Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• We have an agenda item available if members want to discuss that evaluation.
• During the September meeting of the Sunset Commission, we adopted a motion directing Sunset staff to evaluate
• Members, we received this evaluation January the 6th.

Keywords: Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Ethics Commission, recommendations, Angelina River Authority, Natchez Valley Authority, public testimony, legislative session

Summary: The meeting of the Sunset Advisory Commission served as a concluding assembly for the current biennium, where various agencies were reviewed. Notably, the Commission focused on staff recommendations and modifications regarding the Angelina and Natchez River Authority, Lower Natchez Valley Authority, and Texas Ethics Commission. After discussing various modifications, the members voted unanimously on multiple recommendations aimed at improving operational efficiency and accountability within these agencies. The Chair emphasized the collaborative effort of the Commission members and staff, acknowledging their hard work throughout the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is done by evaluating the potential impacts of a project or an action like rulemaking.
• If there are potentially significant impacts, then a more detailed evaluation is done.
• And if there are no or minimal impacts, then a shorter evaluation period is used.
• Now, SEPA environmental reviews disclose and evaluate impacts to the natural and built environment.
• It does not approve or deny a project, nor does it evaluate a specific project or a specific location

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then another question I had is, how do you measure sort of the effectiveness in evaluating whether financing
• How do you measure sort of the effectiveness in evaluating whether financing is required for a project
• So we're in the process of evaluating that now.
• hire external consultants... ...both staff and being able to hire external consultants in order to evaluate
• And so it's really working in tandem with KISO to evaluate the projects that come out of their process

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several routine agenda items and a gubernatorial appointment. The committee first approved appointments not required to appear, including Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, Richard Stein to the California Arts Council, and Nicholas Hardiman to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors. Members also approved references to bills and committees, committee and subcommittee appointments, joint committee appointments, and floor acknowledgments. Two rule waiver requests by Senators Perez and Padilla to suspend SR 22.5 for additional bill introductions were discussed and ultimately approved on a divided vote. The committee then heard testimony from Andy Nakahata, nominated to serve as executive director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank). Nakahata described his background in finance and infrastructure lending and said he would focus on stewardship, expanding access to IBank programs, and supporting small businesses and infrastructure projects statewide. Senators questioned him about geographic equity in lending, outreach to underserved counties, creditworthiness standards, the Transportation Infrastructure Accelerator, and whether IBank could better reach municipalities and health care providers. Nakahata said IBank tracks lending by county, works through financial development corporations, municipal advisors, and other networks, and can adjust loan sizes or partner with other funding sources when projects are not fully creditworthy. Public witnesses spoke in support of Nakahata, citing his expertise and leadership in public finance. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee then voted unanimously to move Nakahata’s nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. Afterward, the committee re-ran the earlier votes for the record, confirming the appointments and other agenda items, and then adjourned the public portion of the meeting to enter executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The memorial asks the Legislative Finance Committee, in consultation with state agencies, to evaluate
• We need to let the review continue, let them do their work, and make the evaluation that they've already
• But those are the criteria that the Commission evaluates as it is evaluating whether or not to allow
• And I think the real issue here is evaluation. Discussions.
• And I think the real issue here is evaluating the public's interests, implications before decisions are

Summary: The committee first took up SB 96, which would reduce local zoning, fee, parking, HOA, and sprinkler-related barriers for child care operators and home-based child care facilities. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill is intended to expand child care access, especially in rural areas and child care deserts, while maintaining safety standards. Firefighters, child care advocates, and other supporters testified in favor, while one member objected to the bill’s limits on local control. The committee asked about “stacking spaces” and parking rules, then approved SB 96 on a 7-4 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 303, as amended, dealing with utility construction and certificate of convenience and necessity timing. Utility representatives from El Paso Electric, Xcel Energy, and PNM, along with consumer and energy groups, supported the bill, saying it would let utilities begin construction before the CCN process is complete, with the utility bearing the risk and no cost recovery if approval is later denied. Members questioned impacts on ratepayers, PRC oversight, co-ops, and the bill’s policy rationale. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 303 as amended unanimously, 11-0. Finally, the committee heard House Memorial 6, as substituted, which asked for a study of private equity involvement in critical utilities and whether the state should consider a direct equity stake in utilities. Supporters argued the memorial would provide independent data before major ownership decisions, citing concerns about private equity acquisitions and the need to protect ratepayers and public interests. Opponents, including utility and business representatives, argued the PRC already has authority and expertise, warned about due process and conflict-of-interest concerns, and said the memorial could create uncertainty for investment. After extensive debate, the committee first tabled the committee substitute and then tabled HM 6 itself on an 8-3 vote, ending consideration of the memorial.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it requires the PUC to re-evaluate the 4CP and directs the PUC to adopt rule changes regarding
• This 4CP and trying to come up with the proper methodology to evaluate? Yes, sir.
• that the commissioner will be using to evaluate these.
• So does the PUC currently evaluate anything on the other side of the meter with respect to large loads
• So it's kind of an antiquated model, and it should be thoroughly re-evaluated, and SB 6 addresses that

Bills: SB6 , SB11 , SB33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• It evaluates whether suitable habitat exists, what impacts restoration would have, and what it would
• , but they're not... ...part of the evaluation of possible different locations, but they're not part
• And it would also help condense, I think, the evaluation. So good point. Thank you. Okay.
• And it would also help condense, I think, the evaluation. So good point. Thank you. Okay.
• And it would also help condense, I think, the evaluation. So good point. Thank you. Okay.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Summary: The committee heard SB 872, which would direct $300 million annually for 20 years to repair Central Valley subsidence damage and Delta levees to protect State Water Project deliveries. The author and supporters said the bill is needed to safeguard water for 27 million Californians, prevent threats to life and billions in infrastructure, and address long-standing levee and canal vulnerabilities. Testimony in support came from Restore the Delta, the Central Coast Water Authority, and a broad coalition of water agencies, environmental groups, local governments, and business interests; one organization, the California Chamber of Commerce, supported if amended to include federal conveyance infrastructure. No opposition witnesses appeared. Members from both parties praised the bipartisan coalition and discussed funding, beneficiary-pays concerns, and the need to prioritize water infrastructure. The committee voted 5-0 to pass SB 872 as amended to Appropriations, with the bill placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1305, a study bill on the feasibility of reintroducing the California grizzly bear. The author and tribal co-sponsors framed the measure as a science-based, consultation-driven roadmap that would not authorize reintroduction but would evaluate habitat, impacts, and implementation. Supporters, including tribal representatives, conservation groups, and animal welfare organizations, emphasized the grizzly’s cultural significance, ecological role, and the value of planning for coexistence. Opposition came from retired and current law enforcement, county officials, ranching and hunting groups, and rural representatives, who raised public safety, staffing, livestock, and wildlife-management concerns, arguing the Department of Fish and Wildlife lacks resources for another apex predator. Committee members debated whether risk, public safety, local control, and potential reintroduction areas should be addressed earlier in the process. The author agreed to consider amendments on those points and on funding and local authority. The committee voted 4-1 to pass SB 1305 as amended to Appropriations, with the bill held on call. The committee also heard SB 1079, which would create a Cal Fire Fire Innovation Unit to identify firefighter needs, test new technologies, and speed deployment of successful wildfire tools. The author said the bill would formalize a pipeline from pilot projects to statewide use and build on existing Cal Fire technology efforts. Support came from Megafire Action, Fireworks, Aurora Tech, and the Orange County Fire Authority; the California Association of Realtors supported if amended to allow nonprofits to administer grants directly to homeowners. With no opposition testimony, the bill was moved on a 2-0 vote and held on call pending additional members. The committee later took up SB 997, a district bill for the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency that would grant lien authority so it can enforce groundwater fees and sustainability plan requirements without relying on civil litigation. Support came from water contractors, rural counties, and county associations; members discussed whether similar authority should be extended to other GSAs. The bill was moved on a 2-0 vote to Judiciary and held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• the functions that it's being asked to perform?”
• So I think we have to continue to sort of evaluate that as we go.
• I think the approach we've always had to take with this is we just have to continue to re-evaluate as
• We need to continue to re-evaluate how we think it's going and always continue to look at every part
• as we continue to get more re-evaluate as we continue to get more information<06:26:56.200><c> right

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• County zoning processes, much like city zoning, typically evaluate compatibility with nearby land uses
• So House Bill 2795 could allow siting decisions to move forward without a clear evaluation of whether
• And so that would be, for example, evaluating the fish involved, wildlife, plant life, noise emission
• it, so that we're not evaluating fuel formulations that just aren't available here to begin with.
• it so that we're not evaluating fuel formulations that just aren't available here to begin with sure

Bills: HB2014 , HB2113 , HB2145 , HB2331 , HB2340 , HB2389 , HB2400 , HB2401 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2696 , HB2756 , HB2795 , HB2955 , HCM2008

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• at least from our perspective, and probably where many states were going, was this overlay of an evaluation
• I think we're evaluating that. Okay. Yes, those would be public. Those would be very public.
• So we'll continue to evaluate the opportunity on that particular aspect.
• , we can certainly get back to you as well as we continue to hear the detailed guidance and the evaluation
• Was that, are we evaluating the impact of this whole HR1 project? Yes. Okay.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Care Management Committee met to receive a status update on the DSS/CHN PCMH program and to discuss implementation of HR1, especially the new medical frailty requirements. CHN reported the PCMH program remained steady at 124 practices and 553 sites, with 54.6% of the HUSKY population attributed to PCMH providers, and noted ongoing recruitment, provider turnover, and recent practice consolidations/acquisitions that will shift some sites to Yale and Hartford HealthCare. CHN also reported strong quality improvement engagement for 2026, with 83% of contacted PCMHs engaged, and said preliminary 2025 results showed improvement across measures. The bulk of the meeting focused on DSS’s response to the June 1 CMS interim final rule on HR1. DSS explained that it had been building a medical frailty definition based on diagnosis codes and comparisons with other states’ approaches, but the new federal rule adds a requirement that the condition significantly impair a person’s ability to work or comply with community engagement requirements. DSS said it is still evaluating how to combine claims-based data with the new federal overlay, may submit comments to CMS during the open comment period through July 31, and is considering options such as self-attestation, especially given CMS’s allowance of self-attestation for calendar year 2027. Committee members raised concerns about the rule’s complexity, possible legal challenges, the need for a good-faith waiver or implementation delay, and the risk of noncompliance if the state gets the process wrong. Members also pressed DSS for broader outreach, clearer public communication, training, and better reporting on implementation impacts and costs. DSS said it is developing a website, webinars, and a communications plan, and is working with community-based organizations, community health workers, and administrative services organizations to reach potentially affected members. DSS said it is also building a Medicaid pre-screener to help people determine whether they may be subject to work requirements. In the PCMH Plus discussion, DSS said it was not yet ready to present the 2024 quality data but would try to bring the Wave 3, Year 5 results and related quality/shared savings information to the July 8 meeting, along with the regular PCMH update and another HR1 update. The committee also discussed future agenda items including community health worker reimbursement, peer support services, and the inmate medical program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The potential patient would then fill out a health screener and risk evaluation to make sure that it
• We also ask the department to re-evaluate the entire program at the end of 3 years to see how it can
• Two questions specifically about program evaluation for your members on the committee at some point,
• and 7.2, where that program evaluation is talked about.
• I don't have an exact number for you, but I would certainly want that to be part of the evaluation of

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• use of the OLA's information all the time, and so I just—we're going to go back again to the 2017 evaluation
• use of the OLA's information all the time, and so I just—we're going to go back again to the 2017 evaluation
• use of the OLA's information all the time, and so I just—we're going to go back again to the 2017 evaluation
• use of the OLA's information all the time, and so I just—we're going to go back again to the 2017 evaluation
• and what it says is that 2017 evaluation and what it says is that first<00:10:29.040><c> of</c><00:10

Keywords: 919, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is sometimes difficult in these evaluations to nail down completely the impact with regard to cost
• and benefit for these proposals, but that process will be made even harder if those evaluations are
• Um it is sometimes difficult uh in<00:24:06.880><c> these</c><00:24:07.200><c> evaluations</c><00:24:
• to to nail down uh in these evaluations to to nail down uh completely<00:24:10.400><c> the</c><00:24
• </c> need in order to make the evaluations need in order to make the evaluations that<00:43:36.160><c

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has nothing to do with evaluating the need in a community.
• It has nothing to do with evaluating the need in a community.
• It's not a net need evaluation.
• Once that third-party evaluation is agreed upon, we split the cost.
• c> is</c><01:31:24.520><c> a</c> it's not a net need evaluation it is a it's not a net need evaluation

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires municipalities to give a 90-day notice for any re-evaluation of assessed property,
• In Hudson, we always send out notices of value in regard to re-evaluation when we do a townwide re-evaluation
• In Hudson, they always send out notices of value in regard to re-evaluation when they do a townwide re-evaluation
• The citizens in Nashua and throughout are concerned about surprise evaluations.
• Hospital or somebody who never got their mail that could respond to the re-evaluation.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When a public safety official is injured in the line of duty and can no longer perform their job through
• /c><00:01:42.480><c> can</c><00:01:42.640><c> no</c><00:01:42.840><c> longer</c><00:01:43.200><c> perform
• </c> line of duty and can no longer perform line of duty and can no longer perform their<00:01:43.760
• So, then we went out and actually got two employer attorneys to look at it, give us their evaluation
• <00:43:15.160><c> inherently</c><00:43:15.800><c> dangerous</c><00:43:16.400><c> work,</c> performing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires the state to evaluate whether suitable habitat exists, what impacts restoration would have
• . ...evaluate whether suitable habitat exists, what impacts restoration would have, and what it would
• , but they’re not...” “...part of the evaluation of possible different locations, but they’re not part
• And it would also help condense, I think, the evaluation. So good point. Thank you. Okay.
• Collectively, these initiatives will create a robust permanent structure to evaluate, test, and deploy

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They had to say, hey, we got to re-evaluate and see what's happening.
• Finding the exact way to evaluate that is sort of the challenge.
• The only way that you get out of that mass evaluation is you file a protest.
• You know, there are several things that we need to sort of evaluate and work through.
• I think there are several things that we need to evaluate and work through.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> capitated rate per evaluation. capitated rate per evaluation.
• </c><02:12:39.920><c> them</c> well intended but we never evaluate them well intended but we never evaluate
• </c> the point is we don't generally evaluate the point is we don't generally evaluate them<02:52:26.240
• </c><03:01:44.600><c> that,</c> is just a small step to evaluate that, is just a small step to evaluate
• c> these</c><03:40:12.960><c> additional</c> need to evaluate the these additional need to evaluate the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• could appear on the ballot in a way that frames a citizen proposal as harmful before voters even evaluate
• proposal as harmful before<00:52:28.240><c> voters</c><00:52:28.640><c> even</c><00:52:28.960><c> evaluate

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator might not be surprised that I am thinking that something more aligned with early neutral evaluation
• Senator might not be surprised that I am thinking that something more aligned with early neutral evaluation
• Senator might not be surprised that I am thinking that something more aligned with early neutral evaluation
• </c><00:20:01.440><c> would</c><00:20:01.600><c> be</c> with early neutral evaluation would be with early
• neutral evaluation would be appropriate<00:20:02.520><c> so</c><00:20:02.799><c> right</c><00:20:02.960

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing first took up SB 696, which would create an emergency management office and fund tax credits, grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify homes, shelter development, and staffing. Supporters argued Hawaii needs a dedicated preparedness office and funding before the next hurricane season, while the Tax Foundation said the bill was too vague, especially on who would qualify for the tax credits and under what conditions. The Department of the Attorney General and the insurance division offered comments, and both committees recommended deferral of SB 696. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then heard SB 179 on construction defect remedies and the contractor repair act. Builders, Realtors, carpenters, and a mortgage industry witness supported the bill, saying it would reduce abusive litigation, speed repairs, and help housing production and affordability. Homeowner advocates and plaintiff attorneys opposed it, arguing it would weaken consumer protections, shift repair costs to homeowners, and delay or limit legitimate claims. One testifier suggested the Senate focus instead on stronger alternative dispute resolution, and the committee noted 105 written supporters, four opponents, and one comment submission. The committee next heard SB 416 on allowing pets in rental housing, with the Attorney General recommending a non-impairment safeguard because of possible effects on existing contracts. SB 593 on commercial dog breeders drew support from the Hawaii Humane Society and others, with concerns raised that counties would be expected to enforce the new regime without funding. SB 641, creating a tax on low-alcohol-by-volume spirits beverages, drew opposition from the Wine Institute, which said it would create a tax break for one segment and likely reduce state revenue. SB 1048 on online crowdfunding received support from GoFundMe and comments from the Attorney General, with GoFundMe urging changes to reduce burdens on charitable fundraising. SB 1213, allowing businesses to accept service of process by email instead of maintaining a registered agent, drew DCCA comments and opposition from LegalZoom, which warned email service could be unreliable and vulnerable to phishing.