thank you for your time.

Bills: HB194 , SB87 , SB237

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: healthcare, advanced practice nursing, nurse collaboration, medical board, nursing board, committee structure, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your testimony.
• this bill for bringing this bill forward, and I'm hoping that we can move this along.
• High taxes make these products less accessible for low-income consumers trying to quit smoking.
• For a number of...
• Thank you very much for your time. Thank you for your testimony.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a long hybrid hearing on a wide range of tax bills, with testimony covering cigarette and tobacco taxes, nicotine pouches, contractor rental equipment exemptions, aircraft sales tax exemptions, rolling stock, advanced sales tax payments, a gun and ammunition excise tax, a digital services tax, and a psilocybin cultivation/tax proposal. Committee chairs outlined the hearing process and noted that 39 House-filed sales and excise tax bills were being heard for required reporting by November 28. No votes were taken during the hearing. On tobacco-related bills, supporters including Senator Keenan, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and Tobacco Free Mass backed higher cigarette taxes and closing the synthetic nicotine loophole, arguing the measures would reduce youth initiation, encourage cessation, and offset health care costs. Retailers, wholesalers, and convenience-store groups opposed the increases, warning of smuggling, out-of-state purchasing, and harm to small businesses; premium cigar representatives argued cigars should be treated separately from cigarettes. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3067 and related bills concerning nicotine pouches, with public health advocates supporting taxation and industry witnesses urging a lower, more competitive rate. Several other bills drew sharply divided testimony. United Rentals supported H. 3065 to simplify contractor rental equipment exemption paperwork, while airport and aviation groups opposed bills to repeal the aircraft sales tax exemption, saying it would hurt airport competitiveness and jobs. The Transportation Association of Massachusetts backed rolling stock tax exemptions, saying the current tax discourages fleet investment and interstate commerce. Restaurant industry representatives supported repealing advanced sales tax payments and changing penalty rules, saying businesses were hit with retroactive penalties after unclear pandemic-era changes. On H. 3082, an excise tax on guns and ammunition, gun violence prevention advocates, Roca, and Giffords supported the bill as a dedicated funding source for prevention and survivor services, while sportsmen’s groups opposed it as unfair to lawful gun owners and harmful to conservation funding. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3208, a digital advertising services tax, with Representative Paulino supporting it as a way to capture revenue from online advertising and fund public needs, while the Chamber of Progress opposed it as costly and burdensome for small businesses and campaigns. Finally, multiple witnesses testified on H. 4050 regarding psilocybin cultivation and taxation: advocates from Mass Healing, Roca, the Reason Foundation, and individuals describing personal medical benefits urged a regulated, permit-based system, while the hearing ended after all signed-up speakers were heard and the chair adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think that this is one of the biggest bangs we can get for our buck, and I'm really hopeful that
• </c> a cash cash health for the program. a cash cash health for the program.
• um</c> premium reduction for about for those um premium reduction for about for those um homes,<00:03
• bangs we can get for our buck and and and I'm<00:04:00.880><c> really</c><00:04:01.080><c> hopeful</
• </c> Elkins for the for the discussion today. Elkins for the for the discussion today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill streamlines a process for permitting for those wells.
• Education, workforce, housing, for our teachers, for our classified employees, I respectfully ask for
• Lackey has asked for the first roll to be open for co-authors.
• the outcome for the person they are caring for.
• High community.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So where we stand right now on backup power, we hope to have those applications launched and ready for
• For me to substitute my judgment for that, the bar has to be really high.
• Obviously, those high-paying jobs, all those things are good for economic prosperity.
• So I hope you will weigh it accordingly. Thank you for coming.
• Thank you for— I hope y'all didn't mind the extra indulgence on her testimony.

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held its third interim hearing on Texas electric grid reliability and 765 kV transmission lines/private property rights. Chair Schwertner opened by noting record ERCOT summer demand of 91,089 MW and emphasized the committee’s focus on managing rapid load growth, ensuring adequate generation, and protecting homeowners, businesses, landowners, and ratepayers. The committee also adopted strict two-minute limits for public testimony and planned to hear invited witnesses first, then public testimony. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and OPUC Chief Counsel Benjamin Barclay testified on Senate Bill 6 implementation, large-load interconnection, transmission cost allocation, and market design. Gleeson said the PUC has adopted or is finalizing rules on net metering/co-location, large load interconnection standards, and a transmission cost recovery rule that would move from 4CP to 12CP, lengthen the interval to 30 minutes, and add a minimum demand charge to better allocate costs to large loads. Vegas explained ERCOT’s new batch process for large loads, saying it provides year-by-year capacity allocations, clearer financial obligations, and a transmission plan; he reported 205 GW eligible for Batch Zero, with 65 GW classified as baseload, 25 GW in an intermediate category, and 114 GW as allocated load. Barclay supported the changes as better protection for residential and small commercial customers, while warning that the minimum demand charge may need an exit-fee concept to address stranded costs if large loads leave. Members pressed witnesses on whether additional market changes are needed to attract dispatchable thermal generation and whether DRS/DRRS Plus could become a capacity-market substitute. Gleeson and Vegas said the current market still favors solar, batteries, and other low-variable-cost resources, and that more incentives may be needed for gas and other thermal generation; Gleeson said the commission’s reliability standard assessment will begin this year and conclude next year with a 2029 outlook. They described DRS as an ancillary service for intraday reliability and DRS Plus as a proposed real-time revenue mechanism for thermal resources during scarcity, not a forward capacity market. Senators also questioned whether 12CP could still be gamed, whether curtailment authority under SB 6 should be expanded from EEA 2 to earlier stages, and whether the batch process should be bifurcated so traditional industrial loads are handled differently from data centers. Witnesses said the batch process is intended to prevent speculative projects from driving transmission costs, that most large-load projects are data centers, and that future rules may need to better distinguish among types of large loads.

Transcript Highlights:

• high-intensity computing and extensive data storage for AI training.
• high-intensity computing and extensive data storage for AI training.
• The utilities have had the opportunity for flexible service connections for their customers for a number
• , but I think for all of us, all we hear about is how high energy costs are.
• But I think for all of us, all we hear about is how high energy costs are.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy and Privacy and Consumer Protection focused on the energy impacts of AI and the rapid growth of data centers in California. Chairs and members emphasized that the state wants to support innovation and data center development, but only under terms that protect ratepayers, preserve reliability, and avoid stranded grid costs. Testimony from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the California Energy Commission, the CPUC, CAISO, PG&E, Silicon Valley Power, and the Data Center Coalition described the scale of projected load growth, the uncertainty in forecasting, and the need for coordinated planning across agencies. Dr. Nate Gleason of Lawrence Livermore said data centers are a major and fast-growing share of electricity demand, with planning challenges driven by short construction timelines for data centers versus long lead times for transmission and generation. He urged stochastic planning, co-optimization of generation, storage, and transmission, and greater use of flexible load and demand response. CEC Director Alicia Gutierrez described the CEC’s bottom-up forecasting approach, based on utility energization requests and load profiles, and said California has over 23,000 megawatts of data center capacity requests in the CAISO footprint. CPUC Deputy Executive Director Luan Tesfai outlined recent actions on energization timelines, flexible service connections, PG&E’s Rule 30 tariff, and the commission’s resource planning and transmission permitting work. CAISO’s Neil Miller stressed that large loads affect transmission planning, interconnection, and reliability standards, and said the agency is preparing additional stakeholder work on technical issues. Utility and industry witnesses said California is already seeing substantial data center interest and is building out infrastructure accordingly. PG&E’s Mike Medeiros said the utility has more than 10 gigawatts of data center interest in its territory, has shifted to cluster studies, and is using flexible interconnection tools such as FlexConnect to speed service while protecting reliability. Silicon Valley Power’s Nico Prokos said data centers account for about 55% of its power use and that the city is investing heavily in transmission and local system upgrades to support projected load growth. He also warned that AI loads may be more variable than traditional cloud loads and that backup generation and air quality constraints complicate curtailment strategies. The Data Center Coalition’s Karabonder argued that data centers are also driving efficiency gains and support critical digital services, while urging better forecasting methods, more transparency, and regular backcasting. Members asked about statutory authority, data availability, flexible load, and whether current forecasts are sufficient for long-lead infrastructure planning. Witnesses said California already has authority to pursue flexible service and rate design, and that the CEC and CPUC have access to utility data, though out-year demand remains highly uncertain. CPUC representatives noted an advanced rate design rulemaking and said the commission is opening additional work on ratepayer impacts. No votes were taken during the informational hearing, and the discussion ended with continued questions about how California should structure planning, pricing, and reliability rules as AI-related load grows.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for that.
• Thank you for your time.
• libraries, and then turn over tools for libraries to be able to further curate for what's right for
• That's what it did for me. It saved my life. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the time.
• Thank you very much for your time tonight. Thanks for hearing my story.

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• last 48 hours for you.
• Dove into, dived into the terms of use for any platform that we, right, and so just a point of, I'm hoping
• for ride share riders.
• for different things and why prices are so high.
• For her tireless efforts and being the champion for Internet affordability.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• high school for four years and I was a first year showman and I showed lambs.
• And I served for years.
• And you have to be ready for that. You have to plan for it. You have to communicate for it.
• Fiscal year 2025 has shown a continued high level of interest in our water quality program for agriculture
• Fiscal year 2025 has shown a continued high level of interest in our water quality program for agriculture

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• structured programs for their kids and expanding the eligibility would ensure more children this high-risk
• So thank you for your time and for your commitment. Child safety in Florida.
• Thank you for being here.
• Thank you for being here. You're recognized. Thank you so much for having me.
• Different, maybe for your presentation for sure. Any additional questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• me, a new committee for committee for me, a new committee for for<05:56:31.280><c> Sophie.
• Um, I had a thing for high school kids. Uh, the system of care. You helped me with that.
• Um, I had a thing for high school kids. Uh, the system of care. You helped me with that.
• Um, I had a thing for high school kids. Uh, the system of care. You helped me with that.
• </c> Um, I had a thing for high school kids. Um, I had a thing for high school kids.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and thank you for that answer and thank you for the question.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I hope that you will advance House Bill 1859.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I hope that you will advance Houseville 1859.
• I hope that the legislature will make it easier to understand and apply for the credit so that more people
• I hope that the legislator will make it easier to understand and apply for the credit so that more people

Bills: HB1717 , HB1859

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, sales tax, housing programs, tax incentives, economic development, religious organizations, development, housing opportunities, land use, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for laboratory equipment, $306,700 for laboratory equipment, $50,000 for office furnishings, $39,800
• This includes 192,200 for computers, tablets, and monitors, and 16,600 for annual software updates for
• A complete list is available for you on this slide at a very high level.
• A complete list is available for you on this slide at a very high level.
• Bybee, for being here and for your insights.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee met to receive a JFAC budget update focused on the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Budget analyst Morgan Poloni reviewed the department’s structure, staffing, dedicated-fund reliance, and several 2027 enhancement requests, including a CEC adjustment for fruit and vegetable inspectors, replacement items, IT hardware, reappropriation authority for a federal Resilient Food Systems Grant, a 2026 deficiency warrant for exotic species response, and a supplemental for quagga mussel treatment costs. She also described 2026 and 2027 holdbacks that were largely absorbed through dedicated funds and reductions to noxious weed pass-through money. Senator Lent raised concerns that budget cuts should follow policy priorities rather than broad reductions, and committee members discussed the exotic species and invasive species funding needs. Keith Bybee then gave a broader JFAC update on state revenue, structural balance, and the budget outlook for 2026 and 2027. He said Idaho is facing uncertainty in revenues, with recent forecasts below earlier expectations, and explained that the legislature is considering whether to use one-time money, restructure spending, or both to restore structural balance over the business cycle. He noted that many budget pressures come from statutory or population-driven obligations in education, Medicaid, corrections, and health and welfare, while higher education is more discretionary. Senator Groh added that the state is not structurally balanced and emphasized the need for policy bills to align with budget decisions; he also said recent tax payment timing helped revenues in December and that January numbers looked promising but were still preliminary. The committee then turned to administrative rules and approved a large group of Agriculture Department dockets by motion and voice vote. One docket, 0206-01-2501 on seed production and distribution rules, was held back after questions about incorporation by reference and publication dates. Mr. Knight explained that the referenced seed standards change frequently for export and testing purposes, and he said the department would work with DFM and legislators to find a better approach. Senator Lakey moved to hold that docket subject to call of the chair, and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned after the remaining rule dockets were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I hope going into a conference starting and looking at this language, I hope you vote for this language
• And so members, with that in mind, I hope you vote for their language today and send this into conference
• And I hope for the next 50 years, America does not repeat itself and thinks twice about going to war
• So, I hope everybody will support the free water bill and vote for the bill.
• So I appreciate all the support for this bill, and I hope we can all get a green vote on this one today

Transcript Highlights:

• And what that is for is for high school students to be able to take money to for a program, kind of a
• And what that is for is for high school students to be able to take money to for a program, kind of a
• Uh I hope you'll high demand careers.
• &gt;&gt; I was hoping somebody would call for the &gt;&gt; I was hoping somebody would call for the eyes
• 28.399><c> you'll</c> great um move for them and I hope you'll great um move for them and I hope you'll

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we will take up Tab 3, CS for CS for CS, SB 138, on driving and voting offenses.
• By your vote, CS for CS for SB 13 is reported favorably.
• for Military Children.
• This bill removes the statewide mandate for middle schools and high schools and returns the decision-making
• The staff has done a great job, and we hope to see all of you in the plaza for a nice fish fry from Wakulla

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The committee heard and approved several bills. CS for CS for CS SB 138, Trenton’s Law, would broaden DUI and boating-under-the-influence laws to cover any impairing substance, increase penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing, allow blood warrants in misdemeanor DUI/BUI cases, enhance penalties for DUI with death or vehicular homicide involving prior convictions, and authorize DUI diversion programs. Supporters included law enforcement and prosecutors, who said the bill addresses gaps involving over-the-counter drugs and refusal cases; the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about the breadth of the “any impairing substance” language and record consequences for first refusals. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 400, which removes the repeal date from Florida’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, and CS for SB 102, which creates a workforce credentialing program for exceptional student education students, especially those with autism, to earn badges for job skills and safety-related competencies. SB 102 drew questions about fiscal impact and teacher training, with supporters emphasizing workforce readiness and parent involvement while some members raised concerns about costs and implementation. SB 130, which updates compensation for wrongfully incarcerated people found factually innocent, was also reported favorably after supporters argued Florida’s current law is too restrictive and too few exonerees have been compensated. The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 296, which repeals the statewide mandate for later middle and high school start times and returns the decision to local districts, while requiring districts to document their analysis of sleep, safety, transportation, and other impacts. An amendment added a reporting requirement to show how districts considered later start times and any unintended consequences. The bill drew broad support from school officials and education groups, with members noting transportation and extracurricular challenges. Finally, SB 234, dealing with criminal offenses against law enforcement officers, was reported favorably after debate over whether the bill should retain “good faith” language and how it would affect defenses and officer accountability. The committee also passed CS for SB 274, designating a portion of International Drive as Harris Rosen Way and adding a memorial designation for the late Senator Geraldine Thompson near the Wells Built Museum; members praised both honorees and the bill was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after recording one member’s request to be shown voting yes on the first bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• For Mr. Carlson, then we'll You're good. For Mr.
• </c> is proposed for. is proposed for.
• Joel Carlson for Minnesota Association for Justice.
• </c> for Roku." for Roku."
• </c> for for not a lot of money. for for not a lot of money.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, home care agencies have for years absorbed the high cost of starting and resuming care
• For instance, home care agencies have for years absorbed the high cost of starting and resuming care
• </c><00:10:19.920><c> cost</c><00:10:20.480><c> of</c> have for years absorbed the high cost of have
• I hope that's helpful. Representative Hulsley, thank you. That was good. Thank you for that.
• </c><00:15:21.360><c> helpful</c> sites for them I hope that's helpful sites for them I hope that's helpful

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this request a response to that letter, or did the mayor ask for a request for this audit?
• Thank you for having us here, and thank you, Chair and Committee for your service to our state.
• Thanks for being here. Next item is a request from our own Senator Wright for an audit.
• Thank you for taking the time to be here, sir. Thank you very much for your presentation.
• Thank you for that.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items involving local governments and special districts. The committee approved operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member described concerns about transparency, financial management, or internal controls, while local officials or representatives generally said they were willing to cooperate and, in Delray Beach’s case, noted that an internal audit had already been completed and that some issues were being corrected. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide review of neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 of 21 districts were active and six inactive, with common findings including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and they recommended updates to district governance and transparency practices. On enforcement, staff reviewed local governments and special districts that had failed to file required financial reports or had submitted audit reports missing required information. The committee approved staff recommendations to proceed under the statutory enforcement process for the noncompliant entities, with flexibility for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is provided in good faith. The committee also voted to send a letter to the Union County Legislative Delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve the Town of Rayford, based on staff’s view that the town lacked employees, services, debt, and a clear reason to continue existing as an incorporated municipality.